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.
Scientists Study Mt. Redoubt’s 2009 Seismic Activity
For several months in 2009, Redoubt volcano had residents of Southcentral Alaska on edge. Scientists warned that the volcano could erupt at any time in January. But it wasn't until mid March that Redoubt sent a ash plume thousands of feet into the air.
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New Film Covers Former Governor Wally Hickel
The colorful and often controversial former Governor, the late Wally Hickel is the subject of a new film entitled, “Alaska, the World and Wally Hickel.” Consulting producer Paul Brown says the film covers everything from Hickel’s resolve to rebuild downtown Anchorage after the devastating 1964 earthquake, to his firing by President Richard Nixon when he served as Interior Secretary and disagreed with Nixon over the war in Vietnam. The former Governor was around 78 years old when Brown met him. He says Hickel was still youthful in his vision.
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Crowley, UIC Form Joint Venture In Arctic
Long time marine transport providers Crowley Marine Services and Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation or UIC Bowhead have formed a joint venture to help meet the growing demand for services in the Arctic.
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Spring Whaling Begins In Arctic
Despite the lingering effects of winter, spring whaling has begun in Arctic Alaska and seal hunters are also heading to the coast from Chevak in the Southwest part of the state. Grace Levettte with the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission in Barrow confirmed today that whaling crews on St Lawrence Island have landed a total of three bowheads so far – two for Gambell and one for Savoonga.
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Still Points North
Writing well is not an easy task and writing about painful family breakups is even harder. On the next Hometown Alaska, Lori Townsend hosts guest Leigh Newman, author of the new book Still Points North: One Alaskan Childhood, One Grown up World and one long journey home. Leigh's riveting story tells of her struggles growing up between two homes; her father's in Anchorage and her mother's in Baltimore.
KSKA: Wednesday 4/24 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
‘Beyond the Bear’ Recounts Horrific Mauling
A new book out this month tells the incredible story of bear attack survivor Dan Bigley. In “Beyond the Bear” Bigley and co-author Debra McKinney recount the horrific mauling 10 years ago near the Russian River, which blinded Dan and changed his life forever.
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Sequester Impacts; And The Latest From The Alaska Legislature
This week on Alaska Edition we discuss the rippling economic effect of federal sequestration cuts and the impact to IHS funding for tribal health facilities across the state. We also run through the legislature's actions last night on the gas plan for trucking to Fairbanks, the latest on the oil tax overhaul and KABATA getting folded into the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation by the House. The Senate still has to vote on it. We also discussed the Mat-Su budget and the proposal for a CDQ harbor in Seward.
KSKA: Friday, 4/12 at 2:00pm & Saturday, 4/13 at 6:00pm
TV: Friday, 4/12 at 7:30pm & Saturday, 4/13 at 5:00pm
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Kobuk 440 Kicks Off In Kotzebue
The Kobuk 440, Kotzebue’s annual sled dog race kicked off at 12:30 this afternoon. 18 mushers signed up this year and Kobuk 440 board President Liz Moore says this numbers on the high end. She says they did have to make some team changes before the race got started.
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State Attorney General Weighs In On Tribal Lands Case
A recent D.C. court ruling has left state officials with a lot of legal uncertainty. The court said the Secretary of the Interior can take land into trust status for tribes in Alaska and can not treat tribes here differently than in the lower 48.
Court Decision Has Big Implications For Tribal Lands
A D.C. district court decision quietly released on Easter Sunday, has huge implications for Alaska tribal and state lands jurisdiction. The court found the Secretary of Interior has the authority to take land into trust for Alaska tribes.
Court Says Feds Can Take Land Into Trust For Alaska Native Tribes
A decision this week from the U.S. District court for the District of Columbia has big implications for Alaska tribes. In the case of Akiachak Native Community v. Salazar, the court affirmed the ability of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Alaska tribes. The ruling also states that Alaska tribes have the right to be treated the same as all other federally recognized tribes.
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Alaska Volcano Observatory Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The Alaska Volcano Observatory is celebrating its 25th anniversary today. It was created in 1988, two years after a large eruption of Augustine volcano near Homer created problems for the Anchorage area and the airport. The next year, in December 1989, Mount Redoubt erupted, sending an ash plume more than 30 thousand feet in the air. When a passenger jet on it’s way to Anchorage encountered the ash, it lost power to all four engines. The airplane plummeted nearly 20,000 feet before the pilots were able to regain control and land safely in Anchorage.
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Gov. Parnell Declares March 29 Vietnam Veteran’s Day
Governor Sean Parnell has signed legislation designating tomorrow, March 29th, Vietnam Veteran’s Day in honor of those who served more than 40 years ago in that conflict. Anchorage resident Ric Davidge is the national chairman for government affairs for Vietnam veterans in America. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He went to Vietnam in 1965 as a 19 year old medic.
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Thelma Langdon
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former lt governor Fran Ulmer was inducted herself in 2009. She introduced one of this year's inductees-the late Thelma Langdon who was honored for her work in education, mental health and elder care. Her daughter Mel Langdon accepted the award.
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Mary Joyce
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former Anchorage Assembly chair and hall of fame steering committee member Jane Angvik tells us more about the late, Mary Joyce who was honored for her achievements in Business and adventure! Mary Lou Gerby accepted the award on her behalf.
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Report Offers Findings On Status Of Alaska Women
A report released Tuesday offers stark findings on the status of Alaskan women. Women in the state earn much less than their male counterparts, have been imprisoned at a higher rate during the last decade and are committing suicide at a rate twice as high as the rest of the United States.
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Jewel Jones
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer was inducted herself in 2009. She was on hand to introduce one of this year's inductees-public health and community development advocate Jewel Jones.
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New Book Offers How-to Tips for Aspiring Homesteaders
How to successfully live off the grid in remote areas, is the subject of a new book called "The Alaska Homesteader's Handbook. Independent Living on the Last Frontier." The book features profiles and how to tips by Alaska homesteaders and offers practical advice on a wide range of topics from How to age game meat to packing horses for the backcountry to safely crossing rivers.
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State Senate Passes Oil Tax Overhaul; Changing Arctic Impacts On Subsistence, Economies
The state senate on Wednesday night narrowly passed an overhaul of the oil tax system. Iditarod Trail Committee deals with an unusual death of a dropped dog in Unalakleet. The Arctic is changing, investigate the impacts to subsistence and food resources and the potential for new economies there. Fairbanks officials looking for a way to bring in cheaper gas.
KSKA: Friday, 3/22 at 2:00pm & Saturday, 3/23 at 6:00pm
TV: Friday, 3/22 at 7:30pm & Saturday, 3/23 at 5:00pm
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Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Dorothy Jones
As part of Women’s history month, Alaska Public Media brings you the voices of influential Alaskan women who have helped shape and define the social, cultural and political discourse in Alaska. 15 women were recently inducted into the Alaska women’s hall of fame at a ceremony in Anchorage. Former Anchorage Assembly chair and hall of fame steering committee member Jane Angvik tells us more about one of the inductees-Anthropologist and women's therapy advocate Dorothy Jones. Connie Wolf accepted the award.
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