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.

Homeless Shelters Concerned As Federal Funding Dries Up

As Alaska’s summer starts to slide toward fall, concern is growing for sheltering the increasing numbers of homeless citizens in Anchorage on cold nights. Download Audio

Audit Finds Botched Oversight, Bad Cost Estimates In Port Of Anchorage Project

A new audit by the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General, finds the Port of Anchorage expansion project had botched oversight and bad cost estimates. Lisa Demer is a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. She has reported extensively on the port expansion and the troubles surrounding cost and design. Download Audio

Coast Guard Sets Up Seasonal Base In Kotzebue; And FERC Approves A TAPS Settlement

Even though there’s no drilling in Arctic waters this summer, work is still being done in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. The Coast Guard has set up a forward operating location in Kotzebue this year after opening a seasonal location in Barrow last summer. Proponents of the oil tax referendum gather over 50,000 signatures. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approves a TAPS settlement with the three owners. KSKA: Friday, 7/19 at 2:00pm & Saturday, 7/20 at 6:00pm TV: Friday, 7/19 at 7:30pm & Saturday, 7/20 at 5:00pm Download Audio

Army Backs Away From Stuart Creek 2 Wildfire Statements

The Army says Fort Wainwright Garrison commander Colonel Ron Johnson might have been overstating it when he told residents of Pleasant Valley and Two Rivers last Saturday night that artillery training exercises had started the Stuart Creek Two wildfire. Download Audio

Program Helping Anchorage’s Childhood Obesity Rate Drop

Anchorage is one of fewer than a dozen communities in the U.S. where the number of kids who are obese is declining. Between the 2002 and 2010 school years, the obesity rate among students in grades K-8 fell 3 percent. Cindy Norquest is program director for Healthy Futures, a statewide initiative to get kids exercising every day. She’s in Washington D.C. this week to share Anchorage’s success story in a panel discussion sponsored by the American Cancer Society and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Download Audio

Eric Strabel Blows Up Mount Marathon Record

The annual Mount Marathon race in Seward was muddy this year but that didn't stop a rookie from taking the women's title. The Anchorage Daily News reported Palmer resident Christy Marvin clocked in at 53 minutes, 20 seconds, winning by nearly two minutes. Allison Barnwell a 21-year old Seward resident took second at 55 minutes 11 seconds and 18-year old Ann Spencer of Anchorage came in third at 56 minutes 15 seconds.

NEA Alaska President Says Teachers Should Not Be Armed

National Education Association Alaska President Ron Fuhrer says representatives from all 50 states believe they have as much if not more information about how to reform public education than lawmakers do. Fuhrer says in light of recent school shooting tragedies there is a heightened concern over school safety, but he says that doesn't mean teachers should be armed. “The last thing that an educator should be concerned about is trying to shoot someone, " Fuhrer said.

Catholic Church Rings In ‘Fortnight For Freedom’

If you’re in Juneau, Fairbanks or Anchorage tomorrow, you may hear the bells of the Catholic Church ringing at noon. Catholics in Alaska have been observing a two week period leading up to July 4, called the Fortnight for Freedom. Download Audio

Court Issues Decision On Indian Child Welfare Act

The U.S Supreme court released another decision today that has implications for tribes in Alaska. The Indian Child Welfare Act or ICWA was enacted to stop American Indian and Alaska Native children from leaving their biological families and tribes when these children were being placed in foster care or up for adoption. ICWA mandates a preference for the Native child’s family and tribe before non Native placement can be considered. The Supreme Court’s decision is in response to a case in South Carolina. Download Audio

Artist Making Masks Representing Top-10 Diseases In Alaska

On a recent sunny afternoon, Alaska Native mask carver Drew Michael puts the finishing touches on an enormous mask under a canopy in his backyard in east Anchorage. Michael is creating three foot by five foot wooden masks that will be painted by artist Elizabeth Ellis to represent the cells of the top ten diseases in Alaska for a show called Aggravated Organizms. Download Audio

McKinley To Denali Name Change Legislation Passes Out Of Senate Committee

The long time tug of war over the name of North America's highest peak was back in front of the U-S Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee on Tuesday. Download Audio

State, Federal Governments Investigate Deepwater Port Possibilities

The state and U.S. government are partnering together to investigate building a deep port at Nome or Port Clarence. They’re in the early stages of the study. Officials from the Alaska Department of Transportation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer visited Nome, Brevig Mission and Teller last week to collect public input about marine infrastructure and to hear about local concerns over natural resource impacts. Download Audio

Alaska Author Tackles Arctic Gardening

Seth Kantner is known to many Alaskans as the award winning author of the novel Ordinary Wolves and a collection called Shopping for Porcupine. Listen Now

Former Marine Speaks About Military Toxins, Potential Health Risks

A former Marine Corps Master Sergeant is in Alaska visiting communities to talk about military toxins and the potential health risks of those exposed. Jerry Ensminger spent 25 years in the Marines, but a local television news story about drinking water contamination that became a super fund site at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina changed his life. Download Audio

Galena Flooding Forces Many To Evacuate

More than half of Galena’s 400 residents have evacuated as flooding from an ice jam on the Yukon River worsened today. Power has been shut off as a precaution, there is no city water available. Download Audio

Yukon River Causing Flooding In Galena

The Yukon river is flooding in Galena as an ice jam at a notorious bend called Bishop’s Rock is keeping water high near Galena. Download Audio

New Book Explores Lost Legacy Of Harry Karstens, Stuck Expedition

One-hundred years ago today, the first expedition to summit Denali was slowly making its way up the mountain. After setting out from Fairbanks in mid-March, the four man team finally topped out on North America’s tallest peak on June 7, 1913. It’s often called the Stuck Expedition, after Hudson Stuck, the man who organized it. But a new book tells the story of the man who led the expedition to the top. Harry Karstens was a determined sled dog mail carrier with no previous climbing experience. Download Audio

Galena Prepares for Flooding as Yukon River Ice Remains Jammed

National Weather Service staff are in Galena monitoring rising Yukon river water and conducting fly overs to check on one particular jam.

Stu Ramstad Relives Memorable Moments In The Air

Alaska is celebrating 100 years of aviation this year. And aviator Stu Ramstad is an important part of that history. He grew up in a gold mining family. And became a pilot at age 14 in 1954. He says he didn’t goof off in the air. He considered the plane a tool that you loaded up and used to deliver supplies. But he told APRN’s Lori Townsend, he did have scary times as a pilot and survived two in-flight fires. Download Audio

Alaska Native Rapper Finding Worldwide Success

There are not great numbers of female rappers and Alaska Native female rappers probably number in the single digits. But one such artist is finding great success in the state and around the world as a woman with a passion for raising awareness of the struggles of Native people. Download Audio