Noel Gasca
General Assignment Reporter
About
Noel is a general assignment reporter for KUOW, covering everything from city hall to pickleball. Prior to joining the newsroom, Noel worked as a producer for KUOW’s midday show Soundside. Noel has also worked as an online editor and producer with KUOW’s web team, and she’s also a proud graduate of KUOW’s RadioActive program.
Noel is an alumna of Emerson College and has interned at NPR member stations WBUR in Boston and WAMU in Washington D.C. Originally from Lake Stevens, Washington, Noel is elated to be back in the Pacific Northwest and covering the people and places that make up the state she calls home.
When she’s not working, Noel enjoys perusing Seattle’s used bookstores, practicing her kata, and discussing the lasting legacy of Selena Quintanilla’s music with anyone who will listen.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Hispanic Journalists, AIR
Stories
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A curtain call for MoPop's Pearl Jam exhibit
Since 2018, Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture has given fans a first-hand look at the band’s journey through more than 1,000 artifacts directly from Pearl Jam’s members. But it’s the final curtain call for the exhibit. After five years, "Pearl Jam: Home and Away" will close on April 23.
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Where are all the monuments to women in Seattle?
If you were to take a tour of public monuments to women here in Seattle — it would be a short one.
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The grandeur and legacy of drag trailblazer Doris Fish
Drag superstars have become household names. RuPaul, Trixie Mattel, Bianca Del Rio, Ben DeLaCreme — chances are you’ve probably heard of at least one of them. But before Drag Race dominated the zeitgeist, there was Doris.
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How one conversation changed the life of a RadioActive alum
Today, we’re revisiting a feature story from RadioActive alum April Reyes. It’s about how one conversation with a classmate changed Reyes’s junior year, and ultimately — her life.
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Trying to count unhoused people in WA is 'like nailing water to the wall,' experts say
How many unhoused people live in Washington state? It seems like a relatively simple question — especially since it’s the basis for so many important decisions. But figuring out the answer is tough.
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What Arizona v. Navajo Nation could mean for tribal rights in the West and beyond
Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Arizona v. Navajo Nation. The court’s decision could have significant implications for the water rights of tribes across the country, including here in the Pacific Northwest.
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Representation sold separately: New American Girl dolls overlook Seattle's diversity
For Soundside producer Noel Gasca, two new American Girl dolls prompted her to think about who gets to represent Seattle — even in doll form — and reexamine her own relationship with her favorite childhood toy.
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Springtime with Ciscoe Morris
Gardening Legend Ciscoe Morris joins Soundside to talk about the advent of spring and to answer listener questions.
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Amazon makes move to disrupt the health care industry
Late last month, Amazon closed a $3.9 billion deal to acquire One Medical, a membership-based primary care practice. The provider, which was founded in 2007, leans heavily on technology for care, using things like telehealth visits and apps for scheduling appointments. The acquisition is a big step for Amazon but not a surprising one.
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How WA food banks are handling a hunger cliff
Emergency Benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — better known as SNAP — have ended. The change in federal law affects more than half a million households in Washington, representing a loss of about $95 million a month in food assistance.