Mayor Ralph's 2026 State of the City Address

This week on KentNow, we’re bringing you a replay of Mayor Ralph’s State of the City address, recorded live at the Kent East Hill Operations Center. Thank you to everyone who came out to be part of the evening, it was a great turnout and an important moment for our community. And a special thanks to Project Feast for keeping us fueled with some pretty amazing popcorn. If you missed it, now’s your chance to catch the full address.

Spring is almost here, and there’s a lot happening in Kent. In this episode of KentNow, we talk about the unusual winter weather and why Washington’s mountain snowpack still matters for our water supply and environment. We also get ready to spring forward for Daylight Saving Time, debate favorite Little Debbie snacks, and check in on some fun food news. On the city side, Mayor Dana Ralph’s State of the City address is just weeks away, we recap recent City Council activity, and share opportunities for residents to get involved from Drinks in the Driveway neighborhood conversations to lodging tax grants, neighborhood matching grants, recycling events, and Green Kent volunteer opportunities. We also sit down with Stephanie King, Recruitment Manager for the City of Kent, to talk about careers in public service, what makes local government work unique, and how people can explore job opportunities with the city. Plus, a quick Did You Know? about Washington’s mountain snowpack and why what happens in the Cascades during winter affects our water, environment, and economy all year long.

We’re still riding high after the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win, and here in Kent, there’s plenty happening across our city. This week on KentNow, we’re talking about recovery. Following the recent flooding, we sit down with Long Range Planning Manager Kristen Holdsworth and Economic and Community Development Deputy Director Matt Gilbert to discuss what recovery really looks like, from supporting residents and businesses, to working with regional partners, and helping people navigate available assistance. We’ll also remind you about the Mayor’s State of the City address on Thursday, March 19 at the Kent East Hill Operations Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 7:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to hear directly about Kent’s progress and priorities. And don’t miss upcoming events, including the Spotlight Series presentation of Women of Americana on February 27 at the Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, celebrating the rich legacy of American music.

In this episode of KentNow, we cover major current events, important City of Kent updates, and a detailed conversation with Public Works leadership about the city’s response to December’s flooding. We begin with national headlines, including Seattle’s trip to the Super Bowl and highlights from the newly announced Academy Award nominations. We also discuss recent issues impacting TikTok users, following the company’s confirmation of a major infrastructure problem that disrupted features and content visibility for millions of users. From there, we turn to city business with an overview of Mayor Dana Ralph’s 2025 Progress Report, which outlines Kent’s accomplishments over the past year and the city’s priorities for 2026, including flood resilience, public safety investments, and long-term planning for a stronger future. We also share an update on Kent 101, the City’s nine-week civic education program that gives residents an inside look at how local government operates. Our featured interview includes Public Works Director Chad Bieren, Deputy Directors Kelly Peterson and Dave Brock, and Environmental Engineering Manager Mike Mactutis. They walk through how the city prepared for and responded to rising river levels, what made this storm different from typical winter events, and how departments coordinated in real time with regional and federal partners. The conversation highlights both the technical and human side of the response, including infrastructure monitoring, emergency decision-making, and the lessons being applied to future storm preparedness. We close with upcoming community events, including the Seattle Thunderbirds’ “Battle of the Sound,” children’s Crafternoon programs at the Kent Library, and the Spotlight Series performance by Gaden at the Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center. The episode also features a brief piece of Seahawks-related Kent history, revisiting the story of Sir Winalot, the team’s original mascot created by a Kent-Meridian High School teacher. This episode offers a look at what’s happening now, how Kent responded to a major regional event, and what lies ahead for the community.

In this episode, we talk playoff fever as the Seahawks face the 49ers, swap New Year “ins and outs,” and break down this year’s Girl Scout cookie lineup — including a brand-new flavor you’re going to want to try. We also recap a busy week at Kent City Council, where Mayor Dana Ralph was sworn in for another four-year term, CM Sharn Shoker began her first term on Council, CM Toni Troutner was re-elected, and CM Satwinder Kaur was reappointed as Council President. Plus, we cover a new guardrail project, Spring Kent 101 enrollment, and how to check out what’s being built around town with BuildKentWA.com. Mayor Ralph joins us in studio to walk through Kent’s 2026 legislative priorities, from protecting funding for the 224th Corridor to advocating for workforce development, and smart investments that support Kent residents and businesses during this fast-moving 60-day session in Olympia. We wrap things up with what’s happening around town including Kent Parks Family Night Out, Gadan at the Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, and a surprisingly fascinating “Did You Know?” about Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano. All that, plus plenty of local insight, laughs, and things you’ll actually want on your calendar — welcome to Season 4 of KentNow.

