Ellen Lockyer, Alaska Public Media

Ellen Lockyer, Alaska Public Media
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APTI Reporter-Producer Ellen Lockyer started her radio career in the late 1980s, after a stint at bush Alaska weekly newspapers, the Copper Valley Views and the Cordova Times. When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Valdez Public Radio station KCHU needed a reporter, and Ellen picked up the microphone.
Since then, she has literally traveled the length of the state, from Attu to Eagle and from Barrow to Juneau, covering Alaska stories on the ground for the AK show, Alaska News Nightly, the Alaska Morning News and for Anchorage public radio station, KSKA
elockyer (at) alaskapublic (dot) org  |  907.550.8446 | About Ellen

Borough School Honors Redington, Sr.

Ground was broken Tuesday for the first new school to be constructed in more than a decade in the Matanuska Susitna Borough. The new Joe Reddington, Senior school is located near the original homestead of the father of the Iditarod. Download Audio

Great Land Trust Planning To Buy Top Of Bodenburg Butte

The Great Land Trust plans to buy the top of Bodenburg Butte in Palmer. Download Audio

Two Alaska State Troopers Slain In Tanana

A 19-year-old Tanana man has been arrested in connection with the murder of two Alaska State Troopers on Thursday. The bodies of the two slain law officers were brought to the state medical examiner’s office in Anchorage on Friday, accompanied by a Trooper escort. Download Audio

Forestry Trainees Brush Up On Essential Fire Suppression Skills

It’s only April, and already a dozen brush fires have erupted in the Matanuska Susitna area. State foresters are looking ahead to a busy fire season, and fire suppression trainees are brushing up on essential skills – including driving the fire truck. Download Audio

Court Rules In Favor Of Same-Sex Couples In Property Tax Case

State Supreme Court on Friday justices decided in favor of two same sex couples in a property tax case that could have wider implications for the state. Download Audio

Survey Finds Mat-Su Residents Want To Maintain Rural Profile

A survey sponsored by the Nature Conservancy indicates that Matanuska-Susitna Borough residents want to maintain a rural profile a quarter of a century from now. The Institute of Social and Economic Research collected the data used in the survey. The results were released last week. Download Audio

Mat Su Borough FY 15 Budget Outlook

This week, the Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly got a preview of the Borough's preliminary FY 15 fiscal plan. This year's budget outlook indicates that some cost cutting may have to be done before the Borough Assembly makes a decision on the final spending package.

MEA Official Accuses Anchorage Assembly Of Misusing City Funds

A Matanuska Electric Association official charges that the Anchorage Municipal Assembly is spending city funds on private interests. Joe Griffith, MEA’s executive director, has contacted Anchorage officials with concerns that city money is being spent on one Assemblyman’s legal fight against a power station upgrade. Download Audio

HB23 Would Allow Public Financing Of KABATA

With a 16-4 vote on Saturday, the state Senate approved House Bill 23, allowing public financing of the Knik Arm Crossing. The approval moves the $892 million project forward by updating the project’s financial model. The bill allows funding for the bridge to come from three public entities: one third from bonds, one third from National Highway System funds, and the final third from federal loans. Download Audio

HAARP Research Facility To Shut Down

Gakona's High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, better known as HAARP, is slated for the junkpile. But a group of University of Alaska researchers are trying to stave off a Department of Defense move to scuttle the often - misunderstood scientific facility. Download Audio

FEMA Head Meets With Mat Su Officials

FEMA administrator Craig Fugate met with Matanuska Susitna Borough officials on Friday, April 4, to discuss changes in federal emergency assistance legislation. Those changes could smooth the flow of reimbursment dollars to the Borough for local emergency response and to homeowners who suffered flood damages in the fall of 2012

Wife Of Missing Mt. Marathon Racer Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The wife of a man who went missing during the 2012 Mt. Marathon race is suing the Seward Chamber of Commerce. The wrongful death suit is asking for a judgment of $5 million. Download Audio

Petersen Trumps Trombley

Voters in Alaska's biggest city elected six municipal assembly seats Tuesday, but with thousands of absentee and early ballots still to be counted, the outcomes of some races may change. Download Audio

Early Unofficial Results Show Tight Races in Anchorage Municipal Election

Anchorage's unofficial municipal election results show at least one upset, although outcomes of most other Assembly races are not surprising.

Mat-Su Considers Ordinance Allowing Borough To Pay For Ballot Proposition Ads

An ordinance now before the Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly would allow the Borough to pay for advertising to influence voters in the case of state ballot propositions. The ordinance comes at a time when an upcoming state ballot is expected to put a number of controversial issues before the voters. Download Audio

Mat-Su Borough Rejects Ordinance Restricting Cell Tower Construction

A proposed Matanuska Susitna Borough "tall tower" ordinance has been found to be toothless, according to the Borough's planning commission. The public is expected to weigh in on the ordinance at an upcoming Borough Assembly meeting. Download Audio

Anchorage Office of Emergency Management Readies For Earthquake Drill

Anchorage was hit hard during the 1964 Alaska earthquake, which caused terrible destruction downtown and along Turnagain Arm. For the 50th anniversary of that event, the city is planning to take part in emergency drills that involve all schools and city agencies. This week is declared Earthquake Preparedness Week by city officials, and residents are urged to be prepared for the real thing.

The Great Alaska Earthquake: 50 Years Later

This week, Alaska commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Great Alaska Earthquake. The calamity destroyed whole towns, took lives and still stands as the largest earthquake to ever rock North America. KSKA will take a look at how one Alaska Community, Seward, rose to the challenge of rebuilding after the quake and seven tidal waves flattened most of the town. That's on A Closer Look, on KSKA . KSKA: Tuesday, March 25, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

Political Group Calls For Action Against Rep. Gattis

A Washington, DC political group is calling for the state to take criminal action against Representative Lynn Gattis (R-Wasilla). Download Audio

Bill Stoltze Announces Run For New Senate Seat

Representative Bill Stoltze, a Republican from Chugiak, announced a new political path at the Mat Su Senior Center in downtown Palmer on Friday. Stoltze told the audience that his heart has always been in Palmer, and now he’d like to represent that city in a new state Senate district. He said he’d done “a lot of soul-searching” before making the announcement. Download Audio