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.
Kobuk 440 Starting Tonight
The Kobuk 440 gets underway tonight at 6pm in Kotzebue. The race runs through six area villages including Norvik, Ambler and Kiana. The race is a qualifier for the Iditarod. Ten mushers are competing.
Point Thomson Settlement Seen As Path to Gas Pipeline
Governor Sean Parnell today, (Friday) announced what is likely to be seen as a milestone in the development of North Slope Liquefied Natural Gas, or LNG. He says litigation concerning the development of Point...
Alaskan Dropped from FCC Board Amid Questions
An Alaskan appointed to a federal Communications Commission board, was dropped after a letter from Governor Sean Parnell's Chief of Staff asked for a change. In early March, Senator Mark Begich's staff put forth...
Bill Would Expand Right To Self Defense
A State House bill that would expand the right to self defense in Alaska has been getting increased attention, in part because of the Trayvon Martin case.
Prairie Home Companion Sound Effects Guru Visits Anchorage
Making funny noises had landed many kids in hot water during school or other quiet occasions, but for Fred Newman, the talented live sound effects guy for Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion show, it’s how he makes his living. Newman is in Anchorage to help Cyrano’s Theater Company celebrate its 20th anniversary. When I asked about his title, he said there isn’t one.
AK: Redefining Alaskan Art
When someone says Alaska Native art, the first thing that comes to mind is often traditions like ivory carving, skin sewing or intricate weaving. But a new group of young Alaska Native artists in Anchorage is working to expand that image to one that embraces modern life as well as honoring their heritage.
Health Care Legislation Heading To Supreme Court
This Friday marks the two year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act- President Obama’s health care overall. Its birthday present will be a trip to the Supreme Court next week. Justices will hear arguments on whether two aspects of the law are constitutional- the individual mandate requiring citizens to purchase health insurance and the Medicaid expansion. Alaska is one of 26 states suing to overturn the law. But the state has also benefited from the Affordable Care Act.
Dana Stabenow Releases 19th Kate Shugak Novel
Homer mystery writer Dana Stabenow has just released the 19th novel in her Kate Shugak series. For the first time the Private investigator Shugak meets up with another series character of Stabenow’s Liam Campbell.
Debate Over Prop Five Heats Up
The debate around Proposition Five in Anchorage is starting to heat up. The proposition- on the April municipal ballot- would provide legal protections against discrimination to gay, lesbian and transgender people. Last month, the anti-prop five group 'Protect Your Rights' launched a website called protectanchorage.org. On the website, the organizer of that group, and the head of the Alaska Family Council, Jim Minnery, quoted openly gay Anchorage Daily News Columnist, Julia O'Malley, to make the point that the kind of discrimination that prop five would prevent does not exist in in Anchorage.
Report Saying Stevens Prosecutors Withheld Information Made Public
More than three years after the late Senator Ted Stevens was found guilty of omitting gifts on financial disclosure forms, a report made public Thursday says federal prosecutors intentionally withheld information that could have exonerated him, as well as allowing testimony that they knew was false.
Dallas Seavey Nearing Iditarod Finish Line
Dallas Seavey is on the final stretch to Nome. The Willow musher is likely to capture his first Iditarod win tonight. If he does, he will be the youngest winner in Iditarod history. He turned 25 while out on the trail. Behind Seavey, Aliy Zirkle and Ramey Smyth are battling for second place. Right now, GPS shows Zirkle about seven miles ahead of Smyth.
Murkowski Questions Amount Of Money Spent Defending Stevens Prosecutors
Senator Lisa Murkowski today questioned Attorney General Eric Holder about money being spent to defend Justice Department prosecutors who are protesting the release of a report detailing mishandling of the prosecution of the late Senator Ted Stevens.
Suspicious Envelopes Sent to Schools in Alaska
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is instructing school districts across the state to be on the lookout for suspicious envelopes containing white powder.
Shell Requests Declaratory Judgment On Arctic Spill Response Plan
Shell Alaska has taken an unusual step in asking a federal court Wednesday for a declaratory judgment on their Arctic spill response plan that was approved by the department of Interior in February. Shell is seeking this judgment against a number of environmental and conservation groups in an effort to end run the litigation that will likely challenge the process that was used to approve their plan.
Stryker Brigade Soldiers Prepare for Deployment End
Cheryl Hatch, the former University of Alaska Fairbanks Snedden chair of Journalism is in Afghanistan visiting Fort Wainwright Stryker brigade troops. Last week Hatch was in Khenjakak, which is the combat outpost for Charlie Company in the 1st battalion, 5th infantry regiment of the 125th Stryker brigade. Hatch says it’s in the Panjawa’i district, an area she says is in the heart of the Taliban.
State Concerned Over Increasing Numbers of HIV Cases
The state is concerned about a big increase in the number of new HIV cases in Fairbanks. Last year, Fairbanks reported eight new HIV cases and the outbreak is ongoing. In recent years, two or three new cases were more typical. The state is also seeing a syphilis outbreak in Anchorage. Susan Jones is Alaska’s HIV and STD program manager. She says the state first became concerned about the increase in HIV cases in Fairbanks last summer.
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
Federal Government Approves Shell Oil’s Spill Response Plan
The federal government has signed off on Shell Oil Company’s spill response plan for the Chukchi Sea, clearing a major hurdle for the Houston oil giant to begin drilling vast Arctic Ocean reserves off Alaska’s coast during the 2012 summer open water season. Shell spokeswoman Kelly op de Weegh says this is a big milestone but there’s still work to be done.
Crews Set to Begin Thawing Out Rig Over Blown Out Test Well
The North Slope exploratory well that experienced a blow out on Wednesday appears to have stopped flowing. Spanish oil company Repsol’s well hit a shallow natural gas patch that kicked mud, gas and water back up through the drill rig.
Legislators Identify Problems, Goals
Wednesday marks the completion of one-third of this year’s legislative session. And so far, legislators have spend most of their time identifying problems and goals – and hoping they are set up to finish work at the end of ninety days.