Phillip Manning, KTNA - Talkeetna

The Thanksgiving season is known in America for its big family meals. For many people in Southcentral, that meal is able to happen because of the generosity of a number of individuals and organizations. Download Audio

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage announced last week that four men from Southcentral Alaska had been charged with illegally shooting two bull moose inside Denali National Park in 2012. Download Audio

On Sunday, Talkeetna Wildlife Troopers arrested a man wanted in Idaho after conducting a traffic stop in Willow. The driver, Dustin Simpson, is wanted for probation violation.

A cell and repeater tower that was blown down by strong winds east of Willow late last month has brought the issue of tall tower regulations to the forefront in the Mat-Su Valley. The Borough currently has an advisory committee looking into what requirements should be put on companies that wish to build cell and broadcast towers. Download Audio

The Alaska State Troopers were involved in two search and rescue operations in the Mat-Su Borough on Sunday.

Winter has been late in coming, this year. Temperatures are only now starting to get to levels near the seasonal norms. While that has meant extra time to split wood and change vehicle tires, it has also meant that bears have been active later in the year than usual. Download Audio

In 2012, the Flood Insurance Reform Act was passed in order to cut the costs of running the National Flood Insurance Program. It increases premiums and removes subsidies for residents under certain circumstances, including those who have multiple flood claims. There’s one very clear reason why Congress felt they had to act.

Last Thursday, an employee at Denali National Park made a disturbing discovery while driving to the site of the landslide on the Park Road. He saw trash scattered near a turnout at Mile 7 and stopped to investigate. What he found has Park staff baffled.

Tourism numbers are in for the 2012 summer season, and tourism experts say that the results are encouraging. Now, the state and tourism groups are looking at expanding their strategies to bring even more people to Alaska. Download Audio

The Talkeetna Ranger Station has a new name. President Obama has signed the Denali National Park Improvement Act, which officially renames the Park Service building to the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station in honor of the Athabascan climber who was the first person to set foot on the summit of Denali in 1913.

Two Mat-Su Valley men were rescued by Alaska State Troopers yesterday after their boat capsized during a hunting trip.

A plane crash north of Sutton Thursday night claimed the lives of both men on board. Alaska State Troopers sid the Rescue Coordination Center received a report of an overdue aircraft Thursday night. No formal flight plan had been filed and the plane was reported overdue by family members. The 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons were deployed and located the aircraft, a Citabria Champion, early Friday morning. Rescue personnel were unable to land, but were hoisted to the ground. The team discovered Adam Norton and Derrik Swanson, both of Palmer.

Talkeetna is currently struggling with a growing debt from its water and sewer system. It's one example of a problem that is rapidly spreading through the state, where small communities can't pay the operating and maintenance costs of systems more than twenty years ago with federal funds. Listen Now

A worldwide environmental conservation group is becoming more involved in the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project. This summer, contractors working under the Alaska Energy Authority have been conducting 58 studies to assess the environmental impact of the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric project. Listen Now

This week, Royal Caribbean, parent company of Celebrity Cruises, announced that the M/V Millennium will not be making its last round of sailings in Alaska. The cruise ship, which is more than 80 feet longer than the Titanic, was forced to return to Ketchikan while sailing to Seward due to a propulsion issue, and is now on its way to dry-dock in the Bahamas. The passengers who had their cruise cut short have been offered full refunds and credit for a future cruise by Celebrity. Listen Now

Communities that were hit by last fall's floods do not need to start heading for high ground, yet. Rivers are rising in the Mat-Su and Anchorage, but major flooding is not expected right now. Listen for Full Story