Week of the Arctic: ‘Very important’ event showcases concerns, interests in region
The Week of the Arctic gets under way today here on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. Dozens of Arctic science- and policy-related events will be held throughout the week, culminating in Thursday’s Arctic Council ministerial meetings, when U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will hand over the council chairmanship to his counterpart from Finland. Listen now
Strong earthquake shakes near Adak, registering magnitude 6.4
A series of earthquakes shook the Aleutian Islands Monday morning, including a strong magnitude-6.4 quake near Adak. Listen now
Rep. Eastman stands by controversial abortion statements, attacks media
Last week, Representative David Eastman made national news by claiming that there are women in Alaska villages who are “glad” to become pregnant in order to travel to Seattle or Anchorage for an abortion – paid for by Medicaid. Eastman is now blaming the press for the furor over the comments. Listen now
Alaska’s first Hall of Fame teacher talks about mixing dancing and math
For a teacher who loves nurturing confidence in students as much as he loves mathematics, being the first Alaskan to be inducted into the National Teacher's Hall of Fame was the fitting cap on nearly 30 years of inspiring young people in Alaska and other parts of the world. Listen now
As fire season approaches, trees and grasses have yet to green up
With temperatures rising and little rainfall across much of the state: fire season is here. But Alaska’s trees and grasses aren’t quite ready. Listen now
AK: Close combat trooper training in Sitka
Twice a year the Trooper Academy in Sitka gets a new class of recruits. Over a 15-week period they go through everything from spelling tests to target practice. They also get close combat training. Listen now
Deep differences remain with two weeks to go in Alaska’s legislative session
There are two weeks remaining until the legislative session is scheduled to end, but there are few signs of progress on reaching compromises on the budget and a long-term plan to pay for it. Listen now
Hilcorp announces project to bypass oil terminal by Redoubt volcano
An environmental group is praising oil and gas company Hilcorp after it announced a new pipeline project in Cook Inlet. Hilcorp said the project would eliminate the need to store oil at the Drift River Terminal. Listen now
Rep. Young votes for health care bill, says he won pledges for more
A bill to replace the Affordable Care Act squeaked through the U.S. House today, with help from Alaska Rep. Don Young. He denounced a prior version as bad for Alaska. Now he says he's won assurances there'll be more for the state. Listen now
Murkowski: Senate had duty to approve spending bill, avoid government shutdown
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski on Thursday touted the Senate's passing of a spending bill, avoiding a possible government shutdown. Listen now
Debate continues over role of Suboxone in primary care
Buprenorphine is one of the medications used to treat opioid addictions. A speaker at a recent medical conference in Anchorage says getting the medication to heroin users thru their primary care providers is an essential way to reduce overdose deaths. But some addiction treatment professionals in Alaska say not so fast. Listen now
Study asks why species bounced back – or didn’t – after Exxon Valdez
When the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound in 1989, the immediate effects were pretty obvious. Researchers estimate that hundreds of thousands of sea birds and thousands of sea otters died within months, among other impacts. Listen now
Rep. Eastman: Some women ‘glad’ to be pregnant for Medicaid-funded travel for abortions
State Rep. David Eastman said some Alaskans are glad to become pregnant, so that they can have a Medicaid-funded trip to Anchorage or Seattle to have an abortion. Eastman didn’t provide evidence for this, but said he had been told this by friends and acquaintances. Listen now
ADN reporter allegedly slapped by legislator in a stairwell
The Alaska Dispatch News is reporting its legislative reporter was lightly hit during the brief encounter with a lawmaker at the capitol. Listen now
Enviros challenge legality of Trump’s Arctic order
As expected, environmental groups have filed a lawsuit over an order President Trump signed last week to reverse a ban on Arctic offshore oil and gas leasing. Listen now
Alaska Native representatives offer support for income tax
Representatives of two regional Alaska Native tribal organizations offered support for an income or another progressive tax Tuesday. Listen now
State troopers leading efforts to recover pilot from crash site south of Chigniks
Authorities have shifted into recovery operations for a pilot killed south of the Chigniks on Monday. Gabriele Cianetti, 54, was the only occupant in a Grant Aviation Cessna 208B Caravan that crashed into a mountain on its way to Perryville. Listen now
Earthquakes shake Southeast Alaska, Yukon communities
May kicked off to a shaky start in Northern Southeast Alaska. Two major earthquakes woke residents early Monday morning. They were some of the most powerful quakes Haines area residents have felt in years, but caused hardly any damage in Alaska. Listen now
Trump order baffles Bering Sea Elders
When President Trump signed an order last week lifting his predecessor’s restrictions on offshore leasing in the Arctic, he also revoked a decree that created the “Bering Sea Climate Resistance Area.” People who worked to get the designation aren't happy. Listen now
Gov. Walker signs bill recognizing the black soldiers who helped build the Alaska Highway
Yesterday, Governor Walker signed Senate Bill 46 into law, establishing October 25 as "African American Soldiers’ Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway Day.” Listen now