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Libby Denkmann

Host, Soundside

About

Libby Denkmann has covered veterans' issues, homelessness, and local politics during her radio journalism career. She became the host of KUOW's Soundside in November 2021. Previously she was a producer, reporter, anchor, and host for stations KIRO, KFI, and KPCC in Seattle and Los Angeles. During a yearlong hiatus from journalism in 2011, she worked as a congressional staffer in Washington, D.C.. Libby was born in Seattle, grew up on the eastside, and graduated from the University of Washington. Her favorite things include soccer, video games, and her dog, Monty.

Location: Seattle

Languages: English, limited Japanese and Portuguese

Pronouns: she/her

Stories

  • caption: In this photo taken June 4, 2018, the downtown skyline is shown from the South Hill in Spokane, Wash.
    Government

    District judge halts sweeps of Camp Hope in Spokane

    Camp Hope is the largest homeless encampment in Spokane, at one time hosting seen as many as 600 residents. City, county, and state officials have been trying to move residents elsewhere, but exactly when and where has yet to be determined. Meanwhile, scheduled sweeps that would have cleared out the encampment have been delayed.

  • computer code generic
    Technology

    How will ChatGPT change the future of information?

    It’s hard to describe exactly what just what ChatGPT is. In the tech world you might call it an advanced natural language model. But to those on the outside, it feels like a kind of magical black box. We’ve lived with different versions of this kind of programming for a while now, but something seems different about ChatGPT, with some comparing it to a new industrial revolution, and as big as the discovery of electricity.

  • crop crops farm farming produce
    Health

    The added challenges of getting mental health care as a farmworker

    Getting care can already be difficult when you live in a rural area — but there’s also a stigma surrounding discussions of mental health and self care in the agricultural industry. And getting proper care for your mental needs depends on what work you do, and who you are.

  • caption: Photographs of Breonna Taylor, Charleena Lyles, George Floyd, Daunte Wright and Manuel Ellis are shown included in a vigil that remains near the intersection of 11th Avenue and East Pine Street on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, in Seattle.
    Government

    Onboarding progresses slowly for new Office of Independent Investigations

    In Washington state's legislature, the killing of Manuel Ellis in March 2020 by Tacoma Police helped propel a police reform package of more than a dozen bills. One of those bills created The Office of Independent Investigations, or OII, which was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee in 2021. This is the first office of its kind in the nation, with plans to train civilian investigators to watchdog the use of deadly force by police throughout the state.