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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Health
Snohomish County not flattening the curve. 'The trend is up, up, up'
‘It's kind of a game of Russian Roulette of who will get deathly ill when they contract Covid-19.’
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Environment
Inslee puts Chehalis dam on hold, calls for non-dam fixes for river's woes
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has put a proposed dam on the Chehalis River on hold.
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Health
Can’t pay the rent? Long-awaited help is in the works
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee extended the state’s moratorium on evictions and rent increases until Oct. 15 and promised $100 million in aid for renters as the Covid-19 pandemic shows little sign of loosening its grip.
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Government
Mayor declares civil emergency over failing West Seattle Bridge
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has declared a civil emergency in connection with the damage and “potential failure” of the West Seattle Bridge.
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Government
Another West Seattle bridge in trouble
Now there’s a second West Seattle Bridge with serious cracks in it.
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Business
MOD Pizza, Burgerville, other chains grab slices of aid meant for small business
“If they have 8,000 employees, how do they qualify for ‘small business?’”
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Where are the orcas? Not in the Salish Sea, where there's no food this summer
For the second year in a row, the region's endangered orcas have been missing from their key habitat around the San Juan Islands for months at a time.
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Business
Amazon pucks convention, names Seattle hockey hall 'Climate Pledge Arena'
Amazon has purchased the rights to Seattle’s new hockey and basketball arena, but it’s not naming the building after itself. The Amazon-sponsored venue will be called Climate Pledge Arena.
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Government
King County is moving hundreds of employees to permanent work-from-home status
Many people working from home wonder when they’ll be able sit next to their coworkers again. For about 800 King County employees, the answer is never.
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Health
A spike in coronavirus cases as Seattle and King County enter Phase 2
Seattle and King County are moving into Phase 2 of the pandemic reopening plan today, Friday, despite a new uptick in cases. Sixty-two new cases were tracked in the county on Thursday – half of those from Seattle.