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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

Podcasts

Stories

  • caption: Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell selected Greg Spotts as the city's transportation director in July 2022.

    Incoming SDOT director promises ‘top to bottom review’ of Vision Zero

    Before taking the top job at SDOT, Greg Spotts was in Los Angeles, leading the city of L.A.'s street services bureau. Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke to Spotts about some of his priorities for the department in his first year on the job, Vision Zero, and creating a more climate-resilient transportation infrastructure.

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    A national railroad strike was averted, but remains possible as unions vote this week

    The Biden administration helped broker a tentative deal that will affect 120,000 rail workers across the country. While many are celebrating the aversion of a potentially disastrous shutdown, some workers have reservations about the new deal. And with a worker vote set for Thursday, rail companies are not out of the tunnel just yet.
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    Seattle's urban forest is shrinking. How can it grow?

    In 2007, Seattle's urban forest management plan set a goal for 30% of the city to be canopied, meaning covered with urban trees. However, a recent report from the city showed that Seattle's canopy actually decreased by 1.7% over the last five years -- an area roughly the size of Green Lake.

  • caption: The West Seattle Bridge is shown shrouded in wildfire smoke, Thursday, September 17, 2020, in Seattle.

    West Seattle residents reflect on 2.5 bridge-less years

    The day is finally approaching that people in West Seattle -- and those who want to get to West Seattle -- have been waiting for. After more than two and a half years, the West Seattle bridge reopens this Sunday.

  • caption: Throughout Georgetown and Sodo "eco-blocks" are being placed to keep vehicles and encampments from cropping up. Placing these blocks without a permit is illegal, though the Seattle Department of Transportation frequently struggles to know who is placing them.

    Sound it Out: local business owner weighs in on eco-blocks

    We're a show built around you - our listeners. Every other week, we take some time for a segment called Sound it Out, to broadcast your thoughts and answer questions about stories we've covered. This week - we're diving back into a conversation about eco-blocks.

  • caption: Department of Natural Resources firefighters start a prescribed burn in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in March 2022. DNR began its first prescribed burn season in 18 years in 2022 to combat the risk of increasingly severe wildfires in the region.

    Washington is starting new prescribed burns. Will they prevent bigger wildfires?

    It's been close to two decades since Washington state last did a "broadcast burn," a kind of prescribed burn that sweeps forest floors of potential fire fuel. Prescribed burns are gaining in use throughout fire-prone states as land managers look to imitate natural cycles and move away from a "no-burn" standard of management.