Ellen Lockyer, Alaska Public Media
APTI Reporter-Producer Ellen Lockyer started her radio career in the late 1980s, after a stint at bush Alaska weekly newspapers, the Copper Valley Views and the Cordova Times. When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Valdez Public Radio station KCHU needed a reporter, and Ellen picked up the microphone.
Since then, she has literally traveled the length of the state, from Attu to Eagle and from Barrow to Juneau, covering Alaska stories on the ground for the AK show, Alaska News Nightly, the Alaska Morning News and for Anchorage public radio station, KSKA
elockyer (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8446 | About Ellen
Dry conditions spark Wasilla wildfire
A grass fire near Wasilla was reported by a pilot about 3:00 pm Wednesday. The fire had burned into the trees and had spread to about 15 acres later in the afternoon.
Big Lake Comprehensive Plan tests gravel plan
Dozens of Big Lake residents lined the hallways of the Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly chambers Tuesday night to let their voices be heard in an argument over a local gravel pit.
Mat-Su school district searching for Paramo’s replacement
Susan Pougher, President of the Mat-Su school board, says when Dr. Deena Paramo was selected as one of two finalists for the Anchorage superintendent position, Mat-Su offficials started looking ahead.
Drug enforcement discussed at Mat-Su public hearing
Few people turned out to testify at a public hearing on the Matanuska Susitna Borough budget in Wasilla Thursday night, but those who did outlined a disturbing trend. Download Audio
Anchorage Bowl Land Use Plan Map
Municipality of Anchorage planners are engaged in a project that could outline how the city will look in 20 years. In the meantime, Anchorage neighborhoods are changing. Throughout the past decade, the city has seen growth that has brought forth new challenges. This week, a team of presenters has been hosting informational sessions around town on the Anchorage Bowl Land Use Plan Map Update. On this week's Alaska Edition, these presenters will fill us in on how the community can further this discussion.
Report indicates plane flew low before fatal Birchwood crash
A plane that crashed near Anchorage killing all four aboard on April 20 was engaged in aerial photography over Birchwood at the time of the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board Wednesday released the first of three reports on the incident. Download Audio
Marijuana entrepreneurs fight an attempt to quell business growth
A bid to put the brakes on the growth of marijuana businesses in the Matanuska Susitna Borough has caused an outcry from pot entrepreneurs in the Valley. The pot bloc let the Borough Assembly know in no uncertain terms that they're going to fight back. Download Audio
What legislative decisions mean for small town AK
With the current budget bottleneck in the state legislature, there is both good and bad news for communities. Some bills that would have increased costs for local governments are on the shelf this session, while there is certainty that communities statewide will be receiving less revenue sharing. While lawmakers struggle to close the budget gap, most headlines are focused on the big picture. But what about the small screen? On this week's Alaska Edition we'll take a look at how the state's fiscal crisis is translating in small town Alaska.
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Birchwood crash victims include former NTSB investigator
Plane crash victims well-known locally.
Fatal Birchwood plane crash currently under investigation
A plane crash near Birchwood takes four lives. Download Audio
Plane crashes in Birchwood, 4 fatalities reported
Emergency crews from the Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage Fire Department and investigators are on the scene of a plane crash site at Beach Lake Road in Birchwood.
Leaf Lake fire under investigation
A 25-acre wildfire along the Kink River is the latest indication that the state's forest fire season is getting a head start. Norm MacDonald, an fire management officer with the state division of forestry in Palmer, says the fire, reported late Saturday, is about 10 percent contained as of Monday morning.
AK: Mayuri dancers bring Bollywood to Anchorage
Where ya gonna go when looking for a professional dance group to demonstrate the intricacies of traditional Indian dance? Russia, of course. Or that's what the Asian Alaskan Cultural Center did to bring Mayuri, a group of twenty or so young dancers, to Anchorage. The the troupe performed for high schools this week and for the public Friday evening at the Alaska Performing Arts Center.
The impacts of childhood trauma on overall health
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. On this week's Alaska Edition, we look at the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, or ACEs study, and the link between childhood trauma and health issues later in life. Studies have shown that these experiences lead to a wide variety of problems including asthma, cancer and arthritis. The good news is that research show that these effects can be reversed.
Chugiak Sen. Stoltze announces he won’t run for reelection
Senator Bill Stoltze announced on the Senate floor today that he will not seek re-election. The Chugiak Republican cited health concerns, although he clarified that he was not dealing with an immediate health threat. Download Audio
Port expenses rattle Mat Su taxpayers
Matanuska Susitna Borough taxpayers question how much of their money is being spent to fund Port MacKenzie operations. Download Audio
Anchorage Municipal Elections: What passed and what didn’t?
Voters headed to the polls on Tuesday in Anchorage to cast their votes for assembly seats, school board members and a number of ballot issues. Ellen Lockyer discusses what the outcome means for Anchorage on this week's Alaska Edition.
Colony High School celebrates Big Apple opportunity
Colony High School students got a big surprise on Thursday. Colony high students were called in to a special assembly meeting Thursday after lunch. When they got there, they got the news that has been kept secret for some time. And the result was pandemonium.
Late-night conditions preempt firefighting efforts at McHugh Creek
Anchorage firefighters were alerted to a forest fire near McHugh Creek south of the city late Wednesday night. The fire was at least 45 minutes up a trail on the North side of the creek but did not appear to be growing rapidly. Due to the location, darkness and weather conditions, crews couldn't respond until this morning to extinguish it. Download Audio