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F-22s intercept Russian bombers outside Alaska…again
Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
For the second time in two days, Russian long-range bombers flew past the coast of Alaska. It’s a surprising development that comes after nearly two years without any similar incidents. But military officials in Alaska say it isn’t cause for alarm.
All smiles for Rep. Young in Eagle River
Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media
Around the country, Republican Congress members are dogged by protestors hoping to stir up resistance to President Trump’s agenda. But at Wednesday’s Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce luncheon, a friendly crowd greeted Alaska Congressman Don Young.
Murkowski meets with students, seniors but no town hall
Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
Alaska’s senior U.S. senator spent Wednesday in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough but has no events open to the public scheduled during the Senate’s recess.
DOC offers new way to treat opioid addictions
Anne Hillman, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
The state’s Department of Corrections is trying a new tactic to stop the opioid epidemic: offering Vivitrol shots. It’s a monthly injection that curbs cravings for heroin and other drugs and stops people from getting high.
Senate passes survivors’ benefits bill, allowing municipalities to opt out
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
The survivors of state employed police and firefighters who die in the line of duty would receive health insurance under a bill the Senate passed Wednesday.
New assistant district attorney taking the reins at Dillingham office
Dave Bendinger, KDLG – Dillingham
Dillingham’s new assistant district attorney is in town this week as part of a transition to take over the caseload. His arrival comes after a two year fight to keep the local DA’s office open and staffed with a prosecutor in town.
Alaska pretrial services might see change
Caroline Halter, KTOO – Juneau
At any given time over a quarter of the beds in Alaska prisons are occupied by people who haven’t been convicted of a crime. That’s according to the Alaska Judicial Council. That may change in the coming months as a result of one piece of 2016’s Senate Bill 91 that establishes pretrial services.
Fairbanks school name voted out
Robert Hannon, KUAC – Fairbanks
The Badger Road Elementary school in North Pole will transition to a new name this summer. The Fairbanks North Star School District board voted Tuesday to rename the school Midnight Sun Elementary, but as KUAC’s Robert Hannon reports, the board nearly backed away from changing the Badger name, which links the school to a pedophile.
Anchorage assembly says goodbye to some members
Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
During a meeting last night, the Anchorage Assembly certified the results of this month’s municipal elections. And it was also the last time the body’s current members will all share the dais. Though the Assembly deals mostly with the dry nuts and bolts of municipal governance, the occasion was a rare glimpse of personality and sentiment.
Statewide Trails Conference focuses on sustainable trails
Anne Hillman, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
The Statewide Trails Conference opens Thursday in Anchorage and will focus on issues such as making trails sustainable and active transportation. It brings together land managers, trail users, and trail builders for a three-day event.
Eric Bork, or you can just call him “Bork” because everybody else does, is the FM Operations Manager for KSKA-FM. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the FM broadcast. He produces and edits episodes of Outdoor Explorer, the Alaska-focused outdoors program. He also maintains the web posts for that show. You may have heard him filling in for Morning Edition or hosting All Things Considered and can still find him operating the soundboard for any of the live broadcast programs.
After escaping the Detroit area when he was 18, Bork made it up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he earned a degree in Communications/Radio Broadcasting from Northern Michigan University. He spent time managing the college radio station, working for the local NPR affiliate, and then in top 40 radio in Michigan before coming to Alaska to work his first few summers. After then moving to Chicago, it only took five years to convince him to move back to Alaska in 2010. When not involved in great radio programming he’s probably riding a bicycle, thinking about riding bicycles, dreaming about bikes, reading a book, or planning the next place he’ll travel to. Only two continents left to conquer!
