Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media
Made of Salmon: Alaska Stories from The Salmon Project
Alaskans have strong, wide-ranging opinions on just about any topic, but one thing most agree on is a love of the state’s most iconic fish - salmon! A new book brings the stories of 50 Alaska writers together to celebrate what many will be doing this summer-casting nets and lines, hoping for a good story and a great meal.
‘Most Likely to Succeed’ author encourages education innovation
An advocate for a revolution in education has been touring the nation and recently spent eight days visiting Alaska schools. Ted Dintersmith is a former venture capitalist turned education innovation enthusiast.
Iditarod Committee: Beals will not compete in 2017 race following domestic violence charges
The Iditarod Trail Committee Board released a statement today regarding rules related to musher conduct. Recent reports of domestic violence charges against musher Travis Beals have prompted Iditarod officials to disallow any 2017 application from Beals. Download Audio
Gearing up for Alaska’s wildfire season
Fire season has already started. The mild winter and lack of snow in Southcentral Alaska has firefighters nervous about the tinder dry conditions in and around the state's largest urban center. Interior Alaska is also an area of high fire danger this spring. Green up is early, but how much would new growth slow a big burn?
Political intrigue at the Alaska Republican Convention
The state Republican Convention started this afternoon in Fairbanks. We sent APRN reporter Liz Ruskin to check it out. Download Audio
Former Alaska Senator Gravel to speak at UAA
Former Alaska U.S. Senator Mike Gravel is in Alaska this week. The outspoken Democrat is known for being fiercely independent, famously reading the Pentagon papers on the floor of the Senate in 1971 at a time when President Richard Nixon refused to release them to reporters. He also attempted a run for President in 2008. Download Audio
The Ecology of Breast Cancer: Researching the risks for breast cancer
Going beyond known risk factors for breast cancer has led to research that looks at the ecology of risk. Dr Ted Schettler is the science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network. He is also the author of The Ecology of Breast Cancer: The promise of prevention and the hope for healing. Dr Schettler says considering all the conditions that cancer arises from, means not just individual risks such as genetics, but community, ecosystem and societal concerns. Download Audio
Point Thomson gas development begins production on North Slope
The Point Thomson gas development on the North Slope has started production. In a web release, ExxonMobil states it will initially produce 5000 barrels per day of gas condensate and 100 million cubic feet per day of recycled gas that will be re-injected for future recovery. Download Audio
The joys and dangers of Alaska wilderness
Alaska is a state known for extremes: Both beauty and risk. The dramatic rescue of two skiers from a glacier this month highlights the need to be prepared for the what ifs of fast-changing weather that could leave you stranded in a storm We’re talking with the adventurers who were huddled in a snow cave for five days and the Air National Guard who rescued them on the next Talk of Alaska.
APRN: Tuesday, 4/19 at 10:00am
Download Audio
Changes to oil tax bill scale back incentives for new oil
With just over a week left in the legislative session, lawmakers are wrangling over the always-contentious issue of oil taxes. Gov. Bill Walker had requested a complete overhaul of the state's oil and gas tax credit program. The House Resources scaled back that proposal. Now, a third committee has weighed in. The House Finance committee chose a middle route -- while also introducing some changes that weren't even in the governor's bill. Download Audio
The status of Alaska’s budget
Lawmakers are in the final days of the regular legislative session and there is still a lot of daylight between the budget plans of the House and Senate and the Governor. Where do the fiscal plans stand currently and what are the potential impacts to the state's economy?
APRN: Tuesday, April 12 at 10:00am
Bonds, Assembly seats and School Board on Anchorage ballots
Self-contained two-way about tonight's Anchorage election. You can follow on the live blog, too! Download Audio
Governor Walker’s plan for fiscal stability
Governor Bill Walker's plan to solve the state's 4 billion dollar budget deficit has it all- budget cuts, new taxes and lower Permanent Fund Dividend payments in the years ahead. But his approach has plenty of critics in the legislature. What do you think? Join host Lori Townsend for a discussion on the state budget on the next Talk of Alaska statewide.
Download Audio
Budgetary activism in solving Alaska’s fiscal woes
Alaskans are getting involved in the state budget process in big and small ways. On the next Talk of Alaska our guests are representatives of three groups who are offering ideas for how they want state leaders to handle the fiscal crisis.
APRN: Tuesday, 3/29 at 10:00am
JBER cuts put on hold
Cuts to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson's 4-2-5 infantry brigade combat team in Anchorage have officially been put on hold. Alaska's congressional delegation is celebrating today's announcement by the army. Download Audio
Planning the future of the Arctic
Once little discussed, the Arctic and its future is becoming a popular topic for debate among those who live in it and those who are attracted to its resources. The U.S.-led Arctic Council will meet in Fairbanks during Arctic science summit week. What are the priorities?
APRN: Tuesday, 3/15 at 10:00am
Alaska Republicans holding conventions this month
Alaska Republicans are holding district conventions around the state this month. Last week, Ted Cruz won 12 Alaska delegates in the state GOP Preference Poll, followed by Donald Trump with 11 and Marco Rubio with 5. The state republican party will choose 28 delegates to represent those votes at the state convention in Fairbanks at the end of April. The national convention takes place in Cleveland in July.
Download Audio
Crime prevention through community outreach
Public safety and crime prevention will be more challenging for the state's department of law as budget cuts force closure of district attorney offices in some areas of Alaska. I'm Lori Townsend. How will prosecutors handle increased caseloads and long distance court proceedings?
APRN: Tuesday, March 8 at 10:00am
Download Audio
What’s going on with Alaska’s weather?
February rain in Fairbanks, breaking a no snow record in Anchorage and off the charts warmth in the Arctic. Alaska is blowing its reputation as the land of ice and snow.
APRN: Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 10:00am
Download Audio
Young adult novel follows lives of four Alaska teens
Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock grew up in Alaska but she says she could never have written her debut novel if she hadn't moved out of state. Her young adult book, published February 23rd, is called The Smell of Other People's Houses. Set in 1970's Alaska, the book tells the story of four teenagers who live very different lives in different parts of the state, but end up coming together in surprising ways. Download Audio