Programs

A new bill in the legislature aims to bring back a pension system for public employees. On Kodiak Island, a village fights to keep its hydropower system running. Plus, from trail conditions to this year's lineup, everything you need to know for the Iditarod.

That's right, it's Iditarod time, and we're back with another season of Iditapod. In the first episode of our seventh season, host Casey Grove and trail reporters Lex Treinen and Ben Matheson discuss the smallest field in race history and how a quarter of the mushers in the 2023 Iditarod are rookies. We also recap last year's race, talk about the legacy of the late four-time champion Lance Mackey and we even have a Dog of the Day, a spunky little leader named Dusty.

This week on State of Art we're learning about Anchorage Opera's upcoming production of "Missing" and its U.S. premier. The plot centers around the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls and was written by First Nations playwright Marie Clements and Juno award-winning composer Brian Current. The story follows Native Girl, who was murdered and discarded by the roadside, and Ava, a white woman who discovers the girl's body and sets out on a path to find greater empathy and understanding. We're joined by Melody Courage, who plays Native Girl, and Kate Bass, who plays Ava, to find out more.

DNA evidence leads to a suspect in a decades old sexual assault case. Also, what's keeping mushers from entering the Iditarod? (Some say it's economics). And the Anchorage Fire Department assists with the unusual rescue of a sled dog from an ice floe.

Alaska Native leaders rally in DC to support the Willow project. The VA secretary speaks to veterans in Bethel. Plus, get to know the rookie mushers in this year's Iditarod.

The Anchorage Assembly says it's not ready to approve a settlement over a project it never approved. Concentrations of dangerous forever chemicals are higher than previously thought in some Anchorage and Fairbanks lakes. Plus, eyes are on the winner of last year's Iditarod as teams gear up for this year's race.

Lawsuits challenging tribal sovereignty at both the state and federal level could have big implications for the future ability of tribes to exercise authority over tribal citizens and land. The state is suing over a land into trust application and The U.S. Supreme court is reviewing challenges to the Indian Child Welfare Act or ICWA that claim the law is discriminatory. What could these decisions mean for the future of tribal autonomy? We’ll discuss it on this Talk of Alaska.

Sen. Dan Sullivan says the U.S. isn’t sending weapons to Ukraine fast enough and the Anchorage Assembly considers offering parental leave to city employees.

Fur Rondy is upon us again and the Anchorage festival will have plenty of events for Alaskans to choose from. One of the longstanding traditions of the celebration is the Fur Rondy Melodrama. On this week's Hometown Alaska we'll take a look behind the scenes of this year's performance and what it means to be melodramatic.

A look at search and rescue needs as shipping traffic increases in the Arctic. Debate over a Board of Fisheries proposal that could limit a Gulf of Alaska salmon fishery. Plus the life of Elizabeth Kudrin, the great survivor.

This week on State of Art we hear from Matthew Burtner. He’s a composer, musician and sound artist who blends the arts and sciences into works meant to deepen our understanding and connection to the natural world. He is currently an artist in residence at the Anchorage Museum and his most recent album is called “Icefield.” We discuss his unique creative methods, "ecoacoustics" and more.

As the world’s glaciers retreat, so does the outlook for the Alaska tourism sector. But the pace of that retreat is still in human hands.

Congresswoman Mary Peltola made history in 2022 when she won both a special and regular election for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House.

As a lifelong skier, Ira Edwards had early access to some of the most world-class ski terrain in the world in his backyard in Palmer, Alaska. After a devastating fluke accident in 2010, Ira was eventually able to return to skiing but found his life purpose shifting to philanthropy and fundraising for others.

The ACLU alleges the state isn't respecting early release dates for prisoner programs. The potential fallout from a lawsuit over access to abortion pills. Plus local communities want their voices heard when it comes to Arctic military expansion.

On this week’s Outdoor Explorer, we’ll be talking about the disparate sports of rifle marksmanship and cross-country skiing that, when combined, create the sport of biathlon. Our guests will be Sara Studebaker-Hall and Zach Hall. Sara is the Director of Operations at TeamUSA Biathlon, and Zach is the Team Manager and Head Coach at the Soldier Hollow Olympic Legacy Program. They both have deep connections to Alaska; Zach grew up in Nikiski, and Sara was the UAA Ski Team’s assistant coach for several years. On this week’s show, Sara and Zach discuss the joys and tribulations of biathlon, the sport’s history, and how YOU can get involved in this unique and healthy sport!

Representative David Eastman is censured, again, for offensive comments. Coastal communities wonder what to expect as shipping increases in the Arctic. Plus Senator Lisa Murkowski pushes the state legislature for a more proactive approach.

Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs occur with more frequency than we are aware and the lasting effects are also high; not every injury is apparent thus many go undiagnosed and don’t get the services and treatments needed to heal. TBIs bring hundreds of Alaskans to our major medical centers each year and can be the result of accidents or medical conditions such as seizure or stroke. On this episode of Line One, Dr. Jillian Woodruff MD explores how to prevent and treat TBIs.

After last week's fatal roof collapse in Anchorage, residents are wondering if they should shovel. The implications of a shipping boom in the Arctic. Plus, during a recent drug bust in Southeast, the drugs themselves were found in an usual package.

Alaska has long ranked at or near the top in the nation for rates of violence and sexual assault. Over the summer of 2022, lawmakers updated Alaska’s sexual assault laws, including a new definition of what defines consent. The law went into effect on January 1st, 2023. Why did it take decades to update the statutes and how might the changes affect prosecutions? Better legal tools to prevent assaults and help survivors is our discussion on this Talk of Alaska.