Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media
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.
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Audubon feature: Offshore regulators pressured to meet Shell’s deadline
A story in Audubon magazine this month details how regulators cut corners and rushed the work schedule as they worked to accommodate Shell's plan to drill in the Arctic last summer. The article follows an Inspector General report released last week showing federal scientists felt they were too rushed to do an adequate job on the environmental review of Shell's proposal.
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The business of marijuana
What will it mean to have legal marijuana in Alaska? State and local governments are working right now on regulations for licensing marijuana retail businesses and growers. What kind of shops will be allowed? Who will be able to grow for commercial sales and where? What are the security implications?
APRN: Tuesday, 12/10 at 10:00am
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Alaska Republicans sue to loosen rules on campaign contributions
Republicans in Alaska are suing in federal court to overturn the state’s strict limits on donations to political candidates and groups.
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Winter food security
A lot of Americans would welcome a forecast for a mild winter, but in Alaska a lack of snow and ice can mean hardship for those in rural communities who depend on cold for traveling and hunting. What happens when the land of ice and snow isn't so frosty?
APRN: Tuesday, 11/24 at 10:00am
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Winter food security
A lot of Americans would welcome a forecast for a mild winter, but in Alaska a lack of snow and ice can mean hardship for those in rural communities who depend on cold for traveling and hunting. What happens when the land of ice and snow isn't so frosty?
APRN: Tuesday, 11/24 at 10:00am