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
Taskforce Addresses Sex Trafficking In Alaska
The lure of the big city can be irresistible for a young person leaving home. But danger awaits many teens and young adults who are led into a life of drugs and prostitution by sex traffickers on city streets. The State of Alaska Task Force on the Crimes of Human Trafficking held its initial public hearing in Anchorage on Monday to hear from experts on sex crimes in an effort to determine how widespread sex trafficking is in the state.
House District 9 Race
An airplane pilot and a heavy equipment operator face off in this year's District 9 race in Wasilla. Republican Lynn Gattis and Democrat Blake Merrifield, are both newcomers to state politics in a new district, and their race may pinpoint how Matanuska Valley politics is changing. KSKA's Ellen Lockyer has more.
Legislator Concerned About Outside Funds In Campaign Advertising
As Nov. 6 draws near, political advertising raises its pitch, and sometimes the campaign advertising gets ugly. But now, an Anchorage lawmaker, who is running for re-election himself, says he’s dismayed at the way outside political action groups are skirting state campaign finance laws.
Senate E: Huggins – Herman
Incumbent Charlie Huggins, a Republican with a strong military background and a Vietnam veteran, is being challenged for the Senate E seat representing Wasilla, Big Lake, and Point Mackenzie, by a woman who is a professional therapeutic masseuse with long roots in early childhood education. Democratic opponent Susan Parsons Herman, says she'll work across party lines, while two term Senator Huggins says he'll stick to a party agenda. KSKA's Ellen Lockyer has more.
House District 6: Feige – Duhamel
A newcomer to the Matanuska Valley political scene is challenging House District 6 incumbent Republican Eric Feige for his seat in the legislature. Feige, a professional airplane pilot with one House term under his belt, is a self-styled "conservative voice" for the district. His Democratic opponent, Jamey Duhamel, has spent the last year working for an anti-coal citizens' group. But both candidates agree: energy is the big issue. KSKA's Ellen Lockyer reports
Skwentna Coal Project Subject of Public Hearing
Skwentna residents asked to weigh in on coal exploration.
Point Thomson Project Gets The Green Light
The Point Thompson project moved a step forward today, when the US Army Corps of Engineers issued Exxon Mobil Corporation and PTE Pipeline LLC a wetlands permit allowing construction of three drill pads in the Arctic Coastal Plain off the Beaufort Sea. The move could spell good news for the state's long-awaited gasline plan. KSKA's Ellen Lockyer has more. [:20]
District 6 Candidates Battle For Mat-Su Valley Seat
A newcomer to the Matanuska Valley political scene is challenging House District 6 incumbent Republican Eric Feige for his seat in the legislature. Feige, a professional airplane pilot with one House term under his belt, is a self-styled “conservative voice” for the district. His Democratic opponent, Jamey Duhamel, has spent the last year or so working for an anti-coal citizens’ group. But both candidates agree: energy is the big issue.
Group Protests National Super PAC
A small but vocal group of protesters rallied outside Alaska Republican Party headquarters in midtown Anchorage at noon Tuesday to protest a national Super PAC that's funding advertisements targeting members of the state Senate bipartisan coalition. Scientists Investigate Poor King Salmon Returns
State Fish and Game officials are attempting to fill in some blanks in knowledge about Chinook Salmon. Poor returns all over Alaska this year have sparked questions about the abundance and reproductive success rate of Alaska’s chinook. Fish and Game has released a draft analysis,“Alaska Chinook Salmon Knowledge Gaps and Needs” to the public, and today in Anchorage, the department opened its Chinook Salmon Symposium to get some questions answered. But there seemed to be few answers and a lot of questions.
Tribal School Could Lose Language Program
A tribal run K - 8th grade school near Palmer has made the study of Alaska Native language and culture it's cornerstone. But funding to continue the Ahtna language studies at Ya Ne Dah Ah school is drying up, and although the school has applied for Bureau of Indian Affairs assistance, it's been turned down because of an old state education policy. KSKA's Ellen Lockyer has more.
AFN Continues In Anchorage
The Alaska Federation of Natives Convention continues in Anchorage through Saturday, when delegates vote on a slate of resolutions. The resolutions determine AFN’s course of action during the next 12 months and beyond, and if Friday morning’s sessions were any indication, Alaska Natives are gathering their collective political clout to gain greater control over every level of their lives.
AFN Opens With Speeches, Subsistence Concerns
The Alaska Federation of Natives convention kicked off today [thursday] with speeches, fanfare and a bit of fireworks. The annual event, takes place at Anchorage's Denaina Center. This year's theme is "Success Beyond Barriers." Keynote Speaker Carol Wren, a young woman now working with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council spoke about how her life took her from a village background to a job helping other native people achieve success. She thanked those who mentored her along the wa
Troopers ID Pilot Killed Near Skwentna
Alaska State Troopers have identified the pilot of a downed cargo plane that crashed en route to a McGrath area mine on Monday. The deceased pilot is Peter B. Iversen, Senior, 62 of Anchorage. Iverson was flying the cargo plane from Wasilla to Nixon Forks Mine near McGrath when the plane crashed.
Funding For Tribal-Run School Running Out
A tribal-run K-8 school near Palmer has made the study of Alaska Native language and culture its cornerstone. But, funding to continue the Ahtna language studies at Ya Ne Dah Ah school is drying up. The school has applied for Bureau of Indian Affairs assistance, but it’s been turned down because of old state education legislation.
Award Winning Carver Cited For Violating Federal Law
An award winning Tlingit carver has been cited by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for violating federal law. Archie Cavanaugh, from Juneau, placed art objects he had created for sale on the internet. One of the pieces, a hat, used raven feathers and another one, a headdress, used flicker feathers.
New Senior Housing Units Open In Anchorage
Affordable housing for elderly citizens remains scarce in Anchorage, now that the municipality is home to almost half the senior citizens in the state of Alaska. Anchorage’s NeighborWorks cut the ribbon on its new 20 unit senior housing complex in the city’s midtown on a blustery day in mid-September. The new Connolly Square opened to music and fanfare.
Pilot Dies In Plane Crash Near Skwentna
A pilot has been found dead in a downed plane near Skwentna. The Anchorage Daily News reports that searchers Tuesday found the pilot, who's name is not being released yet, after a search was initiated when the plane a Grumman C-1A did not arrive as scheduled at the Nixon Fork Mine near McGrath.
Crews Search For Missing Palmer Pilot
A search is underway for a missing plane. Palmer pilot Brendan Mattingly was last seen in at an airport in Soldotna on Saturday. Alaska State Troopers say Mattingly and his red, white and green Piper PA-19 Super Cub have not been seen since.
Butte Residents Clean Up After The Flood
State homeland security officials estimate that the cost of recent flooding in Alaska has topped 13 million dollars. That includes damage to state and Borough infrastructure from Seward to Nenana, but does not include ruined individually -owned property. In the Matanuska Susitna Borough, many residents are still coming to grips with how much the flood will cost them. KSKA's Ellen Lockyer brings us this update on the flood's aftermath