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
Swinomish Tribe builds US’s first modern ‘clam garden,' reviving ancient practice
By the time you read this story, what it describes will probably have disappeared beneath the waves. That’s how it was meant to be -- and how it used to be.
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Environment
California bans new gas cars by 2035. Northwest states to follow.
The California Air Resources Board voted Thursday to ban the sale of gasoline-powered cars by the year 2035. The move is expected to trigger big changes in the Northwest and beyond.
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Environment
Washington to phase out new gasoline-powered cars by 2035
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says the state will phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by the year 2035.
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Environment
How communities persevere through climate catastrophe
It can be hard in 2022 to look at climate issues and not feel despair. But across the country, communities are persevering through our new climate reality.
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Environment
Deepwater diesel cleanup stalls at San Juans shipwreck
U.S. Coast Guard officials say divers won’t be able to reach the Aleutian Isle, a sunken fishing boat off San Juan Island, until next week.
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Environment
Second heat wave of 2022 hits Northwest. A third is in the forecast
Much of the Pacific Northwest is under a heat advisory or heat warning through Thursday night.
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Environment
‘Incredibly lucky:' Endangered orcas dodge diesel spill off San Juan Island
A fishing boat carrying 2,600 gallons of fuel sank off the west side of San Juan Island, spreading an oily sheen for 2 miles in critical habitat for the Northwest’s endangered orcas. Researchers called it “incredibly lucky” that the whales and the diesel apparently never crossed paths.
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Environment
Behemoth moth lands in Bellevue, alarming agriculture officials
A homeowner in Bellevue spotted a giant orange moth, as big as a paper plate but with wing tips resembling a pair of cobras, hanging off the side of his garage.
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Environment
Washington heat wave kills 10. Emergency rooms treat 540 heat victims
Medical officials now believe excessive heat has killed at least 10 people in Washington state since July 25.
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Environment
Prolonged heat wave kills at least three in Seattle area, sends hundreds to ER
A six-day heat wave, the longest in Seattle history, has killed at least three people in King County, according to preliminary reports from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. Another three people have drowned in the county since Thursday.