Podcasts about alaskans

In this newscast: A Safe Place initiative for youth in crisis arrives in Juneau; An 89-year-old woman died in Juneau today from injuries suffered during a crash yesterday; Republican lawmakers are working to repeal the Roadless Rule through Congress; The University of Alaska's largest union filed an unfair labor practice complaint last week; Alaska is one of only two states that saw increased participation in SNAP last year; The minimum wage in Alaska will jump to $14 on July 1; A federal judge ruled against a group of Alaskans seeking to force the state to process SNAP applications on time

Homer Public Library's current building turns 20 this fall and the library holds a fun run Saturday to mark the occasion; Pier One Theatre's next show of the season opens this evening; and a federal judge late last month ruled against a group of Alaskans seeking to force the state to process applications for food assistance on time.

Today is the Weekly Top 3 from Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets. This weeks topics: We learned a lot last week about #AKLNG, but is it enough to get it over the line? What does the continuing lack of interest in ANWR tell us? Most candidates seem oblivious to the signals Alaska consumers are sending, Then in hour two we'll recap with some of my thoughts and then open the phone lines to discuss these topics and any other headline that suit us

On this episode of Energy and Business from Must Read Alaska, host Todd sits down with John Hendrix — President and CEO of HEX LLC, Homer native, civil engineer, and recently named Outstanding Alaskan of the Year — for a clear-eyed conversation about Alaska's energy future. In “Powering Alaska from Within: HEX and the Cook Inlet Comeback,” John explains how HEX LLC, the only 100% Alaskan-owned and operated natural gas producer in the state, is delivering reliable, affordable energy to Railbelt homes, businesses, and military bases right now. Headquartered in Anchorage, HEX operates critical offshore and onshore infrastructure in the Kitchen Lights Unit and recently unified its operations under one strong HEX brand while committing to new drilling and continued investment. Listeners will hear the story behind HEX's acquisition of the once-struggling Kitchen Lights Unit, how local ownership and disciplined investment turned declining production around — including doubling output from the Allegra Leigh platform in 2025 — and why Cook Inlet's estimated 19 trillion cubic feet of natural gas represents a generational opportunity for Alaska energy security. John connects the dots between local resource development, keeping the lights on and heat flowing during critical winter months, and building a stronger, more self-reliant Alaska. He also shares an encouraging message for young Alaskans considering careers in energy and for policymakers who want to see more homegrown investment succeed. If you care about affordable energy, Alaska's resource sovereignty, and practical solutions that keep money and jobs in-state, this episode delivers straight talk from the operator proving that Alaskan solutions work best for Alaskans.   HEX LLC: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hex-ak/posts/?feedView=all   SPONSORS: Must Read Alaska: https://mustreadalaska.com/subscriptions/ Promo Code: energy for 10% off all our annual plans DRB Productions: https://centertix.com/events/beatles-vs-rolling-stones-musical-showdown Promo Code: London for MRAK subscribers

Today we start in hour one with Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets. This week 3 big topics: Who filled, who didn't, and what it means; AKLEG Finances budget summary; the Cherry-picking of the Louisiana and Texas fiscal structures. In hour two we'll go over all the candidates, who filed, who dropped and where we go from here.

This week on the show: we discuss red neck millionaires and how to spot them, car toilets, euphemisms for smoking weed and-Alaskans drink....a lot

Today we start off the week with Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets and the Weekly Top 3. This weeks topics: How we are beginning to think about AKLNG; What upper-income Alaskans overlook about the PFD; pushing back on K-12 spending except the AKLEG. Then in hour two I'll recap with some of my own thoughts on the Top 3 and then we'll finish up with our weekly PMA boost from our friend Chris Story.

AWP Episode 272 “Breaking the Myths” w/ Dr. Jake Boll of Pairmore & Young: Synergy Chiropractic   Daniel Buitrago, Brandon Fifield & Jack Lau are back together in studio with special guest Jake Boll of Pairemore & Young Chiropractic center in Anchorage. Jake is a rising star in the local community in the wold of chiropractic care and is here to share his journey to becoming a doctor of the craft and share is unique & compelling story.   Injuries from a severe car wreck, The concussion badge of honor, its all about the posture, readers and back braces, sleep for the neck curve, Jake's Upper Russian Lakes rip with wifey, Federal Subsistence land closures update, Mark Richards Resident and Hunters of Alaska, the is day in History brought to you by Northern Waste, 1932: The German armed cruiser Karlsruhe arrived in Juneau as part of a highly publicized round-the-world training cruise. The arrival of the German naval vessel drew significant attention from local Alaskans during the interwar period. Hogs & Corn in Iowa, Jake's first back injury, take a pill or toughen up, finding chiropractic @ Palmer in Davenport, IA, building a career in chiropractic medicine, custom tailored alignment, starting with the atlas, the Pairmore & Young experience, Jake's Alaska big game kills, Haul Road Caribou, Chugach Dalls Sheep, & Alaska/Yukon Bull Moose, excising and correction, implementing Chiropractic care to a mountain hunters regimen,         Visit our Website - www.alaskawildproject.com Follow us on Instagram - www.instagram.com/alaskawildproject Watch on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@alaskawildproject $upport on Patreon - www.patreon.com/alaskawildproject

The Weekly Top 3 is back! Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets comes back with a vengeance today. This weeks topics: What's being stuffed into the House gasline bill; What many are forgetting about Pikka; Where the conference report puts the FY27 budget. We'll discuss all in hour one. Then in hour two, we get a surprise visit from Dave Bronson who was just down in Juneau watching the sausage being made on the AKLNG bills. We'll get his take on what's happening and more.

