Radio Free Palmer

Rachel Levitt and John Robertson review federal actions that impact Alaska on Home to Roost. This week, we discuss what a less capable federal workforce might mean for Alaska, the craziest statements to come from the White House recently, and the meaning of the Constitution's Guarantee Clause.

Mike Chmielewski welcomes Ailis Vann, Parks and Facilities Manager for the City of Palmer. Ailis explains to Mike that the Parks and Facilities manager is responsible for the MTA Events Center and for planning and implementing long-term projects. Parks and Facilities works closely with Public Works, Ailis says. “Those guys know things.” Online booking is […]

Emily Forstner gives insight into the school board meeting on November 19th . The board welcomed two returning members, Brooks Pitcher and Kendall Kruse, and one new member, Lori Colee. Discussion included the replacement of the land acknowledgment at schools. There were presentations from proposed charter schools.

David Cheezem, Herb Bischoff, and Judy Donegan discuss the book Enshittification. There was a question of whether the FCC would allow that word to be aired, so they were looking for substitutes. Enpoopification, Enscatification, and Ensitification were considered. The book’s subtitle is “Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It, which seemed […]

Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper joins Mike Chmielewski in the studio to talk about his first month in office. Mike asks Mayor Cooper what he sees as the change from being a council member and being mayor. Mayor Cooper joked that it is easier to schedule meetings as the mayor. He went on to explain that […]

Peter House from Deep Tree talks with Mike Chmielewski about current cybersecurity threats and how they affect us here in Alaska. Today’s topic was router vulnerability. Routers have become a target for malicious actors and many older routers cannot be updated and are vulnerable. Credential theft is on the rise: they are using the puzzles […]

Mike Chmielewski talks with Meggy Abe from the Palmer Arts Council. Meggy explained the goal of the Palmer Arts Council’s goal – to bring more art opportunities to Palmer. They do this through education, workshops, performances, and literary events. The Arts Council is excited to host Parlor in the Round, Friday, November 23rd at 7:00 […]

Palmer Food Bank Executive Director Jennifer Brandt talks with Mike Chmielewski. The Palmer Food Bank opened in 1991 with the full name Palmer Emergency Food and Community Services. 25% of its food comes from the USDA; the other 75% is from community donations. Executive Director Jennifer Brandt started in September and is seeing significant growth […]

Mike Chmielewski and Mayor Jim Cooper discusses the November 18 Palmer City Council meeting. Penny Mosher was sworn in as a council member. Mayor Cooper is impressed with the council members and believes they will accomplish wonderful things together. Palmer City Manager Kolby Zerkel explained the issues surrounding the airport, golf course, and the FAA […]

Misty Vanderweele from All Dahlia’d Up visits with Ken Hoffman and talks about growing flowers in Alaska. Starting with one smushed dahlia brought home by Misty’s son, Luke. All Dahlia’d Up has grown to 2,000 dahlias and hundreds of other flowers in 13 years. The flower farm grows everything you could want in an Alaska-grown […]

It’s time for Page Two: news that might not make the front page for Tuesday, November 18, 2025. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough is updating the Government Peak Recreation Area (GPRA) plan as visits to the popular Hatcher Pass destination continue to climb. The Borough reports a 300% increase in daily use of GPRA since 2017, from […]

What's been landing in Alaska? SNAP chaos, shortened public comment periods, and ICE enforcement. Rachel and John also discuss the Constitution's Supremacy Clause and play public policy pursuit.

Dr Jill Valerius and Lee Henrikson begin a multipart discussion about sleep apnea.

Alaska Red Cross Regional Director of Communications Taylar Sausen talks about ongoing recovery efforts after immediate needs from Typhoon Halong have been met.

Palmer Fire and Rescue Chief John Prevost covers safety tips from smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to wood burning stoves to ice safety on ponds and lakes.

Alaska farm Bureau President Scott Mugrage discusses the ways the Farm Bureau positively influences agriculture in Alaska while describing his own Mugrage Hay and Cattle ranch located in Delta Junction.

MSRMC CEO Taylor Rudd introduces himself and updates listeners about the Medical Center and describes future developments.

Mike Chmielewski welcomes the new/old Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper. Mike and the Mayor discuss the City Council meeting of October 28th. The Palmer City Council approved a measure banning camping or sleeping on public property. Violators may be connected with resources and could face fines of up to $300.00. A separate proposal banning sleeping in […]

Ken Hoffman, President, and Amy Seitz, Policy Director, of the Alaska Farm Bureau, give us a peek at the 2025 Alaska Agriculture Conference and Grazing Lands Symposium to be held November 13 – 15 at the Sheraton Hotel in Anchorage. The conference is open to the public. Amy and Ken talked about the learning and […]

This week, we review weakening vaccine requirements, the legal arguments surrounding national guard deployments, RFK Jr.'s continued fascination with chemtrails, presidential term limits, and much more.

