Adelyn Baxter, KTOO - Juneau
AK: What’s the deal with Juneau’s barefoot guy?
Xtratufs, Bogs, Muck Boots — comfortable, waterproof footwear is pretty much a necessity here in Juneau. But not for the local some know as “the barefoot guy.” Listen now
Capitol rally calls for more funding to support STEAM education in Alaska
As nearly 100 people rallied for the second annual March for Science outside, legislators inside debated education funding. Listen now
Alaskan educators advocate for increased K-12 funding
School administrators, teachers and parents from across the state testified before the House Finance Committee Tuesday in support of increased school funding. Rep. Les Gara’s HB 339 would increase the base student allocation by $100 to $6,030. Listen now
U.S. Coast Guard, Juneau police test response capabilities with nuclear scenario
Juneau emergency responders trained for a simulated a terrorist threat with a nuclear device aboard a ferry. About 30 Juneau residents got to ride along for the exercise. Listen now
UA President Johnsen shares outlook for university budget
The Alaska House of Representatives passed its version of the state operating budget Monday by a narrow margin. It includes $19 million more for the University of Alaska’s operating budget than Gov. Bill Walker proposed. Listen now
Rep. Sam Kito III will not seek re-election
Rep. Sam Kito III is not running for re-election in the fall. Kito told the Juneau Empire he made his decision Friday due to financial concerns. Listen now
Social workers report dramatic increase in child abuse and neglect referrals
The state of Alaska is seeing a rise in child abuse and neglect referrals and threats to worker safety, according to those who work in the field.
Juneau students take part in national student walkout protesting gun violence
Juneau high school students took part in Wednesday’s national walkout calling for action on gun violence. More than a hundred Juneau-Douglas students marched to the state Capitol while dozens of students at Thunder Mountain gathered outside their school. Listen now
Weather hampers ongoing search for missing Mendenhall climbers
The search continues for two missing climbers who did not return from their ascent of the Mendenhall Towers last week. Winter weather has made it difficult for rescuers to search for Ryan Johnson of Juneau and Marc-Andre Leclerc of British Columbia on the Mendenhall Ice Field. Listen now
Juneau’s Dennis Egan reflects on why his successor must learn to ‘get along’
Alaska Sen. Dennis Egan has spent nearly 10 years in the state Legislature representing Juneau, Haines and Skagway. But his career and legacy has been far more varied than just politics.
University of Alaska president appeals for public support for more funding
In his State of the University address Tuesday, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen stressed the need for an increase in state funding after four years of cuts. Gov. Bill Walker’s proposed budget would flat fund the university at $317 million. Listen now
Legislators hope to fix uncertainty plaguing school budgets this session
This session, some state legislators hope to put an end to the uncertainty school districts across the state face when it comes to their budgets. House Bill 287 and Senate Bill 131 both address K-12 school funding, but in different ways. Listen now
Distillery cocktail debate continues after weekend hearing on House Bill 269
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee met Saturday in the state Capitol to hear public testimony on House Bill 269. The bill would settle a debate over whether distilleries can serve mixed cocktails in their tasting rooms. Listen now
AK: What’s it like to drive a 54,000 pound DOT plow truck?
It’s winter, and that usually means plenty of snow and ice. Or at least it did in November, when Adelyn Baxter had the chance to ride shotgun in a 54,000-pound plow truck to learn a little about how roads in Juneau are cleared. Listen now
Juneau’s state legislators field questions, cynicism at town hall
Juneau’s state legislators hosted a town hall Thursday to hear from the public and talk through concerns. The 2018 legislative session begins next week. Listen now
Juneau’s first Year of Kindness ends, but kindness effort will continue
Juneau’s Year of Kindness, an initiative that began last January, officially ended Sunday with a celebration at Thunder Mountain High School. Listen now
UA president: Flat funding limits education, training and economic development
The university system employs 1,183 fewer people than it did three years ago, student enrollment has declined 15 percent and tuition is increasing.
Local athletes hope to represent Juneau at Native Youth Olympics
Every year, hundreds of students from around the state gather in Anchorage for the Native Youth Olympics. For the first time since 1983, Juneau is putting together a team. Listen now
Educational partnership mixes math with Native design
A program mixing Alaska Native art with high school math is part of Sealaska Heritage Institute’s latest efforts to promote culture and foster the next generation of Native artists. Listen now
University of Alaska regents to discuss budget and tuition increases
The University of Alaska Board of Regents meets tomorrow and Friday in Anchorage to vote on the university budget and proposed tuition increases. State funding to the university has declined by about $60 million since 2014, forcing cutbacks in academic programming, faculty and staff across campuses. Listen now