Category: Talk of Alaska
Unusual Mortality Event
The search goes on for the cause of maladies that are causing Alaska’s marine mammals to lose hair. In the case of seals, this can be fatal. Declaring an Unusual Mortality Event brought more resources to bear on this problem, but the mystery remains. Alaskans will be talking about what they are seeing during this spring’s seal harvest, on the next Talk of Alaska.
KSKA: Tuesday, 5/22 at 10:00am
Bike To Work Week
People-powered transportation gets more popular every year. As Alaska’s city dwellers take to two wheels for Bicycle to Work Week, Talk of Alaska will hear their progress reports. Right now, as federal fuel tax funds are shrinking because people are driving fewer miles, we’ll talk about how much of that money should be used for pedestrians and bicyclists, on the next Talk of Alaska.
KSKA: Tuesday, 5/15 at 10:00am
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Exxon Mobil
In 2008, Exxon-Mobil earned a record $45.2 billion in profits. Three years later its credit rating was higher than that of the United States government. A new book about the corporation is entitled “Private Empire.” You have a chance to talk with its author, Steve Coll, on the next Talk of Alaska.
KSKA: Tuesday, 5/8 at 10:00am
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The International Polar Year Revisited
It was a wave of scientific exploration designed to bring back knowledge of the fastest changing areas of the planet – the North and South Poles. The explorers have been back for several years now, and politics are beginning to intervene.
KSKA: Tuesday, 5/1 at 10:00am
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Alaska Spirit Of Reading Presents “Strong Man”
A young man contemplating his own failure sees the world of his dreams become entangled with the work ahead of him. The graphic novel “Strong Man” was made in Alaska, and kids who read it will gather in school libraries to talk with the author. It’s the annual “Alaska Spirit of Reading” book club edition of Talk of Alaska.
KSKA: Tuesday, 4/24 at 10:00am
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Anchorage During The Pipeline Boom And After
Old timers like to say that Alaska was never the same after the pipeline boom. But a boom town is a great place to run a newspaper. We’ll be talking with Howard Weaver about his new book that brings it all back.
KSKA: Tuesday, 4/17 at 10:00am
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Film Industry Tax Credits
The film industry tax credit bill, Senate Bill 23, is undergoing some changes in the House, and there is a risk of no decision on renewing the program this year. The program does not expire until next year, but supporters say the planning horizons of the industry are such that plans already in the works will be cancelled if there is no assurance the tax credits will be renewed. Are the House changes deal breakers?
APRN: Tuesday 4/10 at 10:00 am
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Investing in Clean Energy in Alaska
It’s about saving energy dollars but it’s also about return on investment – the next Talk of Alaska will be a preview of the upcoming “Business of Clean Energy in Alaska” conference, an update on new technology and renewable energy success stories.
KSKA: Tuesday, 4/3 at 10:00am
Poems
There was a time when Americans memorized their favorite poems, but this year they are carrying them in their pockets. How alive is poetry these days? Whether it’s a classic, a slam performance, a bit of Robert Service or a haiku tweet, Alaskans will be sharing their favorite poems to kick off National Poetry Month, on the next Talk of Alaska.
KSKA: Tuesday, 3/27 at 10:00am
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Oil Spill Lessons
In the 23 years since the tanker Exxon Valdez hit the reef, oil spill prevention has improved greatly in Alaska. Nobody wants another spill. But if it happens will we be ready to respond? Two years ago, a spill in the Gulf of Mexico showed there is still room for improvement.
KSKA: Tuesday, 3/20 at 10:00am
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Big Energy Ideas
The biggest pipeline ever built is just the latest in a long list of huge energy projects that have been considered for Alaska. Meanwhile, fuel costs keep rising. The next “Talk of Alaska” will begin an examination of whether any of these big energy schemes are close to reality.
KSKA: Tuesday, 3/13 at 10:00am
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Problems of the Short Alaska Growing Season
Who could have predicted that twelve years into the new century fresh vegetables grown in Bethel would be on sale in Anchorage? Or that a cooking trend would combine with concerns about food security to prompt a thriving local food movement in Alaska’s urban restaurants? Alaskans love to talk about these issues, and with gardening season on its way, who would be better to talk with than an expert in high-latitude year-round gardening?
KSKA: Tuesday, March 6 at 10:00am
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Taming the Iditarod Trail
The Iditarod Trail was once a way to reach mining communities. Most of that is long gone, but economic activity has been returning to the trail in recent years. A mining road will be used to replace a dangerous set of switchbacks this year, and that could be just the beginning.
KSKA: Tuesday, 2/28 at 10:00am
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Health Care Cost Solutions
What if your insurance company helped you build a healthier grocery list or your work place paid part of your gym membership? Last time on Talk of Alaska we discussed the staggering cost of health care in the state and now we’ll talk about solutions.
KSKA: Tuesday, 2/21 @ 10:00am
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Health Care Costs in Alaska
Alaska’s Health Care costs are among the highest in the world. And the state’s Health Care Commission has spent the last year trying to figure out why. Its a complicated problem but the commission has some intriguing findings to report, that may start to get at some answers.
KSKA: Tuesday, 2/14 at 10:00am
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A Living Future
In Alaska it may be out of reach to design a Zero Net Energy home – one that generates as much energy as it uses. But there is no doubt we can do better than the typical “HUD Homes” built in many of our rural communities. How much better, Jason McLennan, author of “The Philosphy of Sustainable Design,” will tell us on the next Talk of Alaska.
KSKA: Tuesday, 2/7 @ 10:00am
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Federal Issues
In a time when election year politics appear to have taken over Washington, what are the prospects for Alaska issues this year? The next Talk of Alaska will be a chance for Alaskans to share their concerns with Senator Mark Begich.
KSKA: Tuesday, 1/31 at 10:00am
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The Undersea Aleutians
We know more about outer space than we do about the undersea environment of our own planet. This is especially true in the mysterious waters of the Aleutian Islands, where unknown creatures and plants are being discovered.
KSKA: Tuesday, 1/24 @ 10:00am
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Art As A Profession in Alaska
Artists do more than entertain and make pretty things. A healthy creative sector is a sign of a mature community. Yet what sort of career paths do artists have in Alaska? We often hear that our resources are extracted, but are we exporting our artists as well?
KSKA: Tuesday, 1/17 @ 10:00am
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What’s Behind Climate Change Denial?
Public opinion polls show growing doubt that human activities are responsible for climate warming. Some analysts say this doubt is being manufactured by interest groups. Is denying climate change the same as denying the harmful effects of tobacco?
KSKA: Tuesday, 1/10 at 10:00am
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