Programs

A remote Alaska community grapples with the aftermath of the first polar bear attack in three decades. Plus, Senator Dan Sullivan addresses the commercial fishing trade show in Kodiak.

This week on Hometown Alaska we're joined by Erin Baldwin Day, lead organizer of Mutual Aid Network of Anchorage, to find out about the grassroots, community-minded organization filling gaps other groups cannot meet.

Susan McKenzie has declined the role of commissioner for the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

Student representatives on the state school board share their thoughts with lawmakers on a controversial gender identity bill. Plus, Remembering sportfishing advocate Bob Penney, who fell in love with the Kenai River in the 70s.

This week on State of Art we’re hearing about Out North’s Fringe Festival going on all of April. It features films, performance art and workshops meant to build community and push the boundaries of art. We’re joined by Out North’s Executive Director Erin Willahan and Fringe Artistic Director Indra Arriaga to find out more.

On this episode of Alaska Insight, host Lori Townsend is joined by Dr. Kelly Drew and Dr. Oivind Toien, two researchers at the University of Fairbanks Alaska who are looking at the possible medical applications of understanding hibernation.

Senator Murkowski decries the collapse of several fisheries at the commercial fishing trade show in Kodiak. Plus, court system officials defend the state's grand jury system against protests.

https://youtu.be/2pCMvmLkL8Y Seeing how much Alaska relies on imports for food and gardening, Melina Sevigny asked herself, how could she help it's food security? She started...

There are many organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life of Alaska's youth. Many use the outdoors and nature to help kids overcome the challenges they face. Onward and Upward is a nonprofit based in the Mat-Su Valley and is one such organization. The group offers programs that use the concept of "one health" that incorporates adventure, challenge by choice, experiential learning and place based education while being sensitive to trauma. Randy Dowd, Executive Director and founder, and his staff join host Paul Twardock to discuss the programs they offer and benefits that youth receive from their program and ones like it.

The EPA proposes a national limit on PFAS compounds in drinking water. Plus, an Alaska oil and gas expert's idea for the state to make money by NOT drilling in ANWR.

Alaska Native mushers took the podium in the 2023 Iditarod, with the Knik Kid, Ryan Redington, winning his first championship and Bethel's Pete Kaiser and Aniak's Richie Diehl mushing into second and third place. The race's top 10 were all into Nome by Wednesday morning, and we have an update on Rookie of the Year honors, as well as three Dogs of the Day, two listener questions and a story about collecting dog pee. Also: This'll do it for Season 7 of the Iditapod. Thanks for coming along with us on this thousand-mile journey!

Tuberculosis is a disease with a complicated history in Alaska. For decades, the state has led the country in rates of infection, but care for people with tuberculosis has a history of discrimination and mistreatment. However, treatments have changed and health workers say cases are especially high right now. On this Line One, host Dr. Justin Clark explores the scope of tuberculosis in Alaska, and the treatments for those who have it.

The 40-year-old Ryan Redington has won his first Iditarod and the first championship for the Redington family, on his 16th try (and after six previous scratches). "I've just been on pins and needles," said his mom, Barb, at the finish line. We'll hear Redington's finish itself in this episode, and from Alaska Public Media's Lex Treinen about the finish and how Redington arrived there first. The dog friends that did the leading into Nome -- Sven and Ghost -- are our obvious picks for Dogs of the Day. And we have a listener question about dog-human friends, with a fun answer from a friendly musher.

Ryan Redington is the first in his family to capture the Iditarod crown, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Plus, Senator Murkowski reacts to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland starting a new process to secure a road out of King Cove.

Alaska's congressional delegation cheers as the federal government approves the controversial Willow oil drilling project. Plus, Ryan Redington arrives in White Mountain, in good position to win the Iditarod.

The Biden administration has approved ConocoPhillips Willow project in the National Petroleum Reserve. Oil drilling proponents see it as a win for domestic energy production but some climate and indigenous activists call it a climate bomb that runs counter to President Biden’s commitment to addressing climate change. We’ll discuss the Willow decision on this Talk of Alaska.

Ryan Redington has a secure hold on first place in the 2023 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, heading into the final 100 miles of trail. Meanwhile, one rookie musher had some trouble holding onto his dog sled, after falling asleep, falling off and getting a fortuitous lift. We have a listener question, not about losing a dog team, but about losing stuff along the Iditarod Trail. And it's a twofer of Dogs of the Day: Riley Dyche's smart and mellow Elway and Mike Williams Jr.'s smart and hyper Viper.

Anchorage's Assembly and Mayor make decisions that affect your everyday life, from how much you pay in taxes to when your streets might be plowed. Their decisions influence what services are available, where developments happen, and how the city's money is spent. On this episode of Hometown, Alaska we'll learn more about how the city government works and how you can affect it. We'll also go on an audio tour of the Anchorage Election Center to learn about what happens to your ballot after you send it back in.

In this extended interview, we hear more from John Suter, an Iditarod finisher who famously had a team that included poodles. Suter ran the Iditarod with poodles in 1988, '89, '90 and '91, finishing each year ahead of other teams racing more traditional sled dogs.

Reigning Iditarod champion Brent Sass has scratched from this year’s race, due to what race officials described as “periodontal health” issues. So 31 teams remained in the race Saturday, and in this episode we hear from the chase pack-turned lead pack about how they were feeling about heading up the Yukon River, plus more from the top rookies in this year’s race. We have a powerhouse Dog of the Day with a funny, uh, pungent name, and a listener question about sled dog breeds that led us to the famous poodle musher.