Join Sonia on The Social from the Must Read Alaska Show as she sits down with Tandy Hogate — host of the Sustainable Alaska podcast and co-founder of Common Ground Alaska — for a timely conversation on Alaska's growing homestead revival. In “From the Land Up: Alaska's Homestead Revival,” Tandy shares how more Alaskans are reclaiming self-reliance through gardening, animal husbandry, food preservation, and off-grid living. With Alaska importing nearly all its groceries and facing real supply chain risks, this movement isn't just a lifestyle — it's a practical response to food security and resilience. Tandy previews the third annual Alaska Homestead Expo and Marketplace happening Memorial Day Weekend, May 22–23, 2026, at the Big Lake Lions Club. This year's event expands to a hybrid format with livestreamed sessions, full recordings, and an entire summer series of 65+ additional classes included with your ticket.   2026 Alaska Homestead Expo: Tickets: https://www.tixtree.com/e/2026-spring-alaska-homestead-expo-ad3e099b48b4 https://commongroundalaska.com/event/2026-spring-alaska-homestead-expo/ In-Person/Hybrid: $85 | Virtual: $45 | Marketplace only: $5 at the door   SPONSORS: Must Read Alaska: https://mustreadalaska.com/subscriptions/ Promo Code: thesocial10 for 10% off the 'All In' or 'In For News' prepaid annual plans Big Berkey Water Filters: https://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/ Promo Code: mrak10 for 10% off sitewide  

This week, we cover Trump's proposed billion-dollar settlement with himself and how his tariffs function as a tax on Alaskans' utility bills. We also review what Thomas Jefferson and George Washington thought about the Murder Act and how their concerns about government power are still relevant today.

This week on the Active Self Protection Podcast we sit down with self defender and Alaska resident Wes and discuss two incidents that happened weeks apart where his fellow Alaskans prove that Alaska, while ruggedly beautiful and independent is still populated with some rather interesting personalities.  Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting.  Join host and career federal agent Mike Willever as he talks to real life survivors and hear their stories in depth. You'll hear about these incidents and the self defenders from well before the encounter occurred on through the legal and emotional aftermath. Music: bensound.com Video Intro by Joe Russo

For the first time since filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the Municipality of Anchorage in February, the family of Alecia Lindsay is speaking on the record. Describing a daughter they say had her whole life ahead of her, and a 911 response they say cost her that future. A driver slammed a vehicle into the lobby of the Wasilla Police Department Wednesday night, crashing through the building’s front doors, police said. Memorial Day is approaching, and many Alaskans are concerned about rising travel costs. Whether taking a weekend trip or flying to the Lower 48, travelers can expect costs to be higher than this time last year.

For the first time since filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the Municipality of Anchorage in February, the family of Alecia Lindsay is speaking on the record. They said their daughter had her whole life ahead of her, speaking on the 911 response they say cost her that future. Filling up your tank in Alaska is now costing drivers more than $5 a gallon, and prices are closing in on Alaska’s all-time record high. Memorial Day is approaching, and many Alaskans are concerned about rising travel costs.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: A bill that seeks to make it easier for Alaskans to repair consumer electronics cleared the state Senate yesterday and is on its way to the House. The Unalaska City School District students and staff have launched a chess club. And hundreds of highschoolers from across Southeast Alaska flocked to Ketchikan last month for the annual Region Five Music Festival.Photo: The Haines High School Band catches the ferry for the Region Five Music Festival. (Photo by Matt Davis)

Today it's just you, me and the headlines. We'll also go over the Senate Resources Committee from yesterday, where it's very apparent that many members are letting politics rule the day vs what's best for Alaskans. Then in hour two we chat with Rep Kevin McCabe about the end of the session.

It's time to celebrate spring and dream about seedlings after a long, cold winter. Alaskans love to garden, farm and raise food for themselves and others. What's the latest information on new crops for this season and what are area farmers planning for spring planting? Gardens, farmer's markets, and the fun of growing your own food on Talk of Alaska.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Legislators grilled Gov. Mike Dunleavy's pick for attorney general during a series of contentious confirmation hearings last week. Alaskans between the ages of 12 to 15 had the highest rate of ATV crash injuries, compared to other age groups. And in Petersburg, a high school program hopes to address child care and teacher shortage needs.Photo: Attorney General-designee Stephen Cox speaks to senators during a confirmation hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Eric Stone/Alaska Public Media)

We are joined by former Federal Pipeline Coordinator Larry Persily to talk about Glenfarne's effort to deliver Alaskans a long awaited natural gas pipeline. 

Today we start off the week with Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets and the Weekly Top 3. This week's topics: Surely, without a fiscal plan, the Governor will veto the defined benefits bill, won't he? What signals are the feds sending on the LNG project? What role will fiscal policy play in this year's Governor's race? Then in hour two we'll catch up on some of the headlines that happened while I was in Fairbanks, including a big one that's happening across the country.

Jim Minnery joins the Must Read Alaska Show and discusses the 2026 Alaska March For Life with Natalie Spaulding. They go through history of the March, the speakers that will be at the rally, and great ways to participate in the event. The March For Life begins at 12PM on Saturday with the rally starting at 1:30PM on the Delaney Park Strip, Downtown Anchorage.  Jim and Natalie discuss the events leading up to the march, you won't want to miss this conversation to learn more about how to support a culture of life in Alaska! The conversation is full of life and hope for all those that think they have no other choice. For more information about the March For Life and how you can participate go to:   2026 Alaska March For Life: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHDkTLGzYk/9QD1R2G8bK0pWAklRnwYfA/view?utlId=h31bc3bad03 https://www.akfamily.org/   Sponsors: Seven Weeks Coffee – mold- and glyphosate-free, organic, regenerative, and 10% of every sale (over 50% of profits) goes to pro-life pregnancy centers nationwide. Grab the world's best coffee and support a great cause at the same time. Use promo code MRAK for 10% off your order at sevenweekscoffee.com.    Must Read Alaska - Exclusive discount for our podcast audience listeners, get 20% off one of the annual subscriptions. Support a conservative news outlet sharing great content that matters most to Alaskans. Use promo code mrakshow for 20% off the "All-In" or "In For News" annual subscriptions, https://mustreadalaska.com/subscriptions/  

Today we start off with our weekly deep diveinto Alaska politics with Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets and the Weekly Top 3. This weeks topics: Where things stand on the budget; Where things stand on AKLNG; Is the K-12 community understanding the wake up call, or will they just shift more attention to state funding? Then in hour two, we'll recap with some of my thoughts and may talk a bit about the de-dollarization going on right now.

