Podcasts about juneau

In this newscast: Schools in Juneau were closed again today (TUES) as the capital city continues to dig out from successive snowstorms; The roof of the Bill Ray Center, an empty building on F Street in downtown Juneau, collapsed today after back-to-back snowstorms; Boxes of food, mail and late Christmas presents arrived by plane to the small Southeast Alaska fishing town of Pelican on New Year's Day. The goods came after the isolated town went more than a month without access to outside services,; Haines and Skagway have suffered through weeks of bitterly cold temperatures and feet of snow. Snowfall in Haines has been so heavy that residents are worried about roof loads. Community members are caring for each other in these extreme conditions with shovels and the Internet; Some Alaska Airlines passengers were hit with surprising bills for checked baggage that used to fly for free within the state. The company says it is working quickly to reverse an issue with its Club 49 program that has affected a baggage benefit that is valuable for many rural residents; Ski patrollers at Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood rescued a dog from a deep ravine last week that had been missing for 13 days.

In this newscast: The City and Borough of Juneau issued an avalanche alert via text this afternoon, telling residents in the Mount Juneau slide path to be prepared; Residents of Juneau are living in a snow globe. Another winter storm began last night, dropping more snow on top of the four feet that fell just after Christmas; Amid record-breaking snowfalls and unusually low temperatures, some residents in a mobile home park in Juneau have been without enough water to take a shower for more than two weeks; Flu cases are spiking in Alaska. The state is also seeing a surge in hospitalizations related to the flu; The state ferry Lituya went aground Tuesday at about 3 p.m. near Annette Bay; U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski struck a note of skepticism in her reaction to Saturday's military operation ousting Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro

The state ferry Lituya briefly goes aground. Plus, some residents of a Juneau mobile home park have been without enough water to shower for more than two weeks, and a Sitka High School Spanish teacher who has led a language immersion program will soon hang up her hat.

In this newscast: It's a new year, but Juneau residents are still digging out from four feet of snow that fell earlier this week; Thane Road is now open after being closed for two days due to avalanche risk; Two Juneau artists spent this snowy Friday framing and mounting 18 block prints that correlate with myths — ones they wrote themselves; In 2025 Alaskans experienced record-breaking heat on the North Slope, over 7 inches of rain in a single day in Ketchikan, and other extreme weather in recent weeks; Pelican has been without seaplane and ferry access since November

The Alaskan city of Juneau has seen nearly a season's worth of snow this December, sinking boats in the harbor and threatening roof collapses and avalanches. Also, flu cases are climbing across the United States as the season reaches its peak, and millions of people may get sick in the weeks ahead. If you catch the flu early, antiviral medications can help shorten how long symptoms last and reduce the risk of serious complications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this newscast: The City and Borough of Juneau is warning residents about urban avalanches a bit differently this year; After Juneau residents helped raise more than $1 million this fall, a local boy with a rare genetic disease will be able to receive a potentially life-changing gene therapy in the New Year; Alaska will get $272 million from the federal government next year to upgrade its rural health system; For Alaskans, the New Year means it's time to apply for the Permanent Fund dividend; In a special feature highlighting some of KTOO's favorite stories from this year, the KTOO newsroom revisits a story about the city's short term rental task force

