Alaska Edition Friday February 21, 2014

Supreme Court affirms assessed value of trans-Alaska pipeline. The Flint Hills refinery in North Pole is closing - and controversy follows. Police staffing in Anchorage continues to decline. Sen. Lisa Murkowski addresses the Alaska Legislature. The Anchorage municipal election draws closer. Sen. Pete Kelly and Republican colleagues want to change the make up of the Alaska Judicial Council. Major development in the U-Med highway route selection. Buccaneer Energy asks the state for financial aid. KSKA: Friday, 2/14 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, 2/15 at 6 p.m. KAKM: Friday 2/14 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday. 2/15 at 4:30 p.m. Listen now:

Breath of Fresh Air

chicken-blog-coop-with-door-open Thanks to the Lower 48 taking on our Polar Vortex - winter here in Fairbanks has been perfect: mostly warm, with plenty of snow for skiing and other winter recreating. It’s been good for chickens too. Maybe not for outside frolicking, but they haven’t reached that level of coop-fever that drives them out into the snowy yard. Read more.

Alaska News Nightly: February 19, 2014

Court Reaffirms Trans-Alaska Pipeline Value; Bush Pilots Hit Hard After New Interpretation Of Tax Law; Murkowski Continues To Push For King Cove Road; Ketchikan Assembly Nixes Draft Letter To Gov. Parnell; YK Delta Teen Smoking Rate Well Above National Average; Alaska Senate Opposes Creation Of Beringia International Park; Juneau Childcare Workers See Higher Wages Download Audio

Slow Down Like a Spaniard: with Cake

anchorage food mosaic cake 2 The hardest thing to get used while studying abroad in Spain was the timing of Spanish meals. Spaniards eat a light breakfast, their largest meal of the day at 2 in the afternoon and a light dinner around 9 at night. Inevitably, I would find myself with my stomach grumbling around 6. Read more.

Frontline: The Secrets of the Vatican

Pope Benedict made history when he announced his resignation, becoming the first pope to step down voluntarily in 600 years. In his wake, he left a bitterly divided Vatican mired in scandals. Is Benedict’s successor, Pope Francis, taming the forces that helped destroy Benedict’s papacy? Is he succeeding in lifting the church out of crisis? Nearly a year in the making, this special two-hour FRONTLINE goes inside the Vatican — one of the world’s most revered and mysterious institutions — to unravel the remarkable series of events that led to the resignation that shook the world. Through interviews with those at the very heart of what happened — cardinals, priests, convicted criminals, police, prosecutors and whistle-blowers — FRONTLINE gives a first-hand account of the final days of Benedict’s papacy and the current battle to set the church on a new path under Francis. Tuesday, February 25 at 8:00 pm

Alaska New Nightly: February 18, 2014

Employers Struggle With Ballooning Cost Of Workers’ Comp Medical Bills; Delta Western, Employees Clash Over Unionizing; Fairbanks Assembly Votes To Participate In Education Suit; Democrats Use Driver’s License Bill As Vehicle For Gay Rights Fight; APOC Reviewing Tosi Complaint; Tok Residents Trying to Revive Biomass-Fueled Power Plant Project To Cut Energy Costs; Save Our Schools Rallying Cry Heard On Capitol Steps; Supporters Cheer Alaska Native Language Bill Download Audio

Algo Nuevo: February 16, 2014

Here’s the Sunday, February 16, 2014 edition of Algo Nuevo con Dave Luera — Something New with Dave Luera. If you have questions, comments...

Antarctica: Life on the Ice

Antarctica is a land of extremes. Spectrum Radio reporter Glenn Zorpette takes listeners to the world's southernmost frozen expanse in the hour-long radio documentary, "Antarctica: Life on the Ice." This piece is a co-production of the National Science Foundation and IEEE Spectrum Radio Programming. Outdoor Explorer will return next week. KSKA: Thursday 2/20 at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Alaska News Nightly: February 17, 2014

Iditarod to start in Willow, GOP seeks changes to court nominees process, Alaska backs same sex-marriage bans, AFN asks for voting-rights help, not all happy with fish board, VPSO bill moves ahead, new geese habitat emerging, woman claims killing dozens.

