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Seattle Channel’s Susan Han to retire after 18 years

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Seattle Channel’s Susan Han to retire after 18 years


Susan Han, senior producer of the public affairs program City Inside/Out at the Seattle Channel, is retiring this month after nearly two decades of covering politics and community issues in Seattle.

During her tenure, Han helped lead award-winning coverage on topics including elections, police reform, homelessness, teen sex trafficking and public health issues such as safe injection sites.

“I’m most proud of my Emmy for a fentanyl documentary produced with Brian Callanan in 2023,” Han told the Northwest Asian Weekly (NWAW). “I’m grateful for all the talented hosts and hardworking crews I’ve had the good fortune to work with, and for all the guests who said YES to coming on my shows!”

Han also co-produced Seattle Speaks, an interactive town hall series, and contributed reporting to programs including Art Zone, CityStream and Community Stories.

Colleagues and friends praised Han’s dedication and character.

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Susan Han (center) with Assunta Ng (right) and Lori Matsukawa (left). Photo from Assunta Ng.

Former KING 5 anchor Lori Matsukawa said she admired Han’s generosity, recalling that in 2006, while Han was working at KCTS, she co-chaired an Asian American Journalists Association scholarship campaign with Sanjay Bhatt that surpassed its goal ahead of schedule.

“The goal was to raise $100,000 in five years. They did it in four,” Matsukawa said.

She also praised Han’s persistence in journalism.

“She has no fear approaching politicians and other leaders to appear on her program and answer to the people. Her attitude is: That’s their job,” Matsukawa said, adding that Han “has never missed a deadline in the 500-plus shows she’s done at the Seattle Channel.”

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Assunta Ng, founder of the Northwest Asian Weekly, recalled Han’s consistent support during a difficult period in her personal life.

“What can I do?” Han asked Ng when Ng’s husband fell ill. Despite her busy schedule balancing work and family, Han began sending daily messages with humorous clips and cartoons to lift Ng’s spirits.

“Those cartoons often distract me from overthinking and being overwhelmed,” Ng said. “It brings me joy, laughter and surprises. Thank you, Susan, for being a special friend in my life.”

Han said she is looking forward to a break after a long career in television production, though the transition feels surreal.

“I’m still slightly incredulous at the idea of retiring before turning 60, but I’m excited to take a break after a productive and interesting career,” Han said.

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Over her career, Han worked at KING 5, KCTS—now Cascade PBS—and the Seattle Channel. She covered major regional developments, including the election of Gary Locke, Washington’s first Chinese American governor, the legalization of recreational marijuana, the homelessness crisis and the local impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A graduate of the University of Washington, Han has received eight regional Emmy Awards and more than 30 national NATOA awards. Beyond her newsroom work, she has been active in community and nonprofit leadership, including involvement with the Asian American Journalists Association, local parent-teacher associations and the Bellevue School District Multimedia Curriculum Advisory Committee. She has also volunteered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.



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Seattle, WA

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson mayor ripped after unveiling fleet of tiny homes likened to porta-potty drug dens

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Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson mayor ripped after unveiling fleet of tiny homes likened to porta-potty drug dens


Progressive Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is being ripped for unveiling a village of tiny homes being likened to porta-potties — with no rules stopping the homeless people who move in from doing drugs.

Wilson, 43, previewed 50 of the 70-square-foot units on Sunday — while readily conceding that she failed on her promise of having half of the 1,000 planned units ready in time for the World Cup, which starts Thursday.

The tiny units — barely bigger than a portable toilet, about the size of a jail cell and equipped with just a single bed and desk — cost $16,000 each to build, with those moving in sharing toilets and other facilities staffed 24/7.

Wilson, 43, previewed 50 of the 1,000-planned single-adult pallet homes on Sunday as part of the liberal city’s push to expand 24/7 transitional housing with wraparound services. AP Photo/Manuel Valdes

The woke mayor said the units are for homeless people suffering “complex problems related to substance abuse” or mental disorders — but without forcing them to seek help or even stay off the drugs that got them there.

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“The process of recovery is really complicated and difficult, and so, we’re not demanding that people be abstinent when they enter this village,” the Democratic socialist mayor said, according to KOMO.

“The goal is to help people successfully move from homelessness toward stability and housing; that’s exactly what this site is designed to do,” she vowed, without citing evidence.

Local advocates quickly ripped the plan, with many saying it will only make drug use more widespread there, raising the risks for anyone living nearby.

Andrea Suarez, founder of the homeless outreach organization We Heart Seattle, ridiculed the mayor’s program, saying that the drug use will add to widespread crime as “the bodies are piling up.”

“Drugs aren’t free,” she told Fox News of the “deadly” drugs like “super meth and fentanyl” that “will be allowed on this property.”

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Seattle’s lefty Mayor Katie Wilson was ripped online after unveiling a fleet of tiny homes for the homeless ahead of the World Cup. Getty Images

“So what do people have to do to fuel their addiction? They have to porch-prowl, smash and grab, retail theft, syphon gas … prostitution,” she predicted, saying locals will have to “be on lockdown.”

“It’s very hard to get better and seek treatment when the fox is guarding the henhouse,” she said, saying that the addicts will be surrounded by dealers and fellow users. “It’s very hard to get sober when everything makes you actually more comfortable being a drug addict.”

Other critics were wary of the state the homes could fall into without rules stopping them from becoming “overdose incubators.”

