Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media
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.
‘Beyond the Bear’ Recounts Horrific Mauling
A new book out this month tells the incredible story of bear attack survivor Dan Bigley. In “Beyond the Bear” Bigley and co-author Debra McKinney recount the horrific mauling 10 years ago near the Russian River, which blinded Dan and changed his life forever.
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Sequester Impacts; And The Latest From The Alaska Legislature
This week on Alaska Edition we discuss the rippling economic effect of federal sequestration cuts and the impact to IHS funding for tribal health facilities across the state. We also run through the legislature's actions last night on the gas plan for trucking to Fairbanks, the latest on the oil tax overhaul and KABATA getting folded into the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation by the House. The Senate still has to vote on it. We also discussed the Mat-Su budget and the proposal for a CDQ harbor in Seward.
KSKA: Friday, 4/12 at 2:00pm & Saturday, 4/13 at 6:00pm
TV: Friday, 4/12 at 7:30pm & Saturday, 4/13 at 5:00pm
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Kobuk 440 Kicks Off In Kotzebue
The Kobuk 440, Kotzebue’s annual sled dog race kicked off at 12:30 this afternoon. 18 mushers signed up this year and Kobuk 440 board President Liz Moore says this numbers on the high end. She says they did have to make some team changes before the race got started.
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State Attorney General Weighs In On Tribal Lands Case
A recent D.C. court ruling has left state officials with a lot of legal uncertainty. The court said the Secretary of the Interior can take land into trust status for tribes in Alaska and can not treat tribes here differently than in the lower 48.
Court Decision Has Big Implications For Tribal Lands
A D.C. district court decision quietly released on Easter Sunday, has huge implications for Alaska tribal and state lands jurisdiction. The court found the Secretary of Interior has the authority to take land into trust for Alaska tribes.
Court Says Feds Can Take Land Into Trust For Alaska Native Tribes
A decision this week from the U.S. District court for the District of Columbia has big implications for Alaska tribes. In the case of Akiachak Native Community v. Salazar, the court affirmed the ability of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Alaska tribes. The ruling also states that Alaska tribes have the right to be treated the same as all other federally recognized tribes.
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Alaska Volcano Observatory Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The Alaska Volcano Observatory is celebrating its 25th anniversary today. It was created in 1988, two years after a large eruption of Augustine volcano near Homer created problems for the Anchorage area and the airport. The next year, in December 1989, Mount Redoubt erupted, sending an ash plume more than 30 thousand feet in the air. When a passenger jet on it’s way to Anchorage encountered the ash, it lost power to all four engines. The airplane plummeted nearly 20,000 feet before the pilots were able to regain control and land safely in Anchorage.
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Gov. Parnell Declares March 29 Vietnam Veteran’s Day
Governor Sean Parnell has signed legislation designating tomorrow, March 29th, Vietnam Veteran’s Day in honor of those who served more than 40 years ago in that conflict. Anchorage resident Ric Davidge is the national chairman for government affairs for Vietnam veterans in America. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He went to Vietnam in 1965 as a 19 year old medic.
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Thelma Langdon
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former lt governor Fran Ulmer was inducted herself in 2009. She introduced one of this year's inductees-the late Thelma Langdon who was honored for her work in education, mental health and elder care. Her daughter Mel Langdon accepted the award.
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Mary Joyce
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former Anchorage Assembly chair and hall of fame steering committee member Jane Angvik tells us more about the late, Mary Joyce who was honored for her achievements in Business and adventure! Mary Lou Gerby accepted the award on her behalf.
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Report Offers Findings On Status Of Alaska Women
A report released Tuesday offers stark findings on the status of Alaskan women. Women in the state earn much less than their male counterparts, have been imprisoned at a higher rate during the last decade and are committing suicide at a rate twice as high as the rest of the United States.
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Jewel Jones
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer was inducted herself in 2009. She was on hand to introduce one of this year's inductees-public health and community development advocate Jewel Jones.
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New Book Offers How-to Tips for Aspiring Homesteaders
How to successfully live off the grid in remote areas, is the subject of a new book called "The Alaska Homesteader's Handbook. Independent Living on the Last Frontier." The book features profiles and how to tips by Alaska homesteaders and offers practical advice on a wide range of topics from How to age game meat to packing horses for the backcountry to safely crossing rivers.
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State Senate Passes Oil Tax Overhaul; Changing Arctic Impacts On Subsistence, Economies
The state senate on Wednesday night narrowly passed an overhaul of the oil tax system. Iditarod Trail Committee deals with an unusual death of a dropped dog in Unalakleet. The Arctic is changing, investigate the impacts to subsistence and food resources and the potential for new economies there. Fairbanks officials looking for a way to bring in cheaper gas.
KSKA: Friday, 3/22 at 2:00pm & Saturday, 3/23 at 6:00pm
TV: Friday, 3/22 at 7:30pm & Saturday, 3/23 at 5:00pm
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Dorothy Jones
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former Anchorage Assembly chair and hall of fame steering committee member Jane Angvik tells us more about one of the inductees-Anthropologist and women's therapy advocate Dorothy Jones. Connie Wolf accepted the award.
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Musher Chooses Unique Route To Kobuk 440
The Iditarod is over, but there’s still racing left to be done this season. The Kobuk 440 out of Kotzebue is scheduled to start April 11. One musher is taking the long route to reach the race. Chuck Schaeffer, formerly of Kotzebue and now living in Willow, is driving his dogs from Nenana to Kotzebue for the race, alone. Schaeffer did the trip last year as a way to save the expense of flying his dogs north for the race. But this year, he’s taking time to stop and talk with young people in villages along the trail about personal responsibility and self pride.
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Joan Hurst
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former lt governor Fran Ulmer was inducted herself in 2009. She was on hand to introduce one of this year's inductees-the late Youth development and child advocate Joan Hurst. Barb Dubahvich accepted the award.
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Karen Hunt
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former Anchorage Assembly chair and hall of fame steering committee member Jane Angvik tells us more about one of the inductees-Anchorage Superior court judge - Karen Hunt.
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Diddy Hitchins
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former lt governor Fran Ulmer was inducted herself in 2009. She was on hand to introduce one of this year's inductees-Political science professor Diddy Hitchins.
Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Carolyn Covington
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. Fifteen women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former Anchorage Assembly chair and hall of fame steering committee member Jane Angvik tells us more about one of the inductees - education advocate Carolyn Covington.