Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media

The elections are finally over, although in Alaska, there is still uncertainty over the U.S. Senate and Gubernatorial race outcomes. Those race results will not be clear until more than 20,000 early, absentee and questioned ballots are counted next week. KSKA: Friday, November 7 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 8 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 8 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio

A novel by first time author Archana Mishra focuses on the need to make education more readily available to women. The Anchorage resident is a Native of India and lived and worked in Australia before moving to Alaska. She says for rural women in India, indigenous people in Australia and rural women in Alaska, the need is the same. Education creates equal societies. Mishra is an attorney and says all of the women in her family are highly educated. Her book, The Fortunate Child follows a girl who dreams of changing the world through helping others. She says women can’t be part of a thriving economy if they are not educational equals. Download Audio

One of your duties as a voter is to select judges for retention. Toward the back of your voter guide, you will find considerable information about those judges. Their basic biography-everything from their age to what communities in the state that they have been residents of. Their education, the political and government positions they have held, their interests and a statement from the judges themselves. KSKA: Friday, October 31 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 1 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, October 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 1 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio

Libertarians believe citizens should be free to engage in any activity that does not violate the rights of others. Their party wants government out of the way so people can pursue liberty and freedom. How would this translate to elected positions? APRN: Tuesday, 10/28 at 10:00am Download Audio

Lifelong Alaskan and political newcomer Forrest Dunbar is young and determined. This Yale Law grad wants to be Alaska's next Congressman. Dunbar is running as a Democrat. His social policy fits with that party, but he says he is more in line with Republicans on resource development. APRN: Wednesday, 10/29 at 10:00am Download Audio

From Southeast to the Northwest Alaska and many places in between, some interesting races and ballot issues top voter concerns. Also, the annual Alaska Federation of Natives convention is happening in Anchorage, covering a variety of rural issues. KSKA: Friday, October 24 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 25 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 25 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio

Sean Parnell is in a close race to keep his position as Alaska's top executive. The state is facing tough issues. Revenue shortfalls mean hard budget questions in the future, and reform is needed in the troubled National Guard. But gasline development may also be on the horizon. APRN: Tuesday, 10/21 at 10:00am Download Audio

Bill Walker wants to be the next Governor of Alaska. Whoever wins will take the job in a tough fiscal environment. Walker is running in a tight race without a party after running as a Republican in the past. APRN: Wednesday, 10/22 at 10:00am Download Audio

A series of reports that seek to define the potential changes to public health in rural Alaska communities based on the impacts of Alaska's rapidly changing climate. But, why are the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the North Slope Borough looking at the issue through the lens of climate change? KSKA: Friday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 18 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 18 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio

Six years ago, Mark Begich narrowly won his position as a U.S. Senator for Alaska. Now Senator Begich is in a fight to keep that seat with a strong challenge from former Attorney General and DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan. APRN: Tuesday, 10/14 at 10:00am Download Audio

Alaska has had an interesting fiscal ride through the decades. From a time when the purchase of the territory from Russia was called "Seward's Folly" to the discovery of the rich oil resources of Prudhoe Bay -- which made the state very cashy, fairly quickly. Alaskans have enjoyed the benefits of oil revenues for decades, but production is in decline and that means the state must ramp up production or slow down expenses. We're in deficit spending now but the population and demand for services continues to ramp up. What should be done to help Alaska get out of deficit mode. KSKA: Friday, October 10 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 11 at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 11 at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio

National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen has traveled to some of the most remote regions of the globe to document the effects of climate change. He has plunged into icy water and floated on sea ice to photograph sea mammals that rarely encounter humans. Nicklen worked as a biologist in Alaska before becoming a professional photographer. He says his love of the Arctic developed as a kid, growing up in a tiny arctic village on Baffin Island in Canada. Download Audio

Author Seth Kantner has published his first children's book. Pup & Pokey tells the story of a wolf pup and a young porcupine that strike up an unusual friendship. Kantner chose first time illustrator Beth Hill to bring the characters to life. Hill worked out of her home in the village of Kokhanok on a tight deadline, producing oil paintings that took two weeks to dry for each illustration. Download Audio: