The Cost of Cold: Staying Warm in Sitka
Richard Parmelee warms his house with vegetable oil, donated by a local Chinese restaurant and McDonalds. Listen now
Ask a Climatologist: The spring equinox doesn’t mark the start of spring
The sun is directly over the equator, giving equal amounts of daylight and darkness around the world. Listen now
Feds approve $1.7M to buy out homes in Newtok
A state official said the grant program is crucial because the erosion in Newtok and other Alaska villages does not qualify for traditional disaster relief. Listen now
State wants to stop billing homeowners for tech support after spills
On average, getting technical support from employees in the state’s Division of Spill Prevention and Response can cost between $100-$150 an hour. Listen now
The Cost of Cold: Keeping warm in Unalaska
For The Cost of Cold, we profile Unalaska resident Travis Swangel, who heats his small home on the island with a Toyo stove. Listen now
New analysis adds to picture of how belugas are impacted by sea ice loss
Researchers have published a new paper that adds a little more to what we know about how beluga whales are navigating their changing habitat. Listen now
Feds to drop new habitat rules, ending state’s legal challenge
The Trump administration has agreed to rewrite rules that would have made it easier for the government to designate areas as "critical habitat" for endangered species. Listen now
The Cost of Cold: When the only option is diesel
There are a lot of heating options. Electricity, natural gas, wood, coal... even french fry oil. But in much of rural Alaska, and even some cities, the primary heating source is diesel. Listen now
This halibut hook is an innovation for the past, present and future
Few people still use the hand-carved halibut hook. But there’s a push to make sure the tradition sticks around. Listen now
State puts out list of companies that got $75 million in cashable tax credits last year
These cash-for-credits recipients used to be kept confidential, but a law passed in 2016 now requires that the state report them. Listen now
Salmon initiative clears another hurdle
The Yes for Salmon initiative reports it received close to 42,000 signatures, significantly more than required. But a vote on the issue isn’t guaranteed. Listen now
Iñupiat leadership organizations contemplate a “unified voice”
“I definitely think it’s possible to have a unified voice but it’s never going to be truly unified unless all entities that were invited to the table take advantage of it,” Utqiaġvik Mayor Fannie Suvlu said. Listen now
Walker hopeful plan to pay off oil tax credit debt with bonds will pass this session
What the state owes in tax credit payouts varies wildly from year to year. By paying off the tax credit debt with bonds, the repayment rate would theoretically become predictable. Listen now
No environmental impact from 22,000-gallon heating oil spill in Savoonga
The spill reportedly happened inside of a lined container, surrounded by a chain-link fence and barbed wire. A state inspector is on the way to the community.
The trans-Alaska pipeline fights off 22 million cyber attacks. Daily.
Energy infrastructure is a tempting target for hackers, and the trans-Alaska pipeline is no exception. Alyeska, which operates the pipeline, now ranks cyberattacks as one of its top three risks. Listen now
Lawmakers might have more control over the Permanent Fund than they think
One senator’s lawsuit over PFDs changed the way the Permanent Fund managers can use investment earnings. Listen now
Japanese tsunami litters North American shores with 10 times the trash
Scientists estimate following the 2011 tsunami in Japan there were at least 10 times as much debris washing ashore than ever measured. Listen now
State gets timeline for federal environmental review of Alaska LNG project
The state-led LNG export project still needs customers and financing to build $45 billion mega-project. Listen now
Trump administration sued over Pacific walrus
The Center for Biological Diversity filed the lawsuit because the Pacific walrus wasn't granted an Endangered Species Act listing. Listen now
Ask a Climatologist: A winter of warm temps and decent snow
For climatological winter, Alaska was about seven degrees above normal. Listen now