Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, March 27, 2025

Podcast: Alaska News Nightly – Alaska Public Media
Date: March 28, 2025
Host: Casey Grove

Episode Overview

This episode of Alaska News Nightly delivers a comprehensive overview of key statewide issues and developments. Topics include controversy over the federal judicial selection in Alaska, sudden cuts to CDC pandemic preparedness funding, updates on the spruce beetle outbreak, a contentious timber harvest project, a new tribal charter school, Anchorage's school start time changes, birding in Unalaska, and a traveling Southeast Alaska art exhibit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Judicial Criticism and Appointment Process (00:02–06:18)

• Senator Dan Sullivan Criticizes Federal Judge Sharon Gleason
  • Sullivan accused Judge Gleason of always siding with "far left radical environmental groups," causing controversy in the legal community.
    • Sullivan: "We have a couple district judges that rule with the far left radical environmental groups every single time. And that judge, in my view, has done more damage to our state than almost anyone imaginable." (01:29)
  • Judge Gleason’s record contradicts this narrative; she has ruled against environmental groups in several high-profile cases.
  • Attorney & law professor Jeff Feldman defends Gleason, noting: "She has ruled against me in environmental cases or against my clients, to cite a few examples." (02:20)
  • Feldman also adds, "When a leader makes that kind of allegation, that suggests that a judge's rulings are both wrong and politically motivated. That undermines faith and confidence in the judiciary." (03:53)
• Judicial Nomination Process
  • Traditionally, Alaska’s senators collaborate with the Bar Association; Murkowski supports this, while Sullivan criticizes it and believes in more confidential screening.
    • Sullivan: "One bar poll is not reflective of what's out there, in my view, and I feel very strongly about that." (04:16)
  • Criticism arose after the Joshua Kindred controversy, prompting Sullivan to develop a new, more private method for selection.

2. CDC Funding Cuts Threaten Public Health Projects (06:18–10:10)

• CDC Pulls Up to $43 Million in Pandemic Preparedness Grants
  • Alaska's Division of Public Health notified of abrupt loss in federal funding, affecting projects aimed at reducing health disparities and readiness for future pandemics.
  • Dr. Anne Zink (former Chief Medical Officer) laments the sudden cessation:
    • "It's hard to know for sure, but it feels like decades of lessons learned are going backwards if we lose this." (06:42)
    • "Stopping the funding partway through projects is a waste of money and effort." (07:16)
  • Major project impacted: Electronic record-sharing system (partially finished).
  • Cascade effect: Nearly 10% of division staff funded by these grants; risk of job losses; rural and urban projects equally affected.
    • "Such major cuts will have a devastating ripple effect throughout all Alaska public health programs..." (08:17)
  • Zink emphasizes, "These dollars were very tailored to what Alaskans need and want... To have those dollars cut ... is going to hurt Alaskans, and that is hard for me to watch." (09:30)

3. Spruce Beetle Outbreak Slows Down (10:24–11:56)

• Spruce Beetle Activity Hits New Low
  • New forest damage dropped to lowest level since the outbreak began nearly a decade ago—about 35,000 acres affected in 2024.
  • Jason Moan (Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection): "That simply refers to places where beetles were active in attacking trees..." (10:59)
  • Moan notes it’s a "promising development" but urges caution as outbreaks can fluctuate. (11:29)
  • Spruce beetle dynamics center on predators, available host trees, and temperature.

4. Southeast Alaska Timber Sale and Community Concerns (11:56–16:20)

• Big Timber Sale in Chilkat Valley Faces Permit Delays
  • An Oregon-based timber company’s plan for a major harvest outside Haines has locals worried due to the proposed log transfer facility in a vital fishing area.
  • State halts permit application to require more public input and ecological study (dive survey of ocean floor).
    • Tony Keith (Dept. of Natural Resources): "Just from the public commentary we were getting ... we feel like it'd be necessary to do this." (13:31)
  • The sale represents a possible economic boon but also threatens established fishing grounds.
    • Eric Lemke (local fisherman): "If there was a lot of logs and a big ship, it would pretty much make it impossible to [fish] during the sockeye run." (14:55)

