Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media

Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media
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Lori Townsend is the chief editor, senior vice president of journalism 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. Read more about Lori here.

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 Bill Walker pictured in April 2016. (Photo by Skip Gray, 360 North)

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

Coming into the Country

"Coming into the Country" likely inspired countless young people to venture to Alaska. Many stayed. Alaska’s Energy Desk has been highlighting their stories and on the next Talk of Alaska, we’ll hear from the legendary author about the unexpected impact his book has had through the decades. Listen Now

March for women’s rights

Women started the idea as a protest, but a march in Washington DC planned for the day after the presidential inauguration has grown into something much larger. Now it’s being called a march for human rights and raising awareness of a broad range of concerns from affordable housing to health care to immigration. Listen Now

Extreme cold to move across Alaska in coming week

Alaskans aren't too surprised when the weather is cold...in January....but National Weather Service Climate Science manager for Alaska, Rick Thoman says we're going to see some extreme cold move in over much of Alaska. Potentially 60 below over the western half of the state, but how far will temps drop? Thoman says...it's complicated. Listen now

Alaska News Nightly: January 9, 2017

FBI and police address Fort Lauderdale shooter's ties to Alaska Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage Law enforcement officials in Anchorage held a press conference on Saturday regarding what's known about Esteban Santiago, the alleged shooter in Friday's attack at the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Savoonga residents request state help after storm devastation Davis Hovey, KNOM - Nome In the final days of 2016, a storm caused wind and water damage to many buildings in Savoonga, one of two communities on St. Lawrence Island. At one point, nearly a hundred people took shelter in the school building. How Alaska had this Trump nominee shaking Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media - Washington DC President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Commerce Department, Wilbur Ross, is a billionaire investor, a specialist in distressed industries. Alaska Economic outlook for 2017 is bleak Rashah McChesney, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau Thousands of Alaskans lost their jobs in 2016. And in the forecast for 2017, it doesn't look like the economy is going to stop shrinking anytime soon. Lawmakers pre-file legislation in the lead up to next week's session start Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Public Media/KTOO - Juneau Lawmakers couldn't agree last year whether to permanently provide health insurance to the survivors of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty. Starting next week, they'll have another chance. Hold These Truth tells story of WWII, presents lessons for today Anne Hillman, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage The Perseverance Theater production of “Hold These Truths” is playing in Anchorage this week. The one-man show tells the story of Gordon Hirabayashi and his resistance of the forced imprisonment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Elevated avalanche concern for interior Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks Recent heavy snows and high winds have created avalanche conditions in areas of the interior not normally prone to slides. Minnesota climber gives up Mount Hunter attempt Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks Lonnie Dupre (doo-PREE) has called it quits on Mt. Hunter after a harrowing experience. The Minnesota based adventurer began an attempt last week to become the first person to scale the 14 thousand 5 hundred foot Alaska Range peak alone in January. Whale Pass votes to become a second class city Angela Denning, KSTK - Petersburg Whale Pass residents voted to become a second class city in an election that is wrapping up. The small community has about 50 residents on northern Prince of Wales Island.

Physics for Rockstars

Understanding physics may seem daunting, but mechanical engineer, writer and musician Christine McKinley wants you to know, its all just chaos and it should be fun. The former Anchorage resident and author of Physics for Rock Stars, will be back in her childhood city for a Science Pub at the Tap Root Public House on Sunday, Jan. 8th. Listen now

Alaska News Nightly: Monday, Jan. 2nd, 2017

21 year old pedestrian dies in Sunday morning collision Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks Police say a 21-year-old woman was killed after she was hit by a car in Fairbanks, just a few hours after she had been released from the city jail yesterday morning. Restoring Ohmer creek Joe Viechnicki, KFSK - Petersburg The U.S. Forest Service is moving forward with a project to restore a stream damaged by decades-old logging and road-building south of Petersburg. The impacts of trauma on young children Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage Understanding the long term impacts of child and family trauma is the life work of Dr. Linda Chamberlain. Dr. Chamberlain is the director of the Alaska Family Violence Prevention Project and UAA affiliate faculty. Homeless on the streets of Dillingham Avery Lill, KDLG - Dillingham There's no homeless shelter in Dillingham, but there aren't many who have nowhere to turn to get in from the cold. 61-year-old Matfie McCarr is one of a handful who call the streets home. Remembering military historian John Cloe Zoe Sobel, KUCB - Unalaska Military historian John Cloe has died. First reported by the Alaska Dispatch News, Cloe died at his home in Anchorage on December 26th. Memories hidden in a wall Kayla Desroches, KMXT - Kodiak Houses can be historic in many senses – for instance, the history that families create. Recently, the owner of one house on a hill in Kodiak, found a little of that family history while renovating. Listen now
Talk of Alaska by Alaska Public Media

Looking back on Alaska’s 2016

We’re at the end of 2016. It was a year of legislative fights over the budget, taxes, the permanent fund and what the fiscal future path for Alaska should look like. It was also a year when Alaska tribes were given a path to put land into trust, and the residents of Barrow voted to change its name. A 7.1 earthquake shook up Southcentral residents and a lot of other big things happened. We’ll discuss them and look ahead to 2017. Listen Now

Former Anchorage man indicted in Iranian money laundering scheme

An indictment in a bizarre international money laundering scheme was released from the U.S. Attorney's office in Anchorage today. $1 billion that was being held in Seoul South Korea, was spirited out of the country through a scheme perpetrated by a former Anchorage man. Listen Now

Pedestrian and bike friendly community planning

Working to make community streets safer for pedestrians, bicycle riders and public transit users can revitalize neighborhoods, boost the economy and help residents get more exercise. It also keeps the air cleaner. These ideas are increasingly being built into long range traffic and community design plans and it’s not just a concept for warm climate cities. We’ll discuss new ways of designing transportation plans for trails and roads. Listen Now

Author discusses book on World War II importance of Kuril Islands

Positioned South of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, and North of Japan, the little known Kuril Islands played a pivotal role in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Alaska Public Media's Lori Townsend  spoke with historian  John H. Cloe about his book "Mission to the Kurils" detailing the Islands' significance to American airmen during that war, and about their continued role in global politics.