Alaska News Nightly: Monday, September 29, 2025
Alaska Public Media
Aired: September 30, 2025
Host: Casey Grove
Episode Overview
This episode of Alaska News Nightly centers on the looming federal government shutdown and its acute ramifications for Alaska; a major legal reversal affecting tribal gaming and Native allotments; the 10th anniversary of Anchorage’s extension of LGBTQ rights; updates on a new veterans cemetery in Interior Alaska; a glacial outburst on the Taku River; playground funding debates in Juneau; and the creative fusion of viral monster dolls with traditional weaving art.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Looming Federal Government Shutdown: What It Means for Alaska
(00:54-06:42)
Guest: Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media Washington correspondent
Federal Uncertainty and Alaska Impacts
- Congress and the Trump White House remain gridlocked on a spending deal, with a shutdown imminent (00:54).
- Unusual pre-shutdown memo from White House’s Office of Management and Budget: directs agencies to treat the shutdown as an opportunity to “fire employees working on any program not funded by another law and not consistent with the president's priorities” (01:29).
- Liz Ruskin: “That is the big question. Is this just posturing... The Trump administration has shown an appetite for cutting loose thousands of civil servants.” (01:56)
- Senator Lisa Murkowski’s position: Opposed temporary spending without healthcare marketplace subsidies, but will back whatever avoids a shutdown (02:37).
Services Likely to Continue—But Uncertainty Looms
- Social Security checks, mail, Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), and WIC will continue—until funding runs out. SNAP funded through October; WIC through three weeks of October in Alaska (03:32).
- Air travel: Essential workers like air traffic controllers and TSA will work without pay (04:20).
Federal Workers and Public Lands
- About 15,000 civilian federal employees in AK. Essential staff (FBI, controllers) work without pay, others furloughed—may get back pay, unless the memo marks them for termination (04:44).
- Liz Ruskin: “If the White House memo is to be taken seriously, some federal workers will receive termination notices.” (05:18)
- Public lands: Likely remain accessible, though staff may be unavailable. Fat Bear Week will see its champion crowned before the shutdown (05:45).
- Memorable moment: “As for Fat Bear Week... the champion is due to be crowned Tuesday before the shutdown...so that will go on as scheduled, thankfully.” (05:57)
Shutdown Endgame Unknown
- “No one knows” when a shutdown could end; neither party has much incentive to resolve quickly (06:20).
2. Reversal on Alaska Native Allotments and the Eklutna Tribe Casino
(06:52-11:37)
Reporter: Rhonda McBride
Legal Tug-of-War Over Tribal Authority
- Interior Dept. (Trump administration) reversed a Biden-era decision granting Alaska tribes legal jurisdiction over Native allotments.
- Could return millions of acres to state control, threaten the new Eklutna tribe casino near Anchorage (06:52).
- Bob Anderson (former Interior legal officer): Gave tribes jurisdiction—reversed by Deputy Sec. Catherine McGregor, restoring 1993 policy (07:16).
- Anderson (quoted by Casey Grove): “It's been the law in the lower 48 forever, and Alaska's part of the United States, and the same federal laws apply here as they do everywhere else.” (08:23)
- Over 17,000 Native allotments in Alaska; debate intensified by differences between ANCSA’s corporate land ownership and reservation systems elsewhere (08:34).
State and Community Response
- State Attorney General hails the ruling; argues it restores original Congressional intent (08:34).
- The Eklutna tribe’s gaming hall remains open, with leadership seeking legal and governmental clarity (09:14).
- Neighboring property owners, already in litigation, are pleased with the ruling but the outcome remains uncertain.
- Don Mitchell, attorney: “The neighbors are delighted that this development has happened, but...whether that does happen, we shall see.” (10:37-11:05)
- Gaming hall described as economic boost: jobs, income, charity donations (11:05).
3. Ten Years of Anchorage LGBTQ Civil Rights Protections
(11:51-17:10)
Reporter: Wesley Early
Decades in the Making
- The 10th anniversary of ordinance codifying civil rights protections for gender identity and sexual orientation (11:52).
- Historical perspective: Early Anchorage charter included “sexual preference” protection, but faced swift backlash and was vetoed (12:27).
- Darrell Hess, former Equal Rights Commissioner: “At first, it had flown under the radar. So the next day...all hell broke loose.” (12:27)
- On the mayor’s public stance: “Here's the mayor I voted for saying I was a deviate...” (13:34)
Legislative Struggles and Victories
- Multiple failed attempts in the 1990s and 2009 (vetoed by mayors).
- 2012: Ballot measure to restore protections—defeated by voters (14:24).
- Felix Rivera, assembly member: “I was just crying...We had all spent so much time and energy and put our souls into this and to see it just go down in flames. It was completely unexpected...” (14:53)
- 2015: Breakthrough with bipartisan sponsorship; transgender rights included after debate.
