Patricia Murphy

Reporter

Patricia Murphy is an award-winning reporter at KUOW Public Radio in Seattle focusing on military affairs, veterans' issues and criminal justice. She began her career at WBUR Boston in 1994 and has worked at KUOW since 2000.{C}

Patricia's most recent series, “Less than Honorable,” investigated how the military handles more than 3,000 sexual assault cases each year. Her 2011 collaboration with the Seattle Times, “The Weight of War,” looked at heavy loads carried by troops and the increase in chronic orthopedic injuries as a result; the series won a national award for Excellence in Health Care Journalism from the Association of Healthcare Journalists. She also received a national Edward R. Murrow Award for a documentary on IV drug use and has had her work recognized with awards from the Public Radio News Directors Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.

In 2012, Patricia was inducted into the Dart Society, a network of journalists who cover trauma, conflict and social injustice. In a briefing document accidentally sent to her by an Army public affairs officer, Patricia was described as “a professional, no-nonsense reporter who comes to the table fully prepared,” though her colleagues at KUOW might also describe her as the station cut-up.

Patricia holds a BA from Emerson College in Boston.

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Obituary
9:21 am
Tue November 6, 2012

Founder Of University District Needle Exchange Dead

Credit Shilo Murphy/People's Harm Reduction Alliance
Bob Quinn (right) and Shilo Murphy. Quinn founded the University District Needle Exchange. It is now operated By Murphy through the People's Harm Reduction Alliance.

Bob Quinn, one of the founders of Seattle's needle exchange, died over the weekend. The King County Medical examiner says it was suicide.

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Law
8:56 am
Thu November 1, 2012

O'Dea HS Principal Resigns Amid Sex Abuse Claims

Credit Christine Beaderstadt
A member of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests outside Seattle’s O’Dea High School.

This story has been updated since it was first published.

A member of the Christian Brothers religious order who served as principal at Seattle’s O'Dea High School has resigned. Brother Karl Walczak is being accused of sexually abusing a minor in Chicago about 40 years ago.

The school is operated by the Christian Brothers but owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle.

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News
5:25 pm
Tue October 30, 2012

Court Appoints Independent Monitor For Seattle Police

Credit (Flickr photo / Brittney Bollay)
Seattle police patrol cars.

A federal judge has appointed Merrick Bobb as the independent monitor to oversee reforms to the Seattle Police Department. Bobb’s appointment follows disagreement between the Seattle city council, the police department,  and the mayor over whether he was the best choice.

Bobb was one of four finalists. As monitor he will assess the City’s compliance with a settlement agreement between the police and the U.S. Department of Justice.

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Elections 2012
7:26 pm
Tue October 23, 2012

The Race For A New Representative In Washington State’s 6th District

Kilmer and Driscoll head shots
Credit Campaign Photos
Democrat Derek Kilmer (left) and Republican Bill Driscoll.

Republican Bill Driscoll and Democrat Derek Kilmer are running to replace US Representative Norm Dicks in Washington state’s 6th Congressional District.  The district encompasses the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas, much of Tacoma and Bainbridge Island.

Since 1977 most of the 6th District has been Norm Dicks country. In fact, many of the voters in this election grew up with the formidable Democrat as their representative. Now that he’s retiring, Dicks has endorsed Gig Harbor Democratic State Senator Derek Kilmer as his successor.  

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Military
4:58 pm
Thu October 18, 2012

Wash. Senator Patty Murray Wants Timeline For DoD Mental Health Diagnosis Reviews

Patty Murray
Credit Credit/Wikipedia
US Senator Patty Murray.

Washington Senator Patty Murray has asked Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to provide a timeline for a review of how the military diagnoses PTSD and other behavioral health issues.

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Military
4:51 pm
Tue October 16, 2012

Media Reports: Female Soldier From JBLM Killed In ‘Insider’ Attack

Army Spc. Brittany Gordon
Credit (Photo/7th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office)
Army Spc. Brittany Gordon, 24, of St. Petersburg, Fla., was killed Oct. 13, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

The US Department of Defense issued a news release Monday afternoon about the death of Army Specialist Brittany Gordon. Gordon was assigned to the 572nd Military Intelligence Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The DoD says 24-year-old Gordon died from injuries caused by an improvised explosive device. Now multiple news reports say Gordon’s death may be the latest in a series of so-called insider attacks in Afghanistan.

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Sports Arena
6:05 pm
Mon October 15, 2012

King County And Seattle City Councils Say Yes To Sodo Arena

Sodo stadiums
Credit (Flickr photo/SDOT)
Aerial photo of stadiums in Seattle's Sodo neighborhood.

The King County Council and Seattle City Council both gave the go-ahead for an agreement to build a new professional basketball and hockey arena in Seattle.

The union that represents Longshore workers plans to file a lawsuit to stop it.

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Developing: Sports Arena
3:21 pm
Mon October 15, 2012

UPDATE: How The Sodo Arena Plan Would Work

Basketball signed by the 2007 Sonics.
Credit Justin Kraemer Photography
A basketball signed by the 2007-2008 Sonics, the last NBA team to play in Seattle. Is another team in the offing for Seattle?

Story last updated by Patricia Murphy on October 15, 2012 at 3:13 p.m.

The Sodo arena plan has had a few twists and turns.  After first being unveiled in February, it was later altered by the Seattle City Council and more recently by the King County Council.

The latest iteration is scheduled to be voted on by the whole King County and Seattle City councils.

Here’s an outline of how it works:

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Marijuana
5:44 pm
Thu October 11, 2012

Report: Arrests For Marijuana Disproportionally Affect Blacks, Latinos And Native Americans

Credit (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Marijuana is weighed and packaged for sale at the Northwest Patient Resource Center medical marijuana dispensary, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, in Seattle.

A new study by Marijuana Arrest Research Project says more than 240,000 people in Washington have been arrested for marijuana possession over the past 25 years, and that those arrested are disproportionally Black, Latino and Native American.

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News
5:21 pm
Mon October 8, 2012

Washington Governor Extends Burn Ban, Declares State of Emergency

Credit (Flickr photo/Washington Department of Natural Resources))
Ongoing Washington wildfires and dry conditions have resulted in a statewide burn ban.

Dryer than normal conditions prompted Washington Governor Chris Gregoire to declare a state of emergency and extend a ban on outdoor fires. Outdoor burning is banned in all counties until October 15. The state is experiencing a rare stretch of dry weather.

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