Diana Opong
Reporter
About
Diana Opong is a general-assignment reporter at KUOW who focuses on telling the stories that matter to listeners in our region. From what’s going on with the weather, to history-making moments in the world of ballet. Curiosity grounds her understanding, and that desire to know more is the foundation of how she researches, writes, and collaborates with her colleagues. Diana also works as a freelance host for NPR's Life Kit, and a news reporter for NPR News.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, conversational Ashanti Twi
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: Member of SBJA, PMJA, SPJ, AIR Media
Stories
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A night on patrol with Seattle's 'real-life superheroes'
A group of volunteer vigilantes are fighting crime in the dark of the night. Soundside producer Alec Cowan recently joined two heroes on patrol to hear more about the work local superheroes are doing.
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As a teen, they found belonging at this LGBTQ+ youth center. Now, they're paying it forward
Soundside revisits a story produced by RadioActive alum Avery Styer back in 2016. Eight years ago, Avery took us to a space in Capitol Hill that had a special spot in their life - Lambert House, a community center for LGBTQ+ youth. Since that original story, Avery has aged out of the youth programs Lambert House currently offers, but that doesn’t mean they’ve moved on.
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Can King County actually close its youth jail? It's not so simple, audit finds
In 2020, amid racial justice protests, King County Executive Dow Constantine vowed to close a newly-built youth detention facility in the next five years. A new county audit of the facility, called the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center, points out the complications of actually accomplishing Constantine’s goal.
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What former Binance CEO's money laundering conviction could mean for crypto crime
This week a Seattle federal court sentenced Changpeng Zhao -- founder and former CEO of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance -- to four months in prison. In contrast to the high-profile case of FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, who used his crypto exchange to defraud billions of dollars from its users, Zhao pled guilty to not doing more to prevent money laundering on his exchange.
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Washington spends big on early education. So, why is it so hard to get your kid into preschool?
Washington ranked 33rd in preschool access for 4-year-olds. Yet Washington ranks eighth in terms of spending. So, what gives?
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Hear it again: How Stephanie Land took on hunger and higher education
In this encore broadcast, Soundside guest host Diana Opong revisits a conversation with author Stephanie Land. Land had just published a book about her experience of going to college as a single mother, and the struggles she faced working towards her degree. Her second book is titled “Class, A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education.”
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TikTok creators in Western Washington consider the potential impact of a national ban
A new law that could outlaw TikTok in the U.S. in 2025 has content creators in Western Washington worried about the future of their business model.
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Films directed by women are the rule, not the exception, at CASCADIA film fest in Bellingham
A film fest this weekend in Bellingham is dedicated to highlighting distinct and diverse works from women filmmakers from around the world. It’s called The CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival and it kicked off Thursday, April 25. Soundside guest host Diana Opong caught up with a panel of CASCADIA featured directors to discuss their experiences as filmmakers, and to explore what can be done to expand representation behind the camera.
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Nurses, technicians, and medical assistants win payout from Providence
Tens of thousands of Providence nurses, technicians, and medical assistants are about to get their slice of a big payout — totaling $220 million. That major chunk of change comes as part of a verdict in a class action wage theft lawsuit. It was filed on behalf of hourly workers against Providence Health & Services.
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Is there life on... Saturn? A small moon orbiting the sixth planet has scientists' attention
One of Saturn's 146 moons is at the center of newly energized interest in the search for life in space.