A Closer Look Archives - Alaska Public Media

This program is all about long serving Alaska Public Media Program Director Bede Trantina, as well as memories of the early days of KSKA. We sat down with Bede and Alex Hills, the founding general manager of KSKA who hired Bede 39 years ago to find out more about how the station got started and how Bede began her tenure here. LISTEN HERE

Today's program features a discussion with mariner, surfer and author, Jonathan White about his book Tides-The Science and Spirit of the Ocean. White spent ten years researching tides and the global effects of tidal action after his boat nearly sank in Alaska. Listen now

The scene outside of Brother Francis Shelter in downtown Anchorage can seem like chaos, but walking inside tells a different story. Stay the night at the emergency shelter and learn from some of the people who sleep, volunteer, and work there during this edition of A Closer Look. KSKA: Friday, Nov. 27, at 2:00 p.m. Download Audio:

Forty-five years after the humpback whaleswere first listed under the Endangered Species Act, federal scientists say that most humpback populations – including those common in Alaska – are stable and growing. Last month the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommended delisting the humpback whale. In this four-part investigative series, Sitka reporter Rachel Waldholz delves into the Endangered Species Act and what possible delisting could mean for the humpbacks. Listen now:

This week, Alaska commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Great Alaska Earthquake. The calamity destroyed whole towns, took lives and still stands as the largest earthquake to ever rock North America. KSKA will take a look at how one Alaska Community, Seward, rose to the challenge of rebuilding after the quake and seven tidal waves flattened most of the town. That's on A Closer Look, on KSKA . KSKA: Tuesday, March 25, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

Many rural Alaskan communities are trying to revive their cultures and languages. But some mental health experts say that in order to revitalize their communities and their families, they first have to acknowledge and heal from the pains of the past. APRN’s Anne Hillman learned about historical trauma as part of an on-going series looking at Culture in Alaska. Download Audio

As part of an on-going series on Alaska’s cultural connections, we’re taking A Closer Look at cross-cultural adoption. Last winter, Anchorage resident Sarah Gonzales and her husband adopted a beautiful healthy baby boy; they met him when he was one day old at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. She shares her thoughts about how to integrate his birth culture in their family life. Download Audio

On this edition of A Closer Look KSKA presents a profile of the Anchorage School District as presented by its superintendent, Carol Comeau. The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce had invited Superintendent Comeau to describe the district's overall status and what influences were likely to impact the 2011-2012 school term. KSKA: Monday 9/5 at 1:00 pm and Saturday 9/10 at 5:30 pm

Double click photo for captions or to enlarge. Monday, Aug. 22 @ 1:00 pm & Saturday Aug. 27 at 6:30 pm The Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory is located in Anchorage, but its mission is to serve police departments and trooper stations across the state. On A Closer Look, KSKA’ s Len Anderson takes us on an audio tour of the new state Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory under construction and set for completion in June, 2012.

Mon., Aug. 1 at 1:00 pm and Sat. Aug. 6 at 6:30 pm Title 21, it's sweeping; it's controversial; and often it's confusing. For nearly 10 years Anchorage has grappled with rewriting Title 21, the municipality's land use code, but for many its details remain hazy. Join us for an on-going series on the project Mondays at 1:00 pm on A Closer Look, starting August 1.

Quietly and so far without the fanfare of the dedication ceremony, the long awaited Senior Care Center opened at the Providence Health and Services Alaska Campus in Anchorage. It’s already begun accepting clients and making appointments. It’s goal is help to a particular under served group of health care seekers in the city, mainly seniors […]

On August 24th, Alaska voters will decide the fate of Ballot Measure Two, which requires parental or guardian notification or a special court waiving before a minor receives an abortion. On A Closer Look, KSKA’s Len Anderson presents both sides of the Measure Two issue. Alaskans for Parental Rights Alaskans Against Government Mandates State of […]

On this week’s A Closer Look, KSKA focused on Ballot Measure One which will appear on the August 24th state primary ballot. KSKA’s Len Anderson hosted the program. Clean Team Alaska Stop the Gag Law Addressing Alaskans: Both Sides of Ballot Measure 1 (13 May 2010) Download Audio (MP3)

Photo by Chuck Choi. This afternoon on A Closer Look, we’ll take an audio tour of the Anchorage Museum’s new Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center that opened in May. Center Director Aron Crowell will guide us through some of the exhibits as well as explain how they came to Anchorage from the Smithsonian’s Museum of the […]

Tuesday afternoon on KSKA, A Closer Look features an Alaska Native physician who specializes in bridge building. First Dr. Ted Mala surmounted national borders with an organization devoted to studies in circumpolar health. Now, as a director of South Central Foundation, he’s bridging the western medicine with traditional Native healing. You can hear more about […]

Alaskan writers have been busy this year and two local favorites have new books out. On Tuesday, June 15’s A Closer Look, Haines Author Heather Lende writes about her horrific bike accident and long recovery in, “Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs.” And Anchorage writer Craig Medred examines the heartbreak that comes with scratching from […]

On this edition of KSKA’s A Closer Look, we examine the major propositions on the April 6th, Anchorage municipal ballot. Four involve capital projects and purchases totaling around 40 million dollars, plus operation and maintenance costs. The fifth proposes a west Anchorage land exchange. MOA: Elections MOA: Elections – Frequently Asked Questions Len Anderson, KSKA […]

As this year’s Iditarod draws to a close, top dog drivers are moving as fast as they can to Nome. But Rod Perry remembers the first Iditarod race in 1973. On A Closer Look, KSKA’s Ellen Lockyer talks with author and old time musher, Rod Perry about dogs, sleds and the changing race to Nome. […]

The Social Security administrative appeals process represents one of the largest judicial systems in the world. Most of the millions of disability benefits claims filed annually are decided at the state level, but about three quarters of a million claims are heard by an administrative law judge. That process has dragged for Alaskans who had […]

A Closer Look is a half hour program on KSKA that gives us the opportunity to explore beyond our news stories and offer you additional insights into the events and people helping shape our community. This week’s A Closer Look focuses on the first ever Hanukkah celebration at Providence Alaska Medical Center, an extended version […]