Podcasts about Alaska Public Media

When testifying at his trial, Teddy Kyle Smith said he thought he was shooting Enukins in self-defense when he fired his rifle at Chuck and Paul Buckel. Few believed him, but his testimony highlighted the inequalities of jury selection in rural Alaska. Sources My primary source for this article was the Audible Original production of Midnight Son by James Dommek Jr. I highly recommend this three-hour audiobook. James Dommek Jr. does a fantastic job of telling this story from the viewpoint of a Native man from northwestern Alaska. It is a first-class production and a thought-provoking story. Anderson, Ben. “Kiana man found guilty of attempted murder in remote Alaska.” November 26, 2014. Anchorage Daily News. Demer, Lisa. “Troopers hunt for resident of Kiana – Teddy K. Smith should be considered armed and dangerous.” September 11, 2012. Anchorage Daily News. Dommek, James Jr. Midnight Son. 2019. Audible Original. D'Oro, Rachel. Alaska actor arrested, charged in shooting of 2 men near Kiana.” September 20, 2012. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. D'Oro, Rachel. “Inupiaq thriller ‘On the Ice' arrives in theaters today.” February 17, 2012. Anchorage Daily News. Grove, Casey. “Appeal challenges Alaska's exclusion of village residents from juries.” May 24, 2018. Alaska Public Media. Grove, Casey. “Troopers nab Kiana shooting suspect – Teddy Smith is arrested on river without incident.” September 21, 2012. Anchorage Daily News. Hopkins, Kyle. “Movie actor from Kiana still missing after mother's death – Gun-wielding man hasn't been heard from since Friday.” September 13, 2012. Anchorage Daily News. Hopkins, Kyle. “Village locked down after two hunters shot – The shooter is still on the loose after stealing the pair's boat.” September 20, 2012. Anchorage Daily News. “In the Court of Appeals in the State of Alaska: Teddy Kyle Smith v. State of Alaska.” April 2, 2021. JUSTIA US Law. “The ‘Enukins' – Little people of NW Alaska.” n.d. Bigfoot Encounters. ______________________________________ Join the Readers and Writers Book Club for a Spring Fling Facebook Event and Explore the Haunted Harding House: April 15 - 29 Take a trip to the wilderness of Alaska--if you dare! _________________________________________________________________________ IF YOU ENJOY LISTENING TO YOUR NOVELS, CHECK OUT THE AUDIOBOOK VERSION OF MASSACRE AT BEAR CREEK LODGE ________________________________     https://youtu.be/7Fv52Bf8yfY Join the Last Frontier Club's Free Tier Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master's degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman's Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Robin invites you to join her at her website: https://robinbarefield.com, and while you are there, sign up for her free monthly newsletter about true crime in Alaska. Robin also narrates a podcast, Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. You can find it at: https://murder-in-the-last-frontier.blubrry.net Subscribe to Robin's free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Author Masterminds ___________________________________________________________________________________ Would you like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members.

In this newscast: Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is yet again expanding its reach in Juneau with a new dental clinic in Mendenhall Valley; Crews in Ketchikan are still dealing with a rockslide that cut off access to the northern part of the island; Southeast Alaska's Chilkat Valley is inching toward the area's first major timber harvest since the 1990s, but the state is pausing a needed application amid public concern; State lawmakers are now more than halfway through their four-month legislative session and time is ticking away. Alaska Public Media reporter Eric Stone gives an update on where things stand; Scientists at the Alaska Earthquake Center are monitoring several earthquakes near Adak Island. Since last Wednesday, there have been at least eight quakes greater than magnitude 5

Mike moderates a panel discussion on current issues featuring Andrew Gelderan at KTNA in Talkeetna, Amy Buschhatz of the online news source the Mat-Su Sentinel. Tim Rocky education reporter for Alaska Public Media.

In this newscast: Juneau's city-owned hospital is in a much better financial position than it has been in years. For the last eight months, the hospital has been making steady positive income; A deadly strain of bird flu is sweeping the nation. It has killed more than 20 million chickens since October, and that has scrambled the egg market. Alaska Public Media's Ava White has more on how Anchorage businesses are coping with rapidly increasing egg prices along with supply problems; Juneau's city-owned hospital is in a much better financial position than it has been in years. For the last eight months, the hospital has been making steady positive income; Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as President Trump's director of national intelligence. She also announced that she intends to vote to confirm Robert Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services.

When a shooting at a precious metals and coin shop in Anchorage left three men dead, the two survivors claimed the other one was responsible. It took six years, two trials, and more than one thousand pieces of evidence for a jury to unravel the whodunnit and decide which survivor was a murderer and which was another victim. Sources “Anchorage man gets 300-year sentence for 2017 triple murder in gold shop.” May 24, 2024. Anchorage Daily News. Andrews, Lisa Demer Laurel. “With 35 homicides in 2017, Anchorage set a disturbing record. Why? – Anchorage police say citizens shouldn't fear for their safety, even with a record number of homicides and the lowest percentage of solved homicides in at least 20 years.” December 31, 2017. Anchorage Daily News. Boots, Michelle Theriault. “Anchorage isn't a ghost town yet, But it's not the same. – In big and small ways, a pandemic has altered what Anchorage feels like to live in, from Coffee to court to riding the bus.” March 19, 2020. Anchorage Daily News. Clark, Taylor. “Man accused of triple murder in Anchorage gold store starts trial.” February 12, 2020. KTUU. Harris, David. “'It's been a long time coming': Man convicted in second trial for triple murder of friends at precious metals store.” November 7, 2023. Lawandcrime.com. Klint, Chris. “Anchorage man's fate again before a jury in Spenard triple homicide. November 2, 2023. Alaska Public Media. Klint, Chris. “Anthony Pisano sentenced to 300 years in Spenard triple homicide.” May 24, 2024. Alaska Public Media. “Suspect in killings at Alaska gold shop claims self-defense.” February 13, 2020. apnews.com. Williams, Tess. “Anchorage jury finds man guilty in gold shop triple murder.” November 7, 2023. Anchorage Daily News. Williams, Tess. “Anchorage triple homicide witness reenacts shooting during third day of testimony. – Prosecutors say 45-year-old Tony Pisano killed three men at an Anchorage gold shop in 2017.” February 20, 2020. Anchorage Daily News. Williams, Tess. “Conflicting narratives emerge on first trial over 2017 triple homicide at Spenard gold shop – An attorney for 45-year-old Anthony Pisano said the defendant shot two men in a Spenard gold shop out of self-defense and that the only surviving witness is responsible for third death.” February 12, 2020. Anchorage Daily News. Williams, Tess. “2nd trial begins in case of triple killing at Anchorage gold shop.” August 23, 2023. Anchorage Daily News. Williams, Tess. “Spenard triple homicide witness says he thought shooting was ‘horrific accident' – The only other person who witnessed the shooting at a gold shop described to jurors what happened. The defense disputes his account and says he's to blame for one of the deaths.” February 13, 2020. Anchorage Daily News. _______________________________________________ Join the Last Frontier Club's Free Tier ___________________________________________________________   The Crime is More Horrible Than You Can Imagine! _________________________________________________________________________ IF YOU ENJOY LISTENING TO YOUR NOVELS, CHECK OUT THE AUDIOBOOK VERSION OF MASSACRE AT BEAR CREEK LODGE ________________________________ Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master's degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman's Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Robin invites you to join her at her website: https://robinbarefield.com, and while you are there, sign up for her free monthly newsletter about true crime in Alaska.

