Anne Hillman, Alaska Public Media
Anne Hillman is the healthy communities editor at Alaska Public Media and a host of Hometown, Alaska. Reach her at ahillman@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Anne here.
Liberals get edge in Anchorage elections, massive school bond fails
Upsets over financing for school capital projects and a tax-cap calculation will leave Administration with budget challenges, though more liberal-leaning Assembly. Download Audio
House passes foster care improvement bill, says more needs to be done
The state House passed a foster care improvement bill Friday afternoon. Under the new legislation, the state would put a stronger focus on finding foster kids permanent homes and prioritize placing them with relatives when possible.
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House passes Indigenous Peoples Day bill
The state House unanimously passed a bill Friday morning that would create Indigenous Peoples Day on the 18th of October every year and Katie John Day on May 31. Download Audio
Vision Zero Anchorage seeks ways to eliminate traffic-related fatalities
Anchorage is joining a global campaign to eliminate traffic-related deaths. The muni is gathering public comments from drivers, bikers, walkers, and everyone else to try to achieve Vision Zero.
Senate Bill 91 relies on reinvestment to reduce crime
Senate Bill 91, the omnibus crime bill, is working its way through the Senate Finance Committee. In its current form, it would save the state about $150 million over the next five years, but advocates say it will only make the community safer if most of that is reinvested. Download Audio
Covenant House seeks to help prevent sexual crimes
Covenant House, a youth shelter in Anchorage, aims to protect young people from human trafficking, but the facility used to inadvertently contribute to the problem. Now, they’re helping solve it. And it all starts with a door. Download Audio
AK: Transitioning from addictions of youth to sober adulthood
A year ago, we first heard from a young couple who were trying to overcome their addictions to methamphetamines. Their strategy was to move away from Anchorage and try to start over in Wasilla because being around friends who were still using made it much too hard. They ended up back in Anchorage when they lost their housing, but despite their challenges, the couple is still sober. And now, they've entered a new chapter. Download Audio
Learning about poetry by making some ‘Noise’
An illustrative poem performed by a group of 5th graders.
Anchorage studying potential impacts of JBER troop reduction
The Municipality of Anchorage is conducting a comprehensive study on the impact of the potential troop drawdown at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson and is seeking community input.
In Anchorage education lottery, lots of winners
It's school lottery time in Anchorage. That means parents who may want to opt out of their neighborhood school are considering optional and charter school programs across the district. But at least one neighborhood school principal says charter schools and neighborhood schools aren't necessarily so different. Download Audio
Color of Justice strives to involve youth, rural voices with the justice system
For more than a decade, the Color of Justice program has tried to educate students of color about legal professions and how they can give back to their communities by pursuing law. This year, for the first time, Alaska Native Corporations have come together to get rural students involved.
Yarducopia: a means to spread space for gardening
So you like eating vegetables, but they're expensive. You'd love to have a garden, but you don't have any outdoor space. The solution? Yarducopia. Download Audio
AHFC to stop accepting Home Energy Rebate applications
The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation will stop accepting new applications for the Home Energy Rebate Program waitlist next month. People who are in the process of making their homes more energy efficient are still eligible to receive up to $10 thousand dollars for home improvements. Download audio
New Anchorage charter middle school to connect kids to nature, community
A new east Anchorage charter school is focused on hands-on, interdisciplinary STEM classes. The founders are trying to attract enough kids to open in the fall. Download Audio
Anchorage School Board passes preliminary $768M budget
The Anchorage School Board passed a $768 million budget that cuts more than 50 positions, but it could still change depending on funding from the Legislature. Download Audio
No easy solution for Anchorage detox bed shortage
More than 400 people gathered in Anchorage Monday night to discuss the area's lack of detox facilities. At least 60 people per day try to access the area's 14 detox beds. The municipal government and the state's Board of Nursing are considering some solutions, but the problem is complicated. Download Audio
Solutions sought for lack of detox beds in South central Alaska
The director of the Ernie Turner Center says they need more beds to help people detox. AFACT is hosting a community meeting to discuss solutions.
Turning ideas about racial equity into art
Anchorage graffiti artist Bisco transformed ideas about racial equity into art during a two-day summit.
New, easy tool to check SNAP eligibility could help Alaska’s economy
If everyone who was eligible for SNAP benefits applied for the program, $65 million would be added to the state's economy. A new tool makes checking eligibility easy. Download Audio