For our fiftieth episode, we review Trump's pressure on Alaskans to repeal ranked choice voting and how his war with Iran might reduce the likelihood of an Alaskan gas line. We also discuss quotes of the week and the Constitution's Pardons Clause.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: The Alaska Senate unanimously passed a bill Monday that would pay back past Permanent Fund dividends to Alaskans whose convictions are vacated, reversed or dismissed. A budget proposal that would provide $100 million to shore up schools and state facilities is on its way to a full Senate vote. And Sitka's local bookstore celebrated its 50th birthday on Saturday. Photo: Old Harbor Books was bustling with customers on Saturday for the shop's 50th anniversary. (KCAW/McKenney)

Today we dive into the Weekly Top 3 with Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets. This weeks topics: The way the legislative R's are handling the PFD debate is a certain loser. Maybe that's the goal? That giant sucking sound (being heard in HFIN); Whose economy is it, exactly, we are protecting from taxes? Then in hour two I'll recap with some of my thoughts and a breakdown of the minority's gripes with the House majority. Then we'll finish up with Chris Story who'll give us our weekly life uplift.

Imagine taking a nap on your couch and waking up to a phone call saying that you just won the Alaska Governors Chugach Dall Sheep tag -- That's exactly what happened to our guest, Harv! Welcome back to another episode of the Hunt Lift Eat Podcast! This week we are stoked to have James Majetich, Director of the Outdoor Heritage Foundation of Alaska, and the lucky winner of the Alaska Governors Chugach Dall Sheep tag! The Outdoor Heritage Foundation of Alaska is the official nonprofit partner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Their purpose is simple: to help ensure that Alaska's fish, wildlife, and outdoor traditions are protected for future generations.Through donor support, they fund critical conservation, research, and outdoor education programs that might otherwise go unfunded. These include programs like Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, Youth Shooting Leagues, Alaskans Afield, and many other initiatives that teach Alaskans the skills, ethics, and stewardship needed to responsibly enjoy and protect Alaska's wild resources.For more than a century, hunters and anglers have played a vital role in wildlife conservation across America. Through license purchases and excise taxes on outdoor equipment, they have helped fund the protection and management of fish and wildlife for everyone to enjoy. Join the Outdoor Heritage Foundation of Alaskan in keeping that tradition and help support the conservation efforts that keep Alaska's wild places thriving.

Photo: A cross and mural honor slain teen Emily Pike along U.S. 70 Route near Peridot on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. (Gabriel Pietrorazio) The FBI announced earlier this month that it is, once again, putting extra agents in the field to address a backlog of cold cases on tribal lands. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, this effort is part of a years-long joint initiative with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Under Operation Not Forgotten, more law enforcement personnel will be filtering through nearly a dozen FBI field offices with close ties to Indian Country. Agents are being sent to cities like Phoenix, Ariz., Billings, Mont., Albuquerque, N.M., and Denver, Colo. Kevin Smith is with the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “A lot of our state is tribal territory. Right now, we're set for 14 agents.” The FBI is handling 4,100 active Indigenous criminal cases nationwide. Smith says Arizona's share is in the hundreds – including two high-profile ones for San Carlos Apache teen Emily Pike and 8-year-old Navajo Maleeka “Mollie” Boone. “Every case is unique, and every case takes the time that it takes.” The Alaska Supreme Court heard arguments last month on whether prisoners can be forcibly medicated with psychiatric drugs — without a court hearing and the right to a lawyer. In the state corrections system, Alaska Native people are incarcerated at about twice the rate of white Alaskans. Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra has more. Prisoner Mark Andrews is housed at Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo: Anne Hillman / Alaska Public Media) The Alaska Supreme Court heard arguments this month on whether prisoners can be forcibly medicated with psychiatric drugs — without a court hearing and the right to a lawyer. In the state corrections system, Alaska Native people are incarcerated at about twice the rate of white Alaskans. Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra has more. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) brought the case against the Department of Corrections (DOC) on behalf of a prisoner, Mark Andrews. He says he has been unjustly drugged with powerful psychotropic medication for most of the last seven years, without due process or access to legal counsel. The Department policy currently allows prisoners to be drugged against their will if they are gravely disabled or are in imminent risk for harming themselves or others. Doron Levine is a lawyer for the ACLU. He argued at the hearing that the policy infringes on rights protected by the state constitution. “Few things are more personal than someone’s body, and arguably, nothing is more personal than a person’s mind. It’s the locus of a person’s identity, and it’s a last refuge of freedom for people who are incarcerated.” Under department policy, prisoners have the right to hearings every six months with department staff. And they have the right to appeal the decision to a department committee. The ACLU argues that Andrews did not have sufficient access to hearings or an appeal. Justice Jennifer Henderson questioned Kimber Rogers, the attorney representing DOC. Justice Henderson says the facts seem to suggest that the prisoner was denied the rights promised in the department's policy. Justice Henderson: “How do you respond to that?” Kimber Rogers: “Your Honor, I agree that there were definitely some problems, and Mr. Andrews’ hearings, but I don’t think that that’s important.” Henderson: “There were more than some problems. There were long periods of time where there were no hearings, for example.” Rogers: “Well, Your Honor, I would dispute that actually.” The ACLU lawyer argued that there should be a hearing in a courtroom because DOC staff may be biased to protect the institution over the person, but Rogers says a hearing inside prison is the best approach. When the Supreme Court issues a ruling, the decision could apply to the approximately 22 Alaska prisoners who are being forcibly drugged. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, April 9, 2026 — Roller derby skaters don't let anyone push them around

Today we'll diving into the Weekly Top3 with Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets. This weeks 3 big topics: PFD hypocrisy, A Constitutionally-dedicated education fund, An interesting LNG presentation. Then in hour two I'll recap with some of my thoughts, plus give a big thank you to a Fairbanks friend. Then we'll finish up with our weekly Story time with Chris Story.