There's a corner of America where people vanish at a startling rate, where massive searches can turn up nothing, no trail, no remains, no answers. That place is Alaska. In this episode of Backwoods Bigfoot Stories, we head into the shadowed heart of the Alaska Triangle, the vast wilderness between Anchorage, Juneau, and Utqiagvik, to explore why so many disappear and why indigenous stories have warned about forest-dwelling abductors for generations.In the summer of twenty twenty-two, sixty-nine-year-old Mary Dawn Wilson drove her Ford Focus nearly seven miles down the Stampede Trail near Healy, Alaska, a rugged route tied to the Into the Wild legend and notorious for swallowing travelers. With a two-year-old child in the back seat, Wilson pushed her vehicle far beyond where it reasonably could go.When the car became stuck in mud, she made a decision no one can explain. She locked the toddler inside the vehicle and walked deeper into the wilderness, away from the highway and toward the interior.Search teams deployed helicopters, thermal imaging, drones, ATVs, and trained dogs. They located Wilson's personal belongings about a mile beyond the stuck car, proof she kept going. After that, the trail went cold. No footprints. No sign. Nothing. After three days, the active search was suspended. Mary Dawn Wilson has never been found.We zoom out to examine the bigger pattern, thousands of disappearances across Alaska over the decades, many ending in complete erasure. We revisit chilling cases tied to the Alaska Triangle, including the nineteen seventy-two disappearance of House Majority Leader Hale Boggs and Alaska Congressman Nick Begich, whose plane was never recovered despite one of the largest search operations in American history. We examine the case of Gary Frank Sotherden, whose skull was found years later with bear tooth marks but little else, no clothing, no gear, no explanation for how he ended up so far from where he was supposed to be.We consider Thomas Anthony Nuzzi, the traveling nurse last seen with an unidentified woman who has never been located, both of them vanishing into the Alaskan night without a trace. And we look at Michael LeMaitre, a marathon runner who vanished during a major, heavily monitored event on a mountainside crowded with other competitors and spectators, disappearing in broad daylight despite sophisticated search technology that should have been able to locate any warm body on that mountain. Alaska Native traditions carry their own explanations for these disappearances, stories of entities that mimic, lure, and take. The Tlingit speak of the Kushtaka, the land otter man, a shapeshifter said to imitate voices and faces to draw victims away from safety. The Yup'ik tell of the Hairy Man they call Miluquyuliq, a powerful forest presence that watches travelers from the treeline with an intensity that goes beyond mere animal curiosity. And the descendants of Portlock speak of the Nantinaq, a predatory figure so feared that locals ultimately abandoned their entire town rather than remain in its territory. By nineteen fifty, every resident had fled, leaving behind homes and livelihoods, choosing displacement over whatever stalked them from the surrounding forest. We also touch on modern reports, including sightings documented by the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization across Alaska, encounters with massive bipedal creatures covered in dark fur that emit strange vocalizations and watch humans with unsettling intelligence. These accounts span decades and come from experienced outdoorsmen, truckers, hunters, and others who know the difference between known wildlife and something else entirely.At the center of this episode lies an unsettling question that may never be answered. What made Mary Dawn Wilson walk the wrong way, into the deep, after leaving a child behind? She was no naive tourist. She knew the Alaskan wilderness, had lived in remote areas, understood the dangers. Yet something compelled her to drive down that haunted trail, to keep going when any sensible person would turn back, and finally to walk away from her stuck vehicle in the opposite direction of safety. Did she experience a medical crisis that impaired her judgment? Did the wilderness itself disorient her?Or did she see something, hear something, follow something that called to her from the trees?The Tlingit have always warned their children about the Kushtaka's ability to mimic familiar voices, to appear as loved ones, to promise help while leading victims to their doom. The people of Portlock knew something was hunting them long before they abandoned their homes. And Mary Dawn Wilson, walking deeper into the Alaskan interior on that July afternoon, may have encountered whatever it is that has been taking people from this land for longer than anyone can remember.Mary Dawn Wilson was four feet ten inches tall, weighed one hundred sixty pounds, and had gray hair and blue eyes with a small scar on her left ear. She was wearing a floral dress and a cream-colored kuspuk with green flowers when she disappeared. Her case remains open. Tips can be submitted to the Alaska State Troopers at nine oh seven, four five one, five one oh oh, or anonymously through the AK Tips smartphone app. If you know anything about what happened on the Stampede Trail in July of twenty twenty-two, please reach out. Somewhere in that vast and silent wilderness, the answers are waiting to be found.Thank you for joining us on Backwoods Bigfoot Stories. The forest is always watching. And sometimes, it takes.

Why do we romanticize historical outlaws and con artists? It is difficult to write about Wild West outlaws because the myths surrounding them bear little resemblance to the truth. Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith was one of those characters. Smith often donated money to good causes, but he earned that money by cheating and robbing people. When he relocated his criminal enterprise to Skagway, Alaska, during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897, the citizens soon grew weary of his cons and threats. The animosity led to a confrontation and a shootout, and soon, Jefferson Smith's life ended, and the legend of Soapy Smith began. Sources Charles River Editors. Soapy Smith: The Life and Legacy of the Wild West's Most Infamous Con Artist. 2019. Independently Published. History.com Editors. “Conman ‘Soapy Smith' Killed in Alaska.” November 16, 2009. History. Sauerwein, Stan. Soapy Smith: Skagway's Scourge of the Klondike. 2005. Alberta, Canada. Altitude Publishing Canada, Ltd. Smith, Jeff, Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel, 2009, Juneau, Alaska. Klondike Research. Spude, Katherine Holder. “The Fiend in Hell.” Soapy Smith in Legend. 2024. Norman, Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma Press. _______________ Wishing You a Healthy, Wealthy, Wonderful 2026! ___________ For More Stories of Murder and Mystery ___________________ 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 Amazon Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com ___________________________________________________________________________________ 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. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is 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: The city issued an alert this afternoon to residents living in downtown Juneau that avalanche conditions are elevated in the areas above Behrends Avenue and Thane Road; City and state facilities remain closed again today after record-breaking snowfall in Juneau; Chief Rich Etheridge is retiring from Capital City Fire/Rescue and his last day is tomorrow; In a special feature highlighting some of KTOO's favorite stories from this year, the KTOO newsroom revisits a story about a school field trip in Juneau

