Courtney Flatt
Senior CorrespondentCourtney Flatt has worked as an environmental reporter at NWPB since 2011. She has covered everything from environmental justice to climate change.
She began her journalism career at The Dallas Morning News. Later, she earned her master’s in convergence journalism at the University of Missouri and developed a love for radio as a producer at KBIA, an NPR member station in Columbia, Missouri.
In her free time, Courtney enjoys exploring the outdoors. You can find her hiking, kayaking or biking all over the Northwest.
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In Washington state, climate change is expected to bring lower stream flows, warmer winter temperatures and less snowpack in lower elevations. That’s according to a presentation from the state’s climatologist. -
Sockeye numbers are coming in stronger for the Yakima River. That’s months after construction crews in the Tri-Cities removed a land-bridge. It caused the mouth of the river to stagnate. -
If you’d like to know just how bad the smoke in your area could get, an interactive map could help. The tool from Washington State University is part of an air quality project for the Northwest. -
Congressman Dan Newhouse, who represents Central Washington in the U.S. House, is retiring. His district is a longstanding Republican stronghold. And now, 11 candidates say they want to take his seat. -
A proposed wind project on Washington’s Palouse has raised various concerns. But now, it’s drawing support from some Nez Perce tribal members. -
A draft water supply forecast predicts that in the future, the Columbia Basin will have less water available in the summer and early fall. -
Some drinking water in Kennewick still has high levels of “forever chemicals.” Since 2024, the city has found PFAs chemicals above state standards. -
An engineer in Mosier, Oregon, is developing a new way to keep property safe during wildfires. He’s tested his wildfire sensors out on his land and at prescribed burns. -
Drastically fewer sockeye are returning to the Upper Columbia than expected. That’s why Washington isn’t allowing sockeye fishing this season there. -
Time's up for many schools in Washington to test drinking water for lead. Turns out, some lead contamination at older schools is more common than you think – but fixes are in the works.