On this week's episode with host Davis Hovey, we hear about the updated tsunami alert messaging for Alaskans, Bering Sea ice extent hit its highest peak in 13 years, Kodiak hunting guides weigh in on the Board of Game's recent decisions, Alaska Aerospace purchases more land at Narrow Cape, the Kodiak Island cruise ship schedule for this summer is out, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is considering holding a mineral lease sale for seafloor mining in the Gulf of Alaska.

Over the weekend, a Diné pro athlete from the Arizona Ridge Riders ascended to the top ranks of competitive bull riding worldwide. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more. “Keyshawn just crafted his career moment, and he perches above them all and is the master of the Pit.” For the first time, Keyshawn Whitehorse from Kraken Springs, Utah won the Ty Murray Invitational after hanging onto a bucking bull named “Lights Out”. The 28 year old had a perfect weekend, going 4 for 4 on rides, with pretty much everybody in the building was right behind him. “And all you guys, Navajo Nation, the support here in Albuquerque, N.M. – I've dreamed of this moment in my entire life, and now we're on track for a gold buckle. This is a great stepping stone.” With this title win, Whitehorse is among the top 10 riders in the world. Gayle Hoseth (Yup’ik), Alaska Federation of Natives Co-Chair. (Photo: Avery Lill / KDLG) Alaska Native groups have scrambled to make their voices heard on a series of subsistence proposals from Safari Club International, which aims to reshape fish and game management on federal lands. By the time the deadline for public comment passed on Monday, more than 2,000 people had weighed in. Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports. The letters are emotional, overwhelmingly from rural hunters and fishers, worried that the Safari Club's proposals to the U.S. Interior Department would threaten their ability to live off the land. Tribal leaders like Gayla Hoseth (Yup'ik), Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Co-Chair, say these battles never seem to end. “We're often times, repeating ourselves, over and over.” This time, Native groups are facing off against one of the most powerful sport-hunting advocacy groups in the nation, which seeks to overturn Biden-era policies that added three tribally nominated seats to the Federal Subsistence Board. The Safari Club also wants to remove three other public seats and return the board to its original make-up, limited to the heads of five federal agencies. “We've said this many times on the record that it's a revolving door of these regional administrators that come through our state – and that are here for a time — and not really knowing and being on the land.” As a senior advisor to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland during the Biden Administration, Raina Thiele shepherded the process of adding the additional tribal seats. Although it took about three and a half years to get them in place, Thiel says it was worth the effort. Along the way, tribal leaders introduced many ideas on how to improve subsistence management on federal lands “Nobody really lives the way we live in Alaska. It's an incredibly unique system so folks just don't have the context or the history with it to really understand it.” The Safari Club has also called on federal managers to defer to the state when overseeing wildlife on federal land, which opponents say conflicts with a 1980 law that gives rural Alaskans priority for hunting and fishing on federal lands. John Sturgeon, a longtime Alaska Safari Club policy maker, says the group does not oppose rural priority for hunting and fishing. “The word deference means consideration. It's not a mandate. So bottom line, Fish and Game does not have the authority to promulgate regulations. We're not asking for that. We're saying that we have to listen to (the Alaska Department of) Fish and Game, and we don't think they've been doing that over the years.” Alaska's dual management system for state and federal lands has spawned many a battle over the right to hunt and fish – and this one could be the start of another long fight. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, April 2, 2026 – The promise and curse of social media

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with AFP Alaska State Director Brett Huber to explore a remarkable journey—from fishing guide and small business owner to a leader shaping Alaska's policy future. Brett shares how a single step into public life turned into a decades-long career in public policy, and why Alaska's unique culture, resources, and people make it unlike any other state. From the importance of fisheries and outdoor life to the realities of governing a vast and independent-minded state, this conversation highlights what makes Alaska both challenging—and full of opportunity. The discussion also looks ahead to the critical decisions facing Alaska today, including energy development, fiscal stability, and the state's long-term economic future. Brett explains why this moment is different: instead of focusing on one election at a time, there's now an opportunity to think bigger—bringing people together around a long-term, solutions-driven vision that empowers Alaskans to shape their own future. It's a powerful reminder that meaningful change doesn't happen overnight—and that when people get involved, even one small step can lead to lasting impact.

Today we dive into the Weekly Top 3 with Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets. This weeks topics: SFIN heads toward an F in financial literacy; SB 274 ignores the fundamental problem; the #AKLNG advocates fail the assignment. Then in hour two, I'll recap with some of my own thoughts and then we'll finish up with Chris Story from Homer, with our weekly positivity update.

Alaskans are smart, resourceful and creative. That's on display in a new book called "Alaska Literary Field Guide" which weaves together art, poetry, personal reflections and natural history.

In this must-listen episode, Todd Lindley sits down with Brian Flynn, the conservative private-sector candidate challenging incumbent Anna Brawley in the Anchorage Assembly District 3 West Anchorage rematch. Flynn pulls no punches on what residents are really seeing: 15-20 foot snow piles blocking cul-de-sacs while officials claim victory, skyrocketing property taxes, a homelessness system that “recycles” people from winter shelters to summer streets, and crime ordinances that exist on paper but never get enforced. Flynn lays out his bold, no-nonsense plan: a forensic spending audit before any new taxes, a centralized triage hub that actually matches people to the right help (not just the nearest bed), real accountability for APD, protection of the Eklutna Dam, and a push for the Railbelt gas line to keep energy affordable. He also shares his elevator pitch for why adventurous Alaskans should choose Anchorage — and why it's time to bring private-sector discipline to City Hall. Plus: Flynn's full slate of reform candidates and exactly how to vote before April 7 (in-person voting starts March 31 at City Hall and Loussac Library).   Links: Brian Flynn's campaign: flynnforanchorage.com Follow on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok   Sponsors: MRAK = Get 10% off Must Read Alaska's Infor News & All In subscriptions with promo code AKLEG26 (through May 20) Seven Weeks Coffee = Fuel the pro-life movement and enjoy mold-free coffee: sevenweekscoffee.com — use code MRAK for 10% off Don't miss this timely, straight-talking conversation about the future of Anchorage. Subscribe, share, and vote informed!

