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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Business
Boeing's 737 Max woes could hit Renton hard
If Boeing has to reduce or halt production of the 737 Max, it would be a big deal for the aviation sector and an even bigger deal in the town where the MAX planes are made: Renton.
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Environment
Salmon catch airlift toward spawning grounds after rock slide blocks their way
An emergency operation is under way to help salmon fly – and help orcas not run out of food.
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Environment
Escargot to hell, Port of Tacoma tells invasive snail
The Port of Tacoma has been waging a slow war against (wait for it) a snail.
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Environment
Air agency: Tacoma gas plant not a climate threat. Science: yes it is
Environmentalists have soured on natural gas. It used to be viewed as a promising step in the transition from dirtier fuels like coal and oil toward a climate-friendly future.
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Environment
Baby wipes, tree roots led to 165,000-gallon sewage spill at Golden Gardens
Wading at Golden Gardens? Safe again. Flushing baby wipes? Never safe
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Environment
Endangered orcas have been missing for 8 weeks. This is unprecedented, researchers say
It all comes back to chinook salmon.
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Environment
Sedan overboard! How the sea floor got littered with cars off the Northwest coast
Dotting the sea floor is something you wouldn’t expect in this remote and watery wilderness: crushed cars, with Canadian bumper stickers and license plates.
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Environment
Washington tribes and Inslee alarmed by Canadian pipeline approval
Expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline to the Vancouver, B.C., area would boost tanker traffic in Washington waters, poses threat to orcas.
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Environment
What are that new baby orca’s chances of surviving?
The calf, still ruddy and wrinkled from its time in the womb, brings the endangered population of southern resident killer whales up to 76.
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Environment
Meet Washington's newest endangered species
Some endangered species in Puget Sound are almost as big as a school bus. Others can fit in the palm of your hand.