In this newscast: A winter storm dumped more than two feet of snow and freezing rain on the capital city this holiday weekend. As of Monday, residents were still trying to dig out as more snow fell; For decades, Alaska officials have dreamed of a pipeline that would ferry natural gas hundreds of miles from the North Slope to an export terminal in Cook Inlet. Over the years, the state has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into designing and permitting for the project, which is estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars to construct. While President Trump has framed the pipeline as a centerpiece to his plans for unleashing the country's energy, there are many questions surrounding the mega project, including whether there's a large enough market for the gas it would carry and what kind of environmental impact it could have; The City of Bethel has agreed to pay a combined settlement of $10 million to two people accusing Bethel police officers of using excessive force. 

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:Alaska scientists shared concerns about federal funding cuts hurting Arctic research at a major conference in New Orleans this month. A winter storm dumped more than two feet of snow and freezing rain on the capital city this holiday weekend. And Matanuska-Susitna Borough residents were blasted by hurricane-force winds over the weekend.Photo: Skiers head down a snowy Basin Road in downtown Juneau on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. Skiers head down a snowy Basin Road in downtown Juneau on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Photo by Clarise Larson/KTOO)

The Bluescast, also known as the 20th Century Bluescast, was Alaska's news comedy group for more than 30 years. The Juneau-based troupe began in 1979 as a radio program on public station KTOO. In the early 1980s, members brought its made-up news, dramatic skits and song parodies to the stage.

Homer and Anchorage Police are seeking information after a grand jury indicted a 72-year-old man for sexual abuse of a minor; the next legislative session is less than a month away, and lawmakers are preparing to return to Juneau; and the United States may soon have an Arctic ambassador again to represent the nation's interests in the far north.

In this newscast: Heavy snow is forecast to hit Juneau and other parts of Alaska's panhandle this weekend, following days of record-breaking frigid temperatures; When it snows, crews fan out with plows, graders, blowers and more to clear the streets in Juneau. Morning Edition host Mike Lane recently sat down with CBJ Streets & Fleet Superintendent Scott Gray to learn more about local snow removal operations; As 2025 comes to a close, the reporters at KTOO are taking a moment to reflect on the year in stories. In this special feature, we're highlighting some of our colleagues' favorite pieces throughout the year, and sharing what made these stories stand out.

In this newscast: This week marks six months since 42-year-old Juneau resident Benjamin Stepetin was last seen in downtown Juneau; The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development found that the Juneau School District did not provide occupational therapy services to some students that were supposed to receive them last school year; The next legislative session is less than a month away, and lawmakers are preparing to return to Juneau; In a special feature highlighting some of KTOO's favorite stories from this year, the KTOO newsroom revisits a story about a refugee family in Juneau split in half by an email from the Trump administration.

Tonight on the KRBD Evening Report….The superintendent of Sitka's state-run boarding school responds to some concerns about safety and student support, a musician who has been bringing organ music to Juneau's State Office Building plays his final concert, and Winter Solstice is celebrated by a group of Nordic skiers.Those stories coming up…

Homer and Anchorage Police are seeking information after a grand jury indicted a 72-year-old man for sexual abuse of a minor; the next legislative session is less than a month away, and lawmakers are preparing to return to Juneau; and the United States may soon have an Arctic ambassador again to represent the nation's interests in the far north.

To close out the year I'm revisiting four critical habitat and conservation issues in Alaska. This episode dives into the debate over a proposed second crossing through the Mendenhall wetlands in Juneau, Alaska. Local conservationists, hunters and bird experts discuss the ecological importance of the wetlands — a globally important stopover used by hundreds of thousands of migratory birds and over 230 species — and how different bridge alternatives would affect habitat, fishing, hunting access and community recreation.  