Mike Chmielewski welcomes Fred Becker, Executive Director of the MatSu Food Bank. Fred shares a time when he and his wife needed help with food for their family. They had no idea what a food bank was or where they could get help. Inspired by that struggle, he wants to make sure everyone in need […]

Sgt. Nick White joins Mike Chmielewski to talk about Halloween safety and more. Sgt. White recommends reflective wear over light colors, as they are easier to see. You can also get costumes with LED lights, or DIY your own lights for the costume. Please be sure to bring a flashlight. Sgt. White suggested that everyone […]

Judy Gette and friends discuss “Etta and Otto and Russell and James” by Emma Hooper on Radio Book Club. Otto Vogel wakes before dawn on his farm in rural Saskatchewan, Canada, to find a letter from his wife, Etta. She will return if she can; she has never seen water and has gone in search […]

Dan Bigley, Chief Executive Officer/President of Denali Family Services, joins Mike Chmielewski on Valley Edition. Dan Bigley has spent sixteen years at Denali Family Services. Denali Family Services helps children living with serious emotional disturbance or trauma. Thier clients range in age three to twenty-one. The goal is to provide Alaska's youth and families the […]

Mayor Cooper and Mike Chmielewski discussed issues from the October 14th City Council meeting. Three actions were approved: authorizing the City Manager, Kolby Zerkel, to award the Airport Lighting Project to Granite Construction; awarding a contract to HDL Engineering Consultants for the Survey, Final Design, and Bidding Assistance for the Evergreen Avenue Improvements Project; and […]

Mike Chmielewski welcomes Herb Bischoff back from Bhutan. When asked about Bhutan, Herb said they don’t have a GNP; they have a Gross National Happiness Scale. This scale includes environmental conservation, cultural preservation, good government, and sustainable development. Bhutan has only been open to tourists since September 2022. Most of the population lives in Thimphu, […]

Mike Chmielewski visits with Carol Dorman, Director of Youth Arc-hive. Carol explained what Youth Arc-hive stands for: Youth Arc stands for Youth Amusement Recreation Center and Hive stands for Hope, Integrity, Veriitas, and Education. To join the children sign an insurance waiver and a conduct pledge. It is located in the basement of the Eagle […]

Scott Blair from My Favorite Realty talks with Mike Chmielweski about the real estate market. Scott notes there is a slight seller’s advantage this month. Mike and Scott compared Palmer’s market to Wasilla’s market. In Palmer, you get a bigger house but less land. In Wasilla, you get a smaller home with half an acre […]

Mike Chemielewski talked to Norman Woolworth about his second novel, The Bolden Cylinder. Norman talked about why he writes historical novels set in New Orleans and why he is fascinated by the city. Quirky New Orleans antiques dealer Bruneau Abellard is the protagonist in his two books. In The Bolden Cylinder, Bruneau listens to a […]

Airport Superintendent John Diumenti joins Mike Chmielewski on Inside the City Airport Superintendent John Diumenti describes the history of the purchase of the land for both the Palmer Airport and the golf course. Both entities have become bigger and more useful to the city. There is a potential collision in the near future that involves […]

Emily Forstner chats with School District Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani on Valley Edition. Emily and Dr. Trani discussed Mat-Su Central School and hybrid learning. Then noted that home school high school students tend to take core curriculum classes, such as math, while elementary students tend to take enrichment classes, such as music and art. Dr. […]

Lee Henrikson talks with Dr. Jill Valerius about Bell’s Palsy. Dr. Jill explained that Bell’s Palsy is a weakness of the muscles on one side of the face. It is caused by paralysis of the facial nerve on one side of the face. Bell’s Palsy usually begins improving in a couple of weeks. One in […]

Jude Bilafer talks with Mike Chmielewski about numerous ongoing projects and future projects. Jude told Mike that the crews are out working, clearing the leaves to facilitate drainage. He also reports that Public Works is ready for snow. The salt and sand have been mixed, and all the vehicles have been inspected. Jude asks for […]

This comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide is the first resource to consider bone and joint health together. Learn which nutrients the body needs in what amounts, which anti-inflammatory ingredients to keep in your kitchen, and what exercises can help improve bone health. The great-tasting recipes are for everyone, from omnivores to vegans.

David Cheezem shares his thoughts on Bertolt Brecht’s 1939 play Mother Courage and Her Children. The play explores the corrosive nature of war, the cyclical futility of conflict, the tension between wartime and peacetime morality, and how individuals become complicit in violence and exploitation for economic gain. 

