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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Washington state clean-energy funds re-frozen by Trump White House
More than $500 million in federal funding for clean energy in Washington state is being held up by the Trump Administration.
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'The purge has begun.' Environmental justice workers locked out of EPA Seattle office
Nine Environmental Protection Agency employees in Seattle have been put on leave by the Trump Administration because they work on environmental justice.
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Stop international work, Trump administration tells ocean agency
The Trump administration has told federal ocean and atmosphere scientists to stop their international work.
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Does that orca have a baby bump? Drones can tell from the air
Orcas, like humans, get baby bumps in the early months of pregnancy and grow larger as the pregnancy advances. Researchers say they can now spot those underwater baby bumps from the air and keep better tabs on the maternal health of whales.
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Bellingham shoppers dubious of US-Canada trade war
Consumers and officials on both sides of the northern border have been bracing for a trade war since Saturday, when U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order to impose a 25% border tax on most Canadian imports and a 10% import tax on Canadian oil, natural gas, and electricity.
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Sleetless in Seattle: City gets little rain and no snow this dry January
Whether you’ve been drinking alcohol or abstaining, it’s been an exceptionally dry January in the Seattle area.
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Washington legislators look to crack down on environmental crime
A bill before the Washington state Senate would make intentional water pollution, air pollution, and spilling of hazardous waste felonies.
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Trump’s proposed Canada tariff could boost Northwest energy bills
President Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Canadian imports could be an expensive proposition for the Pacific Northwest, which depends heavily on its northern neighbors for energy supplies.
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Pacific Northwest’s busiest volcano predicted to erupt by end of 2025
Thanks to a dense array of sensors on the volcano’s summit and flanks, scientists know that Axial Seamount has been swelling with magma and getting taller, a sign that it’s ready to go off.
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Role reversal: Avian flu makes birds a menace to cats
Scientists and volunteers with the Olympic Cougar Project said they have the opportunity now to study bird flu in wild animals – to hopefully prevent it from spreading to people.
