Manda Factor

Host, Seattle's Morning News

Manda Factor

Manda Factor has dedicated 35 years to the field of journalism, carving out a reputation as an insightful and diligent reporter and anchor. Her passion for learning about people and delivering their stories defines her career.

She grew up in Olympia and has always loved the Puget Sound area. Having attended both the University of Washington and Washington State University. Manda’s academic background laid a strong foundation for her journalistic endeavors. Her education, combined with her relentless curiosity, propels her to rise early each morning to stay ahead of the news cycle and understand the underlying stories that shape our world. She has won multiple awards from APTRA (the Associated Press) and Edward R. Murrow Awards for anchoring both breaking news and daily newscasts.

Beyond the newsroom, Manda has a rich personal life. She is an avid dog lover, sharing her home with a tiny Terrier named Frederick and a huge Plott Hound named Kermit. They run the house, but she also has a loving husband and a busy teenager who keep her on her toes. Two adult children are off and running and chasing their dreams!
In her downtime, Manda finds solace and creativity in cooking and playing the piano.

An avid supporter of Seattle’s sports teams, Manda’s enthusiasm for the city’s athletic endeavors is contagious. Whether it’s football, baseball, soccer, or hockey, she is always ready to cheer on her favorite teams. During a stint in Bellingham, she was the stadium announcer for the Bellingham Mariners.

Her motto in life…10 percent of it is what happens. 90 percent is how you deal with it. Life is beautiful.

Rick Rizzs talks Seafair grand marshal honor, Mariners accountability and the fan hit by Julio’s homer

Rick Rizzs has spent 41 years calling Seattle Mariners games. On Saturday, he will trade in the mic and be the grand marshal of the Seafair Torchlight Parade.
7 days ago

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ national tour hits Seattle: Stars speak on what makes Alicia Keys’ musical so emotional

"Hell's Kitchen," a musical from Alicia Keys, is lighting up Seattle's Paramount Theatre this week with a story about family, and the power of music.
7 days ago

Super Mario’s namesake planted the grapes behind Washington’s only 96-point scoring white wine

Of all the white wines produced in Washington, only one earned a top score from the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards. The grapes that made it were planted by the man who inspired Nintendo's most famous character.
8 days ago

From Supertramp to Seinfeld: Session guitar legend Carl Verheyen heads to Seattle’s Triple Door

Carl Verheyen has been the guitar behind some of the most recognizable music in movies, television, and rock 'n' roll for more than four decades.
10 days ago

Rick Rizzs on Mariners’ second half: ‘Get healthy’ and this team can win the AL West

Rick Rizzs entered the second half of the Seattle Mariners' season with two things on his mind: a playoff push and a finish line of his own.
14 days ago

Seattle man to run 220 miles across Iceland to raise money for Ukrainian amputees

A Seattle man plans to run 220 miles across Iceland later this month to raise money for Ukrainians who have lost limbs in the war with Russia.
14 days ago

Former WA Attorney General: Albertsons pharmacies ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’ in opioid trial

Washington opened its case Monday against grocery giant Albertsons in a trial that could force the company to pay tens of millions of dollars or more for allegedly fueling the opioid epidemic.
16 days ago

Oil prices climb 4% as Russian refinery attacks and Middle East tensions rattle energy markets

Oil prices rose 4% to start the week, climbing to around $74 a barrel as escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Ukrainian attacks.
18 days ago

Organized retail theft is closing stores in vulnerable Seattle neighborhoods, King County prosecutors warn

King County prosecutors are charging organized retail theft cases daily, but said it needs more staff and funding to keep pace with the volume of crimes.
25 days ago

Former WA AG Rob McKenna breaks down Supreme Court birthright citizenship, mail-in ballot rulings

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship and upheld state laws for mail-in ballots.
30 days ago

Seattle City Council unanimously approves plan to block Aurora Avenue streets tied to shootings, sex trade

Seattle City Council members unanimously approved an emergency plan that would block through traffic on several residential streets near Aurora Avenue N.
1 month ago

Washington posts fastest GDP growth in the U.S. to start 2026

Washington's economy grew faster than any other state's in the first three months of 2026, fueled largely by its outsized technology sector.
1 month ago

Olympia family pleads for help finding missing 15-year-old girl gone two weeks

The family of a 15-year-old Olympia girl who has been missing for more than two weeks is pleading for the public's help to bring her home.
1 month ago

Venezuelan men sentenced in ATM “jackpotting” scheme that hit Seattle banks, tied to Tren de Aragua

Two Venezuelan men were sentenced Thursday to 78 months in federal prison for their roles in a sprawling conspiracy that used malware to steal millions of dollars from ATMs across the U.S., including in Washington.
1 month ago

Rick Rizzs defends Mariners’ piggyback pitching plan as Cole Young shines in Pittsburgh homecoming

Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs sees plenty to like about Seattle's young talent, even as the team's bats go quiet against left-handed pitching.
1 month ago

Former AG Rob McKenna blames Washington’s $1.7 billion payout crisis on ‘strict liability regime’

Washington's self-insurance liability fund has fallen more than $1.7 billion into deficit, driven by a surge in large legal settlements and judgments.
1 month ago

Rob McKenna: Supreme Court’s biggest rulings on birthright citizenship, presidential power coming soon

Former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna said the U.S. Supreme Court is holding its most consequential decisions for the closing days of its term.
1 month ago

Seattle couple launches Elliott Bay Puppy Raisers to train guide dogs for the blind

Meet Flyer, a puppy with a big future. He's in training to become a guide dog for the blind, and is at the center of an effort to grow the program in Seattle.
1 month ago

Maltby Cafe and its dinner plate-sized cinnamon rolls to get new home in planned Maltby Village

The Maltby Cafe is getting a new home as part of a development that aims to keep the local landmark serving customers for another century.
1 month ago

Guide Dogs for the Blind: How ‘freedom on four legs’ transforms lives across the West

For many people who are blind, a guide dog is far more than a pet. It is, as some describe it, freedom on four legs.
1 month ago

Rick Rizzs on why the World Cup in Seattle will feel like October baseball

Rick Rizzs compared the World Cup energy to October baseball, drawing on his experience calling every Mariners playoff game.
2 months ago

50 years ago today: Paul McCartney and Wings rocked Seattle’s brand-new Kingdome

Fifty years ago today, a skinny 15-year-old squeezed onto the floor of Seattle's brand-new Kingdome to see Paul McCartney and Wings and watched rock history made in the process.
2 months ago

Seattle runner diagnosed with rare immune disease says 90% of patients don’t know they have it

A Seattle runner reveals her struggle; 90% of patients remain undiagnosed. Discover her story and raise awareness on immune diseases.
2 months ago

‘Given to Fly’: Seattle’s Brian Morrison tells the story behind his famous Western States finish-line collapse

Twenty years after one of the most dramatic collapses in ultrarunning history, Seattle's Brian Morrison has finally put his story on the page.
2 months ago