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.

Spending more time indoors in fall and winter might be appealing and cozy, but it can also be an effective way for respiratory viruses to spread. Alaska has seen spikes in respiratory illness in recent weeks. What do you need to know about the latest viral variants, their treatment and the vaccines that can prevent infection or lessen severity if you do get sick? Alaska’s top medical experts join us to describe the latest science about viral disease, how to prevent it and answer your question on this Talk of Alaska.

The Alaska Permanent Fund was established more than 40 years ago. Through the decades there have been multiple changes to how funds are allocated, and perennial legislative fights over the amount of the Permanent Fund dividend. Permanent Fund managers want changes to the fund’s structure they say will protect it for the future. What are they advocating for and how are lawmakers responding?

Company mergers are often touted as a way to create more efficiencies for the companies and savings for customers. Albertsons, the owner of Safeway and Carrs, wants to sell to Kroger, the parent company of Fred Meyer. The deal would affect multiple stores in Alaska. The companies say the merger will result in better prices for consumers. Do economists, public advocates and attorneys agree? We ask them on this Talk of Alaska.

The painful legacy and harm caused to Alaska Native people by the boarding school era in Alaska and the rest of the nation is only beginning to be acknowledged and understood. The U.S. Interior Department released a report last month to continue documenting the federal government’s role in the system that ripped children away from their homes. We talk with survivors and researchers about what else is needed to tell the full story and bring healing on this Talk of Alaska.

When you look at the impact humans have on nature, it’s easy to be pessimistic. Major forces like climate change and human-caused extinction events paint a bleak picture of the future. But biologists and climate scientists say there’s still a lot that gives them hope. We discuss a book aimed at highlighting conservation success stories and encouraging optimism about the future, on the next Talk of Alaska.

Housing, a place to live where you feel safe and in charge of your things is a fundamental, basic need. Having a home makes it easier for people to control their lives, keep steady employment and create a nurturing environment for children. Increasingly, this basic need is financially out of reach for people in Alaska wanting to own a home or even to find affordable rent. We discuss the layers of challenges to creating more housing on this Talk of Alaska.