Adelyn Baxter, KTOO - Juneau
Did You Hear Something?
Spine tinglers and hair raisers—the perfect recipe for a fine Halloween! This week Hometown Alaska will feature local storytellers who know just how to scare the starch right out of you! Join us for some great stories, and share your family and neighborhood traditions.
KSKA: Wednesday 10/31 at 2:00 pm
Troopers Make Third Arrest In Homer Sexual Assault Case
Another arrest has been made in an ongoing sexual assault case that stems from a teenage party in Homer last month. Alaska State Troopers said in a statement Monday that an unidentified 16-year-old male was taken into custody at a private residence Sunday night.
Organizations Attempt To Start Dialogue Around Homer Sexual Assault Incident
The community of Homer is still reeling from an alleged sexual assault that occurred at a teen drinking party last month. Several organizations in Homer have attempted to spur a community dialogue around the incident.
Buccaneer Scraps Plans For Tyonek Drilling
It’s been more than six weeks since Buccaneer Energy’s jack-up rig Endeavour arrived in Alaska to begin drilling for oil and gas in Cook Inlet. But the rig remains tied up at the Homer harbor and plans for it to drill this year near Tyonek have now been scrapped.
Alaska’s Own Melissa Mitchell, Mountain Stage ‘People’s Choice’
Big news for Alaska singer-songwriter Melissa Mitchell -- in September, she won the 2012 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest 'People's Choice' Award. That big achievement turns out to be her ticket to New York City, where she and other regional winners will perform Oct. 20 at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. So, just 10 days before she heads out for the Big Apple we'll host Melissa Mitchell on Hometown, Alaska to talk about everything from breaking in to the music business, to balancing ambition and family, to her mixed emotions about life in the 49th state.
KSKA: Wednesday, 10/10 at 2:00 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Chickenpox Outbreak Hits Homer, Soldotna
An outbreak of chickenpox in Soldotna and Homer has state public health officials worried about the high number of local children who are not receiving vaccinations.
Jack-Up Rig ‘Endeavor’ Lowers Legs Into Kachemak Bay
Buccaneer Energy’s jack-up rig “Endeavor” was originally supposed to be in Kachemak Bay for only six days before moving on to drill near Tyonek on the west side of Cook Inlet. Due to work being done to the massive rig, however, it has been in place outside the Homer harbor for almost a month. And now, the rig has done something that is normally not allowed in Kachemak Bay – it has lowered its 410-foot legs down to the sea floor.
Jack-Up Rig May Have Carried Invasive Species With It
A Chinese heavy-lift vessel brought the “Endeavour” jack-up drill rig to Kachemak Bay from Singapore, but it appears the rig itself might have carried its own unique and unwanted cargo.
Why Trees Go Down in the Wind & How to Protect Them
Did you lose trees in the big blow Sept. 4? How much of that damage was preventable? Bring your tree questions to the experts when Patricia Joyner of the Community Forestry Program and arborist Jim Flott discuss the kind of damage they saw after the storm and offer advice on what types of trees will thrive in Anchorage and how to plant them. Find out how to take care of the trees in your own backyard.
KSKA: Wednesday, 9/19 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
‘The Village’ Documents Life In Old Fangak
For five years, a group of Alaskans has been struggling to help people a world away in Old Fangak, a thousand-year-old village in the new country of South Sudan. Last week, theatergoers in Homer had a chance to see the premier of “The Village,” a film that documents life in Old Fangak and the remarkable efforts of the Alaska Sudan Medical Project.
Troopers Arrest Suspect In Deadly July Shooting
Alaska State Troopers have made an arrest in the suspected murder of Damien Sagerser, an Anchor Point man who was found shot to death July 8. On Friday, members of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation arrested 20-year-old Demarqus Deshean Green at his Anchorage residence.
Tales of the Tattooed: What’s your story?
A moose biologist with intricate back and upper leg tattoos. A bakery worker with a famous storybook figure on her arm that signifies love between her and her mother. A nurse with 14 tattoos and a heap of regret. Every tattoo has a story behind it. Join tattoo artist James Allen and host Kathleen McCoy for 'Tales of the Tattooed.' What's your tattoo story?
KSKA, Wednesday 8/15 at 2 pm and repeating at 7 pm
What’s Your Question for the Mat-Su School Superintendent?
The start of a new school year holds promise and challenge. Just north of Anchorage, the state's second largest school district - with 45 schools and 17,000 students - is gearing up. Dr. Deena Paramo starts her second year as superintendent, capping a long career at Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District that started as a middle school teacher. She joins host Kathleen McCoy in the studio to talk about 21st century education, her ambitions for the new year, and to field your questions.
KSKA: Wednesday 8/1 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Relishing Alaska’s Roadside Fare
Nothing whets the appetite like a steering wheel, a ribbon of asphalt and miles to burn. Give that a few hours, and you’ll be growling for ROAD FOOD. Join us to share the meal you'll drive miles to enjoy, and learn about new places to add to your destination dining list.
KSKA: Wednesday 6/20 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Denali, ‘The High One’ — To the top, or not?
From Crown Jewel of the North: "On a clear day in south-central or interior Alaska, the sight is inescapable – and breathtaking. For more than a hundred miles in every direction, it looms over everything and dominates the scene." Majestic Mount McKinley. Learn the risks and rewards of scaling the highest mountain in North America from a veteran guide, an experienced ranger and a climber who shared the first winter ascent in 1967.
KSKA: Wednesday, June 6 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Newsman Corey Flintoff back in Alaska
Stories from around the world -- that's the work that NPR correspondent Corey Flintoff does. What drew him to news? How does he manage dangerous situations and relentlessly dark turns in the human condition? What lessons did he take from Alaska all the way to Iraq and Afghanistan? Does he miss our salmon? Find out on this special edition of Hometown Alaska.
KSKA: Friday, May 23, 2:00 pm.
City Report Forecasts Housing Shortage Over Next 20 years
Checked rents lately? In the market for a home? What you find in Anchorage neighborhoods delivers some serious sticker shock. A new report from the Municipality forecasts a shortage of housing in Anchorage over the next 20 years. Why is that, and what can we do about it? A senior planner, a builder and an affordable housing advocate come to the table to share their perspectives on Hometown, Alaska. Join us.
KSKA: Wednesday, May 23, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Just Try Spelling That!
How's your spelling? Is texting and IMing and email leading to LOL, OMG, and 10Q creeping into your written communication? Do you think it still matters if we can spell well? Untangle that when Hometown Alaska hosts three spelling bee wizards -- the state's 2012 champ, a Yupik spelling bee champ, and a BizBee champ. What's their secret, and how can you steal it?
KSKA: Wednesday 5/9 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
‘And then what happened?’
The Alaska Native Oratory Society just celebrated its 10th anniversary at UAA, featuring a full day of stories told by students and emceed by Alaska Native storyteller Jack Dalton. Join us for a round of stories including 'The Dragger,' 'Never Look in Windows,' and more.
KSKA: Wednesday, 4/25 at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
MacKenzie: Is It The Little Port that Could?
Port MacKenzie has big ambitions: a rail extension to Interior Alaska, the MV Susitna Ferry sailing to Cook Inlet communities, and a bridge touching Anchorage. These make Port MacKenzie a potential hub for commercial activity. They also place it in the cross hairs of some hot public policy debates simmering in Southcentral - the Knik Arm crossing and Mat-Su coal deposit development. Join host Kathleen McCoy and port director Marc Van Dongen as they update the Port MacKenzie story.
Photo slideshow: Port MacKenzie over the years
KSKA: Wednesday, 4/18 at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm