Ann Dornfeld
Reporter
About
Ann is a reporter on KUOW's Investigations team. Previously, she covered education stories for KUOW for a decade, with a focus on investigations into racial and socioeconomic inequities.
Her ongoing series exposing Seattle Public Schools’ lenient discipline of staff who abused students has won investigative reporting awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Radio Television Digital News Association, and the Education Writers Association. She was also lauded for her years of work covering disparities in the amount of recess and P.E. time students received in low-income schools.
Previously, Ann worked at Alaska Public Radio Network in Anchorage, and KLCC in Eugene, Oregon. Her freelance work, focusing on science and environmental issues, has appeared on national outlets including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Marketplace and The World.
Ann’s marine and underwater photography has appeared in the American Museum of Natural History and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
She lives with her husband and two children in South Seattle.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors
Stories
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Government
'It's a terror campaign.' Federal workers in Seattle area describe snitching, secrecy under Trump
Federal workers in Seattle and across Washington state say they feel whiplash since Trump took office and issued a flurry of executive orders geared at cutting the federal government to “eliminate waste, bloat, and insularity.” KUOW spoke with 15 employees across seven agencies, most of whom agreed to speak on condition of anonymity for fear of getting fired.
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Government
Washington lawmakers consider bill to prevent abuse in youth sports
A bill before Washington state lawmakers aims to prevent abuse in youth sports by making coaches mandatory reporters of abuse and requiring them to receive annual training on the law.
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Health
Seattle Children's halts gender-affirming surgeries after executive order threatens loss of federal funds
After three years on the wait list, Children’s canceled the 16-year-old's surgery hours before it was scheduled. "Losing eligibility would jeopardize care for our patients across the region," Children’s explained.
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Education
Whistle blown: Fraud allegations over elite basketball program at Seattle public school with $22,000 tuition
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Crime
King County Council calls for audit of nonprofit-managed juvenile diversion
The King County Council has asked the county auditor to examine a controversial, $16 million program that puts community-based organizations in charge of juvenile criminal diversions.
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Transit workers call for safety improvements after fatal stabbing of Metro driver
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Health
On-duty medic and fire units now staff Seattle sporting events and concerts, leaving coverage gaps
A KUOW investigation found that the Seattle Fire Department diverted on-duty staff to work special events 147 times between November 2023 and November 2024, leaving fewer units to respond to emergencies citywide.
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Politics
Secret payments to King County employee could become issue in race for county’s top job
Whistleblower allegations of a kickback scheme involving a King County employee could prompt questions in the upcoming race for King County Executive.
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Government
Secret payments, damning audit. King County’s youth violence prevention effort, mired in scandal
In the latest scandal involving a high-profile King County initiative, a county staffer was found to have secretly received $323,000 in payments in an alleged kickback scheme with a nonprofit leader he knew from prison.
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Sports
Seattle's Roosevelt High finally made the football playoffs, but did they recruit players to get there?
Roosevelt High School in Seattle is under investigation by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association for alleged football recruiting violations as the team heads to state playoffs for the first time in a decade.