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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: Pacific Northwest forest.

    A new federal strategy for managing and preventing wildfires

    Last month the Biden Administration announced a 10 year, $50 billion investment in renewed forest management practices. The funding will focus on "fireshed" zones throughout the Western United States, which are forests at a greater risk of conflagration with close proximity to communities. What does this new strategy mean for Washington's forests?

  • caption: Teamsters union members demonstrating outside the Ash Grove Cement plant and Stoneway Concrete yard on East Marginal Way South near the West Seattle Bridge entrance. They were tired -- been striking since November -- but committed to seeing it through and fully believe in their cause. Tim Davis is second from left, and Ron Hills is third from left.

    Major projects at a standstill as concrete workers strike across King County

    Since November 2021, over 300 concrete mixer truck drivers have been on strike. They work for six of the largest cement suppliers in the region and if the cement doesn't flow - the rest of the work on the job site can't happen. Now, contractors and local leaders are starting to sound the alarm about project delays.

  • Radical Romance Andrea

    Looking for diverse happily ever after stories? Turn to 'Radical Romance'

    Romance fiction has not always done a great job of handing out those happy endings to everyone, especially to characters who don’t watch the image of the harlequin heroine you might have seen on romance fiction covers on your grandma’s bookshelf: blonde, willowy, white, straight and cis-gender. That inspired one local bookseller to launch the “Radical Romance” book group, which aims to highlight and celebrate romance fiction featuring characters of all races, orientations, beliefs, sizes, and abilities.

  • caption: Elk gather at Peter Nilsson’s farm outside of La Grande, Oregon. He says he loves watching the bald eagles and moose that show up on his farm by the river. And he thinks elk are cool too. But not when an entire herd parties all winter at his spread, eating his hay.

    How local farmers and elk are doing this winter

    Areas across the Northwest have seen record-breaking snowfall this winter, shutting down mountain passes, destroying infrastructure, and impacting supply chains between eastern and western Washington. You’ve probably already heard about those problems. But one you may not have heard about: Roving gangs of elk.