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
Free Amtrak for kids in Washington state – funded by big polluters
Young passengers can travel free on Amtrak trains and buses between Bellingham and Vancouver, Washington, thanks to fees paid by major polluters in the state.
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How much are safer streets worth? Seattle leaders, voters to decide
Making roads (and sidewalks and trails) safer for everyone can be an expensive proposition.
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Environment
Bremerton treats Kitsap Lake to tackle toxic algae
Ever heard of lanthanum? The city of Bremerton plans to use a powdered form of lanthanum to lower levels of phosphorus in the city’s only lake, Kitsap Lake.
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Environment
Troubled fishing boat successfully raised from sea floor off San Juan Island
Salvage crews have successfully raised a 48-foot fishing boat that had sunk near the northwest tip of San Juan Island.
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Environment
This transit agency could be the first in the Northwest to use hydrogen-powered buses
Move over, electric buses — there's a new clean option in the Northwest.
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Environment
Seattle is now an air conditioning town
For the first time, most homes in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties now have air conditioning.
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Environment
Seattle stayed cool in April while the planet felt record heat
Though Seattle residents might not believe it, April 2024 was the earth’s hottest April on record, with pollution-fueled heat expected to continue.
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Crime
2 tons of cocaine, 1 whale-stranded sailor: Coast Guard cutter’s haul
A Coast Guard cutter from Port Angeles plucked six smugglers and one unlucky sailor from the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
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Environment
Extra-low (and high) tides coming to Puget Sound this week
Extra-low tides on Puget Sound May 8 to May 12 bring opportunities to witness sea stars and other colorful creatures along local shorelines.
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Environment
Climate change supercharged the Northwest heat dome
“That event really was longer, larger, and more extreme due to climate change.”