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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City officials have known about cracks in West Seattle Bridge since 2013
The cracks in the West Seattle Bridge that led city officials to suddenly close the bridge Monday were nothing new: Bridge inspectors first saw the series of cracks in concrete beneath the main span’s deck back in 2013.
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Why so hard to be tested for coronavirus? Not enough swabs and confusing government guidelines
Patients hoping to learn if they have fallen prey to the coronavirus continue to be stymied by bottlenecks before they can learn the truth about their health.
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Field hospital being built on Shoreline soccer field as King County preps for more COVID-19 cases
“Honestly the first thing we thought was zombie apocalypse movie. That’s the only time you see a field hospital.”
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Drive-through COVID-19 testing expands in Seattle
In the far corner of a hospital parking lot in North Seattle, people with coronavirus symptoms – and appointments beforehand – drove up in 15-minute intervals Tuesday morning.
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'If it had to happen somewhere, this is a pretty good place,' says top COVID-19 detective
A 40-person team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working in Seattle to help local officials and hospitals as they struggle to stay on top of the nation’s densest cluster of coronavirus cases.
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Several Seattle-area hospital workers infected with COVID-19
Several hospital workers in the Seattle area have contracted the novel coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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'Volatile and unpredictable': Life Care speaks publicly for the first time since COVID-19 outbreak
The Life Care Center in Kirkland provided insight into the location where most of Washington's COVID-19 deaths have come from. It's the first time the company has communicated publicly about the coronavirus outbreak.
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Person with COVID-19 visited 'multiple' King County buildings in downtown Seattle
A person with a confirmed case of coronavirus has been in "multiple" county buildings in downtown Seattle.
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You’ve heard of carbon footprints. Meet the carbon paw-print
In a city where dogs outnumber children nearly 2 to 1, and a nation with the most pets on earth, the paw-prints of our beloved little carnivores and omnivores add up.
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Biggest Carbon Loser contestants are making deep cuts
"Systemic change is absolutely necessary. But I just don't think we get that without individually at least being aware and suffering without the cheese a little bit, you know?"