Programs

Even though President Joe Biden said in September that the pandemic is over, nationally more than 300 people are still dying every day from Covid. So how have Alaskans coped with mandates, anxiety, vaccines and illness? We’ll discuss pandemic lessons and stories today on Talk of Alaska.

Activists and family members of inmates who've died jailed in Alaska are sounding the alarm. Also, Alaska's Republican U.S. House candidates want voters to "rank the red." And new fiber optic cable projects could improve Internet access in Bethel.

National headlines often approach Alaska through the language of loss and crisis, painting residents of passive victims of systemic racism, climate change, or historical trauma. A new series from KTOO, ReVision Alaska, approaches the challenges facing Alaska through the eyes of those working on solutions.

Another fall storm brings high winds and coastal flooding to Northwest Alaska. Alaskans weigh a constitutional convention ahead of next month's election. And a bear-viewing site in Southeast Alaska puts its own spin on Fat Bear Week.

An Alaska girl’s report leads investigators to a major child pornography scheme. Also, how the state's fishing permit system has affected local communities. In Western Alaska, the September storm brought some unexpected treasures.

A new storm could bring flooding and high winds to Alaska’s northwest coast. Many homeless campers in Anchorage don't want to go to a city-run shelter. And from Bethel to Ketchikan, voters cast their ballots in municipal elections.

Hormones are messages that travel through the bloodstream to relay instructions to the body that control many functions. They are often prescribed in situations where our bodies are not providing enough for us to function at our best. Hormones also naturally decline as we age which may poorly affect our overall quality of life and health. Men also experience a decline in testosterone and other hormones, and replacement is just as important for them as it is for women.

Candidates in the governor's race share their goals for Alaska's seafood industry. Also, Alaska State Troopers seized more than 2 million doses of fentanyl this summer. And a new fictional TV show set in Alaska has roots in reality.

The Kodiak Fishery debates kick off tonight with some key candidates missing. Another storm heads to some communities affected by last month's flooding. And a new generation of Kodiak Alutiiq speakers is keeping the language alive.

Dozens of different minerals are required to make everyday items like cell phones and batteries. Now new federal climate legislation includes a provision that could spur efforts to develop more of these critical minerals right here in Alaska. But what are those minerals? And what does the growing global demand for them mean for mining in the state? We'll discuss the future of critical minerals on the next Talk of Alaska. 

This week Hometown Alaska hosts three writers telling significant parts of Alaska’s story. We're joined by Alaska's writer laureate Heather Lende and authors Leigh Newman and Laureli Ivanoff.

September 30th-Orange Shirt Day is an annual remembrance of the boarding school era on Native people when children were torn away from their families. What does it mean to decolonize education?

Storm damage in Newtok increases the pressure for residents to relocate. Also, homeless campers in Anchorage prepare to move back to the Sullivan Arena. And the school bus driver shortage continues.

Half of the people whose first language is Kodiak Alutiiq have died over the last few years. But that’s not stopping new speakers from learning Alutiiq and passing along a distinct culture and worldview to the next generations.

This week on State of Art we're hearing from Marrin Eighinger, director of Anchorage Community Theater's production of "The Sensuous Senator." The fast-paced comedy follows a presidential candidate running on a morality platform, his indiscretions and the fallout of his secrets. The final performances are Saturday, October 1 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 2 at 3 p.m.

A campground that was opened to Anchorage's homeless is set to close on Saturday. Also, a dozen Aleutian communities are set to get high-speed internet. And an eight-year study finds that wolves eat much more than deer and moose.

Erosion from last week's storm has left Hooper Bay without protective sand dunes. Also, Sen. Lisa Murkowski asks the federal government for additional disaster funds. And Ketchikan High School's drama club earns the right to perform Disney's "Frozen."

Indie Alaska features Hardrick's story of growing up in the racially divided South and his passion for foraging with his family in Alaska.

A landslide damages homes and causes power outages in Juneau. Steven Downs is sentenced for murdering Sophie Sergie nearly 30 years ago. And a Kenai forager's guide to berry picking this fall.

State and federal officials visit Nome to plan storm recovery efforts. Also, Hooper Bay reckons with the storm's emotional toll and the village's future. And Delta Junction's upcoming city council election is the most competitive one in decades.