In this newscast: Juneau saw two destructive residential fires in a mobile home park in the course of just three days, and one fire resulted in a fatality; A federal grand jury has indicted two Alaska State Troopers shown on body-camera video beating, tasing and pepper-spraying a Kenai man in a case of mistaken identity; Juneau residents celebrated the winter solstice with a "light the night" Nordic ski club gathering at the Mendenhall Campground; After more than 16 years as a staple at Juneau's State Office Building, a local musical has played his last theater organ concert.

Alaska Public Media's warmest holiday tradition, Talk of Alaska: Holiday Greetings from Across the State, is back again this year with hosts Steve Heimel and Wesley Early. Connecting Alaskans, from Utqiaġvik to Juneau, hear festive greetings, well wishes and sentiments from those who call Alaska home. With listeners all over the state, and even in the Lower 48 and Hawaii, this show is the perfect opportunity to send love to friends and family, no matter where they may be.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:The next legislative session is less than a month away, and lawmakers are preparing to return to Juneau. An Utqiaġvik woman has been charged with six felony charges for allegedly murdering her father. And tourism is expected to tick upward this winter.

Mike and John stop in to Perkins Restorations in Juneau, Wisconsin, where the longtime authority on Mustang authenticity, Bob Perkins, offers up real-world stories and close-up looks behind his incredible collection of miniscule-mile, first-generation Mustangs and memorabilia.

In this newscast:  A civil lawsuit aimed at preserving a historic neighborhood in Juneau is set for trial next summer. Juneau's city government, meanwhile, plans to demolish the neighborhood before then; KTOO spoke with Juneau Fire Chief Rich Etheridge about a recent incident of someone falling through the ice, what to do if it happens, and other safety precautions when venturing out on frozen bodies of water; Over a dozen Southeast Alaska tribal governments have banded together to form a new partnership; Federal funding for libraries and museums has been reinstated nine months after the Trump administration sought to eliminate the agency that provides the money; A 37-year old Kodiak man, who has been held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Washington state for months, had a toe amputated after advocates say he was denied medical care while in ICE custody 

In this newscast: Juneau's homeless shelter is once again offering daytime meals and other services after stopping them in August due to safety concerns; Officials say to be prepared as Juneau is expected to see frigid temperatures starting this weekend and stretching into the next couple of weeks; A U.S. Forest Service plan to revamp the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to accommodate more tourists could be upended by a lawsuit brought by a nearby homeowner; Two finalists in the running for fire chief at Capital City Fire/Rescue got a chance to share their vision for the department during public presentations earlier this week;A Juneau musician is giving his final organ performance in the State Office Building this Friday; A United States Coast Guard and Sitka Search and Rescue is searching for two overdue mariners near Sitka today

First named in 1972, the Alaska Triangle stretches from Anchorage in southcentral Alaska to Juneau in the southeast panhandle to Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow) on Alaska’s northern coast. Since 1988, more than 16,000 people have vanished from this area, and every year, approximately four people go missing per every 1000 Alaska residents. This rate is twice the national average. I was surprised when I first learned how many people disappear in Alaska, but I don’t need an underground pyramid or mysterious magnetic vortices to explain the statistics. I also don’t understand the need for a triangle since people disappear throughout the state, not just in the area outlined by a geometric figure’s hypothetical lines. However, I guess a triangle conjures up the aura of the Bermuda Triangle and suggests the possibility of mysterious forces at play. Many disappearances and other mysteries in Alaska have never been solved. Planes vanish, boats disappear, UFO sightings baffle military officers, and in one instance, the population of an entire village fled their homes to escape a giant, hairy, manlike creature. Here are a few of the stories. Sources: Conger, Cristen. Why has part of the Alaska wilderness been called the Bermuda Triangle? How Stuff Works. Gough, Cody. 2019. Thousands of People Have Mysteriously Disappeared in Alaska’s Bermuda Triangle. Discovery.e LeBlanc, Jocelyne. 2018. 10 Facts About the Little-Known Alaska Triangle. Toptenz.net. Liefer, Gregory P. 2011. Chapter Eleven: Without a Trace. Aviation Mysteries of the North. Publication Consultants. Anchorage, AK. Japan Airlines Flight 1628 incident. Wikipedia. The Alaska Triangle – Disappearing Into Thin Air. Legends of America. The Alaska Triangle – courtesy of the Locations Unknown Podcast. 2019. Weiss, Lawrence D. 2019. Unfriendly skies: The extraordinary flight of JAL 1628. Alaska’s best known UFO encounter. __________________ Treat the True Crime Lover on your Christmas List to Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. OR For Murder Mysteries Set in the Wilderness of Kodiak Island, Check Out These Novels. ___________________ Also, All Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier Merchandise in the Store is On Sale! 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 Amazon Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com _______________________ 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. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is 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  All Merchandise On Sale!

