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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: The Summit at Snoqualmie ski resort as seen from a chair lift.

    Hear it again: Could this be the end of the ski bum?

    There was a silver lining to the soggy, cold May we just had... It means local skiers can keep bombing down the mountain an extra couple weeks. Crystal Mountain has extended its season through June 12th.

  • caption: This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak.

    Monkeypox confirmed in King County, but this isn't like Covid-19

    For the last couple of years, Covid-19 had reigned as the dominant virus on everyone's minds. But if you've been on social media, or followed the news lately, you've probably heard about monkeypox, a rare viral disease that's related to smallpox.

  • caption: Aurora Pacheco was both a parent and teacher at Impact Public Schools' Tukwila school before she resigned in 2021.

    A KUOW investigation shows area charter schools broke their promises to parents and students

    Charter schools were legalized in Washington state in 2012, and were designed to serve students who often struggle with traditional education in public schools. Frequently, those students come from marginalized communities, including children of color, students with disabilities and refugee families, whose children are in need of English instruction. For the last six months, KUOW reporter Ann Dornfeld has been investigating the largest chain of charter schools in the region: Impact Public Schools. What she’s found is that charter schools are frequently failing to live up to the promises they’ve made to students, leaving staff, students, and parents frustrated.

  • It Starts With Listening_Sound it Out

    Sound it out: messages from listeners

    At it's core, this show is about connecting with you. Bringing you stories of people and topics you care about, and that impact you here, in the Pacific NW. And that means we're not having a one-way conversation -- we love hearing from you, and your input is central to Soundside. So we want to take a moment to share some of the messages you've sent to us in recent weeks.

  • caption: Many parents are asking - 'how do I talked to my children about school shootings?'

    How to help your kids process what happened in Uvalde

    Yesterday, an 18 year old man entered an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. There, he killed 21 people - 2 teachers, and 19 students. It's the 27th school shooting to occur this year. It's not a situation you can simply brush off. So how do you help your children proc

  • caption: Photographs and flowers remain following a Trans Lives Matter vigil, shown here after the reading of the guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle.

    The murder of George Floyd galvanized the country in 2020. But what's really changed since then?

    Two years ago, George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer forced the United States – at least temporarily – to reckon with its racist history and systemic violence against Black people. Soundside connected with local Black leaders and activists in the faith community and politics to share their perspectives on whether there's been meaningful change since the protests for racial justice in 2020.

  • caption: Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson looks on during a news conference in Seattle on Dec. 17, 2019.

    Washington AG weighs in on abortion rights, concealed carry, and Hanford

    Earlier this month, Politico reported a leaked decision from the US Supreme Court: Roe v Wade, the ruling protecting abortion rights in the county, would be overturned. While that decision isn’t finalized, states across the country are readying policies that would alter abortion access, should the ruling be struck down. Here in Washington protestors and politicians took to the streets, saying this decision wouldn’t pass in Washington State. One of those people was Washington AG Bob Ferguson.