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
Wishbone Hill Mining Permits Called Into Question
The federal Office of Surface Mining has questioned the validity of the Usibelli coal mining permits for the Wishbone Hill mine near Palmer. In a letter to the state Department of Natural Resources, division of mining, land and water, OSM’s Kenneth Walker states that the federal agency finds “gaps” in permitting information furnished to OSM by the state. OSM has requested that the division of mining, land and water conduct a file review on the Wishbone Hill mining permits and to provide OSM with further information.
July On Track To Rank Among The Coldest Recorded
This July is on track to be one of the coldest ever in Anchorage. As of today, the average temperature for the month is just 55 degrees, a bit shy of the coldest July on record which came in at 54 point 4 degrees in 1920. The normal average is 58 degrees. David Snider is a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Anchorage. He says the same weather pattern that is heating up the Lower 48 is making it colder than normal over Southcentral Alaska and keeping storms over the area.
Dive Team Recovers Body From Matanuska Lake Canoe Accident, Searching For Second
One body has been recovered from a Matanuska Susitna Borough lake after a canoe accident. Dive teams from the Borough’s Emergency Services division recovered the body, as yet unidentified, after people noticed an overturned canoe on Matanuska Lake around 10 a.m. Friday. Stefan Hinman, Borough spokesman, said the dive team is looking for a second body, but could offer little more information.
Search Efforts Intensify For Missing Mt. Marathon Runner
The search for missing Mount Marathon runner Michael LeMaitre has intensified, but with no results yet. LeMaitre, a 66-year-old-Anchorage man, ran the annual July 4 race in Seward, and was seen near the top of the mountain Wednesday, but not since.
Runner Missing After Mt. Marathon Race
Efforts continue Friday to locate a missing runner who failed to return from Mt. Marathon in Seward after the July 4 race. As KSKA's Ellen Lockyer reports, Alaska State Troopers were called in on...
Earliest Matanuska Valley Residents Shrouded in Mystery
Somewhere North of what is now Trapper Creek, an ancient hunting party stopped for lunch. That was about 8,000 years ago, according to carbon dating on some of the artifacts that have been located at the site by archaeologists. The dig has yielded rudimentary stone tools, but, as yet, little information about the mysterious people who stopped there.
Woman Using Changing Time To Reinvigorate Seward Journal
Big city newspapers are struggling to compete with Internet news these days. But one Alaska woman is using the changing times to re-invigorate a small-town publication. Vanta Shafer moved from Tennessee to Alaska two decades ago, and now runs a bookstore in Seward. Shafer says she started the Seward Journal a year or so ago because she felt there was a lack of coverage of community events.
Vietnam Vets’ Wall Stirs Emotions
With the nation's birthday coming up this week, thoughts are turning to those who helped to keep this country free. A replica of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall has toured the state the last few weeks, and made a stop in Anchorage over the weekend.
Japanese Skiff Lost In Tsunami Washes Up Near Metlakatla
A Japanese fishing skiff, thought to be debris from the March 2011 tsunami there, has washed up on an Annette Island beach, near Metlakatla in Southeast. Michele Gunyah and her husband Mark were beachcombing Saturday when they saw the boat, beached on the south end of the island.
Ship Creek Closed To King Fishing
Anchorage’s urban Ship Creek fishery is the latest Chinook salmon fishery to be closed by the state Fish and Game department, effective July 1.
Federal Government Clears Redistricting Plan
The U.S. Justice Department today (Wednesday) gave its approval - or preclearance - to Alaska's new redistricting plan. Alaska Redistricting Board Chair Taylor Bickford says the Amended Proclamation Plan can now be used as a voting map for the November elections.
Historic Plane Wreck Identified
There's an update on the vintage plane wreckage retrieved from Colony Glacier this month. Futher details released today (Wednesday) indicate that the wreckage is that of a Korean War era plane. Investigators say the plane has been positively correlated to the U.S. Air Force C-124 Globemaster aircraft that crashed in 1952.
Begich Will Visit Bethel to Discuss Poor Salmon Runs
Senator Mark Begich will travel to Bethel to see the damages stemming from the poor Chinook salmon run in Western Alaska. Begich has expressed concern and will host a round table discussion next week...
Bear Creek Fire Slows Down
The wildfire burning off the Parks Highway near Anderson is slowing down as clouds move across the area. The Bear Creek Fire has burned 8,200 acres about 13 miles southwest of Anderson, an area...
Monitoring Flood Threat on the Matanuska River
Matanuska Susitna Borough residents may be facing property damage from high waters on the Matanuska River. The Matanuska River crested on Friday, threatening some homes in Sutton. According to Patti Sullivan, public information director with...
City Cemetery Holds Hidden Gems
Anchorage's earliest founders are gone, but certainly not forgotten. Those who turned out for the annual Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery walk were not only treated to a spectacular Solstice evening, they learned a bit...
State Senators Host Alaska Rocket and Space Summit
Is Alaska ready for the space age? That’s the question on the mind of some state senators, who hosted the Alaska Rocket and Space Summit at the Anchorage legislative information office Thursday. The day-long session featured presentations from representatives of successful aerospace enterprises in Florida and Utah, and from Alaska agencies like the state Department of Transportation and the Alaska Aerospace Corporation.
Valley Anglers Face Closures
Slow chinook salmon runs all over the state are curtailing commercial and subsistence fishing, and now sports anglers in the Matanuska Valley are facing fishing closures.
New Cook Inlet Player To Spend $200 Million in AK
New player in Alaska, Hilcorp Energy, is a little know private company with big plans for Cook Inlet oil and gas production. And it may play a role in giving a boost to Alaska's...
AVTEC Wind Turbine Provides Training Opportunity
There's a fresh breeze blowing in Seward, and this time it's turning the blades on a new wind turbine on the campus of the state's vocational training school.