Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media
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.
Alaska Native filmmaker selected for Sundance academy
A lot of Alaskans may know Inupiaq artist Holly Nordlum as a graphic designer, jewelry maker and creator of art that provokes conversations about the painful history of organized religion's impacts on Native people. Born in Kotzebue, Nordlum is a powerhouse of ideas and creative energy. Recently her desire to get a traditional Inupiaq chin tattoo led her on a journey of searching for tattooists who could teach the ancient, cultural art of tattooing with ink and thread or skin poking.
Download Audio
Sen. Gardner: Lawmakers need committee to vet budget bills
Senate Minority Leader Berta Gardner introduced legislation yesterday to create a permanent Ways and Means committee in the Senate. It's a companion to a bill introduced by Rep. Sam Kito, a Democrat from Juneau, in the House earlier this week.
Download Audio
Sen. Meyer: Savings can mitigate budget overhaul impacts
The Majority Caucus in the State Senate has one priority this year: restoring fiscal stability to Alaska. And Senate President Kevin Meyer, of Anchorage, says Permanent Fund earnings will have to be part of that mix.
Download Audio
Rep. Tuck: Budget burden shouldn’t fall on middle class
Anchorage Rep. Chris Tuck is the minority leader in the state House. He questions whether the Governor’s budget proposal is fair for average Alaskans.
Download Audio
BIA settlement closes; Alaska tribal groups net $100M
The enormous $940 million class-action lawsuit against the BIA on behalf of tribes cleared the last court hurdle today in New Mexico. The case stems from decades of short-funding tribal contracts. More than $100 million will be awarded to tribal organizations in Alaska.
Download Audio
Chenault: Balance budget with mix of cuts, new revenue
The Alaska Legislative session started today in Juneau. The Senate gaveled in at 11 a.m. and House speaker Mike Chenault started things off for the House at 1 p.m. Lawmakers have a lot of work ahead of them as they attempt to address the state’s massive budget deficit.
Download Audio
Gov hopes nonpartisan politics will help cross party lines
Gov. Bill Walker is in Juneau preparing for tomorrow's start to the legislative session. Regardless of other considerations, the big challenge will be finding common ground with lawmakers over how to fix the state's large and growing budget deficit.
Download Audio
The future of the University of Alaska
University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen was direct in his recent comments about budget cuts the university system is facing. “We face terrible challenges, horrible challenges, tough challenges,” Johnsen said at the recent State of the University address. What does this mean for the future of higher education in Alaska?
APRN: Tuesday, 1/19 at 10:00am
Listen now
Exxon Valdez litigation ends, but spill’s legacy may be indefinite
Nearly three decades after the disastrous Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, the litigation for the remaining cash the state and federal governments could pursue from Exxon is at an end. But one biologist says the spill's after-effects may linger for centuries.
Download Audio
Exxon Valdez litigation ends, but spill’s legacy may be indefinite
Nearly three decades after the disastrous Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, the litigation for the remaining cash the state and federal governments could pursue from Exxon is at an end. But one biologist says the spill's after-effects may linger for centuries.
Download Audio
Rasmuson Foundation, family gift $24M to Anchorage Museum
The Anchorage Museum is getting a big financial boost from the Rasmuson Foundation, and the Rasmuson family, for an expansion. It's a gift of $24 million -- $12 million from the foundation will be matched by the Rasmuson family.
Download Audio
What’s causing Alaska’s sea bird die-off?
Sea birds are having a tough time in Alaska. Thousands of dead murres have been washing up on beaches in coastal communities and even found inland. biologists are working to pinpoint what's causing this massive die off. Is it El Nino? The warm water blob? Or something else entirely?
APRN: Tuesday, 1/12 at 10:00am
Listen now
Stranded whaling fleet, miraculous survival story make archaeological jackpot
Federal scientists discovered the battered remnants of two whaling ships near Wainwright in the Chukchi Sea this fall. The ships are believed to be from 1871 when 33 ships were trapped by sea ice. Miraculously, all 1,219 people stranded survived the harrowing ordeal.
Download Audio
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan and the nation’s Arctic policy
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan has been on the job for one year and has focused on military and veterans issues. He's also been highly critical of the Obama Administration's Arctic strategy, saying a more comprehensive policy is required. In a time of state and federal budget restraints, how will Arctic needs be addressed?
APRN: Tuesday, 1/5 at 10:00am
Listen now
Alaskans win video contest, trip to Norway
A lifelong Alaskan and a relative newcomer to the state combined forces recently to make a short film called Arctic Contrast, winning a video contest sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy in DC.
State committee looks to improve, economize jury selection
More than 30,000 Alaska residents were called for jury duty last year. Were you one of them? The state court system relies on a steady stream of jurors to fairly try cases across the state. A Jury Management Committee including judges and court administrators is currently examining ways to improve the overall jury selection process and to contain rising costs.
Download Audio
Correcting the Department of Corrections
Prisoner treatment has been a national topic of discussion and a recent report on the Alaska Department of Corrections found numerous problems in the state's system. Governor Bill Walker called the system broken, fired the commissioner and put long time Alaska law man Walt Monegan in charge of making changes at DOC.
APRN: Tuesday, 12/29 at 10:00am
Listen now
Alaska Innocence Project nets first big victory in FBX 4
George Frese, Eugene Vent and Kevin Pease are spending their first day out of prison today in 18 years. They were released yesterday in Fairbanks after the court approved a settlement in the case of the murder of 15-year-old John Hartman. The other member of the Fairbanks Four was Marvin Roberts, who was paroled earlier this year.
Download Audio
Al Jazeera documentary highlights erosion in Kivalina, Newtok
On Sunday evening, the issue of Alaska coastal erosion will be featured on the Al Jazeera America program "Fault Lines." The correspondent for the story is former APRN reporter Libby Casey. She says they highlighted Newtok and Kivilina on the northwest Arctic coast.
Download Audio
Marijuana regs largely on track, but hurdles remain
The chairman of the marijuana control board says the state is on track with its regulatory process work. But regulatory hurdles at the federal level -- like product inspection, transport and banking -- still linger.
Download Audio