Programs

Unless price-per-barrel oil shoots back up, Alaskans are looking at a sharply contracting economic picture. Let's talk alternatives! Join Hometown Alaska to hear from local experts on the status of Alaska's ecosystem for entrepreneurs. KSKA: Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen Now:

Climatologist Brian Brettschneider visits Hometown Alaska to help put our current very weird weather patterns into perspective. Is Anchorage becoming the banana belt? KSKA: Wednesday, March 4, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Listen Now:

Educating rural Alaskans is challenging, given financial constraints and remote settings. Nonetheless, a 20-year-old short term residential program in Anchorage, and an onsite and online tutoring program in a rural setting are yielding promising to excellent results. KSKA: Wednesday, March 11, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Listen Now:

What was Anchorage like for black Americans in the 1950s and '60s. Find out through the stories of three who lived it, as they talk about community, opportunity and why they made Anchorage their home. KSKA: Wednesday, April 1, at 2:00 pm and 9:00 pm Listen Now:

In this week's Hometown Alaska, we aim to offer School Budgeting 101, a foundational look at how schools are financed. Learn the basics of school finance so that news stories make sense to you, so that you feel equipped to ask your principal or legislator useful questions and ultimately make well-informed votes. KSKA: Wednesday, April 18, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Download Audio

School kids from four elementary schools located along Chester Creek have been learning all about that watershed this year, including plenty of science. Join us to hear what they learned about everything from water temperature and pH to microinvertebrates and salmon, as well as the many community partners who made it happen. KSKA: Wednesday, April 29, at 2:00 pm and 9:00 pm Listen Now:

Learn how to protect yourself Wednesday on the next Hometown Alaska. Ask questions, tell your own story, hear from the experts. KSKA: Wednesday, May 20, at 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

Come visit the world-famous Coyote Garden in Willow with Les Brake as your guide. Download Audio:

What was Anchorage like in 1915? 1935? 1960? Aren't you curious? This is the time to find out, as the city prepares to celebrate its Big 10-0. Download Audio

On the next Hometown Alaska, we hope you'll give hosts Charles Wohlforth and Kathleen McCoy an earful! They are taking your suggestions for shows! Get in the line up. KSKA: Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Listen Now:

What makes a charter school tick? How does it differ from a traditional public school? How well do charter schools perform? How is their funding handled? Listen in, bring your questions. KSKA: Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m Listen Now:

Can we ever truly wrap our arms around the Arctic? A recent conference with speakers from across the globe gave it a try. We harvest the takeaways from two who were there. KSKA: Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 2 :00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Listen Now:

Our nation has set a goal to cut food waste in half by 2030. How is Anchorage doing? What can you do to help? Join us for this listener-requested topic on the next Hometown Alaska. KSKA: Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Listen Now:

Climate change has the potential to affect weather, water temperature and salmon numbers in Cook Inlet, as well as the biology of the lands of our region. On this edition of Hometown Alaska, experts explain the changes that have already happened in the Inlet at our front door, and make educated predictions about what the future might hold. KSKA: Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Download Audio:

Most people recognize Vern Halter as an Iditarod musher with plenty of top 10 finishes in the Last Great Race and a first place victory in the Yukon Quest. He’s also a lawyer born, raised and educated in South Dakota, and he's been an Alaskan since 1977. He’s served six years on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly. Now he’s the mayor of the fast-growing Mat-Su. On the next Hometown Alaska, we’ll get to ask him all kinds of questions about the challenges ahead. KSKA: Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Listen Now:

A new city-state task force on human trafficking convenes local law enforcement and FBI, Alaska Native groups, NGOs, the state’s wage and hour section in the Division of Labor Standards and Safety, among others. Where do we go from here? KSKA: Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Listen now:

We all want bright, young students to emerge from our public school system and become contributing citizens. But what is the right price tag for that goal? KSKA: Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 2 pm. and 8 pm. Download Audio

Alaska has a rich and romantic dog mushing legacy. But with a lack of rural veterinarians, many dogs need homes. Advocates have created connections to bring those dogs to the state's pet-hungry urban areas. KSKA: Wednesday, December 16 @ 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Download Audio

While many of us are packing away our Christmas memories, Orthodox Christians around Alaska are preparing for Russian Christmas on January 7, complete with "starring ceremonies." Find the origins and variations on our next Hometown Alaska. KSKA: Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 2:00 pm and 8 pm. Download Audio

Over the last two weekends of January, the Anchorage Folk Festival presents an explosion of music and dance in many venues around town. It's a fun opportunity for families to get out of the house in the winter, hear music and dance. And if you play, there are few better times to carry your instrument around for the chance of an impromptu jam session. On this edition of Hometown Alaska, we'll try to capture the fun of the folk fest through conversation and live music from Cold Country in the studio. KSKA: Wednesday, January 13, at 2 and 8pm LISTEN HERE