John Ryan
Environment Reporter
About
John Ryan joined KUOW as its first full-time investigative reporter in 2009 and became its environment reporter in 2018. He focuses on climate change, energy, and the ecosystems of the Puget Sound region. He has also investigated toxic air pollution, landslides, failed cleanups, and money in politics for KUOW.
Over a quarter century as an environmental journalist, John has covered everything from Arctic drilling to Indonesian reef bombing. He has been a reporter at NPR stations in southeast and southwest Alaska (KTOO-Juneau and KUCB-Unalaska) and at the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.
John’s stories have won multiple national awards for KUOW, including the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi awards for Public Service in Radio Journalism and for Investigative Reporting, national Edward R. Murrow and PMJA/PRNDI awards for coverage of breaking news, and Society of Environmental Journalists awards for in-depth reporting.
John welcomes tips, documents, and feedback. Reach him at jryan@kuow.org or for secure, encrypted communication, he's at heyjohnryan@protonmail.com or 1-401-405-1206 on the Signal messaging app.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, some Spanish, some Indonesian
Professional Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA union member and former shop steward; Society of Environmental Journalists member and mentor
Stories
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Environment
King County’s little red fish swims back from brink of extinction
More kokanee salmon have spawned in streams above Lake Sammamish in 2024 than at any other time in a decade.
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Amtrak engineer on Seattle-bound train nearly impaled by fallen tree
A railroad engineer was nearly impaled Tuesday night when a Seattle-bound Amtrak Cascades train hit a fallen tree.
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Environment
Climate pollution surges in Washington state after pandemic lull
After sharply dropping during the Covid-19 pandemic, the state’s carbon dioxide emissions have bounced back.
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Environment
Seattle recycling faces 'unprecedented challenges' as bottle maker closes
Utility officials say glass recycling in the Seattle area faces “unprecedented challenges” as the region’s main manufacturer of glass bottles shuts its doors.
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Environment
Dam siren blares false alarm to Skagit Valley town
Some residents of the Skagit Valley got a scare early Monday morning: An evacuation siren went off at 6:53 a.m. near the town of Hamilton.
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Environment
Gov. Inslee in Azerbaijan for global climate talks
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is spending the week in Azerbaijan, an oil-producing nation between Russia and Iran, for the latest round of the United Nations’ global climate talks.
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Environment
Have a Holly Noxious Christmas? State board eyes un-jolly label for invasive greenery
Washington state officials are debating whether to brand a traditional holiday decoration a noxious weed. The dubious decor is English holly.
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Environment
Energy foes spar with misleading claims over natural gas Initiative 2066
"Stop the gas ban," roadside signs and online ads urge Washington voters, even though gas hasn’t been banned in Washington.
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Environment
Mudslide shuts down I-5 North in Bellingham following extreme rain
I-5 in Bellingham was slammed by 2,000 cubic yards of mud Sunday around 5 a.m. following extraordinarily intense rain.
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Environment
Cold, lost sea turtle is returned from the Northwest to warm California waters
The Vancouver Aquarium took in the hypothermic turtle, nursed her back to health, and gave her a name: Moira, after a character in the TV comedy “Schitt’s Creek.”
