Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media

Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media
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Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.
A bunh of cables behind a box

Data breaches and online security

It's become too common. Reports of a data breach that leaves thousands or millions of consumers vulnerable to identity theft, fraud or other types of scams. But what can you do to keep your personal information safe when online commerce is every day business? Listen Here

The Mayor of Anchorage addresses concern over crime and safety

Anchorage had a record number of homicides last year and is on pace to possibly surpass that number this year. Mayor Ethan Berkowitz took some heat for comments he made last week when he said residents who were not involved in drugs or out after midnight were safe. He apologized a day later, saying he wishes he could undo those comments. He said when crime happens to someone in the city, he feels the weight. Listen now

Former Alaska first lady passes, remembered as “frank and friendly”

Ermalee Hickel, the wife of former Governor Wally Hickel, died yesterday. Though her husband's outsized personality may have overshadowed her at times those who knew her say she was a strong woman of faith and family. Listen now

Anchorage medic mobilizes to help residents of Houston

Gray and one of her Mobile Medics International teams recently returned from Houston where they found the greatest need was in areas where undocumented immigrants were living. Listen now

The status of Vietnam vets in Alaska

60,000 Americans died in the Vietnam war. Thousands more died in the following years. A new documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns examines the era. In the first of a series of discussions on the war, we'll hear from Alaska Vietnam veterans about how they're doing today, decades after their service and what we've learned as a nation. Listen Here

The end of the summer salmon fishery

Some runs were outstanding, some were terrible. On the next Talk of Alaska, we're discussing the state's iconic species-- salmon. Whether you fish for sport, subsistence or make your living as a commercial fisherman or woman, the summer season is wrapping up. Listen Here
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Alaska News Nightly: Monday, September 4, 2017

Alaskans volunteer to help victims of flooding in Texas; Soldotna retailer sentenced for illegal sales of synthetic marijuana; Marijuana tax revenue trended higher in July; New plan for air quality in Fairbanks gets EPA approval; Wind farm owner takes utility to court over purchase refusal; Alaska student tests show dismal results; Legislation signed into law aims to boost vocational opportunities; Local officials worry about rockslide potential near busy Skagway port; Self taught 18 year old student fluent in multiple languages; Return of Chilkat robe celebrated by southeast tribes

Alaska News Nightly: Friday, September 1, 2017

State rejects Exxon's plan for Point Thomson; Governor Walker bullish on gasline but lawmakers have doubts; Anchorage syringe exchange program overwhelmed by demand; Anchorage leaders see uptick in new businesses; Hunting guides charged for illegal hunts; Golden Valley Electric Association approves funding for Healy 2; Battling opioid addiction in Alaska's fishing community; AK-This week: Family Cabin

Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017

Walker calls for a fourth special session; Walker lends support to Trump in lawsuit over arctic drilling; Tillerson proposes scrapping arctic and climate envoys; Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz files for re-election; Details of kidnapped Anchorage man's beating emerge as suspects still sought; State budget cuts cause uncertainty for court system positions; State ferry Taku bid process extended; After nearly two decades Bristol Bay Native Corporation reopens quarry;

Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017

Federal Appeals court throws out one convictions of former Fairbanks militia leader Schaeffer Cox; Health Care Authority could save state government millions of dollars; Alaska Soldiers to deploy to Afghanistan; Investigators drop inquiry dropped in Zinke calls to Alaska Senators; Sitka Coast Guard members deploy to Texas; St Paul ramps up reindeer program to improve food security; Mat Su fish meeting causes tension for Cook Inlet commercial and sport fishing; The second lives of eagles;

Alaska News Nightly: Monday, Aug. 28, 2017

Violent crime spree leaves one dead, another wounded; two inmates that escaped Bethel's jail have been recaptured; The state of Alaska is considering whether it should sue the manufacturers of powerful painkillers; Hurricane, now tropical storm Harvey won't affect Alaska oil prices; One in seven Alaskans are food insecure, the SNAP program helps them; traveling to Sleetmute where two women run a fishwheel; Climate change is affecting Kodiak bears relationship with an important food source, berries; "Lineage: Tlingit Art Across Generations" premieres tomorrow night (Tuesday 8/29) on 360 North.

The future of Alaska journalism

Fake news. Lame stream media. Journalism these days is getting a really bad rap. In an era when you can find a constant stream of information on the internet 24 hours a day, how important are news organizations? Listen Here

How could getting rid of for-profit medical insurance save the country money?

Congress has so far been unsuccessful in attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. There's a lot of debate about how to best contain spiraling health care costs and some Americans say it's time for a national health care plan. Listen now

The economic future of Alaska

Alaska is an oil state, but will that be true forever? The state is confronting low oil prices and declining production. Several companies are betting on new production. Others think Alaska needs to grow a different kind of economy. Listen Here
The Alaska State Legislature sign at the Legislative Information Office in Downtown Anchorage.

Legislative compromise

State lawmakers called themselves into a third special session to pass a scaled back capital budget. It was a long time in the making, but does the compromise signal that lawmakers can come together on a longer term budget plan for the state? What sticking points remain? Listen Here

Transgender activist looks to connect trans men in the 49th state

Malcolm Ribot is a transgender man from Illinois who's been traveling around the U.S. for the past nine months helping trans men connect with one another. When his journey started, he just wanted to meet some of his many social media followers. He soon realized his network could support people as they go through gender transition and increase the visibility of the trans community. Now he's in Alaska -- his 49th state. Listen now

Teenage Gambell whaler under social media fire from noted environmentalist

This spring, a controversy erupted when an extreme environmentalist launched an online attack on a teenage whaler from St. Lawrence Island. Listen now

The state budget and the future

State lawmakers called themselves into a third special session in order to pass the smallest capital budget in 17 years. Legislators reached compromise -- but still don't have a long term budget plan for the state's future. Will they call a fourth special session? Listen Here
A rainbow flag wavees in a blue sky

Transgender Air Force Staff Sergeant reacts to Trump’s declaration against transgender service-members

This morning the president declared that transgender individuals will no longer be allowed to serve in the U.S. military, but thousands already do. That includes service members based in Alaska. Alaska Public Media's Lori Townsend spoke with Air Force Staff Sergeant Emma Horner, who came out as transgender to her fellow military members in October. Listen now

The future of the Alaska VA Healthcare system

Disability claims for veterans can take up to five years to process. Why? The VA has been plagued with problems for decades. Funding shortages, poor coordination, and a range of complex health issues faced by service members have all created barriers for vets seeking care. Amid increased attention on the problems, are improvements on the horizon? Listen Here