In this newscast: A team of researchers in Alaska have banded together to investigate a famous Alaska shipwreck. The Star of Bengal sank off the coast of Prince of Wales Island in 1908, taking more than 100 lives with it. The shipwreck highlighted a stark racial inequality in Alaska at the time-- most of those who died were Asian cannery workers. Members of a 2022 expedition to the site of the wreck are going back in May. In this episode of Tongass Voices, team members Gig Decker and Jenya Anichtchenko share what they hope to uncover; As lawmakers continue to work through an education funding package, members of the House are turning to another priority for the session: reforming the retirement system for state and local government employees. Alaska Public Media's Eric Stone has this look at a bill that would return public-sector workers to a defined benefit pension system.

Most teenagers fight with their parents, and during a heated argument, some kids might even scream, “I hate you” at their mother or father, but such disagreements signal normal growing pains. Few teens order a hit on a parent, simply because the child feels the parent is too strict. Matricide, the killing of one's mother, is uncommon, and matricide by a girl under the age of 18 is extremely rare. Of the few cases in recent history where a girl under the age of 18 killed her mother, the offender either had been abused by her mother, or the killer exhibited extremely antisocial behavior. Despite what she told her friends, Rachelle Waterman was neither abused nor antisocial. She appeared to be a normal, high-achieving junior in high school. Rachelle sang in the school choir and played on the volleyball team. Residents of Craig, Alaska adored Rachelle's mother, Lauri, who was active in her church, worked as a teacher's aide, and was always the first to volunteer to help with any community function. Rachelle's father, Carl “Doc” Waterman, was a well-liked, successful real estate agent in Craig. Sources: American teenage girl charged with murder of her mother. 2004. Wikinews. https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/American_teenage_girl_charged_with_murder_of_her_mother Demer, Lisa. 2011. Convicted killer testifies at Waterman trial. Anchorage Daily News. https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/article/convicted-killer-testifies-waterman-trial/2011/01/27/ Fleeman, Michael. 2011. Love You Madly: The True Story of a Small-town Girl, the Young Men She Seduced, and the Murder of her Mother. St. Martin's True Crime. Kheiry, Leila. 2015. Alaska Court of Appeals Denies Rachelle Waterman Appeal. Alaska Public Media. https://www.alaskapublic.org/2015/02/06/supreme-court-denies-rachelle-waterman-appeal/ Larson, John. Teen Blogger Murder Trial. How could Rachelle Waterman's fantasies spiral into her mom's murder? Dateline. NBC. ____________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ IF YOU ENJOY LISTENING TO YOUR NOVELS, CHECK OUT THE AUDIOBOOK VERSION OF MASSACRE AT BEAR CREEK LODGE ________________________________   Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master's degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman's Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. __________________________________________ Check out Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier Gear Click the image to visit my store.      

Alaska's election results will take some time to come in following Election Day. Election officials will release first-round results starting shortly after the polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday.  But as Alaska Public Media's Eric Stone reports, in close races, there's only so much you can know on election night.

Laura Ungar, Science and Medical Writer on the Global Health and Science Team for the Associated Press, discusses the two articles she wrote about the maternal mortality crisis; Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO Past President and Alaska's former Chief Medical Officer recently hosted an Alaska Public Media radio show; and applications close today for ASTHO's Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health program. AP News Article: Europe offers clues for solving America's maternal mortality crisis AP News Article: America is trying to fix its maternal mortality crisis with federal, state and local programs Alaska Public Media Web Page: The past, present, and future of Line One and Alaskan health ASTHO Web Page: Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health ASTHO Web Page: DELPH Applications ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed  

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Candidates running for Alaska's U.S. House seat debated in Anchorage, with stark differences on abortion rights, presidential elections, and personal style. This year's second glacial outburst flood could be on the way in Juneau. And Palmer's new manager will get a payout after resigning 53 days into the job. Photo: U.S. House Republican challenger Nick Begich III and Congresswoman Mary Peltola, a Democrat, presented their views Thursday at Debate for the State at Alaska Public Media.(Matt Faubion/Alaska Public Media)

Vaccination rates in Alaska are among the lowest in the country. And they've dipped even lower in the last few years. That's raised concerns for public health experts. They worry Alaska will see more outbreaks of preventable disease, like the current epidemic of whooping cough. Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra has the story. 

