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.
Court Upholds Alaska Tribal Government Sovereignty
On Friday the Alaska Supreme court agreed with a lower court and upheld Alaska tribal government sovereignty. The attorney who argued the failed challenge says such tribal immunity doesn’t legally exist.
North Slope Borough Responds To Run-Off Election Investigation
A hearing will be held on Monday in Barrow to investigate allegations of vote count discrepancies, bribery and other charges in the run-off election between North Slope Borough Mayor Charlotte Brower and her opponent, George Ahmaogak.
Questions Remain About North Slope Run-Off Election
A new North Slope Borough Mayor has been on the job for three weeks now. But there are still big questions about the run-off election that Charlotte Brower won on Nov. 8. George Ahmaogak, who lost to Brower is contesting the election on several grounds.
Alaska’s Flu Vaccination Rate Among Lowest in Country
Alaska has one of the lowest flu vaccination rates in the country, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control. Alaska’s flu vaccine rate is 37 percent, the second lowest in the country.
Chickaloon Tribe Sends $500,000 Tax Bill to CIRI
The Chickaloon Athabascan tribe in the Mat Su Valley surprised leadership at the Cook Inlet Region Incorporated or CIRI regional Native corporation by sending them a tax bill in October for half a million dollars.
Mt. Edgecumbe Student Honored at White House
An Alaska teenager will be honored at the White House Tomorrow. Teressa Baldwin is a senior at Mount Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.
Militia Leader Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Weapons Charges
A Fairbanks militia leader and two other people have pleaded not guilty to federal weapons charges. Militia leader Francis Schaeffer Cox, along with Coleman Barney and Lonnie Vernon, were arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage.
Alaska Journalists Publish ‘Crude Awakening’
When Alaska journalists Tony Hopfinger and Amanda Coyne started covering the corruption probe, it didn’t take them long to see the potential for a book.
National Guard Opens Emergency Shelter in Kenai
The Alaska Army National Guard Armory in Kenai is open as an emergency shelter for Kenai Peninsula Borough residents who are without power. Homer Electric Association estimates that around 3,000 homes and businesses in the central Kenai Peninsula do not have power currently. Work will continue through the night but it could be Friday before power is restored to all.
Local Group Starts Co-Housing Project for Anchorage
This evening a group in Anchorage is hosting a gathering at the Anchorage museum to discuss their plans for creating a co-housing project in the Anchorage area.
Alaska VA Spreading Word of Tribal Veteran Representative Program
The Alaska VA Healthcare System is working to get the word out about their Tribal Veteran Representative program. TVRs volunteer to get training to assist Native veterans in their communities with filing VA paperwork to access benefits through the VA system.
Communities Relieved As Storm Subsides
Two sentiments being expressed from coastal communities after the storm and ocean surges have subsided are relief and the importance of being prepared and organized.
NCAI Passes Variety of Initiatives
Alaska tribal members were in Portland last week for National Congress of American Indians or NCAI conference meetings where resolutions supporting a variety of initiatives passed.
Big Storm Moves Off Coast, Smaller One Moving In
The Bering sea storm hammering Alaska's western coast has moved off toward Russia, but Don Moore with the National Weather Service says a smaller storm is rotating around it.
Few Power Outages Reported During Storm
The Alaska Village Electric Cooperative is reporting few outages after Tuesday night's storm. Meera Kohler is the President and CEO of AVEC, she says there is a power outage currently in Tununak.
Army Still Investigating Alaska Soldier’s Suspicious Death
The army is still investigating the death of an Alaska based soldier who died under suspicious circumstances on deployment at an outpost in Afghanistan. Private Danny Chen was found shot to death in a guard tower there. Investigators are working to determine if it was a suicide or homicide.
North Slope Election Won’t Be Decided Until Tuesday
North Slope Borough residents will not have a final answer on who their new mayor will be until next Tuesday. The borough had a run off election yesterday between Charlotte Brower and George Ahmaogak.
Western Alaska Storm Forecast Update
A Bering Sea storm packing hurricane-force winds and 35-foot waves is moving rapidly toward the western Alaska coastline. We’ll hear how communities are preparing. But first we have National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Brader on the line to give us and update on the storm.
No Evacuation Orders in Effect for Kotzebue Area
In Kotzebue, Wendy Schaefer is the community incident commander. She says winds are picking up, but currently there are no evacuation orders for any communities within the Northwest Arctic Borough however if evacuations are needed, they will go to a local facility and remain within their village.
Providence Hospital Ceasing to Hire Tobacco Users
Providence Alaska Medical Center and its affiliates around the state will stop hiring tobacco users as of Nov. 17. The health care provider will begin testing prospective employees for nicotine along with illegal drugs.