Alaska News Nightly – Monday, December 1, 2025 | Summary

Theme & Purpose
This episode of Alaska News Nightly delivers in-depth statewide coverage on significant topics affecting Alaskans. Major stories include ConocoPhillips North Slope employees' unionization campaign, key legislative considerations for the Alaska LNG project, new subsidized air service in rural communities, a high-profile inmate death, developments in mining, environmental updates, and a local agricultural initiative aiming to address food insecurity.

Key Stories & Insights

1. North Slope Workers Organize Amid ConocoPhillips Layoffs

• [00:24-02:14]

  • ConocoPhillips reduced its global workforce, affecting North Slope employees.
  • Workers are organizing a campaign to unionize under United Steelworkers, potentially representing 243 technical staff at major Alaska fields (Alpine, Kuparuk, Willow).
  • Geography poses a challenge (workers are spread statewide and in the Lower 48), but the two-weeks-on/two-weeks-off schedule fosters group cohesion.
  • United Steelworkers already represents 300 Hillcorp workers.
  • ConocoPhillips prefers direct relationships and encourages employees to vote against unionizing via a dedicated website. No election date is set.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “We’re pretty proactive in working with employers to prevent the layoffs altogether.” — Galen Prescott, United Steelworkers Western States Director [01:30]
  • “You try to apply a methodology that makes sense so there isn’t favoritism being deployed as part of the analysis.” — Casey Grove [01:37]

2. Legislative Hurdles for the Alaska LNG Project

• [02:53-05:26]

  • UK-based Gaffney Klein consulting advises lawmakers of possible state law changes to enhance the Alaska LNG project’s viability.
  • Focus areas: property taxes, production royalties, permitting, tariff setting, and credit support.
  • Lawmakers express skepticism about enacting all recommendations before the project’s anticipated final investment decision (FID) by January.
  • Senate Majority Leader Kathy Giessel notes much of this advice is new and would require rapid legislative response.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “One way the state can approach this is to start with a clean sheet of paper and evaluate all these different features, including affordable energy for the state...” — Nick Fulford, Gaffney Klein [03:49]
  • “I can’t fathom unless the governor, God forbid, called us into a special session…that we would have the kind of time in a 24 hour day to entertain these sorts of issues.” — House Speaker Bryce Edgmon [04:27]
  • “This is kind of new information to me. I mean maybe somebody else has heard it, but I haven’t.” — Sen. Kathy Giessel [05:12]

3. Aleutian Airways Expands Essential Air Service

• [06:11-08:11]

  • Aleutian Airways selected to provide federally subsidized air service to St. Paul, Unalakleet, and St. Mary’s.
  • St. Paul, with a population of about 400, has lacked regular passenger service since July.
  • Local government has paid over $1,300 per seat for charter flights.
  • Community organizations unanimously supported Aleutian’s bid, which includes three weekly roundtrips to Anchorage under a $8.4 million federal contract.

  Memorable Moment:

  • “You fly all the way out here and you have to turn back and go to Anchorage or go to Bethel and all of a sudden you’re sitting on a plane for four and a half, six hours.” — John Wayne Melavedoff, St. Paul Tribal Council President [06:52]

4. High-Profile Inmate Death in State Custody

• [08:11-10:29]
  • Aaron Scott Merritt, a former Kenai church leader charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse of minors, died by suicide in state custody less than a month after his arrest.
  • Merritt’s death is the 17th in DOC custody this year, near the all-time high (18 in 2022), about 40% of which were suicides.
  • The state has faced lawsuits and investigations over inmate deaths and has taken mitigation steps.

5. Missing Person Case Linked to Glenallen Hotel Fire

• [10:34-13:18]
  • 86-year-old Mary Jo Evans of Valdez remains missing; her vehicle was identified in the aftermath of the Caribou Hotel fire in Glenallen.
  • No human remains discovered; investigation continues, including checks of hotel records and further forensic searches.

6. Palmer Mining Project Changes Hands

• [13:18-17:28]

  • The Palmer mineral exploration project (north of Haines) was acquired by Vizsla Copper for $15 million in company stock.
  • Industry expert Steve Masterman notes that frequent ownership changes in mining are not unusual and don't always signify a project's viability or lack thereof.
  • Project faces local opposition (Chilkat Indian Village) and environmental, economic, and social challenges.
  • Federal pro-mining policies could help but timeline for development remains long.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “Some of them go pretty quickly…and then other ones take many decades. And some of them never become mines, even though they look very promising for a long while, for various reasons.” — Steve Masterman [13:56]
  • “It’s a risk and reward equation. These are riskier investments, that’s for sure.” — Steve Masterman [15:55]
  • “It’s common with mineral development projects globally. It’s sort of a problem the industry has is its perception, and I think the industry is working hard to change that perception, but it takes a while.” — Steve Masterman [17:14]

7. Legal Efforts to Revive Pebble Mine

• [17:28-19:29]
  • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Mining Association, and state government file legal briefs supporting the proposed Pebble Mine after federal vetoes.
  • Multiple lawsuits are consolidated; environmental and tribal groups commit to continued opposition.
  • The Alaska Legislature considers bills to block Pebble and related projects.
  • The mine’s economic potential is estimated by the state at $700 billion.

8. Mendenhall Glacier Retreat Reaches New Milestone

• [19:29-22:39]

  • Juneau’s iconic Mendenhall Glacier has now fully retreated from Mendenhall Lake for the first time in living memory.
  • Local scientists explain how retreat rates have been affected by climate, topography, and ice dynamics.
  • Projected further retreat will eventually put the glacier out of sight from the USFS visitor center by 2050.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “That was the first time I had really thought, oh, it doesn’t look like it’s touching the lake anymore.” — Jason Amundsen, glaciologist [20:12]
  • “Once you get out of the lake, it’s harder for the glacier to retreat as quickly as it has over the last five, 10, 15 years.” — Jason Amundsen [21:59]

9. Kodiak Cow’s ‘Milk on a Mission’ Feeds Families in Need

• [22:39-25:17]

  • Kodiak dairy farmer Kelly Foreman donates milk from one of her cows to food-insecure families, distributing about 42 gallons a week.
  • The initiative is set to expand, targeting over 2,100 gallons distributed in 2026 as more cows calve.
  • Funding comes from community donors and the program is seeking additional support.

  Memorable Quotes:

  • “Every single day this winter I’m going to have milk. No barge is going to keep that away. No empty, no shortages. I know for certain we are going to have this milk.” — Kelly Foreman [23:26]
  • “It’s never been my goal just to serve Kodiak … After this mission, I hopefully want to help inspire other people.” — Kelly Foreman [25:05]

Timestamps for Key Topics

• 00:24 – ConocoPhillips layoffs & unionization
• 02:53 – Alaska LNG project consultation & legislative issues
• 06:11 – Aleutian Airways essential air service
• 08:11 – Inmate death in state custody
• 10:34 – Valdez missing woman & hotel fire investigation
• 13:18 – Palmer mining project developments
• 17:28 – Pebble Mine legal battles
• 19:29 – Mendenhall Glacier’s latest retreat
• 22:39 – Kodiak dairy donates milk locally

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The reporting is practical, measured, and focused on both challenges and community-driven solutions—characteristic of Alaska Public Media’s commitment to informing citizens on policy, environment, industry, and social issues. Through personal quotes, expert interviews, and legislative perspectives, the episode offers a comprehensive snapshot of life and decision-making in Alaska as 2025 ends.