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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Health
These scientists are fighting the pandemic with sewage
Cutting-edge biomedical research sometimes begins by prying a heavy steel lid off a sewer hole.
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Environment
Think 85,000 invasive crabs is a lot? Wait 'til you see Vancouver Island
While record numbers of green crabs were found near Bellingham last year, even more of the voracious European crabs have turned up just across Washington’s watery border with Canada.
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Environment
VIDEO: Runaway tanker rolls free for 15 miles near Walla Walla, hitting 50 mph
Federal officials have launched an investigation into a runaway train car that rolled out of control for 15 miles near Walla Walla, Washington, on Tuesday.
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Environment
Washington Gov. Inslee declares European green crab emergency
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has authorized emergency actions to combat an infestation of European green crabs.
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Environment
Seattle's 'green' power violates salmon's legal rights, tribe says
It’s one of the more unusual plaintiffs you’ll see in a lawsuit: Tsuladxʷ. That’s the Lushootseed word for salmon.
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Environment
Why 2021 was a whale of a year for orca sightings
Last year was a banner year for whale watching in Washington state. That is as long as you weren't looking for the region's resident endangered orcas.
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Environment
Sea level on steroids: Record tides flood Washington coastlines
Some of the highest tides ever recorded hit Seattle and much of the Washington coast this week.
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Environment
For the Northwest, climate change was hard to ignore in 2021
Climate chaos doesn’t wait around until nothing else is going on.
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Environment
Jumping slugs: the tiny, slimy acrobats of Northwest forests
Washington and Oregon are home to a group of rare species you’ve probably never heard of. Their name alone might horrify or delight you: the jumping slugs.
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Health
Health officials pin Covid outbreaks on high school wrestling tourneys
High school wrestling tournaments have led to multiple Covid outbreaks in western Washington, according to state officials, including at least 115 cases in King and Snohomish counties alone.