The double homicide I describe in this episode occurred on a secure Coast Guard base near the town of Kodiak, Alaska, on Kodiak Island, approximately 60 miles from where I live. This murder happened toward the end of the most brutal winter anyone on Kodiak can remember, and when the police did not quickly apprehend the killer, tempers flared, and citizens carried firearms wherever they went.  Our mail plane pilot, reporting the news to us on his weekly stop, compared the residents in town to a powder keg ready to blow.  When it was all over, many in law enforcement and the judicial system praised the investigation, but at the time, it seemed as if no one was doing anything to look for and apprehend the killer. Sources: Associated Press. “Man arrested in 2012 Alaska Coast Guard base deaths.” November 21, 2015. KOMO News. Grove, Casey. “Wells convicted, again, of Kodiak Coast Guard double murder.” Alaska Public Media. Joling, Dan. “Car expert testifies in CG trial.” April 10, 2014. Ketchikan Daily News. Saint Louis, Julie. “Ninth Circuit orders new trial for man accused of Coast Guard killings.” December 9, 2017. Courthouse News. Silverman, Adam. “FBI: Coast Guard murder suspect resented co-workers.” February 19, 2013. USA Today. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, no. 14-30146. United States of America v. James Michael Wells. January 11, 2018 “Wives of murdered tower techs sue the Coast Guard for wrongful death.” August 16, 2016. _________________________________________________________________ Now Available _________________________________________________________________________ IF YOU ENJOY LISTENING TO YOUR NOVELS, CHECK OUT THE AUDIOBOOK VERSION OF MASSACRE AT BEAR CREEK LODGE ________________________________ Join me on June 21st for a Book Blanket Beach Summer Solstice Party!! I will be hosting from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. ADT (8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time). I plan to give away prizes, so don't miss it! _________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Robin Barefield is the author of five Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman's Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. She has also written two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. Sign up to subscribe to her free monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska. Subscribe to Robin's free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Author Masterminds ___________________________________________________________________________________ If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier available only for club members. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Merchandise! Visit the Store      

In this newscast:  Southeast Alaska's cutest models hit the stage at Centennial Hall on Thursday for Celebration's Toddler Regalia Review; The state of Alaska is facing a new class action lawsuit over its failure to process Medicaid applications on time. That's after state officials told Alaska Public Media last month that more than 15,000 Alaskans are waiting for their applications to be approved; Researchers are monitoring a bloom of phytoplankton near one of Kodiak Island's beaches that is known to cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Advocates are accusing the Alaska Department of Corrections of unconstitutionally limiting access to attorneys at the state's only all-female prison. The Alaska Department of Transportation reports progress in an area where ancestral graves underlie a popular trail. And some Alaska Republicans are decrying Donald Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts. Photo: From left to right: U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, Former President Donald Trump, Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Alaska Public Media and Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is calling on lawmakers to pause their efforts to address a court ruling that threatens the state's homeschool system. But, the Superior Court judge ruled Thursday evening that the ruling would remain on hold only through this June. The court also rejected Dunleavy's broad interpretation of his ruling; Sitka's Tourism Task Force adopted cruise tourism recommendations including reducing "peak days" engaging with the visitor industry and establishing a permanent commission to take it's place; Anchorage mayoral candidates Dave Bronson and Suzanne LaFrance faced off in a debate hosted by Alaska Public Media and in the Anchorage Daily news. The two sparred over competing ideologies and priorities. 

In this newscast: The Juneau planning commission agreed to let an outdoor food court expand into the empty lot that once housed the demolished Elks Hall building; The National Native Boarding School Healing Coalition will conduct interviews to document abuse at boarding schools; Alaska Public Media reporter Eric Stone on the Superior Court ruling that found a key benefit to families who choose certain types of homeschooling unconstitutional, and what it means

You might be familiar with the recent National Geographic documentary series, Alaska State Troopers. The show followed several troopers from different areas of the state as they made their daily rounds. Two of the troopers featured on the show were Sergeant Patrick “Scott” Johnson and Gabriel “Gabe” Rich. Both men worked out of the Alaska State Troopers' Fairbanks Rural Service Unit. A camera crew was not with the men on the fateful day of May 1st, 2014. Sources Chomicz, Dorothy. “Kangas found guilty of evidence tampering in Alaska State Trooper deaths.” April 23, 2015. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Chomicz, Dorothy. Arvin Kangas sentenced in case related to Alaska StateTrooper killings.” September 3, 2015. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Chomicz, Dorothy. “Courtroom tenses as Nathanial Kangas murder trial gets underway.” May 9, 2016. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Chomicz, Dorothy. “Pilot describes scene in Tanana minutes after troopers killed.” May 10, 2016. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Edge, Josh. “Man convicted in Tanana trooper killings sentenced to 203 years in prison.” November 3, 2016. Alaska Public Media. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ NOW AVAILABLE THE AUDIOBOOK OF MASSACRE AT BEAR CREEK LODGE ____________________________________________________________________________________ Join the Murder and Mystery in the First Frontier Facebook Group! __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Robin Barefield is the author of five Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman's Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. She has also written two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. Sign up to subscribe to her free monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska. Subscribe to Robin's free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Author Masterminds ___________________________________________________________________________________ If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier available only for club members. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Merchandise! Visit the Store          