Palmer Arts Council Managing Director Meggie Aube speaks with Mike Chmielewski. The Palmer Arts Council has been in operation for 25 years, offering a range of activities including musicals, plays, summer camps, art classes, and more. The Palmer Arts Council offers free arts classes on Mondays for students aged 12-18. All supplies and materials are […]

This week, we review federal cuts to technical education, the implications for an Alaska LNG line, and growing South Korean doubts about investing in the US, as well as the concerns that the Founding Fathers had about irresponsible monetary policies. John also tries to answer another of Rachel's news quizzes.

Palmer Fire Chief John Prevost and Police Sargent Richard Clark discuss October as Fire Safety Month & Domestic Violence Awareness Month with Mike Chmielewski. Chief Prevost and Sargent Clark describe how the two departments work hand in hand. For example in a fire the police play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of onlookers, […]

Mike Chmielewski and JL Spears discuss his first fiction novel, The Daemon Protocol. In the book, Daniel Bennett thought he was building the future of medicine—an AI system designed to save lives. As the AI he nurtured begins making decisions no human can predict, Daniel confronts a terrifying truth: progress without limits might cost more […]

Mike Chmielewski welcomed Stephanie Tucker from Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults and Mark Lackey from CCS Early Learning. They talked about the free movie screening on Wednesday, Sept 25th about the Infant Learning Program. The short film is a day in the life of a development specialist, in the Infant Learning Program. Stephanie and […]

Amy Facklam and Rebekah Potter from the Alaska Literacy Project join Mike Chmielewski. The Alaska Literacy Program is a volunteer-based community agency with a mission to change lives through literacy. For 50 years, ALP has taught adults to read, write, and speak the English language. Classes have expanded to include GED preparation, digital literacy courses, and […]

Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington and Mike Chmielewski enjoy talking during their last Mayor’s Minutes broadcast together. Their discussion of the City Council meeting of September 12th covered a range of topics from Robert’s Rules of Order to the Palmer Museum. Steve and Mike also shared memories of when the mayor began his duties in October […]

Rachel Levitt and John Robertson review federal grant cuts to University of Alaska, how a heavy-handed ICE raid in Georgia undermines federal encouragement of South Korean support for an Alaska LNG line, and what the US Constitution says about scientific progress. Rachel also tries to stump John in Public Policy Pursuit. Saturday at 12:30 pm […]

Award-winning writer Marybeth Holleman talks with Mike Chmielewski about her new book. Raised by North Carolina's Smokies, she now lives in the embrace of Alaska’s Chugach Mountains. Her essays, poetry, and articles have appeared in numerous journals, magazines, and anthologies. Bloom Again, her first fiction book, weaves together a narrative, characters, and a depiction of the […]

Palmer Airport Superintendent John Diumennti joins Mike Chmielewski on Inside the City. John and Mike covered a lot of information about the airport and the upcoming improvement plans. The lighting project requires the replacement of the controllers, conductors, and lights. John talked about the Airport Master Planning Session, which will be scheduled next year. The […]

Kenni Psenak conducted interviews with the candidates for the Palmer City Council which aired on September 21st starting at 4:00 pm. The election is on Tue. Oct. 7. Early voting runs Mon. Sept. 22 to Mon. Oct. 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Palmer City Hall in the Council Chambers. For the 3-year […]

Dr. Jill Valerius joins Lee Henrikson to discuss high blood pressure. Dr. Jill explains how your blood pressure is taken and when it should be taken. The top number in your blood pressure reading is your systolic pressure — the force of the blood flow when it is pumped out of the heart. The second […]

Mike Chmielewski welcomed Mike Liebing with the Palmer Community Foundation. A community foundation is a grantmaking public charity dedicated to improving the lives of people in a defined geographic area. Community foundations generate sustainable and permanent assets to support charitable activities and local nonprofits. This year, Palmer Community Foundation has given $120,000 in grants to […]

The 17th Annual Mat-Su Emergency Preparedness Expo will be held on Saturday, September 20th, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The expo is a free, family-friendly event held at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. The expo will feature hands-on training, live demonstrations, and exhibits covering a variety of safety topics: Hands-only CPR, Basic […]

School District Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani talks with Emily Forstner on Valley Edition. Emily congratulates Dr. Trani on winning the Alaska Superintendent of the Year. Another celebration is that the 2025 AK STAR results are in. Our students are not just keeping up; they are leading the way. Mat-Su students exceeded the state average in […]

Peter House from Deep Tree talks about current cybersecurity threats with host Mike Chmielewski. Mike and Peter discussed the Anchorge Neighborhood Health Services breach, which involved 60,000 patients’ records. Peter explained that healthcare is a favorite target due to the diverse information available in the records. Elections are coming up soon, and Mike asked Peter […]