Steve Heimel, APRN Contributor
sheimel (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8454 | About Steve
Governor Sean Parnell
There are always surprises when the guest on Talk of Alaska is the Governor. You just never know what kind of questions are going to come in when the audience is spread all over the state. Way beyond politics as usual, it’s the resumption of the long tradition of Alaska’s Governor appearing on the next Talk of Alaska.
APRN: Tuesday, 9/24 at 10:00am
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Coast Guard Tows Disabled Tender To Hoonah
Another fishing tender vessel got in trouble in Alaska waters Tuesday, but was towed to safety by the Coast Guard.
Search Continues For New Major Partner For Pebble Mine
The major remaining partner in the proposed Pebble Mine said Monday that so much has already been spent on the project that it could get by with a much smaller budget next year.
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Northern Dynasty Minerals Stock Closes At All-Time Low
The financial markets reacted to the news that Anglo American had left the Pebble Partnership by driving the price of the sole remaining partner’s stock to an all-time low.
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Kotzebue Child Killed By Loose Dog
In Kotzebue, a child was killed Saturday night by loose dogs, or possibly just one dog.
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The American Criminal Justice System through the Lens of the Trial of Jesus
There are plenty of fans for crime shows, so maybe it’s no surprise that there’s a book that frames the trial of Jesus in terms of the modern justice system. But maybe its more surprising how little has changed in more than 2,000 years. The author of the fascinating book “Jesus on Death Row” will be taking your calls on the next Talk of Alaska.
APRN: Tuesday, 9/17 at 10:00am
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Pilot Killed In Big Lake-Area Crash
A home-built airplane crashed Monday north of Big Lake. The pilot of the plane was killed; he's identified as Kenneth Whedbee, 66, of Big Lake.
Search Continues For Missing Plane Near Yakutat
The Air Force and the Coast Guard continue looking for a plane that went missing Monday on a flight from Yakutat to Anchorage. The pilot is reported to be Alan Foster, 47, of Eagle River.
Sea Ice Changes Begin Affecting Vegetation On Land
The Arctic sea ice has been surprising scientists for the last six years. It set a new record for melting back during the International Polar Year in 2007. Last year it beat that record, but at the same time the seasonal ice in the Bering Sea has been increasing – also to a record last winter. Whatever is driving these changes is also beginning to affect the vegetation on land.
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Alaska’s Winter Olympians
For some years now, Alaska has produced more than its share of competitive athletes for the Winter Olympics. Is it just because it’s cold up here? We’ll find out from the athletes themselves, as they take a break from training for Sochi to appear on the next Talk of Alaska.
KSKA: Tuesday, 9/10 at 10:00am
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Plane Crashes Near Rohn; One Killed
A single engine plane crashed southeast of McGrath, near Rohn in the foothills of the Alaska Range on Friday. The pilot, Scott Mueller, age 58, of Big Lake, was killed. A passenger, Traeger Anderson, age 30, of Wasilla, was injured.
Iconic Barrow Restaurant Burns Down
Pepe's North of the Border is no more. The world's northernmost Mexican restaurant burned to the ground on Saturday. The fire also sent a good deal of smoke into the attached Top of the World Hotel.
Legal Marijuana
The Attorney General has decided that even though marijuana is illegal under federal law, he will not go after states that have legalized it, like Washington and Colorado. Should Alaska be next? A decision is likely coming next year, from the voters of the state. Doug Fine, the author of “Too High to Fail,” is the guest on the next Talk of Alaska.
APRN: Tuesday 9/3 at 10:00 am
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EPA Administrator Visits Portage Glacier
The new head of the Environmental Protection Agency is making a field trip to Alaska this week. Gina McCarthy says this trip is not about regulation, but about learning and tribal consultation. She'll be going to Fairbanks and Bristol Bay, but she started her trip at the site of a receding glacier.
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Federal Issues
With only a few working days left before the change of the fiscal year, what can we expect Congress to accomplish? Members are back in their districts consulting with their constituents right now. And the guest will be Senator Mark Begich on the next Talk of Alaska.
APRN: Tuesday 8/27 at 10:00 am
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Coast Guard Plans Arctic Spill Test
The Coast Guard icebreaker Healy is on its annual mission in the ice pack north of Barrow. Next month a group of technology specialists will come aboard with drones and submersibles to test arctic oil spill response capabilities.
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Hunting Guide Rescued From Brooks Range After Bear Mauling
Friday morning the Alaska Air National Guard used some special tactics and equipment to successfully pull off a rescue in the Brooks Range north of Anaktuvuk Pass, where a hunting guide was mauled by a brown bear.
The University of Alaska’s Role in Alaska’s Future
How should the University of Alaska adapt to changing times? Not only is technology changing, but so is the job market. Higher education faces the impossible task of ramping up to train people for future jobs that haven’t even been thought of yet. University of Alaska President Pat Gamble has some ideas, and he wants to hear yours on the next Talk of Alaska.
KSKA: Tuesday, 8/20 at 10:00am
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Dinosaur Hunters Return For Field Season
The dinosaur hunters are back from this year's field season in Denali National Park. Composed of researchers from Fairbanks, Japan, Korea and Texas, the team was helicoptered into wilderness in the Riley Creek area to look for footprints laid down 70 million years ago.
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Fishing Tender ‘Fate Hunter’ Runs Aground Near Valdez
There is another fishing tender aground in Alaska. This time it's in Port Valdez. The 65-foot "Fate Hunter" ran aground Sunday and four people were rescued by a fishing vessel.