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 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 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

Why is Wild Waves closing? Iconic Washington amusement park shutting down for good after season

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, a Pacific Northwest summertime staple for nearly five decades, will close permanently after this season.
4 months ago

Memorial Day weekend weather: Warm, dry summer ahead as record-breaking El Niño builds in Pacific

The Pacific Northwest is on the verge of turning a corner toward a prolonged stretch of warm, dry weather, with long-range outlooks pointing to above-average temperatures.
4 months ago

Former Time Magazine editor says AI’s real revolution isn’t in Silicon Valley, but in healthcare, education, and government

Tyrangiel argued in his new book, "AI for Good," that the technology's greatest potential lies in the hands of doctors, educators, and public servants.
4 months ago

KIRO’s Angela Poe Russell debuts Bessie Coleman musical ‘Aviatrix’ in Seattle

A new musical from KIRO fill-in host Angela Poe Russell is bringing Bessie Coleman's largely untold story to the stage at Seattle Public Theater.
4 months ago

King County sees rise in domestic violence deaths as two murder-suicides hit Bellevue, Kent in 1 day

King County prosecutors are warning of a troubling rise in domestic violence-related deaths across the region after two murder-suicides happened last Tuesday.
4 months ago

Gas prices expected to rise higher ahead of Memorial Day as Strait of Hormuz closure hits 78 days

Gas prices are likely heading higher this week, even as oil markets send mixed signals in the face of escalating tensions between the U.S and Iran.
4 months ago

‘This is our time’: Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs says Seattle’s dominance over Astros is here to stay

The Seattle Mariners have turned the Houston Astros into their personal punching bag, and broadcaster Rick Rizzs says the shift in the AL West is unmistakable.
4 months ago