Programs

Planning for the outdoors comes at all levels, both personal and for State Park staff. On the first half of this Outdoor Explorer we'll talk to Ricky Geese, Director of Alaska's Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, and Zach Babb with the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program about the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, or "SCORP." This document is in draft form and the state is looking for input from the public. It help sets the state's priorities when it comes to managing state parks for the next five years. It is also full of interesting data about outdoor recreation and tourism. On the second half of the show Rick Roth of Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking discusses the newest outdoor gear in time for the holiday shopping season.

An exhibit shows how Alaskans adapt to climate change. Plus, a new app helps people learn to speak endangered Alaska Native languages.

Anchorage Assembly members met with Mayor Dan Sullivan and Municipal attorneys Friday (2/15) for a work session on the Mayor's proposal to limit unions. Ordinance number 37 is aimed at cutting costs and limiting the union power of municipal workers. It was introduced at the Anchorage Assembly last week, where and estimated more than 1-thousand people showed up to rally against it. KSKA's Daysha Eaton has the story.

This week we're hearing from Rhiana Gay in Anchorage. Gay is a kindergarten teacher at Creekside Park Elementary School, and while most Anchorage students started school this week, her batch begins on Monday. Listen now

Will winter bring snow, or will we wait through thaws, rain and darkness? On the next Outdoor Explorer, we have a climatologist to talk about the predicted El Nino that is expected to bring warm, gloomy conditions this winter. So that’s the prediction. For the response, we’ll have two other interviews. We’ll be talking about hibernation, not the best option, and about indoor ice... it's the sport of curling. Thanks for listening!

StoryCorps traveled to Alaska in February to record the voices of our service men and women. This story comes to us from Fort Wainwright. The Army brought Marti Steury to Fairbanks in 1975. Life as a woman on an Army base wasn’t easy. Marty talks about her decision to enlist, and what it was like to wear a uniform during the Vietnam War. Listen now:

This Outdoor Explorer is about feet. If you’re a runner, a hiker, a skier, a skater, if you do almost anything active, we should have your attention because when your feet are happy, you are. When they’re messed up, your fun is over. We’ll talk with a physical therapist and a podiatrist about healthy bodies and healthy feet, and hear some stories about hiking and the joy and misery it can bring. Thanks for listening!

Thirteen years ago, eight year old Durga Owens was found shot to death near his family’s remote homestead off the Steese Highway north of Fairbanks. No one has ever been charged with the murder. AK first started looking into the story of Durga’s murder five years ago. Over the past year, Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock discovered that investigators are still reluctant to share any information about the case.

Legislative Council adopts new sexual harassment policy; Complaint alleged unwanted contact from Parish; Senate joins House in recognizing Alaska Native languages emergency; Alaska to house 6 new cutters, Coast Guard says; Response wraps up on Shuyak Island oil spill; Southcentral Alaska road construction ramping up for summer; Deadline for Teacher of the Year nominations at the end of the month; The climatology behind the Nenena Ice Classic; Ketchikan High Academic Decathlon team gets a hero’s welcome Listen now

The VA just released results of a nationwide audit on how quickly military vets get medical service. Alaska’s report card was good. We'll talk about why, but also about needs that still go unanswered. Join host Kathleen McCoy, with vets and those who serve them, on the next Hometown Alaska. KSKA: Wednesday, June 18, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Listen now: