Police officers are tasked with keeping order in our communities and ensuring residents and visitors engage in lawful conduct. It can be a difficult job where decisions sometimes need to be made in seconds, especially when people are at risk, in crisis and threatening themselves or others. After Anchorage Police officers shot and killed four people in Anchorage over the last few months, some Alaskans are calling for change. Law enforcement officials, attorneys, and community advocates answer que...
Sep 17, 2024•54 min
Spending more time indoors in fall and winter might be appealing and cozy, but it can also be an effective way for respiratory viruses to spread. Alaska has seen spikes in respiratory illness in recent weeks. What do you need to know about the latest viral variants, their treatment and the vaccines that can prevent infection or lessen severity if you do get sick? Alaska’s top medical experts join us to describe the latest science about viral disease, how to prevent it and answer your question on...
Sep 10, 2024•53 min
The Alaska Permanent Fund was established more than 40 years ago. Through the decades there have been multiple changes to how funds are allocated, and perennial legislative fights over the amount of the Permanent Fund dividend. Permanent Fund managers want changes to the fund’s structure they say will protect it for the future. What are they advocating for and how are lawmakers responding?
Sep 03, 2024•54 min
Company mergers are often touted as a way to create more efficiencies for the companies and savings for customers. Albertsons, the owner of Safeway and Carrs, wants to sell to Kroger, the parent company of Fred Meyer. The deal would affect multiple stores in Alaska. The companies say the merger will result in better prices for consumers. Do economists, public advocates and attorneys agree? We ask them on this Talk of Alaska.
Aug 20, 2024•56 min
The painful legacy and harm caused to Alaska Native people by the boarding school era in Alaska and the rest of the nation is only beginning to be acknowledged and understood. The U.S. Interior Department released a report last month to continue documenting the federal government’s role in the system that ripped children away from their homes. We talk with survivors and researchers about what else is needed to tell the full story and bring healing on this Talk of Alaska.
Aug 13, 2024•55 min
When you look at the impact humans have on nature, it’s easy to be pessimistic. Major forces like climate change and human-caused extinction events paint a bleak picture of the future. But biologists and climate scientists say there’s still a lot that gives them hope. We discuss a book aimed at highlighting conservation success stories and encouraging optimism about the future, on the next Talk of Alaska.
Aug 06, 2024•56 min
Housing, a place to live where you feel safe and in charge of your things is a fundamental, basic need. Having a home makes it easier for people to control their lives, keep steady employment and create a nurturing environment for children. Increasingly, this basic need is financially out of reach for people in Alaska wanting to own a home or even to find affordable rent. We discuss the layers of challenges to creating more housing on this Talk of Alaska.
Jul 30, 2024•56 min
Alaska’s commercial fisheries have, for decades, been an international symbol of prosperity, abundance and healthy eating, providing a good living for generations of fishermen and their crews. But a combination of factors are endangering the economy of many coastal communities and transforming the lives of Alaskans who depend on commercial fishing. We discuss the future outlook for Alaska’s iconic fisheries on this Talk of Alaska.
Jul 24, 2024•56 min
Disability Pride Month is a time for celebration and reflection. Advocates take the month of July to recognize the progress that’s been made since the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. And to reflect on how to further empower people with disabilities to shape the services they receive. We speak with disability advocates about their top priorities, and the celebrations ahead, on this Talk of Alaska.
Jul 16, 2024•56 min
The Fourth of July often brings thoughts of festive celebrations like parades, picnics and fireworks, but what does honoring the nation’s independence mean? What are our rights, but also our responsibilities to a healthy democracy? How do you reflect on what freedom means, and what’s the best way for us all to move forward as a united nation? We discuss historical and philosophical context on our democracy and what freedom requires of us all on this next Talk of Alaska.
