Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media

Making extinction personal was the goal of whale biologist Eva Saulitis when she wrote her new book “Into Great Silence.” Saulitis has studied Prince William Sound Orcas for more than two decades. Her memoir is an intimate look at the sentient creatures and the threats to their existence. Saulitis says she worked in a remote hatchery in her early 20s and was drawn to the secret life of whales.

The Board of Fisheries adopted a new salmon management plan for the Kuskokwim last week. About 24 fishermen were cited last year near Dillingham; what’s happening in those cases? Is there any word from the congressional delegation about when relief funds may be put forward in legislation? How are families faring without the salmon they could not harvest last fall and without money for store purchases? KSKA: Friday, 1/25 at 2:00pm & Saturday, 1/26 at 6:00pm TV: Friday, 1/25 at 7:30pm & Saturday, 1/26 at 5:00pm

A former national editor has jumped ship from covering the news to being part of it. Wen Stephenson who was an editor for the Boston Globe, The Atlantic and a producer for NPR's On Point, says he’s lost patience with the lack of progress on climate change legislation. He wrote a cover story earlier this winter for the Phoenix, taking reporters to task for not covering climate change as a crisis. He says when he does see coverage on climate, it’s very narrowly focused.

A contaminated site in Nikiski has residents worried for the safety of their groundwater. The Arness Septage site was a dumping ground in the 1980s for more than 4,000 gallons of oil contaminated waste, sludge and other pollutants. In the decades since, Department of Environmental Conservation staff say the site has not been properly monitored. Peninsula Clarion reporter Brian Smith just published a six-part series on the site. He says in the late 1980s the area was cleaned up. But he told APRN’s Lori Townsend there are still big questions about how area ground water was affected.

When the 113th congress gets to work, Democratic Senator Mark Begich will have some new committee assignments. Begich has secured a seat on the Indian Affairs committee. He will no longer have a spot on the budget committee. Begich also now has a seat on the powerful appropriations committee, he gave up his seat on the Armed Services Committee for the appropriations position.

The annual survey count for the endangered Cook Inlet Belugas has been released and as in years past, it has not changed much. NOAA scientists counted 312 whales last summer and fall, up 28 animals from the 2011 count, but the uptick is not considered significant and scientists say the belugas are still in a slow decline. Kim Sheldon is a biologist with the National Marine Mammal Lab in Seattle. She says although the count continues to show a downward trend over the last decade, they were excited to see belugas in the lower part of Cook Inlet last summer.

The Kulluk grounded on the southeast shoreline of Sitkalidak Island (between the north edge of Ocean Bay and Partition Cove) at approximately 9 p.m. on December 31, 2012. The shoreline of Partition Cove is primarily comprised of mixed sand and gravel beaches. Severe weather conditions continue to impact operations.

Lance Mackey took first place on Sunday in the inaugural running of the Top of the World 350 race from Eagle to Tok. Following Lance in for second place was Gerry Willomitzer. Jake Berkowitz took third.

The Alaska Native Arts Foundation is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. The foundation’s gallery is in downtown Anchorage but Trina Landlord, the executive director, says they now have a registry of more than 1,100 Alaska Native artists from across Alaska. She says beyond showcasing art and helping build economies in rural Alaska, the foundation offers training in both art and in business training for artists.

A report commissioned by the State Department of Environmental Conservation shows water quality on the lower Kenai River violates state standards. The report has not been released by DEC.