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.

‘Boy in the tent’ enters school for the first time at age 10: ‘I want to go back’

The "boy in the tent" walked through school doors for the first time ever on Tuesday.
3 hours ago

Rick Rizzs reflects on 9/11, Legacy Plaza statue as Mariners broadcaster enters final weeks behind the mic

Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 attacks brought the nation and its pastime to a standstill, the Seattle Mariners on Thursday unveiled Legacy Plaza at T-Mobile Park.
5 days ago

Conan O’Brien’s longtime assistant talks ‘World’s Worst Mom,’ IVF and parenting twin boys ahead of Seattle appearance

Discover Sona Movsesian's insights on motherhood, IVF, and her journey with Conan O'Brien in her bestselling memoir before Seattle event.
7 days ago

Venezuela oil deal won’t help gas prices for years while Iran conflict drives them even higher

The U.S. oil agreement with Venezuela will take years to lower gas prices, and renewed strikes in the Strait of Hormuz are pushing costs higher.
9 days ago

86 of 114 King County juvenile cases diverted in July — prosecutors say context matters

The vast majority of juvenile cases diverted from traditional prosecution in King County last month involved low-level misdemeanors that state law required prosecutors to keep out of court, according to new data released by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
9 days ago

‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ cast reveals how Victorian-era magic powers Broadway’s biggest play in Seattle

The six-time Tony Award-winning play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" has conjured its way to the Pacific Northwest, opening a three-week engagement at Seattle's Paramount Theatre through Sept. 12.
12 days ago

‘He’s absolutely spot on’: Former Republican AG backs Nick Brown’s fight to preserve mail-in voting

McKenna said the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting to move forward could create chaos ahead of the November midterm elections.
14 days ago

WA law makes it ‘next to impossible’ to prosecute laser strikes on aircraft, King County prosecutors say

Hundreds of laser strikes on aircraft are reported in Washington each year, but prosecutors said the laws makes it nearly impossible to hold anyone accountable.
16 days ago

Gas prices hit record highs for August as Ukraine, Iran conflicts drive costs up

The national average price of gasoline stood at $4.05 a gallon Monday, the highest ever recorded this late in the calendar year.
16 days ago

City of Lakewood puts police chief on leave

The City of Lakewood has put its police chief on leave.
20 days ago

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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months ago