John Ryan
Environment Reporter
About
John Ryan joined KUOW as its first full-time investigative reporter in 2009 and became its environment reporter in 2018. He focuses on climate change, energy, and the ecosystems of the Puget Sound region. He has also investigated toxic air pollution, landslides, failed cleanups, and money in politics for KUOW.
Over a quarter century as an environmental journalist, John has covered everything from Arctic drilling to Indonesian reef bombing. He has been a reporter at NPR stations in southeast and southwest Alaska (KTOO-Juneau and KUCB-Unalaska) and at the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.
John’s stories have won multiple national awards for KUOW, including the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi awards for Public Service in Radio Journalism and for Investigative Reporting, national Edward R. Murrow and PMJA/PRNDI awards for coverage of breaking news, and Society of Environmental Journalists awards for in-depth reporting.
John welcomes tips, documents, and feedback. Reach him at jryan@kuow.org or for secure, encrypted communication, he's at heyjohnryan@protonmail.com or 1-401-405-1206 on the Signal messaging app.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, some Spanish, some Indonesian
Professional Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA union member and former shop steward; Society of Environmental Journalists member and mentor
Stories
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Environment
More cuts coming to US oceans agency and its Olympic Coast sanctuary
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is planning to jettison 10 buildings it leases in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington as the agency prepares to eliminate another 1,029 employees nationwide.
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Environment
Washington state eyes disaster declaration to reopen Olympic Park’s Hoh Rainforest
In December, the Hoh River took out Jefferson County’s Upper Hoh Road, the only vehicular access to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, campground, picnic area, and trailheads. The county’s efforts to get federal aid for emergency repairs have failed, for lack of a disaster declaration.
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Environment
Snow or no? Northwest’s water outlook gets murky with federal cuts
Agencies that keep tabs on Northwest rivers and snowpack have been shedding scientists under the Trump administration.
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Environment
NOAA firings in Seattle include orca-saving employee of the year
Until Thursday afternoon, Hanna Miller focused on protecting whales from oil spills, ship strikes, and fishing gear. While on vacation in Hawaii, the federal biologist opened her work email on her personal phone to find she no longer had a job.
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Environment
A different kind of winter fun: tidepooling at night on Puget Sound
On a drizzly February night, dozens of people walked with headlamps and flashlights at water’s edge near the Edmonds, Washington, fishing pier. They weren’t there to catch fish or squid: They came to see the wonders that come out when the tide goes out.
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Government
'It's a terror campaign.' Federal workers in Seattle area describe snitching, secrecy under Trump
Federal workers in Seattle and across Washington state say they feel whiplash since Trump took office and issued a flurry of executive orders geared at cutting the federal government to “eliminate waste, bloat, and insularity.” KUOW spoke with 15 employees across seven agencies, most of whom agreed to speak on condition of anonymity for fear of getting fired.
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Environment
Washington state clean-energy funds re-frozen by Trump White House
More than $500 million in federal funding for clean energy in Washington state is being held up by the Trump Administration.
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Environment
'The purge has begun.' Environmental justice workers locked out of EPA Seattle office
Nine Environmental Protection Agency employees in Seattle have been put on leave by the Trump Administration because they work on environmental justice.
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Environment
Stop international work, Trump administration tells ocean agency
The Trump administration has told federal ocean and atmosphere scientists to stop their international work.
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Environment
Does that orca have a baby bump? Drones can tell from the air
Orcas, like humans, get baby bumps in the early months of pregnancy and grow larger as the pregnancy advances. Researchers say they can now spot those underwater baby bumps from the air and keep better tabs on the maternal health of whales.