Programs

Alaskans went to the polls yesterday, and early results are in. Environmentalists say king salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska hurts killer whales in Puget Sound, but fishermen disagree. And a small village in Bristol Bay gets statewide recognition for its library.

Today is Alaska's first-ever ranked choice election, but not all voters like the new system. Three people were stabbed in Ketchikan, and police are searching for a motive. And Anchorage parents scramble to arrange carpools during a district-wide bus driver shortage.

Thousands of people move in and out of Alaska every year. But people who moved to Alaska in recent years are not staying as long as they used to.

The federal government could take over management of silver salmon at the lower Kuskokwim River. Also, a former Mat-Su Borough Assembly member says Representative David Eastman shouldn't hold office. And electric vehicle drivers head to the northernmost point on the road system.

Three people died and two were injured in a fire at a Bethel housing complex. Conservative gubernatorial candidates go after Gov. Mike Dunleavy's record. And health officials address misconceptions about monkeypox.

When a massive, unexpected landslide blocked the only road to Lowell Point, Tom Miller knew his water taxi service was the only way to move residents, school children, and tourists back and forth to the nearby town of Seward.

The Anchorage Assembly wants to know how the city's former health director was hired with a fraudulent resume. Republican candidates in the special election are competing for the same pool of voters. Dipnetting brings crowds and their trash to Kenai Peninsula beaches, and volunteers are cleaning up.

This week on State of Art we're hearing from three creatives that make up August's diverse International Gallery of Contemporary Art exhibits. Rachael Juzeler...

Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson launches an investigation into the hiring of the former health director. Also, a new report looks at possible causes of the 2020 plane crash that killed a Soldotna representative and six others. And Denali National Park gets some mid-summer snowfall.

During the third installment of Mental Health Mosaics on Line One, we learn about the intersections of houselessness and mental health through the stories of two individuals.

An investigation shows Anchorage's former health director lied about his education and military experience. Also, federal officials hope to expand broadband access throughout the state. And a rural school district is making it easier for local people to become teachers.

Cruise passengers say Holland America is sending them home on state ferries if they get COVID. Also, inflation and low salmon runs are leaving Yukon River families hungry. And Anchorage schools compete with fast food restaurants as they struggle to hire cafeteria workers.

Whether you’re excited or dismayed with the change, Alaskans will have their first experience with the state's new ranked choice voting method on August 16 for the special U.S. House race.

Advocates demand that Anchorage police officers carry the opioid overdose reversing medication Narcan. Indigenous leaders respond after parents sue over a school's use of tribal values. And tourists find a time capsule from 2006 near Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier.

On the next Outdoor Explorer, our guests are congressional candidates, Nick Begich and Mary Peltola. They will answer outdoor policy questions from four leaders in the Alaska outdoor industry and share their own experiences in the Alaska outdoors, including the places that bring them the most happiness.

This week on State of Art we're joined by local singer-songwriter Emma Hill who tells us about her project "Park Songs." Hill spent months travelling around the U.S. and Canada visiting national parks, recording notes and melodies along the way. The project is a combination of music, travelogue and advocacy for parklands. In this episode we also learn about Galway Days. Peggy Monaghan from the Irish Club of Alaska tells us about the upcoming celebration of Irish culture.

Economists say Anchorage has plenty of open jobs, but not enough workers to fill them. A Ketchikan couple sues over a school's use of traditional tribal values. And biologists have a shocking new way to catch an invasive species of crayfish.

Homeless advocates worry as outdoor deaths increase in Anchorage. Community leaders in Southeast say the lack of affordable housing is contributing to a labor shortage. And a 17-year-old stops in Unalaska during his quest to become youngest person to fly solo around the world.

On the second installment of Out North's Mental Health Mosaics, we hear from community members about the ways that racism and discrimination affect mental health.

Sen. Dan Sullivan says he supports Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan. Ukrainian refugees find a new home in a former state ferry. And the death of the Alaska Zoo's lone wolf signals the end of her pack's reign.