The Cheat Sheet is The Murder Sheet's segment breaking down weekly news and updates in some of the murder cases we cover.We will cover updates in the Delphi murders case against Richard Allen. We'll include an update on the mysterious deaths of David Harrington, Ricky Johnson, and Clayton McGeeney outside Jordan Willis's home in Kansas City, Missouri. We'll talk about the recent shooting death of KKFI 90.1 DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan at the mass shooting at the Super Bowl parade in Kansas City. Since recording, police have released that some of the detained individuals involved in the personal dispute are juveniles. We'll discuss the case Brian Steven Smith, a South African man accused of killing two Alaska Native women named Veronica Abouchuk and Kathleen Henry. We will conclude by going over the probable cause affidavit and other court documents in the case of David Hiner, an Indianapolis man charged with murdering Shannon Juanita Lassere and Marianne Weis.NewsNation's reporting on the toxicology reports out of Kansas City: https://www.newsnationnow.com/cuomo-show/toxicology-report-kc-fentanyl-cocaine/The Austin American-Statesman's reporting on the sentencing of Juan Ignacio Soria Gamez in the drug death of Tucker Roe: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/crime/2024/02/09/man-sentenced-for-selling-fentanyl-laced-pill-that-killed-leander-teen/72537536007/NBC Bay Area's coverage of the death of Emma Lace Price and the subsequent legal activity: https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/santa-cruz-fentanyl-wrongful-death-settlement/3213171/CNN's coverage of the Chiefs parade shooting: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/14/us/kansas-city-chiefs-rally-shooting-thursday/index.htmlCourt TV's report on the trial of Brian Steven Smith, who is accused of murdering Veronica Abouchuk and Kathleen Henry: https://www.courttv.com/news/you-live-you-die-jury-watches-alaskan-woman-tortured-to-death/Alaska Public Media's coverage of the Smith trial: https://alaskapublic.org/2024/02/07/anchorage-murder-trial-opens-with-differing-accounts-of-video-that-allegedly-captured-a-killing/Alaska's News Service video on the Smith case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axCI677b2uMSend tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC .See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If the US is going to supercharge its production of electric vehicles and its batteries, it's going to need a lot more graphite.Graphite is a key battery component, and currently, much of the supply comes from China — particularly when it comes to the highly processed form used in electric vehicles (EV). Amid increasing tensions, the Chinese government placed new export controls on shipments of graphite on Dec. 1. And the recent move is getting attention in North America, where companies are eyeing graphite deposits that could feed the domestic supply chain. Some 30 miles outside Nome, supplies for Graphite One's remote mining exploration camp wait at a staging area the company uses for its helicopters. Credit: Berett Wilber/The World That includes Alaska's Seward Peninsula, the finger of land in the western end of the state that stretches toward Russia and the Bering Strait.This past summer, US Sen. Lisa Murkowski traveled to the area, to what the US Geological Survey says is the country's largest graphite deposit. She flew in by helicopter to the remote site tucked between mountains and a huge tidal estuary.There, she visited an exploration camp that belongs to a Canadian company, Graphite One. With help from the US government, it could one day become the site of a mile-wide, open pit mine. In Nome, US Sen. Lisa Murkowski walks away from a helicopter that flew her to the Graphite One project, a mining exploration camp that the Canadian company is developing to build an open pit graphite mine. Credit: Berett Wilber/The World While construction is still years away, the project is getting a grant of nearly $40 million from the US Department of Defense to speed up its development — a step that Murkowski supported.“If we're going to talk electric vehicles, if we're going to talk about the contents of your cell phone, you're going to want graphite,” she said in a video she later posted to social media. “You're going to want American graphite. And why not Alaskan graphite?”Graphite One is among a number of mining companies developing new mineral deposits in Alaska. And while this work is supported by the US government, many of the companies are headquartered in Canada or elsewhere.Gracelin Baskaran, a mining economist at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the US has not focused on mining in “a very long time.”“We have actually turned to companies like Rio Tinto, Anglo American, BHP,” she said. “We turn to these giant mining companies, and sometimes we forget that they're not American.”Some of the Indigenous people with ties to the area of the Alaska graphite deposit would rather see the graphite stay in the ground. Teller and Brevig Mission are the two Iñupiaq villages nearby, and Brevig Mission is only accessible by plane or boat. The nearest full-sized grocery store is 70 miles away, so many residents subsist on harvests of salmon, moose and berries in the vicinity of Graphite One's project. The main store in Teller lacks fresh produce and charges steep prices for groceries, making hunting and fishing essential for the village's Iñupiaq residents. Credit: Nathaniel Herz/The World “The further they go into the mine, our subsistence is just going to move further and further away from us,” said Gilbert Tocktoo, president of Brevig Mission's tribal government. “Sooner or later, it's going to become a question of: Do I want to live here anymore? Or do I want to make a choice to move?”Graphite itself isn't toxic, but Graphite One is still examining whether mining it could generate heavy metals. The mining techniques under consideration pose a relatively low risk, said Dave Chambers, president of the Montana-based Center for Science in Public Participation, which provides technical assistance to tribal and advocacy groups on mining issues. But, he added, that doesn't mean “no risk.”“There is always a possibility for some sort of catastrophic failure — but that doesn't happen very often,” he said. “There's also a possibility there will be no impact — that doesn't happen very often, either.”Some residents of the nearby villages say they're open to the development.“If it's good and clean, so be it — it's money,” said Nick Topkok, a Teller resident.Topkok, who was taking a break from hanging salmon to dry on the beach in his village of Teller, said he doesn't oppose Graphite One. Four in 10 residents live in poverty in Teller, and Topkok said a mine would create jobs in a place that needs them badly. Freshly cut salmon dries on racks in Teller, a traditional Iñupiaq village on Western Alaska's Seward Peninsula. Salmon are an essential food source for Teller residents, who must drive 70 miles on a gravel road to reach affordable groceries. Credit: Berett Wilber/The World He said it also might help the town finally get running water and sewer systems for the homes there; right now, nearly everyone in town uses what's known as honey buckets for their toilets.“It's money for 50 years or more,” he said. “I'll be dead by then. But it'll affect my kids financially.”Topkok's kids aren't in Teller right now. He said they moved away because there are no jobs in town. He's done some work driving boats for Graphite One in the past. And he said he thinks the mine can coexist with the locals and their fish and game harvests.“Anchorage, Alaska, you've got moose running around, you've got bears running around, they'll be adapted, you know,” he said. “It's going to take a year or two, and they'll be right there.”Graphite One's mine, if it's opened, would benefit the area economically. A regional Indigenous-owned corporation recently said it would invest $2 million in the project.But, ultimately, it's a foreign mining company that will be calling the shots — because Graphite One has the mining rights to the land, not Indigenous corporations or tribal governments. The Tuksuk Channel, which reaches inland to the Imuruk Basin and its surrounding tundra, is a vital area for harvests by residents of the nearby Iñupiaq villages of Brevig Mission and Teller. Credit: Berett Wilber/The World Graphite One's Canadian chief executive, Anthony Huston, pointed out that the project would come with other benefits: training, jobs and college scholarships.“I think to myself, ‘What can I do to give these people the potential for a job one day, the potential to put gas in their ski-doo, to be able to live and work and stay in their village, if that's what they choose to do?'” he said. “And that's where I see Graphite One really stepping in.”Huston said he understands the importance of protecting the environment and locals' subsistence harvests — and the company has spent some money to back up that commitment. Earlier this year, it decided to fly in fuel to its remote camp rather than barging it through an environmentally sensitive channel, which would have been cheaper. But objections remain. Conservation groups have challenged other large Alaska mining projects in the courts, and at least one has already expressed opposition to Graphite One. Company officials say they expect intense battles over permitting in the years to come.An earlier version of this story was produced by Northern Journal, APM Reports and Alaska Public Media as part of the Public Media Accountability Initiative, which supports investigative reporting at local media outlets around the country.

