Noel Gasca
General Assignment Reporter
About
Noel is a general assignment reporter for KUOW, covering everything from city hall to pickleball. Prior to joining the newsroom, Noel worked as a producer for KUOW’s midday show Soundside. Noel has also worked as an online editor and producer with KUOW’s web team, and she’s also a proud graduate of KUOW’s RadioActive program.
Noel is an alumna of Emerson College and has interned at NPR member stations WBUR in Boston and WAMU in Washington D.C. Originally from Lake Stevens, Washington, Noel is elated to be back in the Pacific Northwest and covering the people and places that make up the state she calls home.
When she’s not working, Noel enjoys perusing Seattle’s used bookstores, practicing her kata, and discussing the lasting legacy of Selena Quintanilla’s music with anyone who will listen.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Hispanic Journalists, AIR
Stories
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What does the new climate bill mean for Washington state?
Climate scientists say it’s now or never for governments to reassess their energy policies, before it’s too late to make a difference. The US is looking at doing just that. Earlier this month, congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes almost $370 billion dollars in climate provisions that could change how we get our energy. But will those investments bring us any closer to addressing climate change in an impactful way?
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'The Queer Agenda:' A summer road trip with a purpose
For many, summer road trips are a rite of passage — and a chance to visit weird roadside attractions and eat a lot of fast food. But for a few Snohomish residents, their road trip came with a mission.
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Washington schools have $1.5 billion to spend — where will it go?
When schools shut down at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress put aside just over $13 billion in grant money for state educational agencies. New rounds of funding were approved in December 2020 and March 2021. But roughly half of the $2.6 billion allocated for schools here in Washington hasn’t been claimed yet, data published by the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction from July shows.
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Seattle chefs say 'The Bear' realistically portrays the dark side of restaurant kitchens
Running a restaurant has never been an easy business, and these last few years have been especially hard. But FX's new TV drama "The Bear" goes a level deeper than the slim financial margins that can derail a restaurant. The show has been praised for its depiction of the behind-the-scenes chaos that goes on during service.
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One year later, Afghan refugees in WA still need support to put down roots
This week marks the one year anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, following the U.S.’s military withdrawal. Life has changed for most Afghans, including those who fled the country with their families through refugee resettlement programs. Soundside caught up with one advocacy group about what the resettlement process looks like in Washington state, one year later.
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SCOTUS decision on Bremerton football coach creates uncertainty around school prayer
This year, your student may walk into their classroom and see something new: their teacher leading a silent prayer. Right now, that's legal. That's due to a decision from the Supreme Court earlier this summer.
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Move over 'Sleepless in Seattle,' it's time for 'A Splash of Love '
A new summer flick has entered the canon of great Pacific Northwest love stories, and this one has orcas.
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Seattle Pacific University sues AG Ferguson over investigation into LGBTQ+ employee ban
Seattle Pacific University is suing Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson over his investigation of SPU's hiring practices.
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Monkeypox cases are doubling in Washington, but more vaccines are on the way
The World Health Organization has declared Monkeypox a "public health emergency of international concern." There are now about five thousand confirmed cases in the United States. Here in Washington, there are currently 145 confirmed Monkeypox cases.
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Is this week's heat wave fueling your climate anxiety? Yeah, us too.
We're experiencing record temperatures in the Pacific Northwest this week. In Europe, unprecedented heat is fueling wildfires in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, France, and Germany. The new climate reality is here. For many of us, that reality is leading to feelings of hopelessness, stress, and late night doom-scrolling.