Programs

More than $6 billion gap in state pension funding draws concern; Cheering from Alaska: Women's relay 5th at the Olympics; Mumps disease hits Juneau for first time in 20 years; Mining industry leads charge against salmon initiative; Kodiak puts hold on fisheries analyst services; Awards abound as Yukon Quest wraps up; Borough Assembly OKs Testing for promising woodstove emissions-control technology; Ask a Climatologist: Linking ocean conditions and the atmosphere; Betties ’bout to take you out Listen now

It's an untold story almost 250 years old - what really happened during Captain Cook's contacts with indigenous people during his explorations in Alaska and the rest of the Pacific.  Two unpublished journals by Cook crew members have been found in an Australian store-room.  We'll learn more of the untold story of Captain Cook, and what happened after he died. LISTEN HERE

A lot of factors contribute to the cost of health care in Alaska. Lori Townsend sits down with Julie Taylor, CEO of Alaska Regional hospital in Anchorage and Becky Hultberg, President and CEO of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association to discuss some of the reasons and possible alternatives to the unusually high healthcare costs in the state.

Last day for Y-K Delta residents to apply for Fansler's seat; Bill would exempt utility companies from pesticide pollution; Alaska Senate passes resolution to combat all-inclusive ivory bans and legislation; Walker has early fundraising edge in Alaska governor's race; Mushers finish off Yukon Quest 2018; Alaska skiers Bjornsen and Randall to compete in four by five kilometer relay; Ravn begins flights between Bristol Bay and Anchorage; AK: Rising populations, threat of disease prompt renewed interest in bat research; 49 Voices: Yilli Ferati of Anchorage Listen now

This week we're hearing from Ylli Ferati in Anchorage. Ferati is a bartender at Fiori D'Italia, which his family owns. He claims to have the largest whiskey collection in the state. Listen now

KSKA: Thursday, Feb. 22, at 2 & 8p.m. Birds of prey are much more than symbols, like the bald eagle, they’re with us as apex predators atop the food web. They’re inspiring in their fierceness and their amazing physical abilities, with their sharp claws and eyes, and they are among the most exiting birds to see in the wild. On the next Outdoor Explorer, join us as we focus on raptors, their natural history and care here in Alaska. LISTEN HERE

Bats are a pretty low priority for most Alaskan biologists, but that could be changing due to a recent uptick in the creature’s population. Add to that a disease that’s been killing millions of bats in the lower 48, and Alaska might be taking note with the rest of the nation very soon. Listen now

A major way citizens to participate in the judicial system happens on jury duty. How are jurors called to serve? Do you need a legal background to be a juror? What is the juror's job? What is the art and science behind selecting a jury? We'll talk with Alaska's state court jury coordinator, and with an attorney who has selected many juries for trial. LISTEN HERE

KSKA: Tuesday, February, 20 2018, at 2:00 p.m. We're bringing you a show about a time when Alaskans and Russians were reunited and found they shared a common heritage. We’re going to hear incredible tales from key players in melting the Alaska-Russia Ice Curtain in the mid-1980s discuss how Alaska helped end the Cold War, launching a 30-year era of productive commercial and personal relations across the Bering Strait.LISTEN HERE

"New Arrivals" is Alaska Public Media's profiles of people who recently moved to Anchorage. Every Tuesday, we meet a New Arrival from another country, another state, or another part of Alaska. This week we meet Emily Linkhorn, from New York. LISTEN HERE

KSKA: Friday, February 16 at 2:45pm UAA Department of Theatre's Brian Cook started working on a collaborative project with students over a year ago to research the earthquake that devastated south central Alaska in 1964 with the purpose of creating a presentation that would explore this defining moment in Alaskan history. The result is Earthquake '64, a multidisciplinary performance that weaves personal stories, movement and music together into an exciting evening of theatre. Joining Brian today on Stage Talk are three of those student-collaborators, Adi Davis, Kaeli Meno and Paitton Reid. Earthquake '64 performs at the Fine Arts Center on the campus of UAA February 16-18. LISTEN HERE

Murkowski, Sullivan split as immigration reform mires in Senate; Senate appointee drops out after controversial Facebook comments scrutinized; Mallott lambasts Juneau’s annexation bid; Air Force completes another round of cold-weather tests on F-35s at Eielson; Juneau Assembly approves 24-hour anchor rule; Unalaskans want to follow other Alaska communities by banning plastic bags; Kenai Borough may ask tax payers to help pay for a new Kachemak Selo school; Meet Utqiaġvik’s Arctic Youth Ambassador, Eben Hopson; Anchorage skier Scott Patterson exceeding his Olympic expectations Listen now

Senate Republicans reject Walker’s Senate pick, Kowalke; Seavey attorney: Report shows musher didn't drug dogs; To get good credit, Alaska’s fishing towns may have to factor in climate change; Unalaska pays thousands to sink already sunk boat; Panel to ensure inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility for all UAF workers, students; Training accident ends Anchorage snowboarder Mancari's Olympics; Sadie Bjornsen is "knocking on the door" of an Olympic medal; Two lives that came together at the top of the world Listen now

Republican senators request local party suggestion to fill vacancy; New EPA head for Alaska talks Pebble, budget cuts and climate change; Ouch! 5 ways Trump's budget could pinch Alaska; House bill will need Senate rewrite to fund schools early; Eighteen months after backing Westlake and Fansler, Democrats look toward future; Allen Moore wins 2018 Yukon Quest; Alaska sprinters don't make the cut in PyeongChang; Ask a Climatologist: Winter weather makes a comeback at the Winter Olympics; A good sign for Native artist after Etsy relists his sea otter crafts Listen now

More than a dozen Alaskans are representing the U.S. in the winter Olympics that recently kicked off in South Korea. They're competing in traditional sports like ice skating and nordic skiing. And newer events, like snowboard cross- where snowboarders race down a mountain course that includes jumps. LISTEN HERE

Trump infrastructure plan has rural money, but can Alaska have some?; Kowalke senate appointment receives pushback from fellow Republicans; Another year, another round of proposed Trump cuts for marine mammal programs; Gold Star in the Chugach: Iraq vet honors survivors; Petersburg teens charged for harassing deer; North Pole man illegally shoots wolf off Parks Highway; Washington State looks to follow Alaska's lead in prohibiting salmon farming; Moore maintains Quest lead heading into Braeburn; Fairbanks skier takes to snow in Olympic Games; "The Price Is Right" will pay shipping costs from Lower 48 after all; Now that the blob is over, scientists are eager to assess its impact Listen now

Here’s the Sunday, February 11th, 2018 edition of Algo Nuevo con Dave Luera — Something New with Dave Luera. If you have questions, comments or music requests for host Dave, send email to algonuevo@alaskapublic.org or post your comment at the bottom of this post.

On this edition of Alaska Insight, Lori Townsend sits down with Anchorage Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Bill Popp and State Labor and Commerce department senior economist Neal Fried to discuss the current economic climate in Alaska following the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation luncheon. They go over the numbers and discuss the possibility for recovery for the 49th state.