If the US is going to supercharge its production of electric vehicles and its batteries, it's going to need a lot more graphite.Graphite is a key battery component, and currently, much of the supply comes from China — particularly when it comes to the highly processed form used in electric vehicles (EV). Amid increasing tensions, the Chinese government placed new export controls on shipments of graphite on Dec. 1. And the recent move is getting attention in North America, where companies are eyeing graphite deposits that could feed the domestic supply chain. Some 30 miles outside Nome, supplies for Graphite One's remote mining exploration camp wait at a staging area the company uses for its helicopters. Credit: Berett Wilber/The World That includes Alaska's Seward Peninsula, the finger of land in the western end of the state that stretches toward Russia and the Bering Strait.This past summer, US Sen. Lisa Murkowski traveled to the area, to what the US Geological Survey says is the country's largest graphite deposit. She flew in by helicopter to the remote site tucked between mountains and a huge tidal estuary.There, she visited an exploration camp that belongs to a Canadian company, Graphite One. With help from the US government, it could one day become the site of a mile-wide, open pit mine. In Nome, US Sen. Lisa Murkowski walks away from a helicopter that flew her to the Graphite One project, a mining exploration camp that the Canadian company is developing to build an open pit graphite mine. Credit: Berett Wilber/The World While construction is still years away, the project is getting a grant of nearly $40 million from the US Department of Defense to speed up its development — a step that Murkowski supported.“If we're going to talk electric vehicles, if we're going to talk about the contents of your cell phone, you're going to want graphite,” she said in a video she later posted to social media. “You're going to want American graphite. And why not Alaskan graphite?”Graphite One is among a number of mining companies developing new mineral deposits in Alaska. And while this work is supported by the US government, many of the companies are headquartered in Canada or elsewhere.Gracelin Baskaran, a mining economist at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the US has not focused on mining in “a very long time.”“We have actually turned to companies like Rio Tinto, Anglo American, BHP,” she said. “We turn to these giant mining companies, and sometimes we forget that they're not American.”Some of the Indigenous people with ties to the area of the Alaska graphite deposit would rather see the graphite stay in the ground. Teller and Brevig Mission are the two Iñupiaq villages nearby, and Brevig Mission is only accessible by plane or boat. The nearest full-sized grocery store is 70 miles away, so many residents subsist on harvests of salmon, moose and berries in the vicinity of Graphite One's project. The main store in Teller lacks fresh produce and charges steep prices for groceries, making hunting and fishing essential for the village's Iñupiaq residents. Credit: Nathaniel Herz/The World “The further they go into the mine, our subsistence is just going to move further and further away from us,” said Gilbert Tocktoo, president of Brevig Mission's tribal government. “Sooner or later, it's going to become a question of: Do I want to live here anymore? Or do I want to make a choice to move?”Graphite itself isn't toxic, but Graphite One is still examining whether mining it could generate heavy metals. The mining techniques under consideration pose a relatively low risk, said Dave Chambers, president of the Montana-based Center for Science in Public Participation, which provides technical assistance to tribal and advocacy groups on mining issues. But, he added, that doesn't mean “no risk.”“There is always a possibility for some sort of catastrophic failure — but that doesn't happen very often,” he said. “There's also a possibility there will be no impact — that doesn't happen very often, either.”Some residents of the nearby villages say they're open to the development.“If it's good and clean, so be it — it's money,” said Nick Topkok, a Teller resident.Topkok, who was taking a break from hanging salmon to dry on the beach in his village of Teller, said he doesn't oppose Graphite One. Four in 10 residents live in poverty in Teller, and Topkok said a mine would create jobs in a place that needs them badly. Freshly cut salmon dries on racks in Teller, a traditional Iñupiaq village on Western Alaska's Seward Peninsula. Salmon are an essential food source for Teller residents, who must drive 70 miles on a gravel road to reach affordable groceries. Credit: Berett Wilber/The World He said it also might help the town finally get running water and sewer systems for the homes there; right now, nearly everyone in town uses what's known as honey buckets for their toilets.“It's money for 50 years or more,” he said. “I'll be dead by then. But it'll affect my kids financially.”Topkok's kids aren't in Teller right now. He said they moved away because there are no jobs in town. He's done some work driving boats for Graphite One in the past. And he said he thinks the mine can coexist with the locals and their fish and game harvests.“Anchorage, Alaska, you've got moose running around, you've got bears running around, they'll be adapted, you know,” he said. “It's going to take a year or two, and they'll be right there.”Graphite One's mine, if it's opened, would benefit the area economically. A regional Indigenous-owned corporation recently said it would invest $2 million in the project.But, ultimately, it's a foreign mining company that will be calling the shots — because Graphite One has the mining rights to the land, not Indigenous corporations or tribal governments. The Tuksuk Channel, which reaches inland to the Imuruk Basin and its surrounding tundra, is a vital area for harvests by residents of the nearby Iñupiaq villages of Brevig Mission and Teller. Credit: Berett Wilber/The World Graphite One's Canadian chief executive, Anthony Huston, pointed out that the project would come with other benefits: training, jobs and college scholarships.“I think to myself, ‘What can I do to give these people the potential for a job one day, the potential to put gas in their ski-doo, to be able to live and work and stay in their village, if that's what they choose to do?'” he said. “And that's where I see Graphite One really stepping in.”Huston said he understands the importance of protecting the environment and locals' subsistence harvests — and the company has spent some money to back up that commitment. Earlier this year, it decided to fly in fuel to its remote camp rather than barging it through an environmentally sensitive channel, which would have been cheaper. But objections remain. Conservation groups have challenged other large Alaska mining projects in the courts, and at least one has already expressed opposition to Graphite One. Company officials say they expect intense battles over permitting in the years to come.An earlier version of this story was produced by Northern Journal, APM Reports and Alaska Public Media as part of the Public Media Accountability Initiative, which supports investigative reporting at local media outlets around the country.

