Scott Schaefer

King County has reported a significant increase in whooping cough cases – especially in South King County – with 108 confirmed cases as of July 16, 2024, surpassing the total number of cases over the past three years combined. According to Public Health – Seattle & King County, in 2023 the county saw 31 cases of whooping cough, 15 cases in 2022, and just 6 in 2021. This year, 61% of the cases are concentrated in South King County, and among those under 18 years old, 70% are from this region.Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that spreads through airborne droplets. Initial symptoms resemble a common cold, but can progress to severe coughing fits, which may cause vomiting, breathing difficulties, and extreme fatigue. The condition is particularly dangerous for infants, with three out of the five hospitalizations in King County involving babies.

King County Executive Dow Constantine on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 announced a $50 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and construction throughout the region. The funding will help multifamily and community buildings transition to clean energy, reduce emissions in new constructions, and establish wood reuse systems to mitigate emissions. This grant will support King County in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the building sector through collaboration with other Washington State Counties of Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish.

REMINDER: Burien’s FREE ‘Music in the Park’ continues this Thursday night with Latin Jazz from Todo Es

REMINDER: Burien’s free 2024 ‘Music in the Park’ series will continue this Thursday night, Aug. 15, 2024 at Lake Burien School Memorial Park, with live Soul, R&B and more from Global Heat. The free outdoor concert series will continue at the park every Thursday night through Aug. 22, with performances running from 6:30–8 p.m. “Join us at Lake Burien School Memorial Park this summer for our annual music in the park series.”

Hi-Liners Musical Theatre's "Finding Nemo KIDS" will be performed the weekend of Aug. 23-25 at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien. Looking for a fun way to celebrate the end of summer? Grab your family and friends and just keep swimming over to Highline PAC for a fun ocean adventure. Join Marlin, Nemo, Dory and other loveable characters in Disney-PIXAR's "Finding Nemo KIDS," a musical adaption from the 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo.

REMINDER: Remember the last vacation you took, and how excited you were to tell your friends about it when you came home? Whether it was to share the incredible experiences or to get support as you relayed the things that went wrong, everyone loves to talk about time away!Similarly, we all like to share the juicy details about the chemistry we share with a new or old love interest or friend.YOU are invited to enjoy the next 7 Stories this Friday night, Aug. 23, 2024, starting at 7 p.m. at Highline Heritage Museum in Burien.

The City of Burien – recently designated as a Creative District – is looking to gather feedback from local filmmakers as part of its effort to strengthen its creative community. The Burien Film Office is conducting a survey to understand the needs of filmmakers and to help shape the Creative District into a thriving hub for creative industries, including film production. The Creative District initiative aims to boost the local economy, improve quality of life, and attract more film projects to Burien.

The original Beverly Park Elementary School site at 11427 3rd Avenue South is undergoing significant renovations after a possible arson fire severely damaged Southern Heights Elementary School in July. As we previously reported, a suspicious late-night brush fire burned the former Southern Heights Elementary School in Burien on the morning of July 10, 2024. It destroyed the main office and gymnasium at Southern Heights, prompting school officials to quickly find a new location for students and staff ahead of the 2024-25 school year.

Learn about Burien’s Public Art at WABI Burien’s Walk-n-Talk this Sunday, Sept. 1

VIDEO: From comedy to community – Scott Schaefer talks local journalism, working in TV, and service in Highline Heritage Museum radio interview