5. New Tribal Charter School in Kenai (16:20–18:09)

• Kenaitze Indian Tribe Launching Thuthlin Charter School
  • The state Board of Education approved the tribe's application for a new K–3 school, aiming to enroll 65 students and integrate Denina culture throughout the curriculum.
  • Kyle McFaul (Education Director): "Our vision is to be a beacon for educational excellence and cultural pride for the Kenai Peninsula." (16:54)
  • Tribal programs and language initiatives to be a core part of curriculum.
    • Bernadine Acheson (Tribal Council Chair): "The tribal school has been a long standing goal for the Kenaitze Indian tribe for over 30 years..." (17:36)

6. Anchorage School Start Times: Early Results Mixed (18:09–19:19)

• Data Unclear on Impacts of Adjusted School Schedules
  • District shifted school start times to improve student outcomes; initial data inconclusive.
  • Andy Holloman (School Board President): "You have to at least get outside the margin of error... I just didn't see that in any of the stats." (19:06)
  • Ongoing data monitoring will continue.

7. Community Birding: The Great Backyard Bird Count in Unalaska (19:19–22:16)

• Unalaskans Join Global Bird-Tallying Effort
  • Locals, led by Megan Dean of Museum of the Aleutians, count 16 bird species on a brisk day.
  • Challenges include distinguishing among many similar ducks in the region; declining raven population noted.
  • Community event contributes to international bird research databases (ebird, birdcount.org).

8. Portable Southeast Traveling Art Exhibit (22:16–25:41)

• Showcasing Southeast Alaska Artists and Coastal Life
  • "Portable Southeast" features 29 pieces by 23 artists, traveling to six regional communities.
  • Jeannie Arnold (Nolan Center Director) highlights stand-out works, including “Coffee Crab” and the pandemic-themed "Pandemic Babysitter" headphones by Lily Hope.
    • Arnold: "He really does a great job at the texture..." (About the Coffee Crab, 22:54)
    • On Lily Hope's piece: "Just kind of a funny little piece, but also it's beautiful and just kind of a representation of the times..." (23:32)
  • Rachelle Bonnet (JAHC): "The idea of Portable Southeast ... is an art exhibit that celebrates life on the coast." (24:33)
  • Plans to expand to more coastal communities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sen. Sullivan on Judicial Selection:
  "I'm not going to ... make sure Alaska does not get a federal judge who sides with the far left radical enviros on every case." (02:05)
• Jeff Feldman Rebuts Sullivan:
  "She has ruled against me in environmental cases or against my clients, to cite a few examples." (02:20) "That undermines faith and confidence in the judiciary." (03:53)
• Dr. Anne Zink on CDC Funding Cuts:
  "It's hard to know for sure, but it feels like decades of lessons learned are going backwards if we lose this." (06:42)
• Kyle McFaul on Tribal School Vision:
  "Our vision is to be a beacon for educational excellence and cultural pride..." (16:54)
• Eric Lemke on Timber Project Concerns:
  "If there was a lot of logs and a big ship, it would pretty much make it impossible to [fish] during the sockeye run." (14:55)
• Rachelle Bonnet on Traveling Art Exhibit:
  "It is an art exhibit that celebrates life on the coast." (24:33)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:02–06:18] – Judicial selection controversy and criticism of Judge Gleason
• [06:18–10:10] – CDC pulls pandemic preparedness grants from Alaska
• [10:24–11:56] – Latest on spruce beetle outbreak
• [11:56–16:20] – Haines timber harvest and community/fishing impacts
• [16:20–18:09] – Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s new charter school
• [18:09–19:19] – Anchorage school start time changes
• [19:19–22:16] – Great Backyard Bird Count in Unalaska
• [22:16–25:41] – Portable Southeast traveling art exhibit

Tone and Style

The tone remains factual, in-depth, and distinctly local, with direct voices from lawmakers, scientists, tribal leaders, artists, and everyday Alaskans. The reporting highlights debate, community experiences, and cultural pride characteristic of Alaska News Nightly’s award-winning news coverage.