It’s a jam-packed, rain-soaked, holiday-fueled episode of KentNow!  Mark dives into some serious nerd news with Magic: The Gathering’s massive 2025 success and what’s coming in 2026—think TMNT, Marvel, Star Trek, and The Hobbit (yes, Wizards of the Coast is right here in our backyard). Tracy is fully in her Swiftie era with the new Taylor Swift docuseries dropping on Disney+, complete with Eras Tour finales and a Travis Kelce cameo or two. The crew debates Christmas movie classics (and once again asks the very important question: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?), talks holiday favorites, and reminds everyone that after all this rain and wind, now’s the time to get winter-weather ready—emergency kits included. On the City side, we celebrate Kent PD’s Community Education unit for taking home the big trophy in the Battle of the Badges Holiday Lights, honor Councilmember Brenda Fincher’s 12 years of service as she heads into retirement and recap a busy week of Council meetings and budget updates. We also check in on Mayor Ralph’s recent trip to Olympia to discuss Kent’s 2026 legislative priorities. Plus: Spring Kent 101 enrollment is open, the Christmas Rush 5K is this weekend (kids run free!), Santa’s mailbox is open, tiny yetis are hiding downtown, and we wrap it all up with some delightfully weird Christmas facts you didn’t know you needed. Grab some cocoa, stay dry, and hit play. 

This week on KentNow, Tracy, Kyle, Kevin, and Mark are joined by Kent Parks’ own Ronda Billerbeck and Mark Hendrickson for a deep dive into all things Winterfest—happening this weekend! We also preview the Christmas Rush 5K/10K on December 13 and talk about what runners can expect this year. But it wouldn’t be a KentNow episode without a little pop culture. The team breaks down the buzz around Stranger Things Volume 5 and this week’s “Did You Know?” is a special treat for our Star Wars fans—prepare your lightsabers. In City Business, we look ahead to the December 9 Kent City Council meeting, and share updates as Mayor Ralph is already on the road in Olympia meeting with legislators about Kent’s 2026 Legislative Priorities. It’s a packed episode!

Episode 23 of KentNow brings Thanksgiving vibes, Netflix debates, and a deep dive into Kent’s future. Kelly Peterson and Kristen Holdsworth join us to talk housing growth, transit-centered neighborhoods, zoning changes, and how Kent is planning for the next decade and beyond. Basically: how a growing city stays ahead of the curve (and the traffic). Plus: Kyle has a TikTok twin, and Microsoft Teams is about to expose your “working from home.” Happy Thanksgiving! 

This week’s episode is stacked like a burrito.  We’re diving into the latest current events from Spicy Tots (yes, they’re real) to the not-so-real Mariners World Series dream. We’re also talking Labubu trading cards, the final season of Stranger Things, and our hard-hitting debate: best Halloween candy of all time. 🍫👻 Then we’ll shift gears to what’s happening right here in Kent: openings on city boards and commissions (your chance to get involved!), why leaves in the street are public enemy #1, and highlights from this week’s City Council meeting including proclamations, budget hearings, and neighborhood recognitions. Our feature interview shines a light on storm drains (literally).  We’re chatting about Kent’s Adopt-a-Drain and Close the Lid campaigns and how a simple action like keeping a drain clear or closing a dumpster lid helps protect our waterways. And because it’s October, we’ve got a full lineup of can’t-miss city events like Coffee & Conversation with Mayor Ralph, Halloween spirits and treats downtown, paint recycling, Medicine Take Back Day, and the grand finale: Haunted Booo-levard at Kent Station!  Plus, we pay tribute to legendary movie-poster artist Drew Struzan, whose work defined generations of film magic — from Back to the Future to E.T. to Indiana Jones.   Links mentioned in the pod: Kent Downtown Partnership Street of Treats and Spirits Walk.  Paint Recycling Event  Adopt a Drain 

This week on KentNow, the team dives into everything from farm animal traffic jams to cybersecurity smishing scams.  We’re talking about: The massive 58 million pounds of corn dogs have been recalled (yes, you read that right 🌭) The Kent PD’s “old-style farm roundup” 🐔 What’s new on SR 167 — new tolling zones, lane updates, and what you need to know before you drive 🚗 Kent Arts Commission celebrating 50 years 🎨 And how 47 volunteers filled 72 bags during #TeamUp2CleanUp 🙌 Then, for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Tracy sits down with James Endicott (Deputy IT Director) and Joe Bennett (Security Engineer Supervisor) to talk about the latest online scams deepfakes, tech support fraud, smishing, vishing, quishing (yes, that’s a thing), and what you can do to protect yourself. Plus, upcoming Kent events you won’t want to miss: ♻️ Fall Recycling Event – Oct. 11 at Hogan Park 🎵 Spotlight Series kicks off with Robin Spielberg 🌿 Orca Recovery Day – Oct. 18 at Riverview Park 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream your shows!