Ask A Climatologist: Alaska Reaches 200 Days of Warmer than Normal Weather
Tuesday marked the 200th day in a row of above normal temperatures for Alaska. Even in a string of unusually warm years for the state, that's a remarkable run. Listen now
Brian Brettschneider is a climatologist in Anchorage who closely tracks Alaska climate data and trends. Alaska's Energy Desk is checking in with him regularly as part of a new segment, Ask A Climatologist. Brettschneider says the daily average statewide temperature is based on an index of 25 cities across Alaska.
Lawsuit targets Borough marijuana initiative
Cannabis industry supporters want the courts to demand the Mat-Su Borough remove a voter initiative from the October Borough ballot.Listen now
NOAA announces some Alaska whales no longer endangered
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Tuesday that most humpback whales will come off the endangered species list. And that means some whales that spend time in Alaska. Listen now
Joe Miller nabs Libertarian spot to challenge Murkowski
A shake-up this afternoon in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race: Fairbanks attorney Joe Miller announces he will challenge Sen. Lisa Murkowski after all. Listen now
Gone glacier: fashion magazine depicts Mendenhall melt too soon
The magazine Marie Claire sent a team of journalists and fashionistas to the Mendenhall Glacier in the summer. The story that appeared in its September issue is called On Thin Ice: Can the Fashion Industry Help Save the Planet? But as first reported in the Juneau Empire, the magazine got a couple of key things wrong. Listen now
VIDEO: Anchorage professor bets on bio-insulation made from mushrooms
From underneath the roads to inside our homes, insulation is everywhere in Alaska. But traditional foam board is energy intensive to produce and often ends up as plastic litter in oceans and waterways. A group of researchers at the University of Alaska Anchorage are working to develop an environmentally friendly alternative. Listen now
As waters warm, Arctic fish populations change
A new report shows more fish are moving to Arctic waters. The U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management teamed up to create the inventory, which describes more than 100 species of fish found in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas — including 20 species new to the region.
One People Canoe Society to paddle for Standing Rock Tribe to protest controversial pipeline
Members of the One People Canoe Society will travel this week from Alaska to North Dakota to paddle in protest over a controversial pipeline. Listen now
Seldovia residents warned of leaching lead
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has released a report listing 15 water systems in Alaska that contain lead levels above the federal limit, and the City of Seldovia is among them.
Should Alaskans fear diseases frozen in the permafrost?
Russian officials say warming permafrost could be linked to a deadly anthrax outbreak in Siberia this month. Permafrost can be found almost everywhere in Alaska — from the Arctic coast to Anchorage. But at least one expert isn’t alarmed about the potential for thawing ground to bring old diseases back to life. Listen now
Flood warning issued for Seward area
National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Seward until 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Pioneer homes won’t take new residents, at least for now
Alaska’s Pioneer Homes have stopped accepting new residents, at least for a while. It’s one more impact of state budget cuts. Listen now
Is the Arctic ready for the Crystal Serenity?
It's the largest cruise ship to navigate the route, which hugs the coasts of Alaska, Canada and Greenland. And it's attracted international attention, with many wondering if it’s a sign of what’s to come as the Arctic sees increasingly ice-free summers. Listen now
AK: Knowing the unknown
What’s less visible today than Orthodox crosses and golden cupolas are the Alaska Native belief systems that existed before European contact. KDLG’s Hannah Colton has this story about one Dena’ina man who came to embrace his traditional spirituality, and why he's choosing now to speak up about it. Listen now
Fire Island Wind sees expansion on the horizon
After years of talks and setbacks, there’s momentum to expand the Fire Island Wind project. The first turbines started spinning on the island near Anchorage four years ago, but a planned expansion has been stalled ever since. Listen now
Shishmaref community votes to relocate
As determined by Tuesday’s submitted ballots, the community of Shishmaref will relocate to one of two potential sites. According to the Associated Press, unofficial results were 89 in favor of relocating and 78 in favor of staying in place and protecting. Listen now
Cleaner electricity for Peninsula village to arrive by way of Anchorage
The Native Village of Perryville on the Alaska Peninsula has a new power generator. It will help the village use more renewable power and save on costs. Contractors have almost finished putting it together –- but at the moment, it’s almost 500 miles away from its destination. Listen now
Walker’s new oil and gas advisor wants to put some “grit” in the system
When Gov. Bill Walker announced the creation of a new cabinet position — a chief oil and gas adviser — he framed it as a way to improve his administration’s often rocky relationship with the oil and gas industry. Listen now
State drops appeal of tribal land into trust regulation
The state of Alaska is dropping its lawsuit over federal regulations that banned Alaska tribes from putting land into trust, calling it "dead-end litigation." But that doesn't mean the state sees smooth roads ahead. Listen now
AK: The simple (subsistence) life
Locals around Bristol Bay know the importance of subsistence fishing and the broader subsistence lifestyle. KDLG's Shaylon Cochran, having spent several years in Kenai, was somewhat familiar with what subsistence means. But has found this summer that the actual experience means a lot more once you’ve lived it. Listen now