🌱 Kent’s police chief just took on a powerful statewide leadership role
Kent, Washington Patch AM: a 5 min readHello Kent! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Kent’s police chief just took on a powerful statewide leadership role
- How hot will it get in the Kent-Auburn Valley Sunday?
- Which Kent students just signed on for big STEM futures?
Also on today's calendar: Fenders On Front Street and 6 more events.
Today's riddle: What do sweet potatoes wear to bed? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 76 and low of 55 degrees.
- Saturday: Sunny and very warm, temps: high: 83, low: 59.
- Sunday: Very warm, with a high of 90 and low of 62 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
📰 News we're reading
1. Kent's Padilla named president of police chiefs, sheriffs group (kentreporter.com) — Kent residents now have their police chief, Rafael Padilla, leading the statewide Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs while continuing his duties in the city. Padilla’s one-year term puts Kent at the center of statewide public safety discussions, with Mayor Dana Ralph praising his record of community-focused policing and innovative programs that aim to strengthen trust and safety locally. 
2. Heat advisory in place for Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King counties from Sunday to Tuesday (theolympian.com) — A heat advisory will bring 90–95 degree highs and warm nights to the Kent-Auburn Valley from Sunday morning through early Tuesday, raising the risk of heat-related illness. Kent residents are urged to hydrate, seek air-conditioned spaces, avoid midday sun, and check on vulnerable neighbors, children, and pets as conditions peak Monday into early Tuesday.
3. Auburn Mountainview seniors honored on STEM Signing Day (auburn-reporter.com) — Kent students from Kentwood and Kentlake high schools are among 50 Washington seniors honored on 2026 STEM Signing Day for committing to science and tech-focused college paths. The Renton ceremony, backed by Boeing and the Seahawks, celebrated future engineers, health professionals, and innovators heading to universities in-state and nationwide.
4. In Loving Memory La Trez Mitchell Cooper (thefactsnewspaper.com) — Family and friends are inviting the community to celebrate the life of La Trez James Adrian Mitchell Cooper, who passed away May 24 at age 43. A Celebration of Life will be held June 20 at 1 p.m. at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship on 108th Ave SE in Kent, with livestreaming available for those who cannot attend in person.
5. FIFA: Renton Police to offer security for Belgium team (kentreporter.com) — Kent police officers will help Renton handle round-the-clock security for Belgium’s World Cup team under an interlocal agreement that also includes Tukwila. The arrangement lets Kent support major regional FIFA operations without reducing normal patrol staffing at home, with all extra-duty costs covered by a federal grant tied to the Seattle organizing committee.
📸 Around Kent
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Kent
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Fenders On Front Street →
232 Front St N, Issaquah
8:00 am
Sunday June 21
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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مركز الترحيب / The Welcoming Center
Kent Library 212 2nd Avenue North, Kent, WA 98032
11:00 am -
Knit in Public at the Kent Library
Kent Library 212 2nd Avenue North, Kent, WA 98032
11:00 am -
Kent Friends Book Sale
Kent Library 212 2nd Avenue North, Kent, WA 98032
11:00 am -
Beat The Heat! Summer Showcase →
Kent Valley Ice Centre, 6015 S 240th St, Kent
12:00 pm -
Plant BINGO →
Four Horsemen Brewery, 30221 148th Ave SE, Kent
1:00 pm -
Stand Up Comedy with Scott Losse @ Four Horsemen Brewery feat. J. Hughes →
Four Horsemen Brewery, 30221 148th Ave SE, Kent
6:00 pm -
Small Business Coaching
Kent Panther Lake Library 20500 108th Avenue SE, Kent, WA 98031
1:00 pm -
English Language Learners (ELL) Classes
Kent Panther Lake Library 20500 108th Avenue SE, Kent, WA 98031
1:00 pm
Saturday June 13
Sunday June 14
Monday June 15
📣 Kent Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
-
Burien Library Book Group
Burien Library 400 SW 152nd Street, Seattle, WA 98166
3:00 pm -
Woodmont Library Teen Advisory Board
Woodmont Library 26809 Pacific Highway South, Seattle, WA 98198
3:30 pm -
Curious Creatures Craft
Des Moines Library 21620 11th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98198
3:30 pm -
Art Spark Wheel Party
Burien Library 400 SW 152nd Street, Seattle, WA 98166
4:00 pm
Friday June 12
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Kent PatchAM possible:
- anderson's hauling & junk removal — (206) 679-5120
Same-Day Junk Removal in Greater Seattle junk removal - Andersons Hauling — (206) 679-5120
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Anyone want to claim this cute canine?
He/she came to our door late last night, hoping our small dogs would come out to play. We were all asleep already so didn't notice. It doesn't look… (Nextdoor Kenton) - I finally finished the eulogy video for my little brother's funeral.
I know nobody here knew him/me, but I'm extremely proud of this video and I put a lot of work into it so I'm sharing it anyway. https://youtu.be… (Nextdoor Willow Vista)
- The Home Depot, Inc. posted a job opening for Freight/Receiving in Kent. Apply here.
- Parker Hannifin Corporation posted a job opening for Shipping Clerk/Truck Driver in Kent. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Kent here.
Ok Kent! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Yammies! (Thank you Lynda S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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