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 Linda Thomas
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Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

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New 97.3 KIRO FM Host

October 4, 2010 @ 11:31 am (Updated: 3:46 pm - 3/28/11 )

Seattle media veteran Bill Radke will return to the Northwest as host of Seattle's Morning news from 5:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Bonneville Media made the announcement Tuesday. He'll join me with the morning news beginning on November 1st. Tony Miner, who's been filling in for the past few months, will continue with the station. And for Radke, this is "coming home."

RadkeRadke, 45, moved to the Seattle area first when he was 15 and his military father gave his family the choice of moving to Wichita, Kansas or Seattle for a job with Boeing.

"That was an easy call," says Radke, who went to high school in Federal Way, and attended PLU before transferring to the University of Washington. Along the way, grew up listening to KIRO radio and was an intern at the station while he was in college.

He also hit the Northwest comedy circuit in the late '80s after he watched several stand up comics and thought, "I may never be good, but I can be better than that guy."

In 1992, Radke won the Seattle comedy competition and that opened the door to hosting KUOW FM's Morning Edition program from 1991-2004. He created and hosted the weekly news satire show Rewind and is currently the host of NPR's Marketplace Morning Report. He's author of the book Seattle, and he wrote a weekly humor column for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Radke is excited to move back to Seattle with his wife, twin sons and daughter. His three-year-old was a little reluctant to leave Los Angeles at first. She wanted to stay there until she saw a YouTube video of people throwing fish at Pike Place Market.

"Her opposition didn't run very deep," he says.

Along with seeing friends and seven siblings who still live in the Seattle-area, Radke is looking forward to getting caught up on events in the Northwest.

"I'm assuming nothing's changed," Radke says. "As long as I can go to The Lusty Lady with Mayor Greg Nickels and watch the Mariners in the playoff this fall. I can't wait."

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Comments (19)


  • Add A Comment

  • gomariners wrote...
    hmm
    October 4, 2010 11:04 am
    When I saw the headline I was hoping the new host would be in the 3-7 timeslot.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jpetro wrote...
    I will
    October 4, 2010 11:13 am
    miss Tony....He has a great radio voice (although I know he is stayin on). Bill seems pretty cool though! I would rather see him take the 9-12 slot myself. :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mrcleanmrclean wrote...
    Good bye, Tony!
    October 4, 2010 11:46 am
    Tony will be greatly missed!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Musicgal wrote...
    Welcome back
    October 4, 2010 11:51 am
    I went to high school with Bill; it's great to him him back in Seattle.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Musicgal wrote...
    Welcome back--with proper grammar ;-/
    October 4, 2010 11:52 am
    Typo...it's great to HAVE him back in Seattle.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Goody wrote...
    Wow
    October 4, 2010 12:18 pm
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Goody wrote...
    I guess my time is numbered!
    October 4, 2010 12:23 pm
    I never saw the warnings.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • juel wrote...
    3 to 7
    October 4, 2010 12:57 pm
    I really like Ron and Don they get me home every day.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BMC wrote...
    HB thinkin'.......agin'
    October 4, 2010 1:36 pm
    I only git a few radio stations out here. 97.3 provides some really good entertainment. Up until 'bout 3:05 PM. Don't get me wrong, R&D are talented, 'jus that Don slants things in an egotistical self servin' direction and Ron 'jus seems to be along for the ride. It gets pretty old hearin' 'bout Mt Rainier an' the farm in Maple Valley for four hours, so I dial in some good 'ol fashioned rock 'n roll or hip slapin' cuntry' tunes. Kinda' feel sorry for lil' Gunner, an' the "cowgrl' I mean, how many times can y'all hear the "Katrina" thing before your head explodes. >>>>>BMC
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bill Radke wrote...
    from Bill Radke
    October 4, 2010 1:54 pm
    Thanks for the write-up, Linda. So we're clear: "I can be better than that guy" refers to the comics I was seeing on TV in 1989. My photo'd better still be on the wall of the Comedy Underground in Pioneer Square. -- BR
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }