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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DNR Promises Tighter Controls On Logging Near Landslide Zones
Washington State officials announced new restrictions on logging near landslide zones Friday afternoon. The change in policy comes six weeks after a...
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Audit Dings Hospital's 50-Year Practice Of Paid 'Transition Time'
State auditors say Western State Hospital has been losing about $800,000 a year paying for work that's not being done. For decades, the hospital has...
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Feds Urge Tighter Refinery Regulations After Fatal Tesoro Blast
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is calling for 60 improvements in the design, operation and regulation of the Tesoro oil refinery in Anacortes and of...
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Tunnel Machine Set To Dig Under Seattle, But It's Not Bertha
A tunnel machine is set to resume digging beneath the streets of Seattle in mid-June. No, it's not Bertha. It's Brenda.
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No More Tunneling By Bertha Until March 2015
State transportation officials say the tunnel machine now stuck beneath the downtown Seattle waterfront won't resume tunneling for another 10 months....
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DNR Postpones Clear-Cuts It Approved Near Oso Landslide
Washington state officials have postponed selling 250 acres of timber on steep slopes near the town of Oso.
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DNR Head Defends Taking Timber Money Despite Vow
It's not unusual for elected officials to cozy up to people with money. Yet Washington Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark's relationship with the timber...
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Oso Logger: We Followed Rules, Cut Edge Of Landslide Zone Cautiously
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that land above the Oso landslide zone was logged in 2005. The site was logged in 2004 and...
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Coast Guard Blames Kulluk Grounding on Shell Oil's Complacency, Risk Taking
A US Coast Guard investigation blames Shell Oil's complacency and risk-taking for an oil rig running aground on a remote Alaskan Island on New Year's...
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DNR Investigates Out-Of-Bounds Clear-Cut, Other Possible Factors In Oso Landslide
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that land above the Oso landslide zone was logged in 2005. The site was logged in 2004 and...