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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Military
7:38 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Army's I Corps Role Will Shift To Pacific Rim

Credit Photo courtesy of I Corps
Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, I Corps commander

This month Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta laid out plans for the future of the US military. And as troops return from Afghanistan, that strategy includes shifting security operations to the Pacific Rim. Soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) will play a major role in that plan.

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Transportation
6:07 pm
Wed November 14, 2012

Washington State DOT Shows Off 520 Pontoons

Credit Catrena Hampton
State DOT Construction Engineer Jeff Carpenter explains how workers can repair the cracks found in the concrete pontoons for the new 520 floating bridge.

Washington State Department of Transportation officials gave the media a tour Wednesday of pontoons on the State Route 520 floating bridge. The pontoons are part of a massive concrete structure that will keep the new bridge afloat.

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Military
9:45 am
Sat November 10, 2012

Afghan Witnesses Describe Horror At Bales Hearing

Updated: Tuesday, November 12, 1:00 p.m.

Witnesses and survivors recounted a horrific scene following a massacre at two villages in Kandahar Province March 11 that killed 16 civilians and wounded six. They testified via a live video link from Afghanistan during a pretrial hearing for Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

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Military
11:46 am
Fri November 9, 2012

Reporter Update: Joint Base Lewis-McChord Soldier Accused Of Massacre

Pre-trial hearings continue this evening at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales. He’s accused of massacring 16 civilians in Afghanistan, including nine children. Prosecutors say he left his base last March and went on an overnight five-hour killing spree.

The hearings will determine whether the case will advance to court-martial, where the government has said it plans to seek the death penalty. KUOW’s Sara Lerner spoke with Patricia Murphy, who’s covering the hearings.

Military
10:50 am
Fri November 9, 2012

Afghan Witnesses Testimony Next Step In Bales Hearings

Credit Photo courtesy of Maj. Brent Clemmer
Staff Sergeant Robert Bales.

Pretrial hearings for Staff Sergeant Robert Bales continue tonight when Afghan villagers and soldiers are expected to testify by video. The hearings are expected to run into the early morning hours US time.

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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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