Choosing Capital Projects

Tradition is an important part of politics. The Alaska Legislature has long followed the tradition of keeping the state's capital budget process confidential until the last minute, and then releasing and voting on it in the final days of the session. Some people think that leads to bad decisions. We'll talk about Anchorage's recent tennis court controversies, and other impacts of how the legislature does its job. Is there a better way? KSKA: Wednesday, 2/19, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

I Am A 98-Year-Old Bowler

Bettie Upright is a bowler. She picked up the game nearly 30 years ago, at the age of 70. Now at 98 (and a half), Bettie continues to live an active lifestyle, both physically and socially. http://youtu.be/RzgIjZDK_HI

Night Music: February 15, 2014

Here is the Night Music Playlist with Kirk Waldhaus.  All tracks played are listed below in the following format: Title Artist / Composer (if known) Album Label Song Duration 8:00...

Sting: The Last Ship

Rock ‘n’ roll Renaissance man Sting has embarked on a new venture, The Last Ship, a musical play for which he has written original music and lyrics. Exploring a range of universal themes, The Last Ship dramatizes the impact of the demise of the ship-building industry in Sting’s home town of Wallsend, England, which for so long had dominated and shaped the city’s community life. Having grown up in the shadow of the Swan Hunter Shipyard, Sting was deeply affected by the subject, which inspired him to emerge from a decade-long absence from songwriting to produce over a dozen new songs for the Broadway- bound show, a collaboration with the Tony-winning duo of writer John Logan (Red, Skyfall screenplay) and director Joe Mantello (Wicked, Other Desert Cities). In an exclusive performance recorded at New York City’s Public Theater, Sting performs an intimate concert of highlights from the show, providing a narrative outline for the musical as well as revealing the autobiographical underpinnings for the songs. Friday, February 21 at 8:00 pm

Alaska News Nightly: February 14, 2014

John Kerry Creating Arctic Ambassador Position; Fuel Spilled In Dalton Highway Tanker Truck Rollover; Former Alaska Territorial Governor Mike Stepovich Dies; Legislators Get Answers For Interior LNG Questions; APD Policies Now Online; Former Juneau Olympian Reflects On Experiences; AK: Cooking; 300 Villages: Little Tutka Bay Download Audio

AK: Cooking

Homer’s youth resource and enrichment co-op, known locally as “The R.E.C. Room,” is giving teens a taste of what it’s like to work in a commercial kitchen. The after school youth-outreach program has been holding FORK Club Cooking Classes for the last few months providing kids tips on using healthy, local ingredients. Download Audio

Cook Inlet Fishing Rule Changes

The state's fish board has passed some new rules for commercial salmon fishers in Cook Inlet, but will the rules help salmon conservation in times of declining runs? APRN: Tuesday, 2/18 at 10:00am Download Audio

The Play Known As Rush At Everlasting

Anchorage playwright Arlitia Jones and actor Charity Pomeroy join Jean and Steve this week to talk about Arlitia's latest play, Rush at Everlasting being brought to town by Perseverance Theatre of Juneau, performing at the Sydney Laurence Theatre February 14th through the 23rd. KSKA: Friday 2/14 at 2:45pm Listen Now

Tribal Courts

The state's law department deals with a wide range of legal matters but this week's show focuses on tribal courts and what the future may look like for court proceedings in rural Alaska. Earlier this week the Senate Indian Affairs Committee reviewed the Indian Law and Order Commission report. It paints a bleak picture for Native communities, saying the high rates of crime in Native communities is a "National Disgrace and a National Problem" and calls for more authority for tribal justice systems, saying in part that the state and fed government should strengthen rather than degrade tribal sovereignty. KSKA: Friday, 2/14 at 2PM & Saturday, 2/15 at 6PM. KAKM: Friday 2/14 at 7:30PM & Saturday. 2/15 at 4:30PM Download Audio

Alaska News Nightly: February 13, 2014

Legislators Rack Up Million-Dollar Travel Bill. Republican Lawmakers Send Support Letter To Northern Dynasty. State Picks Direct Route For U-Med Road. Army Investigate Soldier Death. U.S. Senate Considers Law Enforcement Gaps In Native Alaska. Alaska Could Soon Supply Its Own Donor Human Breast Milk. New Proposal Surfaces To Develop Juneau Subport Property. New Fairbanks Nonprofit Would Make Mushing Accessible. Listen Now

Algo Nuevo: February 9, 2014

Here’s the Sunday, February 9, 2014 edition of Algo Nuevo con Dave Luera — Something New with Dave Luera. If you have questions, comments...