In this newscast:  Juneau Animal Rescue has finally secured a location for its proposed new animal shelter; The state of Alaska is considering opening up a new ferry terminal in Southeast Alaska that would connect Alaska's ferries to the Lower 48 road system without going through Canada; What could be Alaska's first official hybrid electric fishing boat is one step closer to hitting the water

A second defendant in a Klawock murder case is sentenced. Plus, over a dozen Southeast Alaska tribal governments band together to form an alliance, and an Alaska Airlines flight headed to Sitka from Juneau is struck by lightning.

This podcast episode provides a comprehensive overview of the significant weather events currently affecting various regions, with a particular emphasis on the hazardous conditions prevalent in the Pacific Northwest. The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for the Washington Cascades, predicting an accumulation of snow ranging from 10 to 36 inches, accompanied by ridge gusts reaching up to 65 miles per hour. Furthermore, the episode highlights the ongoing flooding situation in the Skagit River area near Mount Vernon, where major flooding is anticipated, prompting an extension of the flood warning into Friday. In addition, we examine the winter storm warnings affecting Juneau in Alaska, as well as the persistent lake effect snow impacting parts of New York. The episode concludes with a reminder for listeners to remain vigilant and heed local advisories regarding these severe weather conditions.A comprehensive analysis of the current meteorological conditions reveals a significant winter storm warning in effect across the Pacific Northwest, particularly impacting the Washington Cascades. The National Weather Service has forecasted an alarming accumulation of snow ranging from ten to thirty-six inches, accompanied by ridge gusts reaching up to sixty-five miles per hour. This substantial snowfall is anticipated to commence in the late afternoon and persist through Wednesday night, thereby creating hazardous travel conditions and raising concerns for residents in the affected areas. Moreover, the Skagit River is experiencing notable flooding, with warnings extended until Friday, underscoring the urgency for vigilance and preparedness among local communities.In the broader context of weather phenomena, Alaska's Panhandle is similarly grappling with winter storm warnings, predicting an additional three to seven inches of snowfall, coupled with gusty winds of thirty-five to forty miles per hour. These conditions are expected to pose challenges for both residents and travelers alike. The Great Lakes region is not exempt from winter weather, as lake effect snow continues to affect parts of New York, particularly Jefferson and Lewis counties, where visibility may be severely compromised by intense snow bands producing rapid accumulations and slick road conditions. Such developments necessitate heightened awareness and adherence to safety protocols as the region navigates through these tumultuous winter conditions.Takeaways:* The Pacific Northwest is currently experiencing severe winter storm conditions and hazards. * The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for multiple regions until Wednesday night. * Significant flooding is forecasted near Mount Vernon, affecting low-lying areas and access. * Alaska's Panhandle continues to face winter storm warnings with additional snowfall expected today. * Cold temperatures persist in North Carolina, with wind chills posing risks to sensitive populations. * Lake effect snow continues to impact visibility and road conditions in parts of New York. Sources[NWS Juneau | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=all][NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=hnx&wwa=all][NWS Monterey Marine | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=hnx&wwa=all] [NWS Honolulu | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=high+surf+advisory][NWS Wilmington NC | https://www.weather.gov/ilm/aviation][NWS Buffalo | https://www.weather.gov/buf/BUFHWOBUF][NWS Seattle | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=SEW&wwa=flood+warning][NWS Seattle | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=winter+storm+warning] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

In this newscast: The Juneau School Board took another step toward finding a new superintendent; Eaglecrest Ski Area's gondola cabins are headed to Colorado next month for repair and paint job; An Alaska Airlines flight headed from Juneau to Sika this morning was struck by lightning just before landing; Congress approved critical funding for rural schools last week with the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act; Gov. Mike Dunleavy is  dropping a longtime priority ahead of next year's legislative session.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:Federal funding for libraries and museums has been reinstated nine months after the Trump administration sought to eliminate the agency that provides the money. The Western Arctic Caribou Herd is now at its lowest numbers in five decades. And the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has landed on a solution to put an end to glacial outburst floods in Juneau's Mendenhall Valley.Photo: A caribou from the western Arctic Herd. (Photo by Jim Dau)

