Ruby de Luna

Reporter

Ruby de Luna is a features reporter at KUOW.  She had originally planned to go into TV, but ditched the idea after discovering public radio.  Ruby has reported on immigrant communities.  She currently covers health care issues.  

Ruby is a transplant from Taipei, Taiwan.  She holds a BA in communication from Seattle Pacific University. 

In the age of computer/digital audio editing, Ruby is proud to be one of the few old–schoolers who can still edit tape with a razor blade.  In her free time she practices her knife skills on new recipes. 

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No Beds For Mentally Ill
12:38 pm
Fri January 18, 2013

King County Calls For Fix In State Mental Health System

Credit Seattle Municipal Archives / Flickr
Many criminal defendants waiting for mental evaluation before civil commitment end up at Harborview's emergency department.

King County is facing a major problem. It doesn’t have enough beds for mentally ill people going through the court system. The county has nowhere to send them, and some are being released without treatment.

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Health Care Preview
8:04 am
Thu January 10, 2013

Governor-Elect Inslee Committed To Health Care Changes

Credit Candidate's Facebook page
Governor-elect Jay Inslee on the campaign trail last year.

Democrat Jay Inslee made his first public appearance since he won the election. The Governor-Elect spoke Wednesday at a health care policy conference in SeaTac. He reiterated his commitment to change health care in Washington state through the Affordable Care Act.

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Mental Health Funding Gap
7:26 am
Thu December 20, 2012

Newtown Shooting Raises Questions About Mental Health Funding

Credit Flickr photo/Alan Cordova
Washington state has cut funding for mental health services by more than 15 percent since 2009.

Little information is available yet to conclude whether the shooter in Newtown, Conn., was diagnosed with, or treated for, mental illness. But last week’s incident has raised questions around the country about mental health and funding for treatment and services. 

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Health Law Concerns
7:42 am
Tue December 18, 2012

Insurance Brokers Apprehensive About Health Exchange

Credit Alex Proimos / Flickr

In less than 10 months, Washington state will launch its own health exchange as part of the Affordable Care Act. The exchange will be an online marketplace where people can buy health insurance with the help of a navigator.

Some say it will be like Expedia for health plans, and this has some insurance brokers worried. Many fear it will have a negative impact on their livelihood, just like Expedia removed the need for travel agents.

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Health Exchange
8:00 am
Tue December 11, 2012

Feds Say Washington Making Progress On Health Exchange

It's official: Washington has reached a milestone in creating its own health exchange. On Monday the US Department of Health and Human Services announced Washington is among six states to make significant progress in developing an online market for health plans.

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Health
6:49 am
Thu November 29, 2012

New Science Center Interactive Exhibit Focuses On Wellness

Credit Ruby de Luna
Students brace themselves for a germy mist at the Pacific Science Center's Wellbody Academy exhibit. The permanent exhibit opens December 1.

Most science exhibits focus on animals, robots or body parts. But a new exhibit at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center focuses on wellness. The goal is to help kids understand how the choices they make affect their overall health.


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Marriage
7:26 am
Wed November 28, 2012

What To Call The New Bride And Groom

Credit Flickr/Nule y Nelson
The Department of Health is facing an unusual quandary now that the terms “bride and groom” no longer apply to everyone who’s getting married.

Marriage certificates in Washington state will look a little different next month. Terms like bride and groom will be out. The Department of Health wants to use something more gender-neutral, now that same–sex marriage is legal. The agency is taking suggestions at a public hearing on Wednesday.

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Health
7:51 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Janitors And Secretaries More Prone To Flu Symptoms

Credit Yuya Tamai / Flickr
Workers in the cleaning industry are more prone to the flu than any other job.

Here’s another reason why it’s tough being a janitor: In a recent survey, people who clean work places are more prone to the flu. 

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Health
5:50 pm
Thu November 15, 2012

Next Question For Washington Health Exchange: How To Pay For It

Next fall Washington’s health exchange is expected to be up and running.  The exchange is an online market for health plans, mandated by the federal Affordable Care Act.  Right now the state's Health Exchange Board is trying to figure out how to pay for itself. 

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Election 2012
12:57 am
Wed November 7, 2012

DelBene Wins Race For U.S. House

Credit Ruby de Luna
Suzan DelBene talking to supporters at the Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland.

Democrat Suzan DelBene beat Republican John Koster in the congressional race for the newly drawn 1st District. Election returns show DelBene ahead in three of the four counties.  

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