Today we start off the week with Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets (ak4sb.com) and the Weekly Top 3. This weeks topics: What does the NPRA lease sale mean for Alaska; the problem with AKLNG; and the building challenge of the FY27 Budget. Then in hour two I'll recap with some of my thoughts on the Top 3 and other headlines, then we'll finish up with our weekly self-help session with Chris Story from ILoveHomerAlaska.com.

A Ketchikan jeweler will have to pay $60-thousand to the state and restitution to customers for selling fake gold. Plus, a look at ways Alaskans without insurance can seek affordable healthcare, and youth from across the state present films they made highlighting the impacts of climate change and other environmental issues.

Some waste is inevitable, but careful shopping, reusing and recycling can cut down on what gets tossed into landfills and ambitious Alaskans are finding creative solutions.

In this newscast: The state of Alaska is delaying construction on the first phase of a controversial ferry terminal proposed to connect Juneau and Haines, due to a permitting issue; Alaska youth and advocates are calling on lawmakers to create a statewide fund for suicide prevention by charging a small fee on Alaskans' monthly phone bills; The Juneau School District's teachers union voted to authorize a strike earlier this week amid ongoing contract negotiations; The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council has had new leadership for a few months now, and that has come with some changes; The state ferry Lituya will soon begin daily ferry service between Ketchikan and Annette Bay.

The U.S. Coast Guard identifies two people who died while working on a freight barge near Ketchikan. Plus, a proposal that would make it easier for out-of-state nurses to practice in Alaska is facing fierce pushback in the Legislature, and a bill meant to protect Alaskans from contaminated drinking water has its first committee hearing.

Prosecutors in South Dakota have dismissed charges against an Indigenous rights advocate. South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s CJ Keene reports. Charges stemming from a 2022 incident against Nick Tilsen, CEO and founder of NDN Collective, were dropped. In a statement, Tilsen said, “my freedom wasn't granted by a judge, a jury, or the settler colonial court system. My freedom was won by the people, the movement, and the ancestors.” Tilsen faced more than 25 years in prison, originally facing charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and obstruction. Ultimately, the trial resulted in a hung jury. Tilsen maintained his innocence throughout, saying the incident was an effort to watch an interaction between police and an Indigenous member of the Rapid City, S.D. community. NDN Collective spokespeople had contended the charges were excessive. In the same statement, representatives describe them as, “blatantly politically motivated effort to silence a movement leader by criminalizing his actions.” In response, Pennington County State's Attorney said, “the decision to dismiss this case was made after careful review and thoughtful consideration.” The office adds they stand by the charging decision. “While we believe the case was properly charged and presented, the jury's inability to reach a verdict was an important factor in evaluating whether further prosecution would serve the interest of justice.” A nearly empty critical care unit at Bartlett Hospital on April 7, 2020, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo: Rashah McChesney / KTOO) Alaska will receive about $1 billion from the federal government over the next few years to improve healthcare, but millions of that depends on the legislature passing several bills aligning Alaska with best practices for rural healthcare. Alaska Native people are much more likely to live in rural areas than other Alaskans. As Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra reports, a proposal to make it easier for out-of-state nurses to practice in Alaska is facing fierce pushback. When you boil it down, Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association head Jared Kosin says joining a so-called license compact is pretty simple. He says there would be a set of criteria nurses would demonstrate. “And if they do, then they are issued a license and then they can practice in any states that use those same standards.” Proponents say joining a compact would help ease a nurse shortage across the state that is projected to worsen. Kosin says it may be simple to explain, but actually getting a bill passed to join the nurse licensure compact has been anything but. “It’s just so snagged up in politics.” The last version of the bill was introduced in 2023. It was supported by most healthcare organizations in the state, but it was opposed by nursing unions. He says that created a toxic dynamic. And this year there is new pressure on the legislature thanks to the Rural Health Transformation Program. When the Alaska Department of Health (DOH) applied for the money, it told the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the state would join the compact. The state has been directed by CMS to create compacts for other health care positions too: physicians, emergency medical services, psychologists, and physician assistants. The DOH does not know exactly how much money would be clawed back if Alaska does not pass all the required legislation, but a DOH official wrote over email that a ballpark estimate is that millions of dollars is at stake annually and tens of millions of dollars over the five years of rural funding. Shannon Davenport is a union leader and a nurse. She says there are many problems with the nursing field right now, especially workplace safety, and she doesn't think the nursing compact is the solution to them. “It’s not the golden goose. It’s not the answer to everything.” Even so, most nurses support a compact — almost 90% of nurses living in Alaska, according to a 2023 survey. The federal deadline to join the compact is at the end of 2027. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – Re-enactors help bring Native American perspective of the Revolutionary War to life

Today we dive into the Weekly Top 3 from Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets. This week's three topics: The debate over funding for the FY26 Supplemental is both hilarious and serious; The House Majority again demonstrates it doesn't know what "fiscally responsible" means; The competing LNG import projects. Then in hour two I'll recap with some of my thoughts as well as a new story about a bill that directly attacks the homeschooling/correspondence model in the state. Then we'll finish up with Chris Story who'll give us our PMA update.

In this newscast: Juneau residents will have multiple opportunities this week to provide feedback about how and where they'd like to see changes to better the capital city's roadways for all users; After months of on-an-off closures and limited services, the city's recycling center will be back to operating at full capacity and regular hours starting tomorrow; A bill meant to protect Alaskans from drinking water contaminated with PFAS had its first committee hearing last week; The fate of a closely watched budget bill in the Alaska Legislature is back up in the air, after House Republicans declined to back a supermajority vote that would have funded the bill from savings

