Frank Lenzi

KIRO News Director

Frank Lenzi

News Director KIRO Radio

About

Frank Lenzi runs the newsroom at KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. He has spent nearly two decades covering the people, politics, and problems of the Puget Sound region. He came to Seattle from Portland, Oregon in 2008 and never left. Frank’s reporting is shaped by a belief that local journalism should be useful — that a story should tell you something you didn’t know, about a place you care about, from someone willing to dig. That belief was forged in part by personal loss: his brother, Maj. Gregory L. Stone, was killed serving with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division during the Iraq War. Telling Gregg’s story — and the stories of others like him — remains the work Frank is most proud of. He is also unreasonably passionate about Depeche Mode, AC/DC, and the career of Roger Federer.

Expertise

  • Journalism
  • Radio and Web Reporting
  • Radio News Anchoring

Experience

News Director, KIRO Newsradio (December 2024 – Present)

  • Leads the KIRO Newsradio team with a focus on excellence in journalism and storytelling

Program Director/News Director, KOMO Radio (now KNWN)

  • Held roles including Morning Editor, Managing Editor, News Director, and Program Director

Managing Editor/Reporter/Anchor, AM 860 KPAM

  • Progressed from Morning Editor to Managing Editor at Portland’s news talk station

Newsroom Staff, 1190 KEX Portland

  • First commercial radio job in Portland’s heritage station newsroom

High School Radio (1991)

  • Began radio career at age 15 on a high school station

Education

Bachelor of Arts, University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, 1997

Certifications

Achievements & Awards

  • Led teams at KPAM and KOMO Radio that won multiple awards for breaking news, best newscast, and overall excellence

Social Media Profiles

Gov. Ferguson, AG Brown sue GEO Group over alleged denial of health inspections at Tacoma ICE facility

Gov. Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown are suing GEO Group, the private company that runs the Northwest ICE Processing Center.
4 months ago

Lawmakers move to dissolve King County homeless agency after audit finds $13M in mismanaged funds

Efforts to shut down the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) are gaining momentum.
4 months ago

Pioneer Square to become ‘walkable pedestrian zone’ during World Cup

Seattle’s Pioneer Square will be turned into a “walkable pedestrian zone” during this summer’s FIFA World Cup matches at Lumen Field, city officials announced this week.
4 months ago

FEMA rejects hazard mitigation funding after Washington’s December storms

The federal government has rejected part of Gov. Bob Ferguson’s request for FEMA relief funding related to last December’s storms.
4 months ago

Man found shot on porch in Kent’s East Hill neighborhood

A man was found lying on his porch with gunshot wounds Friday in Kent's East Hill neighborhood.
4 months ago

Audit finds security gaps, training issues at King County Medical Examiner’s Office

The King County Medical Examiner's Office has some changes to consider after the findings of a recent audit were released.
4 months ago

Seattle parents clash with school district over Adams Elementary principal appointment

Tensions flared more than once this week over the newly appointed principal of Seattle's Adams Elementary School, located in Ballard.
4 months ago

FEMA awards nearly $21M for flood mitigation in WA, OR

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced nearly $21 million for long-term flood mitigation work in Washington and Oregon.
4 months ago

Honduran national sentenced to more than 4 years for trafficking 28 pounds of meth, 10,000 fentanyl pills

A Honduran national faces more than four years in prison for involvement in a meth and fentanyl drug trafficking operation.
4 months ago

‘Rest in peace, Oso’: Arlington’s first patrol dog, named to honor Oso landslide victims, has died

K9 Oso, a retired Arlington Police dog named to honor the victims of the 2014 Oso landslide, has died at the age of 13.
4 months ago

‘Do not respond’: Kitsap County warns of fraudulent emails impersonating purchasing manager

The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office is warning residents and vendors: "Do not respond."
4 months ago

Man stabbed near Seattle homeless camp in ‘stranger on stranger’ attack; suspect at large

A man was stabbed near a Seattle homeless camp in what police are calling a "stranger on stranger" attack, and the suspect is still at large.
4 months ago

Small plane lands on Vancouver, WA freeway, blocking traffic

A small plane made an emergency landing on a Vancouver, Washington, freeway Saturday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP).
4 months ago

BP Cherry Point refinery ‘incident’ leaves three hurt in Blaine

Three people were hurt at the BP Cherry Point refinery in Blaine Saturday morning. A BP spokesperson said there was an “incident” but did not provide details. According to Cascadia Daily News, people at the refinery and in Birch Bay heard an explosion around 10:20 am. “These individuals have now been treated and released. All […]
4 months ago

Pilot injured after small plane makes emergency landing in Auburn

A small plane made an emergency landing in Auburn on Saturday, police said. According to a post on the Auburn Police Facebook page, the small aircraft took off from California and experienced engine trouble. The pilot tried to land in Renton but decided it would be safer to land in Auburn, the post said. “While […]
4 months ago

Medical examiner looking to identify man found dead near Medina under SR 520 Bridge

Authorities are asking for the public’s help to identify a man found dead near Medina under the SR 520 bridge earlier this year.
4 months ago

Jealousy apparent motive in deadly Kent stabbing

Jealousy appears to have been the motive behind a deadly stabbing last week in Kent.
4 months ago

5M pounds of trash, 600K needles removed in Seattle ahead of World Cup

Seattle is ramping up trash cleanup efforts ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
4 months ago

‘Bicycle Weekends’ coming to Lake Washington Boulevard

Bicycle Weekends are returning to Lake Washington Boulevard, each weekend starting Memorial Day through Labor Day.
5 months ago

Switchblade incident sends crowds fleeing along Seattle waterfront; suspect arrested

Dozens of people ran away from a man with a switchblade along the Seattle waterfront Wednesday afternoon.
5 months ago

Committee votes to boost Seattle library levy by $70M

A Seattle City Council committee has voted to expand Mayor Wilson’s proposed library levy, raising it from $410 million to nearly $480 million.
5 months ago

Murder suspect arrested on Ballard Bridge while drawbridge was open

Seattle police arrested a man wanted on a second-degree murder warrant Tuesday night on the Ballard Bridge while the bridge was open.
5 months ago

Washington declares statewide drought emergency after warm winter cuts snowpack in half

Washington's snowpack is at half its normal level. The governor has declared a statewide drought emergency heading into summer.
5 months ago

72-year-old WA man survives crocodile attack during scuba diving trip in Cozumel

One minute, a 72-year-old Richland man was enjoying a swim. The next, his right arm was in a crocodile's mouth.
5 months ago