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
'Always get the dog’s name!'
What is Journalism Rule #1, you ask? “Always get the dog’s name” is near the top of the list.
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Environment
Hospitals brace for surge as Seattle area feels the heat
Hospitals in Washington state are bracing for a surge in heat victims coming to their emergency rooms. They hope to avoid a repeat of the 2021 heat wave, which killed an estimated 400 people in the state.
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Low tides go out a bit earlier amid heat wave, endangering fewer shellfish
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Wildfire smoke drifting into Western Washington from Canada amid heat wave
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Environment
Vancouver business to pay $40,000 after removing catalytic converters from trucks
Thieves have been sawing off catalytic converters from the undersides of cars and selling the precious metals inside them. But there’s another type of catalytic crime going on.
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Environment
Washington carbon exchange lets many big polluters off the hook
State officials are putting the final touches and taking public comment on the centerpiece of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s push to fight climate change. Critics say the state’s new system for capping greenhouse gas emissions from major polluters lets many of the worst climate offenders off the hook, forcing others to shoulder more of the burden of keeping the planet livable.
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Environment
Extreme heat wave cooked acres of shellfish, spared others, study finds
"A little light bulb went off in my head. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I need to contact my colleagues and find out what they're seeing."
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60K green crabs captured in Washington waters so far in 2022 ... that's a lot
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Environment
Low tides not as low as forecast but do not disappoint Puget Sound beachgoers
The tides weren't the lowest in a decade, but they were the lowest since a midnight in early December.
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Environment
Lowest tides in 13 years coming to Puget Sound
Puget Sound should see its lowest tides in more than a decade on Wednesday and Thursday.