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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Barge spills crude oil into Puget Sound
A barge offloading 5 million gallons of crude oil from Alaska spilled an unknown amount into the waters of Fidalgo Bay, off Anacortes, Washington late Friday night.
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After 20 years, Makah Tribe aims to harpoon gray whales again
Twenty years after its last successful whale hunt, the Makah Tribe is inching closer to getting to harpoon gray whales again off the Washington coast.
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What to do with toxic waste next to Lake Washington? Burn it underground
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a surprising cleanup plan for some toxic waste along the shores of Lake Washington. It wants to burn it underground.
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Move over, Seattle pedestrians? Scooters may be headed your way
Bothell, Everett, Redmond, Spokane and Tacoma have all welcomed rental scooters to their streets and sidewalks. Now Seattle plans to make motorized scooters available to rent in the first half of next year. KUOW's John Ryan reports.
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Rising Northwest waters bring tough choice: fight or flight
The climate’s already changing. People north of Seattle have been facing the muddy consequences head-on.
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State blames deadly tower-crane collapse on 3 companies
State officials are blaming the deadly collapse of a tower crane in Seattle last spring on three construction companies' failure to follow safety rules. Those companies have been fined a total of $107,000, and the state is considering new rules for tower-crane safety.
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Seattle construction causes two major gas leaks in a week
Seattle has had two major gas leaks in less than a week, both caused by construction workers digging in the wrong place.
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Gas leak in University District: Don't go out onto the Ave, officials say
A gas leak in Seattle’s University District has all but shut down the surrounding blocks.
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More than half of Washington bird species threatened by warming climate
Even species that are common today, like nuthatches, juncos and 20 species of ducks, could have few places left to turn.
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West Coast cities lauded for curbing carbon — except Seattle. Here’s why
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has joined mayors from around the world at a climate summit in Copenhagen.