Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media
Lori Townsend is the news director 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.
LISTEN: How is the pandemic changing what, how, and where Alaskans eat?
More people are cooking at home, restaurants have closed, and there have been shortages of everything from yeast to canning jars. Alaskans have had a unique and self-reliant food culture for generations. We’ll discuss how the coronavirus is affecting it
LISTEN: Ideas for nonpartisan political cooperation
At a time when political divisions are intensifying, we'll discuss strategies for finding compromise with former Alaska Governor Bill Walker.
LISTEN: The social safety net in the Covid economy
As winter deepens and the economy continues to be hampered by COVID-19 restrictions, how much additional pressure is there on the state's social service programs for vulnerable Alaskans?
LISTEN: Alaska’s health care system struggles with capacity amid COVID-19 surge
Hospital officials, doctors and other medical support staff are raising the alarm over high coronavirus case counts in Alaska, illness among their own ranks, and the diminishing number of available beds for critical care.
LISTEN: Two weeks later, how did Alaskans vote this election?
As state election officials continue tallying ballots, major questions remain about the results, even after most races have been called.
Alaska’s election results and what they may mean for the state’s future | Alaska Insight
More than 150,000 Alaskans voted by absentee and mail. As those counts are tallied, some races have flipped, some are still too close to call, and the vote counts for the two ballot initiatives are heading in opposite directions.
LISTEN: How are educators weighing school reopening amid Covid?
Educators explain how they are assessing the risks of viral transmission against the toll taken on keeping kids out of the classroom.
Faith Leaders in Anchorage aim for unity and peace through new initiative | Alaska Insight
Religious leaders in Anchorage are responding to deep divisions over racial equity, social justice, and economic inequality with a new initiative called "Reconciliation: Race, Justice, and the Gospel," that promotes reconciliation and healing between people of different ethnic backgrounds and beliefs.
Addressing the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women in Alaska | Alaska Insight
Alaska has some of the highest rates in the country of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. After years of organizing around the issue, advocates are seeing more attention and resources brought to bear.
LISTEN: How worried should Alaskans be about the future of food security?
Food security is on the minds of Alaskans because of supply line disruptions brought on by the pandemic. How do those concerns differ across the state, and especially for indigenous people in rural communities who depend heavily on subsistence?
LISTEN: COVID-19 cases are surging in Alaska. What’s the outlook for winter?
Alaska's Covid case numbers are accelerating at an alarming rate. Daily counts have been in the triple digits for weeks. Why are cases increasing so quickly now and what might it mean for winter transmission rates as Alaskans spend time indoors and distancing becomes more difficult?
Climate change is forcing some villages to move. What is the government doing to help? | Alaska Insight
Increasingly violent and frequent storms driven by climate change are becoming the new normal. The reliable freeze-up that would stabilize shorelines before heavy winter weather helped to protect Alaska’s coastal areas from extreme erosion.
Dan Sullivan wants to keep his seat in the Senate. Hear why he wants your vote | Alaska Insight
Rounding out our coverage of congressional races, we turn to Alaska's junior U.S. Senator, Dan Sullivan, who is campaigning to retain his seat in the Alaska Congressional delegation. How will he work to overcome deep divisions in Congress to get things accomplished?
LISTEN: Vote by mail or in person? Understanding the options this election season
What do you need to know about your voting options? How secure are the systems in place and what will the process be for counting ballots after November 3rd? State elections officials join us to clarify the voting process
Primaries or ranked choice? Vote Yes and Vote No make the case for ballot measure 2 | Alaska Insight
Candidates aren't the only boxes on the ballot come November 4th. Ballot measure 2 seeks to shift elections from primaries to ranked choice voting, and would also require more disclosure of campaign funding on future campaigns. Proponents say it's a more equitable voting system, but opponents say it adds confusion to the voting process.
LISTEN: U.S. Senate incumbent Dan Sullivan is here to answer your questions
Republican Dan Sullivan, Alaska’s junior U.S. Senator for the last six years, is running for reelection. What does he think the most urgent needs are for the state and what are his plans for getting the work done in a fractured senate?
Al Gross is running for office for the first time. Here’s why he thinks he belongs in the U.S. Senate | Alaska Insight
Continuing our coverage of congressional races, we turn to the U.S. Senate candidates beginning with Independent candidate Al Gross. Gross is running for office for the first time and has some ideas about how to shake up Washington. What does he think he can bring to the table?
LISTEN: Primaries or ranked choice? Vote Yes and Vote No make their case on Ballot Measure 2.
Ballot measure 2 seeks to make changes to the state’s election structure by replacing the political party primary and by selecting candidates through ranked choice voting. What would it mean for elections and what do you need to know about the measure before voting on it?
Alyse Galvin is taking on Alaska’s longtime congressman. Here’s why she thinks she’ll win | Alaska Insight
We continue our coverage of the Congressional candidates for the upcoming November election with U.S. House candidate-Independent Alyse Galvin. Galvin has returned to the ticket for a second attempt to unseat Alaska's longtime congressman, Don Young.
LISTEN: U.S. Senate candidate Al Gross is here to answer your questions
Making his first run for public office, Al Gross wants to win the race for Alaska's U.S. Senate seat, currently held by incumbent Dan Sullivan. Gross is running as an Independent with support from state democrats.