Kate Walters
Reporter
About
Kate Walters is a reporter covering Covid-19 and the many ways the pandemic has impacted our lives. She's covered personal experiences of community members, state and local policies, affects on the healthcare system, and more. In the past, Kate has reported on homelessness for KUOW, as well as general assignment stories ranging from city hall politics to sea stars. Originally from Australia, Kate studied journalism at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). She started her career in public radio at WXXI in Rochester, NY.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Stories
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Fentanyl spike leads to record overdose deaths in King County
The number of overdose deaths in King County so far this year has officially set a new record, making 2023 the deadliest year for drug and alcohol fatalities.
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Health
Financial losses slow for WA hospitals, but concerns remain
Hit hard by the pandemic, Hospitals in Washington state have been sounding the alarm since last year over steep financial losses. Last year’s operating losses totaled over $2 billion for hospitals across the state, according to the Washington State Hospital Association.
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Police
Seattle pays $1.9M to woman who says police officer raped her as a minor, decades ago
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Police
'Remember how much I love you.' Manny Ellis' mother recounts last conversation with her son in trial of officers charged in his death
Marcia Carter-Patterson, mother of Manuel Ellis, took the stand Monday in the trial of three Tacoma police officers charged with her son’s death. Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man, died in police custody in March 2020.
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2023 set to be deadliest year yet for overdoses in King County
King County is headed towards a somber milestone. 2023 is slated to become the deadliest on record for overdoses in the county.
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Health
Is Washington state in another Covid surge?
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Seattle program addresses key gap in the opioid crisis: post-overdose support
The Health 99 overdose response unit is run out of the fire department and includes a firefighter/EMT and a caseworker. The goal of the unit is to engage people with services and support directly after an overdose.
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Health
What will virus season look like in Washington state this year?
Washington state is once again heading into respiratory virus season. Last year, the triple threat of Covid-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) put a strain on an already fragile health-care system. This year however, health officials say the state is in a different place.
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From needles to pipes. Seattle outreach adapts to morphing drug crisis
As overdose deaths continue to rise, harm reduction services could be a key part of curbing the deadly impact of the fentanyl crisis in Washington state. These are programs which aim to meet people using drugs where they are with no judgment and keep them alive and as healthy as possible.
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Homelessness
The pandemic transformed Seattle's homeless shelters for the better, advocates say. But challenges remain
The pandemic spurred radical changes to Seattle's homeless shelter system, leading to more space, more privacy, and more autonomy for people. But this shift also came with challenges, and advocates say many legacy issues remain.