Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media

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Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.

Alaska’s Top Military Commander Checks In After A Year On The Job

Alaska's top military commander, Lieutenant General Russell Handy has been on the job here for more than a year. He's overseeing ALCOM here at a time when the U.S relationship with Russia has grown frosty. In September, Russian military flights that were within 50 miles of the Alaskan and Canadian coast lines caused enough concern that F22s were sent from JBER to intercept them. Lt. General Handy says the Russian flights did not cross into the 12 mile international boundary zone and were not considered hostile. Download Audio

Reports Highlight High Rate of Violence in Alaska

Two recent reports highlight the tragically high rate of violence in Alaska. One from the FBI is a revision of how rape is defined in the state. The new definitions have resulted in much higher numbers in a state that already suffers from being the worst in the nation for sexual violence. The second report looks at the impact on Native children from exposure to violence in their homes and communities. KSKA: Friday, 11/21 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, 11/22 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, 11/21 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, 11/22 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio

Alaska Ocean Observing System Celebrates 10th Anniversary

The Alaska Ocean Observing System is celebrating it's 10th anniversary of aggregating information about ocean conditions and sharing that data with a wide range of partner organizations and other ocean users. Molly McCammon is the executive director of AOOS. A former director of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill trustee council, she was asked to head up a new ocean observing organization in 2003. McCammon says Congress wanted a better system to integrate ocean research and in 2004, AOOS was launched. She says traditional research looks at what needs to be learned, but AOOS starts with who the users are and what they need to know to make decisions. Download Audio

Scientists Report Steep Decline in Number of Polar Bears

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey are reporting a steep decline in the number of polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea. In a study published on Monday, they show the population dropped 40 percent in the first 10 years of this century.

As Final Ballot Count Looms, Potential Electees Plan Next Move

The Division of Elections will continue counting ballots today - Friday - 8 business days after the November 4th election. As Alaskans wait for final counts in especially the Governor and U.S. Senate race, the presumptive winners, Bill Walker and Dan Sullivan, are planning their way forward. However, it's important to note that as of today, Friday—neither Governor Sean Parnell or Senator Mark Begich have yet conceded, that of course could change later today based on ballot counting that will take place later today. KSKA: Friday, November 14 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 15 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 15 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio

YWCA Presents 25th Annual Women of Achievement Awards

Tonight in Anchorage the YWCA will present the 25th annual Women of Achievement award to 10 Alaskan women who have helped others. Some as well known news makers and others, who have quietly gone about the tasks of improving the lives of those around them, without much attention. Hilary Morgan is the YWCA's CEO. She says the women's advocacy organization has a theme for this year's event of honoring the past, inspiring the future. Download Audio

Filmmaker Documents Emotional Toll Of Caring For Alzheimer’s Patients

Local filmmaker Mary Katzke of Affinity Films, has taken on the subject of family members caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's Disease. Katzke says she started out documenting friends in the sandwich generation: Those with careers, children at home and also caring for aging parents but she focused in on five families dealing with Alzheimer's because of the emotional toll of caring for a family member who may not recognize you. One of those caregivers is Janet Burts, who has been caring for her mother since her father passed away in 2010. Katzke says in a state with the fastest growing elder population per capita of any other, exploring the individual decisions that each family has to make is timely. Download Audio

Who Do Voters Trust For Election-Related Information?

The elections are finally over, although in Alaska, there is still uncertainty over the U.S. Senate and Gubernatorial race outcomes. Those race results will not be clear until more than 20,000 early, absentee and questioned ballots are counted next week. KSKA: Friday, November 7 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 8 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 8 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio

‘The Fortunate Child’ Focuses On Education, Equality

A novel by first time author Archana Mishra focuses on the need to make education more readily available to women. The Anchorage resident is a Native of India and lived and worked in Australia before moving to Alaska. She says for rural women in India, indigenous people in Australia and rural women in Alaska, the need is the same. Education creates equal societies. Mishra is an attorney and says all of the women in her family are highly educated. Her book, The Fortunate Child follows a girl who dreams of changing the world through helping others. She says women can’t be part of a thriving economy if they are not educational equals. Download Audio

Alaskan Voters Opt To Legalize Marijuana

Voters approved ballot measure two last night. The measure makes legal the production, sale and use of marijuana for Alaskans over 21 years old. Washington DC and Oregon approved similar measures. Download Audio

More National Guard Documents Released, Most Unresponsive

The Alaska Attorney General’s office released a fourth set of documents concerning the Alaska National Guard on Saturday. The 171-page packet contained mostly press releases and official photographs.

Alaska Edition: Judicial Council

One of your duties as a voter is to select judges for retention. Toward the back of your voter guide, you will find considerable information about those judges. Their basic biography-everything from their age to what communities in the state that they have been residents of. Their education, the political and government positions they have held, their interests and a statement from the judges themselves. KSKA: Friday, October 31 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 1 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, October 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 1 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio

Alaska Federation of Natives Wraps Up Annual Convention

The Alaska Federation of Natives wrapped up their annual convention with the usual process of amending and voting on resolutions. The resolutions process was similar to past conventions except for the notable difference this year of candidate endorsements. Download Audio

Libertarian Candidates for Governor and U.S. Senate

Libertarians believe citizens should be free to engage in any activity that does not violate the rights of others. Their party wants government out of the way so people can pursue liberty and freedom. How would this translate to elected positions? APRN: Tuesday, 10/28 at 10:00am Download Audio

U.S. House Candidate Forrest Dunbar

Lifelong Alaskan and political newcomer Forrest Dunbar is young and determined. This Yale Law grad wants to be Alaska's next Congressman. Dunbar is running as a Democrat. His social policy fits with that party, but he says he is more in line with Republicans on resource development. APRN: Wednesday, 10/29 at 10:00am Download Audio

Statewide Legislative Races; And The Alaska Federation Of Native Convention

From Southeast to the Northwest Alaska and many places in between, some interesting races and ballot issues top voter concerns. Also, the annual Alaska Federation of Natives convention is happening in Anchorage, covering a variety of rural issues. KSKA: Friday, October 24 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 25 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 25 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio

Alaska Writer Presents Simple Philosophy On Wildlife

Bill Sherwonit knows a thing or two about Alaska wildlife. The Anchorage based writer has spent decades traipsing through swamps, forging rivers and hiking mountains studying and writing about Alaska's critters. From the superstars like grizzly bears, moose and caribou to the lowly wood frog. Even shrews and spiders have been given respectful literary treatment. Sherwonit has a simple philosophy about his relationship with wild animals. Download Audio

Gubernatorial Candidate Sean Parnell

Sean Parnell is in a close race to keep his position as Alaska's top executive. The state is facing tough issues. Revenue shortfalls mean hard budget questions in the future, and reform is needed in the troubled National Guard. But gasline development may also be on the horizon. APRN: Tuesday, 10/21 at 10:00am Download Audio

Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Walker

Bill Walker wants to be the next Governor of Alaska. Whoever wins will take the job in a tough fiscal environment. Walker is running in a tight race without a party after running as a Republican in the past. APRN: Wednesday, 10/22 at 10:00am Download Audio

How Does Climate Change Affect Public Health?

A series of reports that seek to define the potential changes to public health in rural Alaska communities based on the impacts of Alaska's rapidly changing climate. But, why are the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the North Slope Borough looking at the issue through the lens of climate change? KSKA: Friday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 18 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 18 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio