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
Tree lovers, building officials clash over greenery in Washington wildfire zones
Tree advocates say the new requirement for “defensible space” around many homes will worsen the climate change that is making fires burn more often.
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Environment
Shhh! The orcas are back in Puget Sound
The orcas’ return triggered a three-month voluntary slowdown for big ships in Puget Sound.
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Environment
Tacoma Rail to buy Northwest’s first electric locomotives
Tacoma Rail is replacing two diesel locomotives with battery-powered ones, a first in the Northwest.
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Business
Dude, where’s my train? Why freight makes Amtrak late
Amtrak says freight railroads like BNSF are ignoring federal law and forcing passenger trains to pull over and wait.
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Environment
Northwest pond turtles to get federal protection as they near extinction
Federal officials say pond turtles are nearing extinction from Washington state to Mexico.
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Environment
10 orcas killed in Bering Sea, prompting calls for fishing reforms
Federal officials are looking into the deaths of nine orcas hauled up by Bering Sea trawlers since May, while conservation groups say more needs to be done to prevent such deaths.
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Environment
Inslee touts carbon cap, heat pumps at United Nations
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee touted his state’s actions on climate change at the United Nations this week as world leaders gathered to call for more aggressive action to slash fossil fuel emissions and save the global climate.
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Environment
One hiker's eerie night trekking past a North Cascades wildfire
“I’ve never walked by anything like that before,” Campos said at 3:30 a.m. “The fire was right next to the road. Little fireballs rolling down, landing in the ditch right next to the road. Bowling-ball-size rocks, laying in the road. Pretty intense.”
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Environment
Fire-prone old BNSF train ignited 500-acre Columbia Gorge blaze, state finds
Chunks of hot carbon and lubricant pads spewed from a 1970s-era BNSF Railway locomotive caused a wildfire in southern Washington in July, according to an investigation from the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
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Environment
Rocketing boulders, dwindling streams: signs of WA's shriveling glaciers
Zack McGill was guiding a group of climbers down from the icy summit of Washington’s Mount Baker when he saw something few have seen: torso-sized boulders rocketing down the mountain at about 40 miles an hour.