Elizabeth Peratrovich is most well-known for her work to pass Alaska’s Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945. But her story also has more to it than that act. Research: Anchorage Museum. “Elizabeth Peratrovich.” https://www.anchoragemuseum.org/exhibits/extra-tough-women-of-the-north/women-of-the-north-profiles/elizabeth-peratrovich-major-force-behind-alaskas-anti-discrimination-bill/ Arnett, Jessica Leslie. “Unsettled Rights in Territorial Alaska.” Western Historical Quarterly, AUTUMN 2017, Vol. 48, No. 3 (AUTUMN 2017), pp. 233-254. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26782857 Boochever, Ann with Roy Peratrovich Jr. “Fighter in Velvet Gloves.” University of Alaska Press. 2019. Boochever, Ann. “Fighter in Velvet Gloves: Alaska Civil Rights Hero Elizabeth Peratrovich.” Sealaska Heritage Institute. 11/19/2021. Via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzvcc1UlrMw Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. “A Recollection of Civil Rights Leader Elizabeth Peratrovich.” August 1991. http://www.alaskool.org/projects/native_gov/recollections/peratrovich/default.htm Coen, Ross. “Elizabeth Peratrovich Day.” The Pacific Northwest Quarterly, Summer 2021, Vol. 112, No. 3 (Summer 2021), pp. 107-123. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/27165253 Cole, Terrence M. “Jim Crow in Alaska: The Passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945.” Western Historical Quarterly , Nov., 1992, Vol. 23, No. 4 (Nov., 1992), pp. 429-449. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/970301 Davis, Jennifer. “Elizabeth Peratrovich, Civil and Voting Rights Activist.” In Custodia Legis: Law Librarians of Congress. Library of Congress Blogs. 11/1/2021. https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2021/11/elizabeth-peratrovich-civil-and-voting-rights-activist/ Guise, Holly Miowak. “Listening to Generations of Activists: Truly Remembering Elizabeth Peratrovich.” Indian Country Today. 2/16/2021. https://ictnews.org/opinion/listening-to-generations-of-activists-truly-remembering-elizabeth-peratrovich/ Haycox, Stephen W. “William Paul, Sr., and the Alaska Voters' Literacy Act of 1925.” Alaska History, Vol. 2., No. 1, (Winter 1986/87). http://www.alaskool.org/native_ed/articles/literacy_act/LiteracyTxt.html Johnson, Erik. “The 19th Amendment, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and the Ongoing Fight for Equal Rights.” National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/dena-history-peratrovich.htm Juneau Empire. “Mrs. Roy Peratrovich Sr. Dies in Seattle Hospital following Lengthy Illness.” 12/2/1958. National Park Service. “Alberta Schenck: Teenage Activist.” https://www.nps.gov/people/alberta-schenck.htm Page, Marisa. “Honoring the Women Paving the Path to Equity.” First Nations. https://www.firstnations.org/news/honoring-the-women-paving-the-path-to-equity/ Schenck, Alberta. “To Whom It May Concern.” The Nome Nugget. 3/3/1944. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/assets/timeline/000/000/342/342_w_full.jpg Silverman, Jeffry Lloyd and Phil Lucas, directors. “For the Rights of All: Ending Jim Crow in Alaska.” Lincoln, NE. Vision Maker Media. 2008. “Super Race Theory Hit In Hearing.” The Daily Alaska Empire. 2/6/1945. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83045499/1945-02-06/ed-1/?sp=8&st=pdf Swensen, Thomas Michael. “The Relationship between Indigenous Rights, Citizenship, and Land in Territorial Alaska: How the Past Opened the Door to the Future.” GROWING OUR OWN: INDIGENOUS RESEARCH, SCHOLARS, AND EDUCATION Proceedings from the Alaska Native Studies Conference (2015). Twyman, Abby. “Alaskans and the Nation Celebrate Elizabeth Peratrovich.” Discover Prince of Wales Island. https://discoverpowisland.com/alaskans-and-the-nation-celebrate-elizabeth-peratrovich/ Vaughan, Carson. “Overlooked No More: Elizabeth Peratrovich, Rights Advocate for Alaska Natives.” New York Times. March 20, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/20/obituaries/elizabeth-peratrovich-overlooked.html Weingroff, Richard F. “Who Is Elizabeth Peratrovich? The Story Behind the Country's First Anti-Discrimination Law.” U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/general-highway-history/who-elizabeth-peratrovich-story-behind-countrys-first-anti Christen, Morgan. “Alaska Native Women’s Long Road to Suffrage.” Western Legal History, Vol. 30, No. 1-2. https://www.njchs.org/wp-content/uploads/wlh_30-1_crp_color1.pdf “Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood.” EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/alaska-native-brotherhood-and-alaska-native-sisterhood Drucker, Philip. “The native brotherhoods : modern intertribal organizations on the Northwest coast.” Washington, D. C. : U. S. Government Printing office. 1958. https://archive.org/details/nativebrotherhoo0168druc/ Haycox, Stephen W. “William Paul, Sr., and the Alaska Voters' Literacy Act of 1925 .” Alaska History, Vol. 2., No. 1, (Winter 1986/87). http://www.alaskool.org/native_ed/articles/literacy_act/literacytxt.html Peratrovich, Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich. Letter to Governor Ernest Gruening. 12/30/1941. https://vilda.alaska.edu/digital/collection/cdmg41/id/1176/rec/4?fbclid=IwY2xjawQSoR9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFSUTluVjJHRVlpVTlvcFhYc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHq36iDmGp2t6h-sfgereAekSEHRQii-E6uBse3GvIQAw-72DcoQffc-LWxRO_aem_MECxGHPbZdPWw-7iUjGeow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julia O'Malley is a journalist, a cook, a baker, and lately she's been researching and re-creating Cold War cakes. During the Cold War era—roughly the decades between the end of World War II and the early 1990s—cake mix transformed a food once associated with luxury into something democratic, something anyone could make at home. Julia says that those boxed mixes, and the recipes people built around them in the ‘70s and ‘80s, are more than just dessert. They're cultural artifacts that reveal how women navigated creativity, expectation, and changing ideas about domestic life. They reflect a moment when women were entering the national conversation from within domestic space. Experimenting, adapting, and reshaping expectations. That shift raised a question inside the kitchen itself: What happens when packaged ingredients, appliances, and new food technologies promise women time—time to work, to control their finances, and to claim a larger role in public life? In Alaska, where fresh ingredients were often scarce and communities had long relied on shelf-stable foods, brought in through supply chains and institutional systems, cake mixes made a lot of sense. For generations, Alaskans have adapted to what's available—working with canned goods, powdered ingredients, and foods designed to travel long distances before reaching the table. A box of cake mix fit easily into that reality. Julia has been tracing these stories through old cookbooks and community recipes, even digging into ones from boomtown Fairbanks in 1909, to understand how something as ordinary as cake can tell us about women's lives, shifting ideas of feminism, and the creativity that unfolded in Cold War kitchens. Because food, Julia says, is always a story. It's one of history, origin, climate, and longing. And in the Cold War kitchen, when the threat of nuclear annihilation hovered in the background of daily life, even something as simple as baking a cake could feel like a small act of reassurance.

