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
Sewage burning? Yes, it’s a thing in Western Washington
Four cities in western Washington burn their sewage sludge: Anacortes, Bellingham, Lynnwood, and Vancouver, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Environment
Endangered baby orca J60 missing, presumed dead
The baby orca known as J60 is missing and presumed dead, according to the Center for Whale Research.
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Health
5 victims of Puyallup crash identified, including 4 children
The Pierce County Medical Examiner has identified all five victims of a deadly crash on state Route 512 in Puyallup early on the morning of Jan. 14.
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Environment
Taming speed on the Speedway (and other Washington roads)
Many American roadways are built for speed. One road north of Seattle is even named for it: the Mukilteo Speedway.
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Environment
Why PSE urged Western Washington to conserve energy amid severe cold
Energy utilities in Washington and Oregon asked their customers to curtail gas and electricity usage on Saturday after the Northwest’s largest storehouse of natural gas shut down amid extreme cold temperatures.
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Environment
Baby orca update: It’s a boy!
Orcas don’t have gender-reveal parties (as far as we know).
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Environment
Newborn orca spotted near Seattle off Bainbridge Island
Beachgoers and whale researchers were excited to spot a newborn calf swimming with the Northwest’s endangered orcas on Tuesday near Seattle.
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Environment
This week’s catch on the Skagit delta: Tasty crabs, toxic soil
As a fishing fleet hauled in 250,000 Dungeness crabs just offshore, backhoes dug up 23 truckloads of gasoline-tainted soil from the Skagit River delta on Tuesday.
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Environment
Salmon, rivers hit hard by recent Washington floods
The atmospheric river that hit the Pacific Northwest in early December took a heavy toll on salmon, biologists working with Puget Sound tribes say.
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Environment
The price of pollution in Washington state hits $2 billion
Washington state’s latest carbon auction has raised nearly a half-billion dollars from businesses that pollute the climate.