Talk of Alaska

For decades, most Americans have relied on the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and their own local physician to get advice and guidance on everything from a healthy diet and exercise to air quality, disease prevention and which annual vaccines they should get. But the Trump administration’s pick of RFK Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary has cast confusion and doubt on long standing medical norms. What do two of Alaska’s top doctors think of his ideas and how might it affect public health in the future? They join us for this Talk of Alaska.

Housing for people who have been sleeping outdoors becomes more urgent as winter approaches, and as the chronic shortage of affordable housing persists across the state, new complications such as the federal government shutdown and the sudden housing crisis in the Kuskokwim region are adding pressure to plans for helping Alaskans find shelter. What are state and city leaders working on and how can people help? The ongoing need for safe, affordable housing is our discussion on this Talk of Alaska.

Typhoon Halong devastated Kipnuk, wiping out the majority of the community. Kwigillingok was hit very hard and numerous other communities in the Kuskokwim Delta region also suffered damage. Hundreds of people were evacuated from the hardest-hit areas, and many are now in temporary shelters in Anchorage. As repair and recovery work ramp up, how much can be restored before winter and what is needed right now to help get the work done? Helping our neighbors after a huge disaster is our on this Talk of Alaska.

Democracy is often loud, messy and argumentative. After all, it’s a system designed to support the right to differing values and political ideas. A healthy democracy allows for dissent and disagreement, peaceful protests, marches and campaigns that work to persuade voters to support or reject certain ideas. But currently in America, dissent too often turns to violence where people threaten harm rather than simply debating viewpoints. Why has it become dangerous to express free speech and how can we get back to more civil discourse in our nation? Two elected officials with opposing political views have found ways to work together and they share what they’ve learned, on this Talk of Alaska.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski criticizes the indictment of the former FBI Director. Plus, state officials found the first case in Alaska of a beetle that invades beehives and spoils honey. And, with winter coming quickly, Akiak is racing to restore its power plant.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski has served as one of Alaska’s two U.S. Senators for the past 23 years and she joins us on this Talk of Alaska.

A well-written novel can change the course of a life, a nation, the world, or just provide you some nice entertainment for an afternoon.

The congressional rescission vote that ended federal support for public broadcasting will hit rural and tribal stations especially hard in the coming months and years. Since 1967, public media has provided free educational and news programming to help all Americans access quality content. The stations hardest-hit by the cut are in communities that most need this service. How will this change Alaska’s 27 stations across the state? Station leaders join us on this Talk of Alaska.

Anchorage at 50 and the path to the future is our discussion on this 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?