Jeremy Hsieh, KTOO - Juneau
Jeremy Hsieh is the deputy managing editor of the KTOO newsroom in Juneau. He’s a podcast fiend who’s worked in journalism since high school as a reporter, editor and television producer. He ran Gavel Alaska for 360 North from 2011 to 2016, and is big on experimenting with novel tools and mediums (including the occasional animated gif) to tell stories and demystify the news. Jeremy’s an East Coast transplant who moved to Juneau in 2008.
What’s up with the Mat-Su, and why is it steering Alaska’s politics?
Over the last several decades, the population of the Matanuska and Susitna valleys has grown dramatically. With that boom has come political power — and the rise of a particular brand of conservatism.
ADN owners buy 3 more Alaska newspapers
The Anchorage Daily News’ owners have bought three other small Alaska newspapers — the Arctic Sounder, Bristol Bay Times/Dutch Harbor Fisherman and Homer Tribune — according to Jason Evans, the former owner of those papers.
Ballot initiative to move Alaska Legislature’s meetings clears early hurdle
After the sponsors get some official documents, they’ll have one year to collect more than 28,000 qualified signatures to put the question to voters in 2020.
AK: How a mischievous Home Depot surveyor turned this hill into guerrilla art
Theodolites, semaphore, trigonometry and some “Big Lebowski” references — everything you wanted to know about the peace sign and a few things you didn’t.
After scathing audit, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority says fixes are underway
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority CEO Mike Abbott fielded questions from lawmakers during a Senate Finance Committee in Juneau Thursday.
Alaska Supreme Court rules for LeBon in pivotal election recount case
The Alaska Supreme Court is meeting in Anchorage this morning to hear arguments in Kathryn Dodge’s case against state election officials and her election opponent.
Juneau fluoride study confirms old science, but doesn’t sway opponents
New research shows higher cavity procedure rates among Juneau children on Medicaid compared to when the city fluoridated its tap water.
Ethics enforcers let former Juneau lawmaker’s unpaid ethics fines slide
A former Juneau lawmaker didn’t pay $18,000 in fines for probable ethics violations. And the committee that sought the fines is OK with that.
Court contest deadline imminent in pivotal House election recount
The deadline to legally contest the outcome of the pivotal House District 1 election is Wednesday. Republican Bart LeBon leads Democrat Kathryn Dodge by one vote.
Hecla mine reports contract employee killed in fatal bear mauling
A company spokesman said this is the first bear-related injury the mine’s had since opening in 1989. Listen now
Feds grant $10M to Juneau airport to replace support building with ‘serious life safety hazards’
The grant will cover replacing a hangar built in 1966 that was later repurposed to store sand and chemicals. The project is expected to have significant impact on the local economy. Listen now
Gov. Walker lets Juneau road money stand, but maintains no-build policy
A governor’s spokesman said Walker’s no-build policy on the road isn’t shifting. Previously, state plans called for extending Glacier Highway in Juneau about 48 miles north. Listen now
Avrum Gross: Gov. Hammond’s ‘long-haired hippie’ ally, attorney general and in-house antagonist
Avrum Gross died in May 2018. The East Coast Democrat and lawyer was an unlikely ally of Republican Gov. Jay Hammond. He served as Alaska’s attorney general during the permanent fund’s seminal years. Listen now
Forest Service fighting 56-acre fire at Berners Bay
The fire doesn’t pose a significant threat, but it is unusually large for the rainforest and Southeast Alaska.
How Sealaska went from $35M in the red to $43M in the black
The Alaska Native corporation’s leadership says 2017 was a milestone year financially, and that it validated the realignment of its business portfolio with its shareholders’ traditional values. Listen now
Wolf kills dog along Brotherhood Bridge Trail in Juneau
Wildlife biologist Ryan Scott thinks the wolf just happened to kill a deer near the trail and was protecting its kill. He doesn’t think there’s any public safety or pet safety issue out of the ordinary. Listen now
Juneau Rep. Parish won’t run for re-election
That sets up the race for House District 34 to be between two sitting Juneau Assembly members, Democrat Rob Edwardson and Republican Jerry Nankervis. Listen now
House floor debate on state operating budget continues for third day
The House has been voting down the minority caucus Republicans’ budget amendments. Minority leader Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, says it’s still worthwhile to have the conversation.
Three weeks in, health care sign up pace in Alaska is way up
The sign-up pace for health insurance on the federal exchange is almost 50 percent faster than last year — but the open enrollment period is half as long.
Airport screening change for electronics rolling out in Southeast Alaska
The TSA, specifically addressing Southeast travelers, says to arrive 90 minutes early for flights. Listen now