I'm Brandon Thompson, I've been reporting for more than eight years, covering political scandals, elections big and small, and some of the nation's largest natural disasters. I have a passion for political and investigative reporting which you can catch on KIRO 7 News at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. during the week. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Littleton, Colorado, just outside of Denver. Why did you become a journalist? I was always the kid who had his nose in the local newspaper and who wanted to catch the evening news. Knowing what's happening in our communities and how we can all work to make where live a better place has always driven my reporting. What cities have you worked in during your journalism career? I started my career in a small town in western Colorado, Grand Junction at KREX 5 News . From there, I moved closer to home in Colorado Springs working for FOX21 News. Most recently, I reported and anchored for KOIN 6 News in Portland, which helped me fall in love with the Pacific Northwest. What’s the most memorable story you’ve ever covered? Sadly, the most memorable stories are sometimes the most tragic. In 2020, when wildfires were ripping through the West Coast. In Detroit Lakes, OR, I spoke to families as they tried to find anything left in the rubble of their burned down homes. In that fire, a champion of conserving the forested land that was under threat, George Atiyeh was killed. Through friends and loved ones, they reflected on the natural spaces he was able to save through his advocacy. What are you most proud of in your career in news? I'm proud of the accountability journalism I have led with in my political coverage. Being the advocate for people to their elected representatives is, in my view, the most important role of a journalist. What’s something people don’t know about you? (For example, a hidden talent, interest, fun fact, or volunteer work that’s important to you) I've been known to be a mountain climber, summitting dozens of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks. Though none are quite the commitment as Mount Rainier, I look forward to taking on that challenge now that I live in this beautiful place. What do you like to do when you’re not working? As you may have guessed, hiking is one of my favorite things to do. Really, anything in the mountains or outdoors, whether it be paddleboarding, skiing, climbing or swimming, makes me happy.