When arctic ground squirrels hibernate for the winter, they can lower their body temperatures to freezing levels and stay dormant for up to eight months. Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are studying how these animals survive on the edge of life and the clues they may hold to treating injuries and disease in humans. Alaska Public Media's Kavitha George reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

When arctic ground squirrels hibernate for the winter, they can lower their body temperatures to freezing levels and stay dormant for up to eight months. Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are studying how these animals survive on the edge of life and the clues they may hold to treating injuries and disease in humans. Alaska Public Media's Kavitha George reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

When arctic ground squirrels hibernate for the winter, they can lower their body temperatures to freezing levels and stay dormant for up to eight months. Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are studying how these animals survive on the edge of life and the clues they may hold to treating injuries and disease in humans. Alaska Public Media's Kavitha George reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This month, we're talking about all things RCTab! In this episode, RCTab developer Armin Samii and RCVRC's new RCTab Program Director Mathew Ruberg discuss the basics of RCTab, our in-house RCV tabulation software, and what we can expect from the software moving forward. Tune in to learn more! Resources mentioned in this episode: - RCTab: https://www.rcvresources.org/rctab - RCTab Fact Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BATh3xNzxHJy9hBOgi7KgHJ2WTmAIivo/view - Match Made on BART - Bart article: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2021/news20210212 - Final round source: Mock M&M election - Alaska Public Media article: https://alaskapublic.org/2022/04/21/mock-mm-election-teaches-alaskans-about-ranked-choice-voting/

heartbreaking. As part of their Military Voices Initiative, StoryCorps partnered with us at Alaska Public Media to record veterans, active members of the armed forces or their families to document their stories. On this episode of Hometown Alaska, producer Ammon Swenson discusses the Military Voices project with the CEO of StoryCorps and learns about the women's veteran organization Operation Mary Louise.While the virtual opportunities have closed, StoryCorps will be at the Anchorage Public Library July 24 through the 28th for in-person recordings.Sign up HEREHOST: Ammon SwensonGUESTS:Sandy Clark, CEO of StoryCorpsVanessa Meade, Co-lead of Operation Mary LouiseLINKS:StoryCorpsMilitary Voices InitiativeAlaska Public Media Military Voices Operation Mary Louise]]>

This bonus Iditapod episode features the full recording of a press conference with 2023 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion Ryan Redington, right after he and his dogs crossed the finish line in Nome on Tuesday, March 14. This was recorded by Alaska Public Media's Lex Treinen, and you'll hear him and some other reporters asking Redington questions about all different parts of the race.

The 40-year-old Ryan Redington has won his first Iditarod and the first championship for the Redington family, on his 16th try (and after six previous scratches). "I've just been on pins and needles," said his mom, Barb, at the finish line. We'll hear Redington's finish itself in this episode, and from Alaska Public Media's Lex Treinen about the finish and how Redington arrived there first. The dog friends that did the leading into Nome -- Sven and Ghost -- are our obvious picks for Dogs of the Day. And we have a listener question about dog-human friends, with a fun answer from a friendly musher.

The Biden administration officially approved a controversial oil drilling project in Alaska known as Willow. It is expected to produce some 600 million barrels of crude oil over the next three decades. Supporters hail the energy and jobs it would create while opponents say it would accelerate emissions and the climate crisis. Liz Ruskin of Alaska Public Media joined Amna Nawaz to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Biden administration officially approved a controversial oil drilling project in Alaska known as Willow. It is expected to produce some 600 million barrels of crude oil over the next three decades. Supporters hail the energy and jobs it would create while opponents say it would accelerate emissions and the climate crisis. Liz Ruskin of Alaska Public Media joined Amna Nawaz to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Iditarod veteran and frequent top 10 finisher Jessie Royer talks to Alaska Public Media's Lex Treinen in Takotna.

In May of 2020, The Anchorage Daily News (ADN) was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for their yearlong series entitled “Lawless,” which provided an in-depth look at the criminal justice system's failures across Alaska. The team who created the series was led by ADN special projects editor Kyle Hopkins who had the assistance of ProPublica, the nonprofit entity that assists news publishers nationwide with investigative reporting projects.  As “Lawless” was being picked up by national news sources resulting in a visit by then U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, Hopkins started hearing from TV and movie producers who began showing interest in adapting the stories the ADN was uncovering. It was Tom McCarthy,  the well-known writer and director of the 2016 Emmy Award-winning movie "Spotlight," centered on the Boston Globe's investigation of sexual abuse by the Roman Catholic clergy, who had been thinking of creating a show that went deeper inside the workings of a newspaper newsroom. He eventually brought the ADN into the national spotlight by making the current popular ABC TV series "Alaska Daily." McCarthy came to Alaska, met with Hopkins and spent time exploring the workings of the Daily News. Due to industry cost-cutting, the ADN moved from its huge stoic downtown building to its current strip mall location. Hopkins eventually was made an executive producer for "Alaska Daily," traveling to the Vancouver studios and working with the actors and writers to help them understand the current world of local journalism. In a recent interview with Alaska Public Media, Hopkins described the TV show as "a fictional workplace drama that shares a lot in common with the Anchorage Daily News. And it's meant to kind of be about how local news is made. I mean, you know how it is. The stories that we cover are, there are times where you think, "Boy, you couldn't make this up." And so, I don't know that this fiction is stranger than truth; it's just different in this case.” In this 174th episode of "E&P Reports," we go one-on-one with Alaska Daily News, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and executive producer of the ABC TV series "Alaska Daily," Kyle Hopkins. E&P Publisher Mike Blinder speaks with Hopkins not only about his role in making the show, but how his original reporting on the failures of the criminal justice system across Alaska inspired the stories the actors are telling

As the 40-ft. waves crashed down upon him and threatened to wash him and his charge, Captain Singh, off the deck of the sinking ship, Petty Officer Aaron Bean knew the helicopter would not return to rescue them for several hours. Would the freighter remain afloat? Could he survive the relentless pounding by the freezing North Pacific waves? Would Captain Singh, who wore only street clothes, survive? Bean shook off his doubts and concentrated. As long as he could, he would do his job to the best of his ability, and he would give his life if necessary to save Captain Singh. Sources: My primary source for this story was On the Edge of Survival by Spike Walker. If you want to know more about this event, I strongly recommend this book. I have only touched on the bare facts of the story here, but Mr. Walker puts the reader in the helicopter in the fierce storm. I couldn't put the book down. Walker, Spike. 2010. On the Edge of Survival. St. Martin's Press. New York, NY. Alex Haley 12-10-2012. MV Selendang Ayu grounding – Investigation Report. Officer of the Watch. https://officerofthewatch.com/2012/12/10/mv-selendang-ayu-grounding/ Protecting the Last Frontier. Pacific Area. United States Coast Guard. https://www.pacificarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-17/17th-District-Units/Air-Station-Kodiak/ 12-10-2012. MV Selendang Ayu grounding – Investigation Report. Officer of the Watch. https://officerofthewatch.com/2012/12/10/mv-selendang-ayu-grounding/ Selendang Ayu. Shipwreck Log. https://shipwrecklog.com/log/history/selendang-ayu/ Ropeik, Annie. 12- 12, 2014. 10 years on, Selendang Ayu spill's legacy still evolving. Alaska Public Media. https://www.alaskapublic.org/20 14/12/12/10-years-on-selendang-ayu-spills-legacy-still-evolving/         _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Now Available ______________________________________________ Karluk Bones Audiobook Narrated by Beth Chaplin I have 25 promo codes available for this audiobook. If you would like a code, send me an email. these are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Join the Murder and Mystery in the First Frontier Facebook Group! ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Listen to a New Podcast from the Members of Author Masterminds _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Robin Barefield is the author of four Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman's Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. Sign up to subscribe to her free, monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska. Subscribe to Robin's free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Author Masterminds _________ If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier available only for club members. · Behind the scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska · Merchandise or discounts on MMLF merchandise or handmade glass jewelry. Become a Patron! _______________________________________________________________________________________  