- Patrick Flynn (co-sponsor): “It was my opinion the trans community was the most vulnerable amongst the group...to his credit, [Evans] acceded to that” (15:31)
- Protections now codified under city law.
Lasting Impact & Vigilance
- Rivera: “They know that if their employer...decides to discriminate...they know they have recourse...Before that didn’t exist.” (16:18)
- Hess: “Those rights were given by the stroke of a pen, and a stroke of a pen can take them away. So we have to be vigilant, not just the gay community, but everybody.” (16:56)
4. Interior Alaska’s First Veterans Cemetery Funded
(17:13-19:55)
Reporter: Tim Ellis
Major Federal Grant for Veterans
- $16.7M awarded to begin construction of region’s first veterans cemetery, near Salcha (17:23).
- Verdi Bowen, State Veterans Affairs Director: “I'm trying diligently to get to as close to a thousand cremating burial slots as we can...” (17:36)
- Timeline: First phase to be done by Fall 2027, interments by Spring 2028.
- Funding secured, not at risk from possible federal shutdown (19:14).
- Bowen: “It doesn't affect these funds because this is current year funds...the VA just moved the money into our bucket.” (19:14)
- Funding secured, not at risk from possible federal shutdown (19:14).
5. Taku River Glacial Outburst Flood
(19:55-20:45)
Host: Casey Grove
- Taku River south of Juneau experiencing a glacial outburst flood—third this year there, fifth in Juneau area.
- Water forecast to crest below flood stage; area is mostly undeveloped (19:55).
6. Playground Funding Debate in Juneau
(20:45-23:16)
Reporter: Jamie Deep
Balancing Budgets and Equity
- Juneau Assembly approves funding for new playground at the Zanta Kehini campus—a $250,000 project (20:45).
- Budget concerns raised with pending ballot measures possibly reducing city tax revenues; brief motion to delay vote until after election (21:31).
- Superintendent Frank Hauser: “It just makes it really tight to do the fundraising...not sure if we're going to be able to move forward with this until October 27th...” (21:54)
- Counterpoint: Investment also supports social equity in an underserved neighborhood.
- Assemblymember Wade Bryson: “We’re doing this for social equality to one of the most socioeconomically depressed parts of our community.” (22:28)
- Decision: Motion to delay withdrawn, funding is approved unanimously (23:05).
7. Viral Monster Dolls Meet Traditional Weaving
(23:16-25:49)
Reporter: Yvonne Crumry
Guest: Lily Hope, Tlingit master weaver
Art and Pop Culture Collide
- Master weaver Lily Hope creates regalia-clad Labubu dolls (viral internet monster dolls) to draw attention to Chilkat and Raven's Tail weaving traditions (23:28).
- Labubu dolls: Hot collectible trend among children (and adults) via TikTok, Instagram (24:22).
- Lily Hope: “My three small children introduced me to the dolls and said, 'Please Mommy, buy these for us.'” (24:17)
Cultural Significance and Expansion
- Doll regalia connects new audiences to Tlingit tradition; Hope sells both finished pieces and DIY kits.
- Lily Hope: "When somebody sees an indigenized Labubu in a Raven's tail regalia, they can be like, oh, where does that come from?...It’s a way to get the work further into the world and capture some people who wouldn't necessarily come to Raven's tale weaving otherwise...and I made it myself. That's huge." (25:07, 25:34)
- Doll regalia pieces go for $600+; serves as fine art as well as accessible craft (25:17).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On shutdown firings:
“This one has an edge to it because the White House Office of Management and Budget issued an unusual pre-shutdown memo...directs agencies to take the shutdown as an opportunity to fire employees working on any program...not consistent with the president's priorities.”
— Liz Ruskin (01:29) -
On LGBTQ rights fragility:
“Those rights were given by the stroke of a pen, and a stroke of a pen can take them away. So we have to be vigilant, not just the gay community, but everybody.”
— Darrell Hess (16:56) -
On weaving and viral culture:
“When somebody sees an indigenized Labubu in a Raven's tail regalia, they can be like, 'Oh, where does that come from?'... It's a way to get the work further into the world...but are like, oh, this is a way that I can dress my Lobo in traditional and I made it myself. That's huge.”
— Lily Hope (25:07, 25:34)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:54 – Federal shutdown prospects and impacts: Liz Ruskin
- 06:52 – Interior Department reversal on Native allotments and Eklutna casino: Rhonda McBride
- 11:51 – 10-year anniversary of Anchorage LGBTQ civil rights protections: Wesley Early
- 17:13 – Interior Alaska veterans cemetery funding: Tim Ellis
- 19:55 – Taku River glacial outburst: Casey Grove
- 20:45 – Juneau playground funding debate: Jamie Deep
- 23:16 – Labubu viral dolls and Tlingit weaving: Yvonne Crumry
For full stories and in-depth reporting, visit Alaska Public Media’s archives or tune in to future episodes of Alaska News Nightly.