In this newscast: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has landed on a solution to put an end to glacial outburst floods that have grown more destructive in Juneau's Mendenhall Valley neighborhoods over the past few summers; Juneau Animal Rescue might soon have a location in the Mendenhall Valley for its proposed new animal shelter; A group of 14 student athletes from Angoon finally returned home from Juneau Friday morning after a cancelled ferry left them stuck in the capital city for four extra days; Gov. Mike Dunleavy released his proposed budget, setting the stage for months of debate in his final legislative session as governor. His proposal leans on drawing more than a billion dollars from savings to fund a budget that includes paying Alaskans a $3,600 Permanent Fund dividend; Both of Alaska's U.S senators crossed the aisle Thursday to support a Democratic bill that would've extended health insurance subsidies for three years. The Alaskans and two others were the only Republicans to back the plan, so it failed to get the 60 votes needed

In this newscast: Juneau's Eaglecrest Ski Area is slated to open at a limited capacity on Saturday and Sunday after an influx of snow earlier this week; The Rasmuson Foundation announced their list of Individual Artist awardees, and eight Juneau projects made the list. The 50 awards go to artists across the state, who will receive $10,000 each toward a project they have planned; Gov. Mike Dunleavy plans to roll out a new plan to stabilize Alaska's tumultuous state finances ahead of next month's legislative session; Skagway School is known for having the highest test scores in the state. But a newer class offering is teaching students more than just academics

Tonight on the KRBD Evening Report….An update on the case of a former Juneau chiropractor accused of sexual assaultAnd a look at a recent event around healing through cultural identity.All that and more coming up.

In this newscast: Three months after a trial against a former Juneau chiropractor accused of sexual assault ended in mistrial, the new defense team is asking for more time to review the case before a second trial; This weekend, hundreds of Juneau residents braved the heavy snowfall and icy roads to make their way to a fight night downtown; The federal government's official name for North America's tallest peak is Mount McKinley. At a U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday Alaska's senior senator argued that it shouldn't be; The songs that got Alaska lawmakers through 2025, from Charli XCX to the Eagles

América está llena de extraños secretos, ¡y hoy estamos descubriendo los 25 lugares más raros y salvajes ocultos en el mapa! ¿Sabías que no se puede llegar por carretera a Juneau, la capital de Alaska? ¿O que en Kentucky hay un arcoíris creado solo por la luz de la luna, el legendario “arco lunar”? En Arkansas, puedes literalmente desenterrar tus propios diamantes, y las salinas de Utah son tan vastas que puedes ver la curvatura de la Tierra. Desde pueblos fantasmas hasta monumentos misteriosos, estos datos curiosos te harán ver a EE. UU. de una manera completamente nueva. Prepárate, ¡este viaje no es nada ordinario! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Photo: Josh Engle, manager and peer support specialist at True North Recovery in Wasilla, gives out cookies as part of homeless outreach efforts in Anchorage on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. (Matt Faubion / Alaska Public Media) For people experiencing addition, it can help to talk to someone who has been through recovery themselves. Peer support specialists offer a different kind of support from therapists or psychiatrists. And in Alaska, there are state certifications for peer support roles, including a special track for Indigenous people with lived experience in recovery. Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra has more on peer-to-peer care in the state. Josh Engle is bundled up on one of the first really cold days in October. He walks along a forest path to do outreach in an encampment in Anchorage. He approaches a man in a weathered coat. “How long you been out here on the streets?” “Too long. Yeah. Yeah.” Several tents and makeshift structures lean together. “You connected with any resources?” Engle is a manager and peer support specialist at True North Recovery – and one of his aims today is to help guide people into recovery. It's a path Engle knows well because he's in long-term recovery himself. Now he supports people in ways that go well beyond what a more traditional therapist or psychiatrist can do. He may text with clients outside business hours, help them find work or get connected with benefits – anything that supports them in a way that might lead to recovery. “I personally, really enjoy being able to connect with them on a personal level of someone that has walked their path.” When patients interact with workers with lived experience, research shows it can aid recovery and can reduce healthcare costs. Aaron Surma is Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Juneau, which runs training for peer support. And Surma experiences mental illness himself. He says psychiatrists and mental health professionals play an important role in supporting recovery and treatment, but there is a strong power difference. “You’re in a small room, you’re making intense eye contact, and the dynamic is that you have the expert and the person who needs help.” Surma says he was arrested multiple times during high school and was court ordered to go to Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. He says hearing peers in those groups was awesome, but things felt different when talking with his formal providers. “When I was a teenager, I was lighting stuff on fire and buying garbage bags of weed. So then to go into a small room and talk to somebody who you know, like, imagine the counselor from “South Park” who’s saying ‘Drugs are bad, Mkay?’ And it’s a million miles from what you know.” He says it's easier for peers to bridge those gaps in early recovery. Peer support specialists speak the language of addiction and mental illness and also understand the more traditional language of behavioral health professionals. Seeds of Eden, which offers addiction recovery services and community-based behavioral health services, recently received a $30,000 grant from the South Dakota Community Foundation. The grant will help the organization’s work to provide sober living, peer support, care coordination, and case management, including a project to build a recovery housing facility on the Standing Rock Reservation on the South Dakota side. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe straddles the South Dakota and North Dakota border. Isaiah Keller is one of the co-founders of Seeds of Eden. He says they're already secured a home, which is being remodel to offer future services. “The house that we have been remodeling is about 90% complete. So, a small portion of the funds that were awarded will go to finish that project, that house and to make it livable and to make it functional.” Keller says Seeds of Eden was designed to help fill a gap when it comes to addiction recovery services, and he says the group realized there was a need for assistance within tribal communities. He says they've been working closely with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Native American board members, and Native advocates. “We’ve partnered with a really good ally and advocate.  And her name is Bobbi Jamerson. She’s the chairwoman of the Bear Soldier District on the South Dakota side of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. And she has been advocating and promoting recovery and community involvement. We’re at a point right now where we feel like we have some great traction and some great movement.” Keller says they would like to expand services across South Dakota and beyond. 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 the latest episode of Native America Calling Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – Mental health experts point to personal connections to maintain winter mental health