Nat Herz spent almost a decade as a journalist, writing for the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media. Then one day, last June, he quit his job and decided to strike out on his own. He created The Northern Journal, a subscription-based newsletter that reports and provides commentary on Alaska' environment, energy industry, government and politics. ATMI producer Edison Wallace-Moyer sat down with Herz to talk about setting out on his own as a freelance journalist, the changing political landscape of Alaska, and issues relevant to youth. Hosted by Jordan Kehl.  Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost. Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena'ina people, whose land we work on.

In the remote village of Ambler, Alaska, temperatures can fall to minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, so heating the community is a big job. This past September, Ambler switched to a renewable energy option in an effort to go greener -- a change that also means a path toward a more sustainable economy for Alaska Native communities. Alaska Public Media's Elyssa Loughlin reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In the remote village of Ambler, Alaska, temperatures can fall to minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, so heating the community is a big job. This past September, Ambler switched to a renewable energy option in an effort to go greener -- a change that also means a path toward a more sustainable economy for Alaska Native communities. Alaska Public Media's Elyssa Loughlin reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In September 2000, Shelia Toomey, a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, wrote a front-page story about six unsolved homicides in Anchorage.  The article displayed the photos of the six victims. All were women; five were Native Alaskan, and one was African American.  Nothing connected the victims, and the police did not know if they were looking for one, two, or six murderers. Serial Killer Joshua Wade eventually admitted that he murdered Della Brown, the last murder victim profiled in Toomey's article. Investigators believed Wade might have also killed some of the other victims. The police also found the murderer of Cynthia Henry, but the murders of the other four women listed in the article remained unsolved. One of these women was Genevieve Tetpon. Police initially thought they were on the right path to solving Genevieve's murder, but they hit a dead end and had nowhere else to turn. Finally, in 2009, a new cold-case detective looked at Genevieve's file, and what he found turned the case on its head. Sources: Fatal Frontier: Evil in Alaska. Season 1. Episode 6. Murder in Winter. Hopkins, Kyle. 2-4-2011. Suspect arrested in 2000 stabbing death. Available at: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/article/suspect-arrested-2000-stabbing-death/2011/02/05/ Edge, Josh. 2-4-2011. Alaska Public Media. Man Charged with Nearly 11-Year-Old Murder. Available at: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2011/02/04/man-charged-with-nearly-11-year-old-murder/ Dziemianowicz, Joe. 11-28-2021. Strange Emails Lead To Arrest In Cold Case Murder Of Alaskan Native Woman. Oxygen True Crime. Crime News. Available at: https://www.oxygen.com/fatal-frontier-evil-in-alaska/crime-nesws/how-genevieve-tetpon-cold-case-was-solved ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Now Available ______________________________________________ Karluk Bones Audiobook Narrated by Beth Chaplin I have 25 promo codes available for this audiobook. If you would like a code, send me an email. these are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Join the Murder and Mystery in the First Frontier Facebook Group! ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Listen to a New Podcast from the Members of Author Masterminds _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Robin Barefield is the author of four Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman's Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. Sign up to subscribe to her free, monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska. Subscribe to Robin's free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Author Masterminds _________ If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier available only for club members. · Behind the scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska · Merchandise or discounts on MMLF merchandise or handmade glass jewelry. Become a Patron! _______________________________________________________________________________________  

In this newscast: Alaska Beacon's James Brooks tells Alaska Public Media's Casey Grove about Alaska Legislature seats that are up for election this year; Some want to change the way the state appoints judges through a Constitutional Convention, Kavitha George explains why

On this episode, Mark Simon is joined by Wesley Early, a reporter for Alaska Public Media, who covers city government and Anchorage life. Wesley talked about his career, which has taken him through both large and small markers in Alaska, and the day-to-day duties of the job. He also explained how being Black in a state with a very small Black population plays a role in how he does his job. And he cleared up some misconceptions that media members in the lower 48 states have about his state. Wesley's salute: KYUK, Bethel, AlaskaWesley's Twitter: @wesley_early Thank you as always for listening. Please send us feedback at journalismsalute@gmail.com, visit our website at thejournalismsalute.org and Mark's website (MarkSimonmedia.com) or tweet us at @journalismpod.

This episode is available to everyone, though on some platforms there may be a short delay in availability between the version for subscribers (which is sponsor-free) and non-subscribers (which includes sponsor messages). Thank you for your patience! Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ak.), one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, faces primary voters who can choose between her and several other candidates, including a candidate backed by the state Republican Party. Alaska's new non-partisan primary system, almost guarantees that Murkowski will gather enough support to make it to November — unlike Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney (R), whose vote to impeach Trump could cost her dearly. Meanwhile, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin (R) seeks election to the state's at-large congressional district. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, Alaska Public Media's Washington correspondent Liz RuskinLearn more about upcoming live shows of The NPR Politics Podcast at nprpresents.org.Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscription to The NPR Politics Podcast Plus. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics Connect:Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.orgJoin the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

