Ryan Heinsius
Executive ProducerRyan joined KNAU's newsroom as executive producer in 2013. He covers a broad range of stories from local, state and tribal politics to education, economy, energy and public lands issues, and frequently interviews internationally known and regional musicians. Ryan is an Edward R. Murrow Award winner and a frequent contributor to NPR.
Before making the leap to public radio, Ryan spent more than a decade in print media as the editor of an alternative weekly paper. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University in political science and journalism and has also returned to teach at his alma mater.
Ryan is a Flagstaff-based musician and has performed and recorded with many bands in the Southwest. He spends as much time as possible with his wife, daughter and dog hiking and cycling the amazing terrain of northern Arizona and the West.
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Construction crews have begun a major flood mitigation project north of Flagstaff. It follows two devastating wildfires last summer that put some 1,500 homes in danger of catastrophic flooding. -
The U.S. Forest Service is currently trapping wild horses in eastern Arizona for an eventual online auction. It comes at the height of foaling season and advocates worry it could put the animals in danger.
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A push to establish a new national monument near the Grand Canyon gained steam recently with the visit of U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. For years, tribes and environmentalists have advocated for added protections in the area.
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The Navajo Nation has begun an effort to assist victims of an alleged Medicaid fraud scheme that impacted thousands of tribal members. The new emergency outreach program has already begun work in the Phoenix metro area.
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Gov. Katie Hobbs and others say fake health care providers have defrauded the state out of hundreds of millions of dollars while allegedly targeting Indigenous communities.
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A bill introduced in Congress would permanently raise pay and other benefits for wildland firefighters. It comes as temporary increases are set to expire in the coming months.
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A cross-section of tribal leaders, law enforcement, advocates and others held a hearing this week in northern Arizona as part of a national effort to combat the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
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President Joe Biden has declared today Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. In recent years on May 5 advocates have brought added attention to the continued epidemic of unsolved cases throughout Indian Country.
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The musical duo Sway Wild is scheduled to perform in Flagstaff on Saturday. It’s a homecoming of sorts for musicians Mandy Fer and Dave McGraw, to the place where they formed their band more than a dozen years ago. They have a passionate following of fans and are known for their ethereal vocal harmonies and heartfelt live shows. In the latest installment of KNAU’s series Eats and Beats, Sway Wild talks about their longtime musical partnership and artistic evolution.
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Rain after big fires last year had whole neighborhoods in Flagstaff, Ariz., sandbagging to protect homes. Near-record snowpack in the mountains are threatening to test larger scale flood controls.
