Alaska News Nightly – Monday, October 27, 2025

Podcast: Alaska News Nightly | Host: Casey Grove & Alaska Public Media Team
Date: October 27, 2025

Overview

This episode covers pressing statewide news affecting Alaskans, including Senator Lisa Murkowski’s bipartisan plea to end the government shutdown, the aftermath of a devastating typhoon in western Alaska, landslide preparedness in the Southeast, local controversies over internet ownership and cultural preservation, rockslide threats in Skagway, youth empowerment through podcasting in Juneau, and a Ketchikan Filipino restaurant’s dual role as eatery and living history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Senator Murkowski’s Plea to End the Government Shutdown

Reporter: Liz Ruskin | Host: Casey Grove

• Main Message: Senator Lisa Murkowski publicly calls for her Senate colleagues to put aside partisanship to end the prolonged government shutdown, championing the needs of both Alaskans and the broader American public.
• Impact on Alaskans:
  • Federal workers are unpaid, families await food benefits.
  • Commercial applications (permits, licenses, loans) are halted.
  • Medical emergencies, like a life-saving drug application in Anchorage, are delayed.
• Bipartisan Efforts: Murkowski pushes for compromise, referencing Senate “gangs” that typically broker deals during deadlocks, and insists “as long as people are still talking, that’s a positive” ([02:28]).
• Constitutional Focus:
  • Challenges President Trump’s use of emergency powers (tariffs, military actions), holding firm to Congressional authority as outlined in Article 1.
  • Stresses not fearing political consequences when constitutional duty is at stake.

    “I can't be fearful of political consequences if I think it has violated my obligation under Article 1 of the Constitution.” — Lisa Murkowski ([03:27])

• Dissent Among Alaska Delegation: Senator Dan Sullivan opposed Murkowski on military action, with aides offering only limited comment.

2. Aftermath of Typhoon Ha Long in Tuntutuliak

Reporter: Evan Erickson

• Community Response: Ten days post-typhoon, Tuntutuliak is grappling with flooded homes and destroyed infrastructure as winter approaches.
• Relief and Resilience:
  • National Guard aids in debris removal; residents pull together to help each other.
  • Emotional accounts of rescue and evacuation, including elders and medically vulnerable first ([06:20]).
  • School serves as relief center and temporary home to evacuees from neighboring villages.
  • Local families, like the Luppis, share their homes; anxieties and homesickness linger but gratitude prevails:

    “Even if it's very sad thing, we're being piled up and still joking with each other.” — Elder Henry Luppi ([05:53])

  • Strong community spirit and practical recovery (e.g., fixing heaters, salvaging food storage).
  • No injuries reported despite severe property loss.

3. Southeast Alaska Landslide Preparedness (SLIP Initiative)

Reporter: Lisa Bush

• Strategic Coordination:
  • New coalition (SLIP) unites tribal, government, and nonprofit efforts.
  • Draft plan emphasizes creating risk maps, early warnings, response/mitigation strategies, and community education.

    “We know that a lot of our communities are built in landslide areas. That doesn't mean we should put our head in the sand and ignore it.” — Lisa Bush ([10:24])

• Public Involvement: Residents encouraged to provide feedback on strategies at kcaw.org.

4. GCI Internet Ownership – John Malone’s Bid

Source: Alaska Beacon

• Business Shift: Billionaire John Malone seeks regulatory approval for majority voting control of GCI Liberty, parent of Alaska’s largest ISP.
• Community Impact: Takeover could affect United Utilities, with direct consequences for broadband in rural regions like the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
• Transparency Concerns: Malone and GCI request confidentiality for financial details; public comment period is open.

5. Wrangell: Archeological Discovery Pauses Housing Development

Reporter: Colette Czarnicki

• Development Halted: Shell midden discovered at development site—artefacts suggest significant indigenous history.
• Historical Context: Site was once the Alaska Native boarding school associated with cultural trauma:

  “There's a long history of colonialization that includes the Rangel Institute, what we prefer now to call the Alaska Native boarding school.” — Albert Reinhardt ([14:51])

• Mitigation: Work paused pending state-approved cultural recovery plan; land sale ongoing.

6. Skagway Rockslide Threat & Mitigation Plans

Reporter: Melinda Munson

• Risk Assessment: Geological studies highlight catastrophic potential from unstable rock above the key cruise ship dock.
• Proposed Solutions: Four options presented, with preference toward excavation and removal.

  “The failure will eventually happen. But predicting when it's going to happen is very difficult…and so right now we have time to be proactive…” — Kyle Brennan, Shannon & Wilson ([16:39])

• Funding Issues: FEMA grant mostly lost to previous federal administration; planning continues.
• Community Engagement: City of Skagway will have final say; further public forums planned.

7. Youth Podcasting in Juneau

Reporter: Yvonne Crumry

• Empowering Voices: New podcast club at Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Indigenous Sciences building teaches tech and collaboration to local kids.
• Creative Projects: Halloween-themed podcasts blend fun and skill-building.

  “It also gives them a space where they're working with others as a team, so just allowing each of the different gifts that come into the room, allowing those gifts to flourish…” — Instructor Corey Wolfe ([20:45])

• Vision: Aims to support young people launching their own media initiatives.

8. Filipino Heritage in Ketchikan: Daya’s Café as Living History

Reporter: Hunter Morrison

• Community & Culture: Daya’s Café, run by 93-year-old Clara Diaz, doubles as a local history exhibit, documenting Filipino American experiences.
• Permanent Installation: Photos and oral histories now line the walls, honoring Diaz’s journey from nurse in Manila to Alaska pioneer.

  “Part of our ethos is to kind of share the stories of people who may have been overlooked.” — Shane Nowska, Mana ([23:08])

• Broader Impact: Highlights often-unrecognized Filipino contributions to Alaskan life.

  “The more that we can learn about each other, we can understand that we have a shared history and we can build mutual understanding and a sense of belonging for all of us right now.” — Shane Nowska ([25:22])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Right now, those that are losing are the American people.” — Lisa Murkowski ([01:16])
• “We’re being piled up and still joking with each other.” — Henry Luppi ([05:53])
• “We want one hub. And that’s where the idea of SLIP came about.” — Lisa Bush ([09:35])
• “All of the kids have their favorite podcast. A lot of them…have a vision for their own podcast.” — Corey Wolfe, podcast mentor ([21:07])
• “Now I’m bringing my grandkids here. So it really is a historical location.” — Alma Manalbit Parker ([24:47])

Timestamps for Key Sections

• Murkowski on the Shutdown & Senate Dynamics: 00:06 — 04:37
• Typhoon Ha Long Aftermath in Tuntutuliak: 04:37 — 08:56
• SLIP Landslide Preparedness Plan: 08:58 — 11:47
• GCI Takeover by John Malone: 11:55 — 13:37
• Wrangell Archaeological Pause: 13:37 — 15:39
• Skagway Rockslide Hazard & Response Options: 15:39 — 19:24
• Juneau Youth Podcasting: 19:24 — 21:49
• Daya’s Café and Filipino History in Ketchikan: 21:49 — 26:02

Tone & Style

This episode carries a tone of resilience, collaboration, and respect for community voices and histories. Stories range from urgent Federal and natural crises to everyday cultural celebration, highlighting how Alaskans support each other through adversity while honoring their diverse legacies.

This detailed summary provides context, flow, and vivid highlights from the episode, making it informative for those who haven’t listened while maintaining the voices and priorities of the original reporting team.