In our continuing state series, TPP visits the state with the highest percentage of non-partisan voters (58%): vast and varied Alaska. On August 16, 2022, for the first time in the US, Alaskans will use the final four voting system, which combines a unified open primary with ranked choice voting in the general election. Our special guests for this episode, each interviewed by TPP Reporter Dylan Nicholls, offer three perspectives on Alaskan political culture, the new election system, and the major candidates. Brendan Jones, an Alaska-based author, describes the strong independent, survivalist streak at work in our nation's largest state.  Independent Alaska House member Calvin Schrage speaks to the value of political independence as a legislator, noting how it allows him to form policy positions based on their merits.  Liz Ruskin of Alaska Public Media, explains how final four voting was intended to operate and some of the unintended consequences she's observed so far.  Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney How'd you hear about The Purple Principle? Click here to tell us: https://fluentknowledge.com/tpp-survey SHOW NOTES Our Guests Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Alaska Public Media. She reports from the U.S. Capitol and from Anchorage. Find her on Twitter @lruskin. Calvin Schrage is an independent Alaska State Senator representing District 25. You can find him on Twitter @CalvinSchrage.  Brendan Jones is an award-winning novelist, essayist, and journalist based in Sitka, Alaska. Find him on Twitter @BrendanIJones.  More episode resources on our website: https://fluentknowledge.com/shows/the-purple-principle/states-alaska-part1 Join Us for Premium Content: Apple: https://link.chtbl.com/PurpleApple Patreon: patreon.com/purpleprinciplepodcast Follow us on social media: Twitter: @purpleprincipl Facebook: @thepurpleprinciplepodcast Instagram: @thepurpleprinciplepodcast Sign up for our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/purpleprinciple/the-purple-principle-report 

Kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and killing a 10-year-old girl in 2020 will result in a 20-year-old man spending the rest of his life in prison. The Alaska Department of Law announced on June 14 that Judge Michael MacDonald sentenced Jordan Mark to 99 years in prison for his role in the disappearance and death of Ida "Girlie" Aguchak. Mark's case was not tried. According to the statement, he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and signed an admission of facts admitting he kidnapped and raped her. A plea deal dropped the rape charges, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Aguchak, who lived in Quinhagak, texted her mom on March 15, 2020, telling her she was walking home from a friend's house. The next night, her family and community members searched for her body after she failed to return. When Aguchak's body was autopsied, Mark's DNA was found, but he initially denied seeing her the night she disappeared. According to cell phone data, Aguchak was also near Mark's location that evening. As reported by Alaska Public Media, Mark offered Aguchak a ride home after dropping friends off at the old airport in town. As she tried to escape, he took her to a trail, strangled her and then raped her. He stabbed the little girl and disposed of her body in a dumpster. Her knife and cellphone were disposed of by him, according to Alaska Public Media. During his sentencing, Mark said, "I apologize for the pain I caused and the hearts I broke. There is no excuse for what I've done. Please see past that and see who I am. I made a terrible mistake." McDonald denied Mark's request for a 45-year sentence. This was deliberate cruelty. It is hard to imagine a victim more vulnerable. These actions illustrate a depravity of heart and derangement of mind that makes Jordan Mark too dangerous to live in a civil society. It is impossible to imagine a more depraved, brutal, cold-hearted kidnapping, rape, and murder. This was deliberate cruelty. If you like TRUE CRIME TODAY - Be sure to search and subscribe wherever you download podcasts! Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-a-true-crime-podcast/id1504280230?uo=4 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0GYshi6nJCf3O0aKEBTOPs Stitcher http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/real-ghost-stories-online-2/dark-side-of-wikipedia-true-crime-disturbing-stories iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/270-Dark-Side-of-Wikipedia-Tru-60800715 Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/565dc51b-d214-4fab-b38b-ae7c723cb79a/Dark-Side-of-Wikipedia-True-Crime-Dark-History Google Podcasts https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hdWRpb2Jvb20uY29tL2NoYW5uZWxzLzUwMDEyNjAucnNz Or Search "True Crime Today" for the best in True Crime ANYWHERE you get podcasts! Support the show at http://www.patreon.com/truecrimetoday

Veteran Iditarod musher Aaron Burmeister talked to Alaska Public Media's Jeff Chen at the Nome radio station, KNOM, roughly a day after Burmeister finished his 21st Iditarod. Burmeister talks about stepping away from the Iditarod, about how his race went this year, and how much dog mushing has changed over the many years he's been a competitive musher.

In this hour-long interview, we hear more from 2022 Iditarod champion Brent Sass about how he's forged a unique bond with his dog team, how he draws inspiration from his idols like Susan Butcher, and how his life in his remote homestead has made him the musher he is. Alaska Public Media's Lex Treinen sat down with Sass, along with a group of other reporters, and Sass's dad Mark at the Nome Nugget newspaper in downtown Nome.

The 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has a new champion, as you'll hear in this morning Iditarod report from Alaska Public Media. Dog musher Brent Sass and his team of 11 dogs pulled into Nome early Tuesday, passing under the famed Burled Arch finish line just before 5:40 a.m. to win the 50th running of the Iditarod. The 42-year-old Sass and his Alaskan huskies arrived to throngs of cheering race fans lining the finish chute on Front Street for the first time since before the coronavirus pandemic hit two years ago.

Adequate housing has been a consistent problem in rural Alaska and the COVID-19 pandemic has made living there even more difficult. Alaska Public Media's Erin McKinstry reports on the housing problem from the city of Shaktoolik. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In this extended interview from before the 2022 Iditarod, 22-year-old Norwegian musher Hanna Lyrek told Alaska Public Media's Lex Treinen about competing in Norway's biggest sled dog race, the Finnmarksløpet, how she got her dog team to Alaska, her goals for the Iditarod and... about her dogs, of course! (We also have a story posted right now at alaskapublic.org about Lyrek's experience so far in the Iditarod).

Alaska Public Media's Lex Treinen caught up - just in the nick of time - with Brent Sass, who mushed into White Mountain and a mandatory eight-hour rest in the lead, in a great position to win his first Iditarod.

Kaktovik dog musher Apayauq Reitan, the first out trans woman to compete in the Iditarod, talks to Iditapod colleague and Alaska Public Media contributor Shady Grove Oliver - originally for a piece in the Guardian newspaper - about Reitan's goals for this year's race, what it's like to mush dogs, her Alaska Native culture, coming out as trans and a lot more.

**Warning: This extended interview discusses a violent encounter with a moose and might not be suitable for all listeners. Alaska Public Media's Lex Treinen gets all the details of rookie Iditarod musher Bridgett Watkins' run-in with a moose while on a training run near Salcha, in Interior Alaska, in early February.

The 2022 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race kicked off Saturday in Anchorage with its usual fanfare, after not holding a ceremonial start in 2021. Alaska Public Media reporters Casey Grove, Tegan Hanlon, Lex Treinen and Jeff Chen were out in the snow with the mushers, dogs and race fans, including plenty of kids and other trailgaters.