Lauren Gallup is a freelance reporter covering the South Sound region with a focus on the city of Tacoma for Northwest Public Broadcasting. Most recently, she has been covering wildfires across Washington State. After graduating from Western Washington University in June 2021, she was employed with Sound Publishing as a reporter covering Kitsap County, focusing on county government and education. Previously, she has written for South Sound Magazine, 425 Magazine, South Sound Business and 425 Business. During her time as a student, her investigative reporting on her campus’ sexual assault prevention program was featured in the Solution Journalism Network’s Solutions Story Tracker.