Yes, suicide rates appear to have gone up in 2015, but there are solutions. We’ll talk to researchers who have been working with communities in the YK Delta for 20 years developing prevention programs based on Yup’ik values instead of Western systems and about the effectiveness of some Western systems. We’ll also delve into both historical trauma and historical resiliency – what makes our communities and people stronger. Listen Now

In late January, scientists gather at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage to share the latest information on such things as seabird die-offs, the monitoring system for ocean acidification, the spread of pathogens in a warming climate, and shrinking sea ice. All of this is changing fast, and we'll have a preview of this year's Alaska Marine Science Symposium on science on the next Talk of Alaska.

We’re at the end of 2016. It was a year of legislative fights over the budget, taxes, the permanent fund and what the fiscal future path for Alaska should look like. It was also a year when Alaska tribes were given a path to put land into trust, and the residents of Barrow voted to change its name. A 7.1 earthquake shook up Southcentral residents and a lot of other big things happened. We’ll discuss them and look ahead to 2017. Listen Now

It's that time of year again - the days will soon be getting longer, holiday celebrations to bring in another year are beginning, and on Tuesday a great big radio greeting card goes out across the entire vast expanse of Alaska. It's the annual two-hour holiday greetings edition of Talk of Alaska. Listen Now

Working to make community streets safer for pedestrians, bicycle riders and public transit users can revitalize neighborhoods, boost the economy and help residents get more exercise. It also keeps the air cleaner. These ideas are increasingly being built into long range traffic and community design plans and it’s not just a concept for warm climate cities. We’ll discuss new ways of designing transportation plans for trails and roads. Listen Now

A little-known district court judge in Detroit shapes the protection of civil rights for a nation. A young man and his mother journey through gender transition. On the next Talk of Alaska we'll discuss two documentaries featured in the Anchorage International Film Festival - Walk with Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith and Real Boy. Listen Now

Last year the legislature passed a far-reaching omnibus criminal justice reform bill – SB 91. It was based on recommendations from the Criminal Justice Reform Commission and developed to both save money and reduce recidivism. It’s based on data from similar initiatives around the country. Opponents says it’s soft on crime and lets people off too easily. But political arguments aside – what does this 128-page tomb actually do? What’s already happening and what’s yet to come? That’s the topic on Talk of Alaska. Listen now

Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health is a massive report looking at the $500 billion impact to the United States from alcohol and drug addiction. The Surgeon General’s office wants this report to help educate citizens and build a deeper understanding about addiction much as earlier reports on tobacco, AIDS and mental illness sought to do in the '60s, '80s and '90s.

Alcohol can be a fun addition to a gathering, but it can also be disastrous if not used responsibly. Alaska has a difficult relationship with alcohol and the holiday season can be tough for people trying to stay sober or limit their intake. Listen Now

A new book by former public radio GM for KOTZ and KSKA, Dr. Alex Hills, tells the story of the early days of telecommunications in rural Alaska. What it took to connect the villages and who was doing the work. The book is called Finding Alaska’s Village: And Connecting Them and author Alex Hills will be on hand to discuss it. Listen Now