Talk of Alaska

Pedestrian safety should be a major consideration when transportation corridors are being built. But for decades, roads and highways were designed to create speedy and efficient movement of vehicles, not people on foot or on a bicycle. As understanding grows of the health, safety and community benefits from creating walk and bike routes, city planners and traffic engineers are getting better at designing for the safety of all users. Anchorage has had a lethal stretch of pedestrian deaths in recent months. We discuss what’s being done to lower these tragedies on this Talk of Alaska.

On this Talk of Alaska, we revisit our 2023 discussion on darkness, and finding ways to enjoy the short days of winter.

The harm that comes from too much cell phone time, especially for young people, has become much clearer in recent years. So much so that the U.S. Surgeon General is calling for warning labels on social media platforms, similar to the warnings on cigarettes and alcohol, because of what he calls a youth mental health crisis. Education leaders are grappling with how to keep kids focused during the school day while balancing logistics and safety concerns. Should cellphones be banned in school? If so, what should those bans look like? We discuss it on this Talk of Alaska.

Leading a happy, healthy and productive life should be available to all of us, and it is, but sometimes the path to it can be buried under years of trauma, abuse, neglect and addiction. Those of us who have suffered abusive behavior in the past may have locked it down or tried to ignore it or numb it through alcohol and drugs. Sharing our experiences, the good and the bad, can be a powerful start to healing, forgiveness and a life with less pain. We talk with Alaskans who have done just that and hear how their bravery has helped them find a happier life on this Talk of Alaska.

Who should help shape the future of clean energy, land and water use, community health and sustainable economic growth in the far north? Three Alaska women have been selected as Fulbright Arctic Initiative scholars, and although they have very different career paths, they share the common goal of a healthy, secure Arctic where the people who call this vast region home have a say in what that future looks like. We learn about their international research plans and what they hope will come out of it on this Talk of Alaska.

Presidential elections typically draw a significant number of voters to the polls. This year a coalition of Alaska organizations is working to increase that number even more, especially in underserved communities. What does it take to boost voter turnout across the state, especially in communities where people aren’t as likely to vote, and what issues are bringing Alaskans to the polls? We discuss voter engagement on this Talk of Alaska.

Presidential elections typically draw a significant number of voters to the polls. This year a coalition of Alaska organizations is working to increase that number even more, especially in underserved communities. What does it take to boost voter turnout across the state, especially in communities where people aren’t as likely to vote, and what issues are bringing Alaskans to the polls? We discuss voter engagement on this Talk of Alaska.

Alaska nonprofits have an outsized role in addressing needs for a broad swath of services, from child care to mental health support to food production. Beyond the services they provide, nonprofits are also a big part of the economic engine of the state. What will changes in leadership at some of the largest nonprofits here mean for the future of supportive services and rates of charitable giving? We discuss the future of Alaska’s nonprofit sector on this next Talk of Alaska.

As the temperatures outside drop, the temptation to curl up next to the fireplace with a good book only grows. A memorable novel can take us out of the dark and cold and transport us somewhere entirely new. So what do bookstore owners and librarians say are the best new reads? What role do these gathering places play in the larger community? We discuss reading recommendations for the colder seasons on this Talk of Alaska.

Police officers are tasked with keeping order in our communities and ensuring residents and visitors engage in lawful conduct. It can be a difficult job where decisions sometimes need to be made in seconds, especially when people are at risk, in crisis and threatening themselves or others. After Anchorage Police officers shot and killed four people in Anchorage over the last few months, some Alaskans are calling for change. Law enforcement officials, attorneys, and community advocates answer questions about use of force and how cases are investigated on this Talk of Alaska.