Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media
The high cost of substance abuse
$3 billion. That's the annual expense associated with alcohol and drug abuse in Alaska. The numbers were compiled in a new report for the Alaska Mental Health Trust. Organizations across the state are trying to mitigate that impact through a variety of treatment options. What's working? Listen Now
Budget cut impacts to municipalities
State lawmakers continue to chip away at the budget to stabilize state finances. Millions of dollars have been cut from government spending and some lawmakers want millions more slashed. How is that affecting communities across the state? Listen Now
Alaska’s Sesquicentennial
It's been 150 years since Russia sold Alaska to the United States. Two new books look at the man who sold the land and the man who bought it. There's a lot of history to discover about Tsar Alexander the 2nd of Russia and William H Seward. Listen Now
Never Quit: Being a pararescueman
Jimmy Settle knows what it is to struggle back to health after being shot in the head. Settle and co-author Don Rearden recently released their new book, Never Quit. Listen now
Arctic research
What lies ahead for the Arctic and the people who live there? Researchers will gather in Anchorage, to present studies on changes in arctic plants and animals, food security and how remote population will need to adapt to increasing development, vessel traffic and tourism. Listen Now
Alaska’s chief medical officer on opioid battle
The state senate today (March 16) passed a bill that leaves in place an order to provide Naloxone, an anti-overdose drug to Alaskan organizations and individuals for another four years. Governor Bill Walker had issued a 30 day emergency disaster declaration in February to make Naloxone widely available. Listen now
International Women’s Day and the YWCA
Wednesday was International Women's Day. Some women in the U.S. stayed home from work to highlight the economic importance of women. Others wore red in a show of solidarity or committed to not shopping for the day or only shopping at women owned businesses. Listen now
The health care overhaul
Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration are moving forward with their plan to replace elements of the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. How could big changes to health insurance coverage affect Alaskans? What will happen to coverage for the more than 30 thousand residents who gained it through Medicaid expansion? Listen Now
The Iditarod – Past and Future
For only the third time in the race's history, the Iditarod is starting in Fairbanks. During the next Talk of Alaska we'll speak with past champions about how the 1,000 mile race has changed over the years and what current mushers think could be the future for the sport. Listen Now
Rabbi of threatened Jewish Center thankful for community support
An Anchorage Jewish community center is among those targeted in a wave of bomb threats around the country. Founded 25 years ago by Rabbi Yosef Greenberg, the Lubavitch Jewish Center of Alaska evacuated about 40 children after it received a phone call making the threat Monday (Feb. 27) afternoon. Listen now
How companies make billions selling medical records
Companies make billions of dollars by mining data from our internet searches, our purchase histories, and -- our medical records. That's the subject of Adam Tanner's new book, "Our Bodies, Our Data." Listen now
Governor Walker issues disaster declaration on opioid epidemic
Governor Bill Walker has declared Alaska’s opioid epidemic a state disaster and ordered state and federal money for overdose medication. Listen now
Japanese Day of Remembrance
The internment of Japanese people during World War 2 may be a distant memory for some, but for those who lived it or had family members who did are still carrying the impact. One of those people is Marie Nash, former long-time aide to Senator Ted Stevens. Her Japanese father was sent to a camp and her Aleut mom insisted on going with him. Marie was born in a camp. Listen Now
Presbyterian Church formally apologizes to North Slope Natives for denouncing culture
In Utqiagvik, an apology from the head of the Presbyterian Church will be offered to the Alaska Native people of the North Slope. The idea is to start a process of healing by acknowledging that the Church, however well intended, was wrong, when it denounced the cultures of Native people, both in Alaska and across the nation. Listen now
The Legislature’s budget work
Alaska legislators have a big task to wrangle a budget that stops deficit spending without grinding the state's economy to a halt. We've heard Governor Walker's plans. Next, Alaska Senate President Pete Kelly and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon join us to discuss their fiscal goals. Listen Now
Alaska Forum on the Environment to kick off next week
On Monday Feb 6th, the 19th Alaska Forum on the Environment kicks off in Anchorage. The annual gathering draws hundreds of people from across the state and beyond to spend five days discussing a wide range of environmental concerns. Kurt Eilo is a former EPA enforcement officer and has been the executive director of the Alaska Forum since its inception. Listen now
Following travel ban, an Anchorage lawyer may have less family at his wedding
Iraq's neighbor Iran is on President Donal Trump's recent travel ban list. John Parsi is of Iranian descent and is an Anchorage attorney. He was born in London during the Islamic revolution in Iran. Parsi said he's getting married in the fall and worries his Iranian relatives may not be able to attend the Alaska wedding. Listen now
Servicemen stationed at Camp Lejeune decades ago may have diseases from bad drinking water
Marines, National Guard members and reservists who were stationed, even temporarily, at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune from the 1950s through the late 80s, may have diseases related to contaminated drinking water on the base. Listen now
Alaska resident worried to travel after temporary travel ban
Pakistan is not on the list of seven countries that are under the temporary travel ban, but long time Alaska resident Shehla Anjum is still nervous about traveling to her home country. Listen now
Governor Walker discusses his prospects for 2017
Governor Bill Walker wants a budget plan and expressed frustration during his State of the State address with critics who don’t offer other ideas. What does he think he can get done during the current session and how long does he think it will take to get the state back on firm fiscal ground? We’ll ask when he joins us. Listen Now