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.
Alaska Human Rights Commission proposes regulation changes to protect LGBTQ community
Alaska's Human Rights Commission is taking steps to legally protect members of the LGBTQ community from discrimination. Listen Now
49 Voices: Candidates for Alaska Zoo president
This week is an election special-- Zoo election, that is. Supporters of the Alaska Zoo will be electing a president of their own on November 8th. Today we’ll hear from three candidates -- Aphun the polar bear, Denali the wolf and George the Magpie—as well as their two campaign managers. Listen Now
ASD data dashboard helps people glimpse what’s happening in local schools
The Anchorage School District has a new public web page that lets community members comb through district data. Listen Now
‘Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge’ speaks in Anchorage about suicide prevention
Retired Sgt. Kevin Briggs is known as the Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge. For years he patrolled the iconic San Francisco landmark and spoke with people who were considering suicide. Listen Now
Mental Health advocates asking Governor to look into actions of Mental Health Trust
Mental health advocates are expressing concern that the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is straying from its mission after the sudden resignation of its CEO, and several groups are calling for special audits of the trust. Listen Now
PFD automatic voter registration could increase turnout but cost is unknown
On November 8, Alaskans will vote on Ballot Measure No. 1, which would automatically register eligible individuals to vote when they apply for a PFD, unless they opt out. But would the initiative actually improve voter turnout? One expert says maybe a little. Listen Now
Libertarian VP candidate Bill Weld in Anchorage this week
Libertarian vice-presidential candidate Bill Weld is in Anchorage this week, trying to shore up support for his running mate, Gary Johnson, and to increase the visibility of the Libertarian Party in Alaska. Listen Now
Long-time Mental Health Trust CEO resigns amid board controversy
The CEO of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority resigned Wednesday and will take on a different role in the organization. Some of the trustees allege that his resignation indicates violations of the Alaska Open Meetings Act. Listen Now
Long-time CEO of Mental Health Trust Authority resigns
The CEO of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority stepped down on Monday. Jeff Jessee served as CEO for 21 years. A press release from the organization does not explain why Jessee is stepping down, what his new role will be, or when the decision was made.
Sen. Sullivan address water concerns at AFN
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan spoke at AFN this afternoon about improving water and sewer access in rural Alaska and about helping Alaska Native veterans. Listen Now
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announces inclusion of Native communities in land management
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell addressed AFN Friday. Jewell announced a new secretarial order that requires the Department to include native communities and traditional ecological knowledge in land management decisions. Listen Now
Community in Unity: Being Transgender
What does it mean to be transgender? How does a person know if their biological sex fits who they really are?Learn about gender identity on Community in Unity!Download Audio.
‘I’m a girl’: Knowing who you are at 4-years-old
The American Academy of Pediatrics says most kids have a stable sense of gender identity by the time they are four. Rusty is one of them. Rusty may have been born a boy, but she knows she is definitely a girl. Listen Now
49 Voices: Pa Mipajntsuab in Anchorage
This week we're hearing from Pa Mipajntsuab in Anchorage. Pa's family is originally from Laos and she moved here four years ago from California. Listen now
‘Lullaby Project’ connects mothers to kids through prison walls
A program aimed at helping mothers who are in prison connect with their kids is called the Lullaby Project. Professional musicians work with inmates at the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River to write songs for the inmate’s children then the musicians record them onto a CD. Listen now
Immigration and Alaska’s economy
Alaska's immigrant population is growing at a faster rate than almost any other place in the nation, and most of the people who arrive in the state are of working age. Immigrants are starting new businesses, paying taxes, and helping build our local economies. On the next Talk of Alaska we'll talk about the contributions of foreign-born Alaskans and the challenges they face when starting a life here. Listen Now
WA man charged with defrauding $2.7M from Alaskans
A Washington man has been indicted for fraudulently taking about $2.7 million from Alaskans, most of whom were elderly.
DOC Inmate dies by apparent suicide
A man at the Wildwood Correctional Complex died by apparent suicide Tuesday afternoon, though his death is still under investigation.Listen now
According to a State Trooper dispatch, 30-year-old Walter Shade of Soldotna was arrested and sent to Wildwood Pre-Trial Facility on September 1 for stealing $3,000 worth of tires from a store earlier this summer.
Lawsuit over institutionalizing foster youth in psychiatric hospitals continues
When foster youth are admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Alaska against their will, they can stay there for up to 30 days without judicial review. Two tribes are arguing that's too long. The Office of Children's services says a judge shouldn't have to sign off at all on keeping kids at North Star Hospital. The court battle has lasted over two years, and a judge will hear more oral arguments later this month. Listen now
AT&T donates $750K to help Anchorage high school graduates
AT&T is donating $750 thousand dollars to an Anchorage program aimed at helping at-risk and homeless youth graduate high school. “Back on Track” is a collaboration between United Way, the Anchorage School District, and Covenant House Alaska. Listen now