Talk of Alaska

You can’t get through a day without encountering plastic. From your toothbrush, to your keyboard to your clothes. Despite its popularity, plastic is a toxic material that does not decompose, it just gets smaller. Microscopic plastics are now found in soil and water throughout our state and especially in the arctic. Alaska Scientists are studying how these tiny toxins move and what it might mean for human health. We hear about their research on this Talk of Alaska.

Opioids are powerful drugs that can help people who are struggling with pain from severe injuries or illness, but the compounds are also highly addictive and the CDC says overdose is one of the leading causes of injury death for adults in the U.S. with rates quickly climbing from the early 2000s. In recent years, overdose deaths have declined in most of the country but remain high in Alaska. Why are rates still elevated here and what is being done to help people stay safe from illicit drugs? We discuss it on this Talk of Alaska.

Alaska’s school district leaders are celebrating the funding veto override lawmakers accomplished at the start of the special session in Juneau. The funds will help keep staff and programs in place and provide other support, but district officials say more is still needed. What would it take to adequately fund Alaska schools and where are they focusing their efforts as the next school year begins? School leaders join us on this Talk of Alaska.

Recipes tell a story. That’s the core concept of a new project looking to examine the history of Alaska and the people who live here through the lens of cooking. From time-honored culinary traditions to modern cuisine and fusion restaurants, the food we make, and how we prepare it, can tell powerful stories about individuals and the ways people have moved through our state. We discuss the tales that hide within recipes on this Talk of Alaska.

Defining true equity, and Anchorage’s new Equity Center is our discussion on this Talk of Alaska.

What will funding cuts mean for the future of America’s global position as a leader in scientific research?

A new federal-state effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs and ramp up the punishment for those who sell them is underway across the nation, including in Alaska.

The bill signed by President Trump on July 4th rescinds a lot of funding and tax credits for renewable projects. What does it mean for Alaska?

As the 4th of July approaches, what’s the status of active fires across the state and the outlook for this season and the future?

The tax reductions that President Trump wants to continue are rolled into a large bill that requires big cuts to medicaid and food support programs.

Three longtime Alaska journalists are saying goodbye to the profession. What have they learned along the way, and how has their work evolved over the decades?

On this Talk of Alaska, we take a look at organized events around the state like live music, local food festivals and cultural celebrations.

Is geothermal energy safe? How does it work? And what areas of Alaska could most benefit from it?

What did lawmakers pass this year and what was left on the table for the second half of the 34th legislature?

We discuss the legal rights of people facing or worried about removal from our state and country on this Talk of Alaska.

We discuss what has changed and how Alaskans feel about it after three months of the second Trump Administration.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski joins us from Washington DC to answer your questions on this Talk of Alaska.

What can state leaders, local governments and housing authorities do to meet the extreme demand for affordable housing?

How will state leaders overcome division on perennial issues like state education spending, the permanent fund dividend and infrastructure needs across the state?

After five decades of the Limited Entry program, many rural communities have lost the majority of their local commercial fishing permits.