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Libby Denkmann

Host, Soundside

About

Libby Denkmann has covered veterans' issues, homelessness, and local politics during her radio journalism career. She became the host of KUOW's Soundside in November 2021. Previously she was a producer, reporter, anchor, and host for stations KIRO, KFI, and KPCC in Seattle and Los Angeles. During a yearlong hiatus from journalism in 2011, she worked as a congressional staffer in Washington, D.C.. Libby was born in Seattle, grew up on the eastside, and graduated from the University of Washington. Her favorite things include soccer, video games, and her dog, Monty.

Location: Seattle

Languages: English, limited Japanese and Portuguese

Pronouns: she/her

Stories

  • caption: An Alaska airplane is shown on Monday, December 16, 2019, in Renton.

    Can WA build a new airport and meet its climate goals?

    A state-appointed commission recently proposed expanding service at Paine Field in Everett and adding a new new airport at one of three sites in Pierce and Thurston counties. But critics say the state's airport plans contradict its goal to lower emissions.

  • caption: Smoke from the Bolt Creek Fire is shown on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, along Reiter Road outside of Index.

    Not just an Eastern WA issue; King County prepares for wildfires

    For a long time, people on the west side of the Cascades assumed that wildland fires were an issue for those in Eastern Washington. But as conditions become drier and hotter across the western U.S., the wildfire threat is growing in all parts of the state, even the normally soggy parts.

  • caption: Adult coho and Chinook salmon swim in their raceway at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery after returning from the wild for spawning in October 2021.

    As sockeye salmon boom in Alaska, is there a lesson for us in Washington?

    This year, more than 78 million sockeye salmon returned to the estuaries of Western Alaska, a record high and a stark contrast with most salmon populations elsewhere as urban infrastructure and rising water temperatures threaten numerous species. University of Washington professor Daniel Schindler told Soundside that sockeye salmon have been climate change winners in recent years, but why is still an answer researchers are seeking an answer to.

  • caption: Seattle Mariners' fans wave "Believe" signs before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Seattle. The slogan made known from the television show "Ted Lasso" has been adopted by the team in their battle to make it to the playoffs for the first time in two decades.

    Heart and sole — the legend of the Mariner rally shoe

    Improbable? Yes. Impossible? Not for the 2022 Seattle Mariners professional baseball team. On Saturday, the M’s turned an 8-1 deficit in Toronto into a 10-9 victory for the history books. In Seattle, at T-Mobile Park, Mariners fans who gathered for the team’s official watch party were asking for a miracle. And that's when a Birkenstock appeared on a man’s head.

  • garden gardening

    Digging into fall gardening with Ciscoe Morris

    It's a confusing time for gardeners. It’s fall. The days are getting shorter. Traditionally now is the time to work on winterizing your garden - preparing it for the cold, wet weather we usually see this time of year. But the soggy weather has yet to arrive. We’re expecting temperatures to continue to be in the 70s this week, and we haven’t seen serious rainfall in months. So - what should we be doing for our plants right now?

  • caption: Ryan Hunt (left) and Nate Hoe (right) are the co-founders and designers behind Seattle Department of Design, an apparel company that aims to provide Seattle with
"aesthetically-pleasing signifiers of civic identity."

    Almost Live! is back, and fans are feeling 90s nostalgia

    Some classic episodes of "Almost Live!" are airing on King 5+, which could lead to a whole new generation of fans. So Soundside gathered some stars of Almost Live! to talk about the sketches that have stuck with them, and why show's popularity has endured.

  • caption: A Seattle Mariners' fan cheers before the Mariners' home season opening baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Thursday, March 28, 2019, in Seattle.

    Hear it again: the seedy side of America's favorite pastime

    From sign stealing, to adding just a little bit of extra spit on the ball, professional baseball has created plenty of ways to fool crowds and umpires.But there's a fine line between the written and unwritten rules of the game.It makes you wonder, where is the line between innovation and cheating in baseball?