Ellen Lockyer, Alaska Public Media
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
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
Buzz Aldrin Talks To ANSEP Students
Tlingit and Haida dancers welcomed Astronaut Buzz Aldrin to UAA’s Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program or ANSEP on Friday.
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State To Auction Off Creamer Assets
When the Matanuska Creamery closed its doors on Dec. 30, it left more than 15 people without jobs, and it left a debt to the state of about $900,000. The Creamery’s closure marked the end of a dream of establishing a viable dairy industry in the Valley.
Agreement Could Mean Reintroduction Of Wood Bison To Alaska
Thursday, Federal wildlife officials announced an agreement that could lead to the re-introduction of Wood Bison into Alaska. Larry Bell, a Fish and Wildlife Service assistant regional director for external affairs, says a special rule has been drafted that would designate re-introduced Wood Bison as a “non-essential, experimental population”, which means land the animals occupy would not be designated as critical habitat.
Mat-Su Borough Power Ordinance Under Review
An ordinance restricting the size of power generation facilities in the Matanuska Susitna Borough may get a re-write. The move to re-visit the law sparked debate at Tuesday night's Borough Assembly meeting. An opponent of the move says it opens the door for possible coal-fired power generation in the Borough down the road.
Government Peak Trails Attract Nordic Skiers
A little rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of cross country skiers enjoying the Matanuska Susitna Borough’s second Winter Trails Day this season at the Government Peak Recreation Area near Palmer.
Government Hill Apartment Blaze Leaves 40 Homeless
Anchorage firefighters responded to a multiple alarm fire at a Government Hill apartment house on Thursday afternoon. The blaze left about 40 people without homes. It is the second apartment fire in the city in a week.
Shaeffer Cox Sentenced To Nearly 26 Years In Prison
Fairbanks militiaman Francis Shaeffer Cox is facing a 310 months in prison. Federal judge Robert Bryan handed down the sentence – close to 26 years – U.S. District Court in Anchorage at noon Tuesday, despite pleas of leniency from both Cox and his attorney, Peter Camiel.
The Coal Rush
Alaska's abundant coal resources are attracting world attention, especially in the Matanuska - Susitna Borough area, where rich deposits of bituminous coal have attracted development interests from as far away as Australia. But some Mat Su residents say that development will bring only environmental damage and disruption of a rural lifestyle. Others are anticipating high paying jobs. Join Ellen Lockyer for A Closer Look at coal mining in the Mat Su.
Thursday 12/13 at 1:00 pm
McGrath Power Costs Temporarily Jump 35 Percent
Electric power costs are going up in many areas, but in McGrath, electric rates jumped about 35 percent on Nov. 1. That is a temporary increase.
Red Flag Warning Issued For Matanuska Valley
Meanwhile, a red flag warning has been issued as of 5 a.m. this morning for the Matanuska Valley. The National Weather Service says the strong winds, with gusts up to 80 miles an hour, coupled with extremely low humidity means critical fire weather conditions are imminent for the area. The warning continues through Saturday, although the winds are expected to diminish by tonight.
Firefighters Subdue Palmer Blaze
Firefighters are battling a fire to save homes in Palmer on Thursday as high winds in the area pushed the blaze toward subdivisions off Palmer Fishhook Road. About 15 homes in the Cedar Hills subdivision were threatened, and Matanuska Susitna Borough officials ordered the residents to evacuate.
Court Reverses Decision To Halt Port MacKenzie Construction
The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Wednesday reversed its decision to halt construction on the Port MacKenzie rail project.
Southcentral Utility Costs May Rise As Much As 19 Percent
Representatives of Southcentral Alaska’s three major electric utility companies told an Anchorage Chamber of Commerce audience that rates could go up as much as 19 percent next year, although the Regulatory Commission of Alaska will have to approve any rate increase.
Inmate Orchestra Gets Ready for Concert
The all-female Hiland Mountain Orchestra is rehearsing for its annual concert in December. The string ensemble has gained national recognition for being the first women's prison inmate orchestra in the nation. This year, the orchestra's members have a lot to celebrate. They've matured as musicians and they are expanding the orchestra.
AK: Parrots
Although the sale of wild caught exotic birds has been banned in the US for decades, commercial breeders in the country make a variety of parrots and parakeets available for pet lovers. But they are challenging pets. And because some owners give them up, there are more parrots in Alaska than there are homes for them.
Coal Hearing Draws Criticism
State mining officials held a public hearing in Anchorage last [tuesday] night to determine if the sale of a coal lease near Skwentna is in the state's best interest. Most of those who attended were against the idea.
Symposium Addresses Poor Salmon Returns
Poor salmon returns in the Matanuska Susitna Borough have cost recreational and sports fishing interests in the Borough millions of dollars over the past four years. The Mat Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium, a stakeholders group working to protect salmon habitat, met November 7 and 8 to share the most recent information on what is affecting local salmon runs, and to update a plan aimed at improving the health of the fish stocks.
Moose Research Targets Calf Survival
Moose calf mortality is a big concern among state wildlife managers. AK Fish and Game has data indicating that 83 percent of collared moose calves died in one Kenai game unit alone. But moose researcher Vic Van Ballenberghe, who has spent more than three decades studying moose in the Denali Park area, has his theory of how a strong calf can be the result of choices a cow moose makes long before that calf is conceived. KSKA's Ellen Lockyer has more.
Moose Research Indicates Cow Choices Could Boost Calf Survival
Alaska's moose have become icons of advertising in the state. You see their long faces on coffee cups, T-shirts and in travel brochures so often that it is easy to forget how important they are as a food source. Join Ellen Lockyer and biologist Vic Van Ballenberghe for A Closer Look at new research on moose that could shed light on why some moose calves are healthier than others.
KSKA: 11/8 at 1:00 pm
Moose Researcher Studying Calf Mortality
Moose calf mortality is a big concern among state wildlife managers. Alaska Fish and Game has data indicating that 83 percent of collared moose calves died in one Kenai game unit alone. But moose researcher Vic Van Ballenberghe, who has spent more than three decades studying moose in the Denali Park area, has his theory of how a strong calf can be the result of choices a cow moose makes long before that calf is conceived.