Julia O'Malley is a journalist, a cook, a baker, and lately she's been researching and re-creating Cold War cakes. During the Cold War era—roughly the decades between the end of World War II and the early 1990s—cake mix transformed a food once associated with luxury into something democratic, something anyone could make at home. Julia says that those boxed mixes, and the recipes people built around them in the ‘70s and ‘80s, are more than just dessert. They're cultural artifacts that reveal how women navigated creativity, expectation, and changing ideas about domestic life. They reflect a moment when women were entering the national conversation from within domestic space. Experimenting, adapting, and reshaping expectations. That shift raised a question inside the kitchen itself: What happens when packaged ingredients, appliances, and new food technologies promise women time—time to work, to control their finances, and to claim a larger role in public life? In Alaska, where fresh ingredients were often scarce and communities had long relied on shelf-stable foods, brought in through supply chains and institutional systems, cake mixes made a lot of sense. For generations, Alaskans have adapted to what's available—working with canned goods, powdered ingredients, and foods designed to travel long distances before reaching the table. A box of cake mix fit easily into that reality. Julia has been tracing these stories through old cookbooks and community recipes, even digging into ones from boomtown Fairbanks in 1909, to understand how something as ordinary as cake can tell us about women's lives, shifting ideas of feminism, and the creativity that unfolded in Cold War kitchens. Because food, Julia says, is always a story. It's one of history, origin, climate, and longing. And in the Cold War kitchen, when the threat of nuclear annihilation hovered in the background of daily life, even something as simple as baking a cake could feel like a small act of reassurance.

Photo: A scenic overview of the Colorado River from the Navajo Bridge near Jacob Lake. (Gabriel Pietrorazio / KJZZ) The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has invited tribal leaders to testify on Capitol Hill today. As KJZZ’s Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, the Northeast Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act is the hearing's subject. This $5 billion deal would resolve claims for three parties, including the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe. For San Juan Southern Paiute President Carlene Yellowhair, this proposal is not just about securing precious water in the Southwest. If passed, it would also set aside 5,400 acres for a new reservation in Arizona. “We want to settle, because we want our land, our home, a place to build. We lost all of our elders. They started it and we just want to finish it.” The tribe has more than 300 members, including Vice President Johnny Lehi Jr. “You know, the land and the water, that's what we needed to become more sovereign.” Prisoner Mark Andrews is housed at Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo: Anne Hillman / Alaska Public Media) The Alaska Supreme Court heard arguments this month on whether prisoners can be forcibly medicated with psychiatric drugs — without a court hearing and the right to a lawyer. In the state corrections system, Alaska Native people are incarcerated at about twice the rate of white Alaskans. Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra has more. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) brought the case against the Department of Corrections (DOC) on behalf of a prisoner, Mark Andrews. He says he has been unjustly drugged with powerful psychotropic medication for most of the last seven years, without due process or access to legal counsel. The Department policy currently allows prisoners to be drugged against their will if they are gravely disabled or are in imminent risk for harming themselves or others. Doron Levine is a lawyer for the ACLU. He argued at the hearing that the policy infringes on rights protected by the state constitution. “Few things are more personal than someone’s body, and arguably, nothing is more personal than a person’s mind. It’s the locus of a person’s identity, and it’s a last refuge of freedom for people who are incarcerated.” Under department policy, prisoners have the right to hearings every six months with department staff. And they have the right to appeal the decision to a department committee. The ACLU argues that Andrews did not have sufficient access to hearings or an appeal. Justice Jennifer Henderson questioned Kimber Rogers, the attorney representing DOC. Justice Henderson says the facts seem to suggest that the prisoner was denied the rights promised in the department's policy. Justice Henderson: How do you respond to that? Kimber Rogers: Your Honor, I agree that there were definitely some problems, and Mr. Andrews’ hearings, but I don’t think that that’s important. JH: There were more than some problems. There were long periods of time where there were no hearings, for example. KR: Well, Your Honor, I would dispute that actually. The ACLU lawyer argued that there should be a hearing in a courtroom because DOC staff may be biased to protect the institution over the person, but Rogers says a hearing inside prison is the best approach. When the Supreme Court issues a ruling, the decision could apply to the approximately 22 Alaska prisoners who are being forcibly drugged. U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) is applauding the House passage of the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act. The bill to improve access to homeownership for Native families on tribal trust land is led by U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and passed last week. NAIHC executive director Rudy Soto says the bill improves coordination between the Bureau of Indian Affairs, lenders, and tribal communities, establishes timelines, and helps Native families, veterans, and tribal citizens who want to achieve homeownership. The Senate previously approved the measure and it now heads to the president's desk. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, March 11, 2024 – Michigan backs away from Boarding Schools report

