Lawmakers look to the north as Juneau prepares for Arctic Council meeting
On a cold, sunny day in Juneau, about 40 people gathered in the Capitol to eat lunch and learn about the Arctic. Juneau will host an Arctic Council meeting later this week, and state lawmakers got a visit from national and international scientists, policymakers and researchers on Tuesday. Listen now
Mushers hit Tanana, weighing rests; as first to the Yukon, Petit feasts
Iditarod mushers reached the Yukon River last night at Tanana. Teams are ready to launch their race plans as the 8-hour and 24-hour rest periods come into view. But first, they must run the longest stretch of the race between checkpoints and make it through the early race with their teams intact.
Iditapod: Nicolas Petit leads mushers to the Yukon
In Episode 8, we talk about Nicolas Petit being the first to the Yukon, Martin Buser's recovery from last year's injury, Yukon Quest v. Iditarod, and veteran dog teams.
Walker bill aims to curb opioid epidemic
A new bill is aimed at curbing opioid addiction and overdose deaths. The bill lets patients tell health care providers and hospitals to not give them opioids. It also requires health care providers receive training in opioid addiction. Listen now
Iditapod: Mushers check in at Manley Hot Springs
In Episode 7, we talk about: Early race trail conditions, new sled-building and packing strategies, and we hear interviews with Dallas Seavey and Lance Mackey.
Alaska Sea Grant program “hopeful but not confident” funding won’t be cut
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) received a surprise on Friday: The Trump administration is proposing deep cuts to the organization, which focuses on fisheries and climate science. As reported in the Washington Post, NOAA’s could lose 26 percent of its overall budget. The Sea Grant program, with more than a dozen projects in Alaska, could be hit particularly hard. Listen now
Proper packing becomes more important as mushers kick off from Fairbanks
Mushers are on the rivers heading out of Fairbanks right now, as the 45th Iditarod starts in earnest. This is the second time in three races that the restart has been in Fairbanks. And a lot of the mushers have vivid memories of the 2015 race, so this year, they’re trying to pack accordingly. Listen now
Fairbanks Four may receive dividends for 18 years of wrongful imprisonment
It took the work of journalists, lawyers, tribal leaders and citizens to release the Fairbanks Four after they wrongfully convicted on a murder charge and other serious crimes in 1997. Now, an effort is underway to compensate the men for the 18 years they spent in prison in the form of two state House measures. Listen now
Murkowski wants Alaskans approval for future national monuments
Alaska has five national monuments — public lands that are given special protections, and Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski doesn’t want anymore of the state added to that list. Listen now
State reduces Hilcorp fine for worker safety incident
The state is fining oil and gas company Hilcorp $200,000 for a 2015 incident that nearly killed three workers on the North Slope. The final order amount, which was released today (Mar. 3), is a significant reduction from the $720,000 penalty the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission proposed last year. Listen now
AK: Model Arctic Council simulates impending actual Arctic Council meeting
The Arctic Council returns to Alaska with meetings in Juneau next week (March 7-10) and in Fairbanks in May. Representatives from eight Arctic countries and six indigenous groups work on shaping Arctic policy. To understand the work of the Arctic Council first-hand, a group of university students met in Fairbanks last spring to form a model council with real-world impacts. Listen now
Should foster kids know when the state uses their benefits?
Some foster kids are eligible to receive Social Security benefits, but the kids and their families don’t always know the money is available. Instead, the state applies for the benefits and puts the funds toward paying for foster care services. Now a lawsuit is asking if the state needs to notify families and guardians before it starts taking the money. A judge heard oral arguments last month. Listen now
EPA funds for Native water projects could disappear under Trump administration
The White House wants to eliminate Environmental Protection Agency funds for water projects in Alaska Native villages. That’s according to a story in the Washington Post Wednesday (March. 1). It said the Trump administration’s plans for the EPA budget also include trimming grants to states by 30 percent and eliminating climate-change initiatives. Listen now
Ask a Climatologist: Models hint at El Niño resurgence
The weather phenomenon El Niño may be on its way back. That’s after a weak La Niña system faded out a few months ago. Climatologist Brian Brettschneider said computer models are hinting at El Niño returning in the second half of this year. Listen now
Alaska delegation gives Trump speech good reviews
President Trump gave a restrained speech to Congress Tuesday night. He said little about energy or the environment. But Alaska's congressman and U.S. senators liked a lot of what they heard. Listen now
Mental Health Trust seeks to change laws that limit how they spend money
The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is trying to change the laws that govern how it uses its principal funds. Some board members hope the legislation will pass soon enough that the organization does not have to undergo a special legislative audit. Listen now
EPA budget cut could slow permits, slash grants
President Trump reportedly wants the EPA budget cut 25 percent. There’s no word yet on where exactly the budget ax will fall, but Alaska has a lot at stake: The state received $78 million last year from the EPA in grants and contracts. Listen now
State demands Hilcorp monitor environmental impact of Cook Inlet gas leak
The state is asking oil and gas company Hilcorp to dramatically step up environmental monitoring near a natural gas leak in Cook Inlet. Listen now
‘I Am Inuit’ goes from Instagram to Anchorage Museum
Who lives in the Arctic? And what are their stories? Those are questions posed by a new photography exhibit more than a year in the making. The "I Am Inuit" show is a body of images from artist Brian Adams that premiered last week at the Anchorage Museum. The project has built an audience online for much longer. Listen now
Light on Trump, Sullivan aims for optimism
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, in his annual address to the Alaska Legislature, barely mentioned President Trump, and he did not bring up the issues that drove demonstrators to the steps of the state Capitol today: Trump’s policies on immigration and refugees, and the Affordable Care Act. Sullivan did, though, directly quote a different president - Teddy Roosevelt. Listen now