Programs

StoryCorps’ mission is to share and preserve humanity’s stories to build empathy and a more compassionate world. As part of their Military Voices Initiative, StoryCorps partnered with us at Alaska Public Media to record veterans, active members of the armed forces or their families to document their stories. On this episode of Hometown Alaska, producer Ammon Swenson discusses the Military Voices project with the CEO of StoryCorps and learns about the women's veteran organization Operation Mary Louise.

Helping veterans and active duty military members cope with service-related trauma to lead healthy, happy lives, takes normalizing the need for mental health care and connecting with people who know the struggle.

Alaska legislators agree to a budget compromise one day into the special session. Plus, Alaska Native leaders speak out about tribal groups leaving AFN.

Alaska has one of the highest per-capita populations of retired military service members of any state in the country. There’s a lot of services out there for retired service members, but as Alaska Public Media’s Madilyn Rose reports, veterans in Alaska are one of their own greatest resources.

Despite a flurry of activity, the legislative session ends without a spending plan. Plus, the youngest female ever convicted of murder in Alaska has a chance at getting out, almost 40 years later.

In March, Ben Americus accomplished many firsts on the Chugach Front Linkup: the first late winter completion, the first to ski off the peaks and the first to complete the Linkup since Ptarmigan Peak was added as the 13th summit over 5000 feet. This week on Outdoor Explorer Ben joins host Lisa Keller to talk about how he added his name to Chugach Front Linkup history.

A report details safety concerns at the Valdez terminal where Alaska's crude oil is loaded onto tankers. Plus, a bill to sell carbon credits passes the Legislature and heads to the governor's desk.

Ketamine was approved for Treatment Resistant Depression in 2019 and has quickly become a growing treatment option for this challenging form of depression. Despite the current buzz around this newly approved approach, many questions remain. How safe is Ketamine? What are the side effects? And is it effective? On this Line One, host Prentiss Pemberton and his guest discuss the uses, risks, and benefits of Ketamine in treating mental health conditions.

An investigation finds Bean's Cafe made millions managing Anchorage's pandemic homeless shelter. Plus, heavy winter snow and ice jams cause flooding and damage to homes.

For working families across Alaska, the challenge of finding affordable, quality childcare is not new, but during the pandemic, the already limited capacity for childcare was further restricted. The lack of available help is spiking the costs of care and forcing parents to make difficult decisions about whether to keep jobs or even stay in the state. Is there any relief on the horizon from either state or federal policymakers? We discuss the crisis in childcare on this Talk of Alaska.

Ice jams bring serious flooding to communities along the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. Plus, a new vaccine could help prevent a virus that has hit residents in the Y-K Delta especially hard.

Foster said his business has grown so fast, it's sometimes difficult to keep up.

Despite the May snowfall, it is definitely growing season in Anchorage. On this episode of Hometown Alaska host Dave Waldron and two master gardeners discuss the challenges and rewards of gardening in our northern climate, answer some listener questions and do a little gardening trivia. Later in the show we visit an apple orchard with the president of the Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association to find out what goes into the growing process this time of year.

After much debate, the state Senate passes a bill to increase school funding. Also, river breakup is underway, with ice jams causing concern over flooding. And a passenger jet gets a new paint job: an Indigenous design celebrating our connection to salmon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0KNdZwsGgA

On this Alaska Insight, host Lori Townsend is joined by Sen. Löki Tobin and Stephanie Berglund, CEO of Thread Alaska, to discuss the scope and possible solutions to the child care crisis.

The play tells the story of a blind woman who gets caught up in a tension-building game of cat and mouse with dangerous criminals. We're joined by show director Krista Schwarting and lead actor Kaichen McRae to talk about the technical challenges, character choices and the unique lead role.

Stories are posted on the statewide news page. Send news tips, questions, and comments to news@alaskapublic.org. Follow Alaska Public Media on Facebook and on Twitter @AKPublicNews. And subscribe to...

Summer in Alaska brings a plethora of outdoor adventure opportunities. Boating, hiking, climbing, fishing, wildlife viewing, fishing, and hunting ramp up — and so do the calls for help. On this episode of Outdoor Explorer, host Paul Twardock speaks with representatives from various rescue groups to learn about what they do and how to avoid needing their help.

A long-awaited bill to increase to Alaska's education formula reaches the full Senate. Plus, a lack of childcare in rural Alaska forces families to make tough choices.