Host, Seattle's Morning News

Charlie Harger

About

I’m a journalist with more than 30 years of experience covering the stories that shape life in western Washington. I host Seattle’s Morning News on KIRO Newsradio, where I help listeners start their day informed, prepared, and sometimes even entertained.

My reporting has earned multiple national and regional awards, including several Edward R. Murrow Awards. I’ve also been named APTRA’s Radio Reporter of the Year and recognized for investigative reporting on major stories like the Boeing 737 MAX crisis and interviews with serial killer Gary Ridgway.

I specialize in making complex issues understandable, focusing on how news affects real people. I’m a fourth-generation western Washington resident and have called Auburn home for over a decade.

Before hosting, I served as News Director at KIRO, worked at KOMO for nearly two decades, and taught journalism at Green River College. I take news seriously — but believe the best reporting connects on a human level.

Expertise

  • Broadcast Journalism and Storytelling
  • Investigative and Accountability Reporting
  • Community Impact and Public Service Journalism

Experience

  • Host, Seattle’s Morning News – KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • News Director – KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • Reporter and Anchor – KOMO Newsradio
  • Broadcast Instructor – Green River College
  • Communications and Digital Media – Microsoft and tech startups

Education

B.A., Communications – Thomas Edison State University
M.S., Strategic Communication – Arkansas State University

Achievements & Awards

  • Edward R. Murrow Award – Hard News (2020)
  • Edward R. Murrow Award – Continuing Coverage (2019)
  • APTRA Award – Best Investigative Reporting (2019, 2014)
  • Edward R. Murrow Award – Best Newswriting (2015)
  • APTRA Award – Radio Reporter of the Year (2015)
  • APTRA Award – Best Spot News Coverage (2015)
  • Edward R. Murrow Award – Best Documentary (2014)
  • APTRA Award – Enterprise Coverage (2014)
  • Emmy Nomination – Investigative Journalism (2014)

Social Media Profiles

WA millionaire income tax: Will Senate Bill 6346 pass before the 2026 session ends?

Eight days remain in the 2026 Washington legislative session, and Senate Bill 6346, the proposed millionaire income tax, still hasn't reached the House floor.
5 months ago

Harger: Seattle gas prices hit $4.62 a gallon. Idaho is paying $3.15. That difference didn’t come from Iran

The Seattle average this morning is $4.62 a gallon, according to AAA. The national average is $3.20. We're paying $1.42 more than the rest of the country.
5 months ago

B.C. ends daylight saving time permanently in 2026. WA is still waiting on Congress

Washington has wanted to end daylight saving time permanently for six years. Its neighbor to the north just did it.
5 months ago

Harger: Seattle small businesses say things are worse than during COVID-19. Nobody in Olympia or City Hall seems to care.

Survey reveals Seattle small business struggles are worsening, raising concerns for the local economy and community.
5 months ago

Harger: WA doubled spending over 10 years. Every major metric got worse, but Olympia still wants more

Washington spending has more than doubled in the past 10 years, from $81.8 billion to $173.5 billion.
5 months ago

Whidbey Island Growlers now flying combat missions against Iran

EA-18G Growlers from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island are now actively involved in the U.S. military operation against Iran.
5 months ago

Harger: Pounds and pounds of stripped copper wire insulation recovered from Seattle homeless camp cleanups

Video sent to KIRO Newsradio showed pounds and pounds of wire insulation hauled out of a Seattle encampment cleanup.
5 months ago

Harger: Bellevue just cut property crime by 33%. Seattle should study every word of this report

In 2025, property crime in Bellevue plummeted by 33%. Think about that. One-third of the thefts, break-ins, and burglaries just evaporated.
5 months ago

Auburn family finds missing 13-year-old with autism who left home in the middle of the night

A 13-year-old boy from Auburn, who slipped out of his home on his bike in the early morning hours Thursday, has been found in North Seattle.
5 months ago

Harger: Amazon keeps shrinking in Seattle. Mayor Katie Wilson hasn’t even started taxing yet

Amazon keeps shrinking in Seattle, and Bellevue keeps winning. Mayor Katie Wilson's tax agenda is just warming up, and Olympia is working on an income tax.
5 months ago

Harger: Copper wire theft is crippling Sound Transit. Olympia had a fix, but they didn’t vote on it

The legislation that could have helped curbed copper wire theft died last week in Olympia without ever getting a vote.
5 months ago

Harger: Trump calls Democrats ‘crazy’ in 2026 State of the Union address, missing a chance to unite the country

Trump had one of the largest audiences of his presidency Tuesday night. With millions of Americans watching at home, he used it to call Democrats crazy.
5 months ago

Loren Culp’s back was broken during an arson arrest last week. The suspect is already out of jail.

Loren Culp, former gubernatorial nominee, suffered a broken back during an arrest. The suspect is already released from custody.
5 months ago

Harger: They call it a ‘millionaire tax.’ It’s income tax. And they won’t let you vote on it.

Olympia may pass a bill on a topic voters have rejected 10 times, using a procedural move that makes sure you can't reject it quickly — the millionaire tax.
5 months ago

Recall petition filed against Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus over sex offender letter, ethics concerns

An Auburn resident has filed a petition to remove Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus from office, citing her support letter for a convicted child sex offender.
5 months ago

Norwegian Bliss, Seattle-based summer cruise ship, cancels Mexico stop after cartel leader killed

Norwegian Bliss, Seattle's summer cruise ship, cancels Mexico stop, impacting travel plans for many vacationers heading to Alaska.
5 months ago

Harger: I was just there when Puerto Vallarta was beautiful. Days later, it was on fire.

Five days ago, I was watching the sun come up over Puerto Vallarta harbor. Then, the Mexican army killed El Mencho in a military operation in Jalisco state.
5 months ago

Harger: WA legislature has until Tuesday to protect kids from fentanyl. They probably won’t.

In 2023, the legislature passed the Keeping Families Together Act. The intent was good, but cops and caseworkers have taken it to an absurd extreme.
6 months ago

Harger: School be damned, this Seahawks parade will be a once-in-a-lifetime memory

The other part of my brain said something that has gotten louder as I’ve gotten older: These moments don’t wait. I’m excited to go to the Seahawks parade with my son.
6 months ago

Harger: Grocery prices in WA are already painful, but new legislative proposals could make them even worse

The Northwest Grocery Retail Association says the legislature is considering a whole stack of bills that would increase the cost of operating grocery stores in Washington.
6 months ago

Harger: Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl, a championship fueled by belief, doubt, and defiance

The Seattle Seahawks were a team nobody believed in. The national media spent all season patting us on the head. "Fun story." "Maybe next year."
6 months ago

Harger: Why the Seahawks Super Bowl run matters even if you don’t care about football

The Seattle Seahawks are headed to the Super Bowl. I know not everyone cares about football, but stay with me, because this isn't really about football.
6 months ago

Harger: The bill that could put homeless tents on your kid’s soccer field

House Bill 2489, which fundamentally limits the ability of cities and counties to clear homeless encampments, stays alive, with strong support from Democrats.
6 months ago

Harger: New WA ‘millionaires tax’ includes emergency clause blocking voter referendum

Lawmakers in Olympia introduced their income tax on millionaires this week — a 9.9% tax on individual income above $1 million, starting in 2028.
6 months ago