Selecting Titles for the Library

Ever wondered who picks books for Anchorage Public Library? With more than a half million books on the APL shelves, keeping up with what’s there, what’s new, what should be added or discarded is a complicated process, to say the least! Learn more.

Expanding Philanthropy Efforts Good For All Alaskans

Year-end giving addresses immediate needs, but another kind of philanthropy takes a longer view and is equally important to communities statewide. The Alaska Community Foundation and Rasmuson Foundation recently announced the expansion of the Community Asset Building Initiative, a joint project that establishes community foundation funds across Alaska. The initiative has already established affiliates in five locations: the Kenai Peninsula, Seward, Talkeetna, Haines and Petersburg. Find out how to get your community involved. Click here.

Apply Now for an Individual Artist Awards

Calling all Alaskan artists: Rasmuson Foundation just opened the application period for its annual Individual Artist Awards grant program, and it’s more inclusive than ever. The awards are designed to support Alaskan artists at various stages in their career and creative development working in many artistic disciplines. New this year, the field of presentation and interpretation was added to the fellowship category, opening the award to actors, dancers, musicians, vocalists and other performance artists. Learn more.

AK: Sprouts

Fresh, locally grown, vegetables are getting easier to find in Alaska in the summer. But they are still very scarce in the winter. An entrepreneur in Anchorage is starting to change that though.

Rotary Clubs in Anchorage Make a Big Impact in the Schools

Eight years ago, the Anchorage International Rotary Club established a reading program at North Star Elementary School. Rotarians were assigned to a class room and asked to go to the school for half-hour each week to read to the children at a mutually convenient time. They wanted to spark an interest in books while providing a service to the students. One Rotarian, Lloyd Lindsey kept finding excuses not to participate asking why children would want an “old bald-headed guy” to read stories to them. Read more.

Alaska Report Features Alaska Sealife Center

Senator Mark Begich hosts the January 2012 edition of the Alaska Report, a show highlighting people, issues and programs impacting Alaska. In this episode, Sen. Begich interviews the CEO of the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Dr. Tara Jones. Click for more.

Photographer Captures Mt. McKinley’s Toll on Climbers

For his new exhibition, Anchorage artist Tim Remick photographed emotionally and physically ravaged mountain climbers mere moments after they stumbled into Mt. McKinley’s base camp. The large-format portraits are nearly 5 feet tall. Click for more.

Perseverance Theatre Seeks Actor Housing for Anchorage Production

Perseverance Theatre, is bringing The Blue Bear up to share with Anchorage audiences this winter. Right now, they are looking for housing for artists and staff during their stay for the production.  They will have people in Anchorage from the 31st of January through 19th of February. Learn more.

Legislative Session; and Oil Tax Ruling

The topics up for discussion this week are: the upcoming legislative session; latest ruling on the TAPS oil tax case; the justice department must explain why the Young investigation documents aren’t public; lots of snow; Parnell’s oil meeting; reapportionment case proceeds in Fairbanks; cracking down on drunkenness in bars; Joe Miller sues the North Star Borough. KSKA: Friday, 1/13 at 2:00pm & Saturday, 1/14 at 6:00pm KAKM: Friday, 1/13 at 7:30pm & Saturday, 1/14 at 5:00pm

Juneau Indie Filmmakers Host Screening in Anchorage

Alaska Robotics, a Juneau based collective of filmmakers, released their second collection of short films in November and are kicking off an informal state tour with a screening at the Alaska Experience Theatre in Anchorage. Click for more details.

Tolovana Hot Springs: 11 Mile Ski at -35F?

COLD. I’ve never loved it more. I recently skied into Tolovana Hot Springs in the interior of Alaska with a couple friends. What kind of cold are we talking about here? Click for more.

AK: A Tropical Oasis

It’s been a particularly cold and snowy winter for much of Alaska. And in the middle of January, it’s hard to find a warm, soothing plant filled haven complete with singing birds and blooming tropical plants, unless you fly to Hawaii. But we dug into the AK archives for a story about a secret hot spot in Anchorage APRN’s Lori Townsend is willing to share. Sort of…

New and Improved Top of the World Telegraph

We know that change can be hard, but we think you'll like what we're doing with the Top of the World Telegraph. You'll still get the latest round-up of news from more than 60 sources. You'll still have access to a broad spectrum of stories that reflect your interest in a wide variety of subjects, from marine transport to energy. And you'll still get the Telegraph in your inbox once a week. Learn more.

Governor Parnell to Deliver State of the State Address

Listen to Alaska Governor Sean Parnell's State of the State address live from Juneau this Wednesday (Jan. 18) at 7:00 pm on KSKA FM. Streaming video will be available at Gave to Gavel Schedule Updates: Hometown, Alaska will repeat one hour later at 8:00 pm and Tech Nation will return next week on KSKA.

Norway Policy Tour Report

Last Friday over 100 Alaskans gathered in the Hilton’s Chart Room for a report on Institute of the North’s Norway Policy Tour. In August 2011, 45 people, including 12 Alaskan legislators, traveled around the Scandinavian nation to speak with individuals involved on all levels of Norway’s oil and gas production. Learn more.

Anchorage Music Co-op to Launch Concert Series

Anchorage Music Co-op and Out North Contemporary Art House announce the much anticipated kick off of it's new Artist Showcase Series. Beginning January 26th, on the fourth Thursday of each month, the Music Co-op will bring a featured artist or band to the stage, away from the bar chatter and without the hum of an espresso machine in the background. Learn more.

Can Alaska Learn from Norway’s Oil and Gas Success?

The panel discussion featuring Elle Ede, Statoil Alaska; Brad Keithly, Perkins Coie; Rebecca Logan, Alaska Industry Support Alliance; and Hugh Short, Alaska Growth Capital was recorded at the Alaska World Affairs Council on January 13, 2012.

Graphic Novels – More Than Heroes In Tights

Superman, Batman, X-Men, and other do-gooders in tights and capes are probably what you think of when you think about comic books. And as a point of confession, that is what I thought for years until a literature course required me to read Maus by Art Spiegelman and taught me the term Graphic Novel. Learn more.

Staged Reading: The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail

THE NIGHT THOREAU SPENT IN JAIL, a play about the most famous act of civil disobedience in American history, will receive a staged reading at Cyrano’s on January 25. The story follows the refusal by a 29-year-old Henry David Thoreau, the American philosopher, essayist, poet, mystic, and naturalist, to pay his taxes, because he opposed the American war against Mexico in the mid-1840s. Read more.

Alaska Storytelling: Arctic Entries, Meet Mudrooms

In the category of Alaskan storytelling events, Anchorage has Arctic Entries. In Juneau, they're just as sophisticated - just a little muddier. Mudrooms is a community-powered monthly event in Juneau, Alaska where real people tell real stories, live. Click for more.