In this newscast: Artists have an opportunity to have their bear-themed art work depicted on trash cans in Juneau built to keep the animals out – and win a ten thousand dollar award; Thunder Mountain Middle School has recently joined the growing number of schools in Juneau composting food waste. Before rolling out the program, students led their peers through sorting out their trash and seeing how much of it can avoid the landfill; Capital City Fire/Rescue is leading an initiative to make cardiac arrest response times faster, and it involves the help of Juneau community members and an app called PulsePoint; Alaska sees the largest seasonal employment swing of any state, according to new data from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development

In this newscast: A magnitude 7 earthquake shook Juneau and other towns in Alaska's northern and central panhandle late Saturday morning; Juneau saw a snowfall record during a winter storm over the weekend, and now, freezing temperatures and clear skies are expected to stretch through most of this week; After more than a century, a Lingít clan will once again be the legal owners of a Raven helmet worn during the Battle of Sitka in 1804. Non-native organizations have claimed ownership of the helmet for more than a 100 years, and kept it, in a museum in Sitka; The National Marine Fisheries Service has reopened public comment on President Donald Trump's executive order on “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness"; Looking for the perfect Christmas tree? A state forester helped Alaska Desk reporter Alena Naiden harvest hers in the Matanuska Valley last week, and shared how you can, too

In today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:State and federal law enforcement officers on Wednesday captured a North Pole man wanted for the fatal shooting of a teenager near Fairbanks. A magnitude 7 earthquake shook Juneau and other towns in Alaska's northern and central panhandle late Saturday morning. And the state launched a new telehealth service for Alaskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities last month.

In this newscast: The University of Alaska will host listening sessions in Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage next week as it ramps up its search for a new president; Teacher and principal turnover rates in Alaska have increased overall, beyond levels preceding the COVID-19 pandemic; The state approved a contract on Monday, agreeing to pay Juneau's new hydroelectric utility $1.3 million to power the controversial Cascade Point Ferry Terminal, a project that has yet to be finalized; In Anchorage, Rage City Vintage is closing its doors after a significant drop in sales; A federal lab devoted to renewable energy development for a half century has had the word "renewable" stripped from its name

In this newscast: Juneau's Eaglecrest Ski Area will not open to skiers this weekend after all; Downtown Juneau's annual Gallery Walk event is tomorrow from 4 to 8 p.m.; Alumni and former staff members at Mt. Edgecumbe High School are raising serious concerns about safety and student support at the state-run boarding school in Sitka; The Chilkat Valley is home to one of the world's largest gathering of bald eagles, and this year, the highest number of raptors were recorded in more than two decades

In this newscast:  Next week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a closed-door, three-day meeting in Juneau to discuss long-term solution options for glacial outburst floods in the Mendenhall Valley. Federal agencies, local officials and researchers will participate; The City and Borough of Juneau is seeking ideas from Juneau residents about how to spend the fees paid by cruise ship passengers this coming year. More than $20 million is expected to be available for tourism-related projects; The Sitka Tribe of Alaska's CEO is stepping down; Ten years ago the state of Alaska signed an agreement with British Columbia that sought to give Alaskans a say  in the development of mines upstream of Southeast Alaska. But environmental advocates say Gov. Mike Dunleavy's administration has walked away from key pillars of that agreement; Tongass Voices: Svitlana Bell on quilting for Ukrainian pride and independence