Jul 02, 2024•56 min
Refugees seeking safety from conflicts and international problems have been coming to Alaska for decades, but in recent years, the number of people resettling in the state has jumped significantly, bringing families and individuals to new communities all across Alaska. What is the refugee experience like here, and how can local communities best prepare for and welcome those who have been displaced from their home countries? We discuss welcoming new neighbors, and celebrating World Refugee Day on...
Jun 25, 2024•56 min
Social media can be fun. But it can also be dangerous, especially for children and teenagers. A U.S. surgeon general report found significant links between teen social media use, eating disorders and body dissatisfaction, especially for teen girls. But a bill that would have banned Alaskans under the age of 14 from social media stalled in the legislature. What controls are appropriate for parents and what do young people think about it? We’ll ask on the next Talk of Alaska.
Jun 18, 2024•56 min
Alaskans like to pack in as much fun as possible during our gloriously long summer days and extended bouts of backyard, beach, boat and campsite time is made all the better when you have a great book to relax with. Readers know how books create magical doorways into other worlds and other worldviews that enhance your imagination in ways that scrolling online will never match. If you want to stick to home grown books, Alaska has many great authors and a wide range of selections from thrillers to ...
Jun 11, 2024•56 min
Summer is here in Alaska. The days are longer, the snow is melting and the weather is at least a little warmer. That means Alaskans are spending a lot of time outside, hiking, biking, boating and hunting, just to name a few activities. Whatever your Summer adventure is, there’s always the chance that something can go wrong. So what can you do to keep yourself safe? We gathered your best advice and talked with outdoor safety experts to hear their tips on this Talk of Alaska.
Jun 04, 2024•56 min
The Alaska Court System is honoring 25 years of therapeutic courts in the state this month. These alternative paths to justice and rehabilitation bring together a broad partnership of law enforcement, corrections and health professionals to work on a plan of treatment rather than incarceration for Alaskans who struggle with mental health challenges, past trauma or addictions. The idea is to prevent recidivism, reduce crime and promote public safety. How well have the courts performed in the last...
May 28, 2024•56 min
In shops across Alaska, sales of cannabis flower and extracted products have been legal for nearly a decade. How are growers and retailers faring in a heavily-taxed and competitive industry? A bill advocates hoped would lower tax rates didn’t pass the legislature, so what does that mean for the industry? And what does a federal change to reclassify marijuana mean for the future of full legalization? We discuss legal cannabis sales and the outlook for the future on this Talk of Alaska.
May 21, 2024•56 min
Environmental legislation that was passed in the 1970s has aimed to protect air, water, soil and animals. One of the largest laws, the Endangered Species Act, is 50 years old, and through the decades the Act has helped numerous species recover and thrive. How has a rapidly changing climate affected listing petitions and the way plans are developed for recovery? What are the effects on the economy when species are listed? What success stories does the Act have in protecting Alaskan animals? We di...
May 14, 2024•56 min
Wildfire is inevitable, but weather conditions and human behavior have a lot to do with how big a fire season will be and how much acreage is burned. What is the outlook for this year’s fire season in Alaska, and what are the best ways to protect your property and community from fire? Are state and federal managers preparing for an average or big year for firefighting? We discuss the 2024 wildfire seasonal outlook on this Talk of Alaska.
May 07, 2024•56 min
Who should decide how public education dollars are allocated? An Anchorage Superior court judge recently threw out the laws supporting Alaska’s correspondence education program, ruling it unconstitutional and leaving the future of homeschooling options in limbo. The decision affects more than 20,000 homeschool students in the state. What’s the right path forward, a legislative fix or the Supreme Court? We discuss the future of where and how state education funds can be spent on this Talk of Alas...
Apr 30, 2024•56 min
Putting on a touring Broadway Musical in the Lower 48 is an expensive, complicated, and difficult process. When bringing one to Alaska though, it starts to cross the line from difficult, to logistical nightmare. However, over the last year not one, but four Broadway shows, counting hundreds among their cast and crew, came to Alaska to perform. How is it that shows like Hamilton and Six brought not just their people, but their massive, complicated sets, up to the 49th state? We answer that questi...