Today we're doing our weekly dive into the Weekly Top 3 from Brad Keithley from Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets. This week's topics: SB 274 applies the wrong lesson; Are #AKLNG's dynamics changing as a result of Iran; Why we should ignore the Spring Revenue Forecast in setting the FY27 budget. I'll follow up in hour two with some of my thoughts before jumping into a discussion about property taxes with Realtor Chris Story. Then he'll hit us with a lifecoaching lesson on the way out the door.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn, which is also called the Battle of the Greasy Grass or Custer's Last Stand. Ahead of commemorative events planned in late June near Crow Agency, Mont. are reports that the National Park Service (NPS) is removing signs sharing the Native perspective on the battle. Brian Bull (Nez Perce) of Buffalo's Fire reports. In late January, the Washington Post reported that President Trump ordered the removal of signage through his so-called “restoring truth and sanity to American history” directive, which pushes an ideology that the U.S. has an “unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.” The Battle of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is on the list of sites. Wallace Bear Chum is chairman for the Northern Cheyenne Cultural Commission. Along with the Lakota Sioux and Arapaho, his tribe defeated Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and 7th Cavalry Regiment in 1876. Bear Chum says federal officials and tribes need to discuss any changes per their government-to-government relationship. “We're still finding out what exact changes that they're going to make. And the Northern Cheyenne, it was a victory for us there. And our story's there, I mean how can you change that story? Y'know, there's no way you can do that. And what exactly are they trying to change?” The Northern Cheyenne Tribe unanimously approved a resolution last month to prevent any changes to markers, signage, and monuments that recognize Native people at Little Bighorn, a direct challenge to the Trump administration. Meanwhile, an email from the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Office denies any signage has been taken down at the battlefield monument. It says parks are complying through an ongoing review process with subject-matter experts, tribal partners, and park leadership. Courtesy NPS An Alaska doctor has documented the first case of a rare and potentially risky infection from contact with a brown bear. Alaska Public Media’s Rachel Cassandra reports. The infection is known as “seal finger” and people typically get it handling seals, especially during seal hunting and processing, but in 2024, Dr. Benjamin Westley diagnosed it in a man who had cut his hand skinning a brown bear hunted on the Alaska Peninsula. He had three days of redness and painful swelling that didn't resolve with standard antibiotics. Dr. Westley says early tests “did not find anything definitive, so eventually he sent a tissue sample to a lab for more comprehensive analysis. “What was particularly shocking about this patient was he had a finger infection after skinning a brown bear that was not responding properly to antibiotics. So I sent special PCR tests, but I did not expect this bacteria.” Seal finger is not uncommon in Alaska and circumpolar regions, but Westley says this is only the second time this potentially more serious strain of the infection has been identified in the state. He diagnosed the first case too, in a patient whose finger infection had spread to his hip. “So when the report came back, I was shocked, because the first case was my own patient 10 years prior, and now it was the exact same bacteria for the second time in Alaska, but from a brown bear exposure, not from a seal exposure.” The infection is only a risk through direct or indirect animal contact. Other cases outside the state have been tied to a polar bear and a domestic cat. Scientists do not know if those animals caused seal finger because they had contact with a seal or through other means. In this case, the patient was treated at first with the wrong type of antibiotics used for bacterial infections. That allowed the infection to worsen and ultimately caused dead tissue, a damaged tendon and a bone infection. He recovered, but still has lingering finger stiffness. Seal finger is often misdiagnosed and a delay in treatment can cause serious problems, so Westley urges health care providers to consider treating patients for seal finger if they have an infection and had contact with seals, bears, or cats. That is even before getting bacterial test results. Westley says Alaskans can also protect themselves when hunting and processing seals or bears. “Try not to get injured through the skin, cut or let bacteria from an animal you’re working with into the tissue, because that can result in a manner of weird infections that can be hard for doctors to sort out.” And he says to wash your hands with soap if you get a wound. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, March 3, 2026 — Proximity and family outreach hold promise for tribal addiction treatment

Today we're busy! In hour one it's going to be Brad Keithley with Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets and the Weekly Top 3. This weeks topics: What should we use for oil prices this coming budget cycle; Callan (the PFC's advisor) presentation last week gave us additional insight into two key PFC issues; #WhoPays (distributional analysis) must be a mandatory part of any tax discussion. Then in hour two we'll visit with gubernatorial candidate Matt Heilala. We'll get his take on the state of the State and where he would take us in the future.

A state task force in Alaska released recommendations last month for making psychedelic therapy available, if treatments are approved at the federal level. Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra has the story. The Alaska state legislature established a task force in 2024 to examine psychedelic therapies, which hold a lot of promise but are still considered experimental. Jennie Armstrong is a former state representative who was on the task force. She says the group tackled questions like how to make therapy accessible and how to offer safe and culturally competent care. “The whole point of the task force was to bring up these types of questions so we’re not scratching our heads when this becomes medicalized and scrambling and being reactive, but we’re actually being proactive.” The task force did not take a stance on whether psychedelic therapies are good or bad, but recommends Alaska incorporate them as they are legalized nationally. None of the task force's recommendations are binding, but Armstrong says they are meant to guide legislators on the types of laws the state would need to offer access. Armstrong says the task force recommends incorporating a training program for therapists and healthcare providers who want to guide therapy. “Everyone needs to go through this type of training, because just being a doctor doesn’t make you qualified to facilitate this type of care.” And she says the aim is to make training accessible so a diversity of people can become certified. She says that would ensure people getting treated are a good fit with the person who guides them. Armstrong says Alaskans could benefit a lot from psychedelic therapies if they are legalized. That is because the state has such high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and other mental illnesses. Psychedelic therapies are being studied to treat those disorders and Armstrong says some of the research is promising. “There are so many folks who, through these trials, went from being suicidal and having treatment resistant depression, unable to work, unable to function, to being in remission within months.” She says that can change how people and communities can thrive. There is a new career pathway for tribal students looking at wildland firefighting jobs. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more on the partnership between the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Highschoolers across six BIE-run schools are participating, including Northwest High School in Shiprock, Ariz. on the Navajo Nation. Carmelia Becenti (Diné) is chief academic officer for BIE. She credits President Donald Trump's executive order on “expanding educational freedom”. “This just happened to occur organically.” They are also pitching the curriculum to colleges. Garth Fisher is with the BIA Division of Wildland Fire Management. “We are trying to somewhat steer them towards being stewards of our lands. That doesn't always happen.” Fisher says they are teaching coursework about leadership, fire suppression, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) readiness. Once done, students put their training to the test during a field day. “They get to put the gear on, how it feels. They get to look like a firefighter.” That equipment is expensive, says Becenti, which is why the BIE is buying it now. “And that way, year after year, as we recruit more students at these schools and across the bureau, you know, we have this {#[Personal Protective Equipment] PPE that we can use over and over and over.” Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Monday, March 2, 2026 — Native crews help solve the growing marine trash problem