In this newscast: With major cruise tourism developments on the horizon in the capital city, the City and Borough of Juneau is resurrecting a task force to look at whether its current approach to managing tourism is working; Eaglecrest Ski Area is slated to open for its 50th season this Saturday, and KTOO's Mike Lane sat down with Craig Cimmons, the general manager of the city-owned ski area, to talk about the season ahead; A portion of the lucrative Bristol Bay red king crab harvest nearly went to waste this season. A catcher processor that was set to take the crab was forced to shut down, leaving a good chunk of the catch to spoil in fishermen's tanks. But  the City of Unalaska stepped in to take those crab deliveries; An entangled whale was found dead near Kodiak earlier this month. Scientists believe it was caught in some kind of old fishing gear. It's at least the 13th dead humpback reported around the archipelago this year. 

A group of Southeast Alaska tribes files a judicial review over transboundary mining projects in British Columbia. Plus, Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier enters a new phase of its retreat, and Alaska's post-neonatal infant mortality rate increases.

Jim Van Patter has managed large dairy herds from Wisconsin to Turkey to Australia to Mississippi and back again. He's now the dairy manager at Nehls Brothers Farm near Juneau, Wisconsin, and he's brought home some hard-won lessons about what works at scale—and what doesn't. Whether you're running 100 cows or 1,000, Jim's got practical insights on everything from labor management to facility design that you can put to work on your operation.

Allen Marine was voted Ketchikan's 2025 Business of the Year. In this episode I talk to Matthew and Emma about the company's humble $82 first season fifty years ago to a fleet of custom vessels running tours out of Ketchikan, Sitka and Juneau. The episode covers wildlife practices and Ketchikan-specific excursions, vessel lineup, and what makes the Misty Fjords a must-see. Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors: Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.) Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.) Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

In this newscast: The comment period for the first phase of construction of a new ferry terminal north of Juneau has been extended to January 9, 2026; A Superior Court judge is allowing the City and Borough of Juneau to refile eviction cases against the tenants who are refusing to vacate the historic Telephone Hill neighborhood in downtown Juneau; Alaska's Office of Children's Services pushed back last week on the findings of an audit required by a law meant to reform the state's foster care system; Juneau Public Markey ramped up the holiday shopping season in Alaska's capital city with hundreds of people buying handmade art, jewelry, clothes, and other goods; Juneau's Parks and Recreation department began hosting pick-up pickleball three days a week at the Floyd Dryden gymnasium this fall. In the last decade, new players across the country — especially seniors — have been picking up the sport. 

In this newscast: The comment period for the first phase of construction of a new ferry terminal north of Juneau ends this Friday; For the first time, Juneau's famous Mendenhall Glacier is not touching Mendenhall Lake; As Thanksgiving approaches, some Southeast residents are already putting up Christmas decorations, including a Christmas tree that can be harvested in the Tongass National Forest and Juneau city land; Lingít and Dena'ina writer and playwright Vera Starbard recently clinched her fourth Emmy nomination for the PBS show, "Molly of Denali."

In this newscast: Sitka city officials look into what to do about the ability for uninsured boats to use the marine haulout at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park; Marc Wheeler talks about potential changes to Juneau Parks and Recreation services; S'eitlin Jamiann Hasselquist talks about community soup nights where she makes soup from traditional Lingít foods.

This past Tuesday, the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God announced that Brad Kesler will succeed Donna Barrett as general secretary of the Fellowship. Kesler's first day in office is January 1, 2026. He will serve the remainder of Barrett's unexpired term. Kesler has been an ordained AG minister since 2000. He has served as a youth pastor in Sitka, Alaska, and a senior pastor in Juneau. For 15 years, he worked as business administrator in the Alaska Ministry Network and nine years as district secretary. Since 2024, he has served as assistant to the general secretary, providing that office with administrative and technical support. In Episode 406 of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Kesler about his life, ministry, and the duties of his new office, as well as his forthcoming book on ministerial ethics, Trusted with Treasure, published by Gospel Publishing House early next year. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards. Strengthen your family's relationships with God and each other with these easy-to-use Conversation Cards. Each card is uniquely designed with a question, faith builder statement, and a Bible verse to spark meaningful conversations that cultivate an open and nurturing environment in your home. For more information about the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards visit MyHealthyChurch.com.