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.

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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 months 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.
3 months 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.
3 months 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.
3 months 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.
3 months 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.
3 months 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.
4 months 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.
4 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.
4 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.
4 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.
4 months ago

Red hot Seattle Mariners hit the road; Cal Raleigh set for rehab assignment in Everett

The Seattle Mariners head to Detroit on Friday to open a 10-game road trip on the heels of one of the hottest stretches of their season, winning eight of their last nine games and sweeping back-to-back series at T-Mobile Park.
4 months ago

Seattle chef Brendan McGill closes downtown restaurants after 10 years, says city ‘slid into irrelevance’

Acclaimed Seattle chef Brendan McGill is closing the book on a decade of restaurants at downtown's Exchange Building.
4 months ago

WA gas prices drop to $5.66 as Strait of Hormuz closure hits 94 days, analyst warns of $6.50 spike

Washington gas prices decrease as Strait of Hormuz faces 94-day closure; analysts predict possible $6.50 spike in the near future.
4 months ago

Fatal Eastern Washington pellet gun shooting highlights gap in how state law treats BB guns v. firearms

A deadly shooting in Eastern Washington last week involving a pellet gun is renewing questions about how Washington law treats non-powder firearms.
4 months ago

Blue Man Group hits the Paramount Theatre this weekend with Seattle native Ursula Sargent on drums

When the Blue Man Group takes the stage at the Paramount Theatre this weekend, one of the performers powering the show won't be painted blue — but she will be coming home.
4 months ago

Pain at the pump: Seattle gas prices stuck near $6 as summer travel season kicks off

Gas prices are showing signs of relief across much of the country, but drivers in the Seattle area continue to feel the pinch at the pump.
4 months ago

Lifelong launches first-ever Seattle Pride Gala as food waitlist hits 1,600

As Pride Month approaches, Seattle-based community health organization Lifelong is partnering with Seattle Pride to launch its first-ever Pride Gala.
4 months ago