Digital critics also took aim at the micro-homes, comparing the tiny units to an outhouse and blasting them as “overdose incubators” that will reek of urine. AP Photo/Manuel Valdes
Residents of the 70-square-foot units are not required to undergo any behavioral or recovery treatment. AP Photo/Manuel Valdes

“Each one of these tiny houses will turn into a tiny outhouse. Good luck cleaning that human sewer up,” one naysayer fumed on X.

Another raged: “How much you willing to bet that within a year, all those tiny homes will be torn down crack houses smelling like heroin laced urine.”

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Another blasted: “Glad Katie could give drug dealers and criminals a home base for their crimes against the people of Seattle.”

Local advocates have raised concerns about potential drug use spiraling out of control. AP Photo/Manuel Valdes

“Dumb,” one critic slammed. “Now they just get to use drugs in those tiny homes. How about we get them off the drugs!!”

Wilson said an additional 25 sleeper units will be installed at the Bayside Enhanced Shelter by the end of June, with as many as 300 new pods expected citywide by summer’s end.

That still falls way short of her promise of 500 units in time for Seattle’s World Cup matches.

“Is it a failure not to have created 500 units by now? As long as there are thousands of people sleeping unsheltered on our streets, yes, we are failing,” the lefty mayor said defensively.

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Seattle, WA

Chelsea Gray Top Points vs. Seattle Storm

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Chelsea Gray Top Points vs. Seattle Storm


Chelsea Gray Top Points vs. Seattle Storm, 06/08/2026

Video Transcript

Getting some good looks, Seattle.

Just haven’t been able to drop them from outside.

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It’s 40% from the floor.

Gray down low.

Bullying High to mid.

Yeah, I think it’s pretty exciting the first few times you get to go up against your idol.

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And they are right here.

She’s gonna try and steal the ball from her right now.

Gray for three, is able to get it to drop.

to the game, she mentioned that sometimes they have the same instincts.

They cut to the same spots, and that’s gonna take time to learn each other.

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As Gray falls away.

Eight to shoot.

Gray, able to get it to drop.

Now in double figures

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Safety forces say they’re ready for World Cup in one week

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Safety forces say they’re ready for World Cup in one week


With the first World Cup match in Seattle just one week from today, a coalition of federal, state, county, and local agencies says final security preparations are in place to keep fans and visitors safe during matches, festivals, and watch parties.

Officials described the effort as an unprecedented undertaking that has been years in the making, with intensified planning over the last two years. They said Seattle has handled major events before, including a Super Bowl parade and MLB’s All-Star Week, but the World Cup’s scale and duration present a new challenge.

RELATED | Seattle mayor explains decision to turn on CCTV cameras for World Cup: ‘Credible threat’

“We’re here to discuss the most complex, the largest sporting event not only in this nation’s history but in the history of the world,” said U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Trent Heinrichs, who is serving as the federal coordinator for the World Cup in Seattle.

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Heinrichs said fans should expect heightened screening and security measures around venues and events.

“They’re going to see magnetometers, they’re going to see canines, they’re going to see explosive ordnance detection, there’s going to be robust air security. We’re going to have temporary flight restrictions in place,” Heinrichs said.

He said the Secret Service’s role includes supporting state and local partners in addition to protecting heads of state and government who may attend games.

“We haven’t dealt with anything of this size, but the collaboration gives me comfort,” said King County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Jeff Flohr.

The security footprint spans multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard, which will patrol waterways and escort ferries on match days, and FEMA, which has allocated $19 million to defend against unauthorized and dangerous drones.

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“We’ve trained and rehearsed a range of scenarios, and we have identified staging areas in the event that we need to have life-saving teams come into this area,” said the FEMA Region 10 Response Division director during a news briefing on the Seattle Waterfront.

SEE ALSO | City leaders say Seattle ready for World Cup, despite concerns with surveillance, drones

FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Seattle asks anyone who observes unsafe or improper use of a drone to please report it to the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.

The Seattle Police Department will run incident command and control throughout the event.

“There’s going to be a very strong police presence at both the stadium area as well as all of our fan celebration sites,” said SPD Capt. Dan Nelson.

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Nelson said officers will be easy to spot in special neon green shirts and will be supported by officers from 11 different police departments. He also addressed the decision to activate CCTV cameras during the World Cup, a reversal by Seattle’s mayor Katie Wilson after she learned of “general but credible threats” to safety and security.

“We always support Mayor Wilson’s decision. I think it is a good idea. You know, major events have a lot of associated dangers with them because, unfortunately, we do have bad actors in the community who are looking to use large-scale crowd gatherings to further their own cause,” Nelson said.

Officials said the World Cup will affect more than just ticket holders.

On the six match days at Seattle Stadium, planners expect up to 65,000 people inside the stadium and another 30,000 outside at fan festivals and watch parties.

The King County Sheriff’s Office and Seattle police urged the public to manage expectations and plan for congestion, including street closures around the stadium on game days. Law enforcement and local and state leaders are encouraging fans, visitors, downtown residents, and workers to use transit and, if possible, work from home.

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Extra bus routes and additional light-rail runs have been added, along with a free waterfront shuttle. The King County Sheriff’s Office said it will use two helicopters to patrol and will place deputies on light rail and Sound Transit trains, along with a heavy police presence in the area.

Officials also emphasized two key requests for the public: report suspicious activity and have fun.



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