Apr 23, 2024•56 min
Governor Mike Dunleavy is approaching the halfway mark in his second term as the 12th top government executive in Alaska. His recent veto of a bipartisan education bill and a failed override has left education funding in limbo while the legislature works on operating and capital budget plans. What does the governor think of those budgets and what would he agree to for an education spending plan? Governor Dunleavy joins us on this Talk of Alaska.
Apr 16, 2024•56 min
How do political campaigns know what issues resonate with the public? How do researchers learn about social and political beliefs? Often, that work is done through surveys or polling. What goes into building a poll to ensure a good reflection of differing beliefs? Well hear from people who create polls and those who use them in different campaigns, on this Talk of Alaska.
Apr 09, 2024•56 min
As state lawmakers begin the last two months of the session, there is a lot of work to get done. Lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan education bill, but failed to override the Governor’s veto of it, and now there is growing tension around trying to pass another bill that the Governor would accept. The perennial fight over the size of the Permanent Fund Dividend has yet to be settled, as has the state's budget. What is the current tone of debate at the capitol? We talk with reporters cov...
Apr 03, 2024•56 min
Alaskans along the railbelt have relied on Cook Inlet gas for heat and power for decades, but the wells in the Cook Inlet basin, a long reliable source of natural gas for homes and businesses, are no longer so reliable with potential shortages looming in the next few years. Why isn’t more gas being developed in Cook Inlet, what’s the potential for renewable energy replacing gas, and what will it all mean for ratepayers if gas needs to be imported? We discuss the future energy needs for Southcent...
Mar 26, 2024•56 min
The use of Artificial Intelligence or AI has been around since the 50s, but even with rapid growth in the technology for a wide range of applications, there’s still a lot that many of us don’t understand about AI’s benefits, its potential to help businesses, as well as the risks. How can computer learning technology help streamline work and create efficiencies for small businesses and what are the red flags? We learn about a new AI business center for Alaska on this Talk of Alaska.
Mar 20, 2024•56 min
In the past, Indigenous people were misrepresented in movies and other media when harmful stereotypes and racist tropes were too often the norm. Indigenous Americans were presented as one-dimensional characters, or played by non-native actors. But things are changing and the recent HBO season of the series True Detective is a good example. It employed Alaska Native actors, writers and casting directors. What changes when Indigenous people have influence over popular television content? We talk w...
Mar 12, 2024•56 min
There is plenty of research that backs up the importance of childcare. In order to work, parents need quality and affordable child care that is as much about learning as it is about keeping kids safe, but Alaska families are struggling to find and afford that type of care for their kids. What are elected leaders and businesses doing to address the need? We ask advocates on this Talk of Alaska.
Mar 06, 2024•56 min
What is the best way to support students, teachers and schools for Alaska’s future? There are many competing ideas for how to get the most impact out of education funding and how that funding should be prioritized. What do education leaders say is most needed and how can Alaskan families support their local schools when budgets are tight? We discuss best practices for educational outcomes on this Talk of Alaska. NOTE: Due to technical issue, this episode of Talk of Alaska is shorter than a typic...
Feb 20, 2024•53 min
It’s been an especially snowy winter in many Alaska communities, and with heavy snowfall comes the yearly question, should I shovel my roof? And the follow-up question, how do I do that without getting injured or breaking the bank? We talk with engineers about what to look at when considering those questions, and whether you should do it yourself or hire someone else on this Talk of Alaska.
Feb 13, 2024•56 min
Rejoining the community after incarceration can be challenging. People have to rebuild connections, earn people’s trust, and secure basic needs, like housing and employment. They also have to be mentally ready for life outside of prison. On this Talk of Alaska, we’ll discuss how organizations and individuals can best support people as they reenter the community.
Jan 30, 2024•56 min
