Anne Hillman, Alaska Public Media
Elders reflect on Aleut evacuation during WWII
This month marks the 75th anniversary of the Aleut evacuation. More than 800 Unangan people were removed from the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands and relocated to Southeast Alaska during World War II. Two elders share their memories.
75th Anniversary of Aleut Evacuation
75 years ago the Unangan people were evacuated from villages in the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands because of World War II. They were sent to internment camps in southeast Alaska. Others were taken prisoner and sent to Japan. Once the war was over, many were never allowed to return to their homes. Join us for Talk of Alaska as we commemorate the anniversary of these events, and discuss the history and the impacts of the evacuation.
Preventing human trafficking of homeless youth by building connections
Young people who are homeless in Alaska are at high risk for human trafficking, but there are ways to prevent the problem. Listen now
Community in Unity: Unalaska
Community in Unity went off the road system in April for a conversation about immigration and community building in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor. Nearly half the residents of the small Aleutian fishing town are immigrants. Community members and students came together for two different events to talk about how immigration has shaped Unalaska, what makes it such an accepting place to live, and how that could change because of national rhetoric and shifting immigration policy. Community in Unity – Unalaska is a co-production of Alaska Public Media and Unalaska Community Broadcasting.
New respite program helps homeless people heal
A new community partnership is freeing up hospital resources by proving people without homes a place to heal. Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage is working with the area’s three main hospitals to provide respite care for sick or injured people who are homeless. Listen now
Debate continues over role of Suboxone in primary care
Buprenorphine is one of the medications used to treat opioid addictions. A speaker at a recent medical conference in Anchorage says getting the medication to heroin users thru their primary care providers is an essential way to reduce overdose deaths. But some addiction treatment professionals in Alaska say not so fast. Listen now
Medication assisted treatment
Methadone, suboxone, vivitrol -- - they're all different types of drugs used to treat opioid addictions. But what do those medications actually do? How effective are they? Are they a solution for solving Alaska's addiction crisis? Listen Now
Court rules civil commitment statutes don’t apply to foster children, North Star Hospital
A three-year-long legal argument about committing foster children to North Star Behavioral Health Hospital is one step closer to resolution. A judge ruled in late March that the Office of Children’s Services can legally commit foster kids to the psychiatric hospital without getting a judge’s approval. Listen now
Two thousand people March for Science in Anchorage
About 2,000 people participated in the March for Science in Anchorage on Saturday. Participants carried signs talking about scientific contributions to medicine, such as “Got the Plague?! Ya, me neither! Thank a scientist!” Other signs addressed the impacts of climate change saying “There is no Planet B” and “The oceans are rising and so are we.” Listen now
Statewide Trails Conference focuses on sustainable trails
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.
DOC offers new way to treat opioid addictions
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. Inmates receive their first shots right before re-entering the community.
Narcan saves lives in opioid epidemic but is only first step
The state’s Department of Health and Social Services is starting to distribute Narcan kits around Alaska. The nasal spray stops opioid overdoses. For one woman at the Covenant House, helping build the kits is personal. The drug has saved her life. Listen now
White House budget proposal cuts legal services for low-income Alaskans
For the past 50 years, Alaska Legal Services Corporation has offered free legal help to low-income Alaskans. Cases have ranged from private matters, like guardianship designations and protective orders, to statewide issues such as building high schools in rural Alaska. President Donald Trump’s budget blueprint eliminates federal funding for legal services programs nationwide, which would have a direct impact on Alaskans. Listen now
Feed Me Hope culinary school teaches skills for life beyond the kitchen
A new culinary school that teaches more than the difference between saute and simmer opened in Anchorage last fall to provide classes for people who are homeless or are leaving prison. Instructors at Feed Me Hope go beyond teaching cooking skills to teach life skills. Listen now
49 Voices: Tsolmon Damba of Anchorage
This week we're hearing from Tsolmon Damba in Anchorage. Demba is a nursing student from Mongolia who arrived in Alaska nearly seven years ago to attend UAA. She says the city is not what she expected. Listen now
Community in Unity: Experiencing Mental Illness
What's it like to live with a mental illness and to go through recovery? How do people react to you? What assumptions do they make? Learn more about mental health and how it shapes our communities during the next Community in Unity.
Immigration enforcement changes hit home in Alaska
An Alaska family struggles with the new interpretations of federal immigration laws and what it means for their future. Listen now
APD’s new targeted crime plan focuses on connections
The Anchorage Police Department announced its new targeted crime plan Thursday. It focuses on getting into the community and developing relationships. APD will expand its foot patrols beyond downtown and into Mountain View, Fairview, and Spenard.
Correctional center orchestra plays for the pros
The Portland Cello Project, a multi-genre cello ensemble, recently visited the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, a women's prison located in Eagle River, to work with Hiland's orchestra. Listen now
Proposed legislation to criminalize police sexual contact with sex workers during investigations
Law enforcement officers in Alaska can legally have sexual contact with people they are investigating for crimes. Proposed legislation seeks to change that. A new survey shows that most Alaskans didn't know the practice was legal and do not support it. Listen now