Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Host: Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media

Overview

This episode delivers in-depth coverage of recovery in Northwest Arctic communities after severe storms and flooding, state budget shortfalls impacting school bond debt reimbursements, updates on a high-profile search for a shooting suspect, creative adaptations following Joann Fabrics' closure in Juneau, and a slate of local news on housing, food security, energy development, and infrastructure in Alaska.

Key Discussion Points & Major Segments

1. Recovery Efforts after Northwest Arctic Storms and Floods

[00:25–07:07]

Mass Evacuations and Temporary Housing

• Following devastating storms and flooding in western Alaska, over 300 people were evacuated to Anchorage, moving from mass shelters into hotel rooms.
• Jeremy Zedek (State Emergency Response Spokesperson):
  "We realize that having people in those big group settings in the congregate shelters is not ideal and people can't stay in that environment for a prolonged period of time."
  (01:14)
• Efforts include keeping families together, providing meals, and supporting school bus transportation, medical, and behavioral health services.
• State and partner organizations are racing against freezing temperatures to repair homes, but some are irreparably damaged.
• Zedek:
  "Our preference is really to put people back in their community or at least put them back into the region that they're from. But if we can't do that, we have to find safe housing over the winter."
  (02:12)

Community-focused Recovery

• [03:02–06:58]
  • Over 150 homes in Kotzebue have been assessed; many require repeated repairs as flooding reoccurs.
  • Temperatures are dropping, increasing urgency.
  • Kelly Hamilton (Emergency Manager, Northwest Arctic Borough):
    "Immediately if at all possible. Help the residents dewater, dehumidify, dry out their house, put new insulation in, you know, new plywood under the floor and get things buttoned up for winter."
    (03:24)
  • Kivalina residents sheltered in schools, later returning home to flood damage; state and national guard deployed for repairs and assistance.
  • Emergency officials emphasize the need for dry, safe housing:
    "The residents need a dry place to live and winter's on the way. Otherwise they're just living on an ice block." (Zedek, 04:09)
  • Repairs to crucial infrastructure, including Kotzebue's sewage lagoon (damaged in both last year's and this year's storms) are underway.
  • Kotzebue's Ted Stevens Way closed due to severe slope erosion.

The Challenge of Preventive Funding

• Matt Bergin (Kotzebue Resident):
  "Seems like there's plenty of money to respond to emergencies and fix things like we're doing now. It seems harder to get the money for preventive measures before disasters happen."
  (06:45)
• Residents have until December 9th to apply for individual disaster assistance.

2. Commissioner Resignation and State Agency Turnover

[07:07–08:05]

• John Boyle, Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner, resigned abruptly. Deputy John Crowther is now acting head.
• Boyle's resignation follows other recent departures in the Dunleavy administration, several to campaign for governor.
• With Boyle's oil industry background and recent role as BP lobbyist, his resignation raises questions amid tight-lipped official communication.

3. Fatal Shooting and School Security Response in Fairbanks

[08:12–10:35]

• Alaska State Troopers are searching for 18-year-old Darius Morgan, connected to a fatal shooting at a Fairbanks party.
• Tim Ellis (KUAC):
  Concerns over further violence led to increased police presence at Lathrop High School and Ryan Middle School.
• Social media threats prompted resource deployment, though no credible threats were confirmed.
  Austin McDaniel (Alaska State Troopers):
  "Darius Morgan has an active felony warrant for his arrest and is also a person of interest for a violent crime that occurred in the Fairbanks area over the weekend."
  (08:48)
• Police emphasize public safety and prioritize locating Morgan:
  "Our number one priority is right now locating Darius Morgan." (McDaniel, 10:19)

4. School Bond Debt Reimbursement Cuts

[11:12–16:30]

• The state reduced its reimbursement for school construction/renovation bonds by 25–30% this year, catching municipalities off guard.
• Anita Fuller (Dillingham Finance Director):
  "That's a huge chunk of money because that's $231,000 that we just lost because somebody's paying that school bond."
  (12:35)
• Yvonne Crumry (Lake & Peninsula Borough):
  "If the state's not, then that means we are."
  (12:48)
• Cuts affect 17 districts, including Dillingham and Lake & Peninsula Borough.
• Communities are forced to cut from other budget areas, impacting services like libraries and senior centers.
• Cuts originated from Senate Finance Committee's efforts to avoid drawing from the Constitutional Budget Reserve.
• Speaker Bryce Edgmon:
  "It also... signifies how tight the budget really is getting down in Juneau with costs increasing at every turn."
  (14:31)
• Lawmakers acknowledge possible back payment if revenues improve, but with oil prices down, outlook is uncertain.
• Carol Treem (Alaska Municipal League):
  "There's this pent up need for money to build school infrastructure or repair school infrastructure that hasn't been addressed since the moratorium."
  (15:54)
• Fluctuating state funding undermines communities' confidence in bonding for future projects.

5. Expanded Moose Harvests for Storm-Impacted Residents

[16:40–18:01]

• Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued 100 extra permits for moose hunting in the Kuskokwim Delta, responding to food insecurity from storm losses.
• Philip Perry (Fish & Game, Bethel):
  "You shoot an extra moose this year, I know there's some infrastructure to get a hold of people and be able to give meat that may be able to get distributed to some of the other places where people are going to be this winter."
  (17:47)
• Permits are available online starting November 5; residents who haven't already harvested a moose can apply.

6. Alaska LNG Project Update

[18:01–19:28]

• Tokyo Gas Co. signed a non-binding letter of support for the Alaska LNG project, pushing support past the halfway mark for LNG export capacity.
• Adam Prestage (GlennFarn Project President):
  "Typically an LNG contract like this can take, you know, 12, 18, 24 months to go from initial concept to being a binding agreement."
  (19:17)
• GlennFarn eyes year’s end to make final decision on proceeding with the $44 billion pipeline project.

7. Juneau’s Glacial Flood Protection and Budget Shifts

[19:28–21:12]

• Juneau reallocates $5 million from proposed Capital Civic Center to expanding the Mendenhall River levee and repairing existing flood barriers.
• Robert Barr (Deputy City Manager):
  "These funds would contribute toward ongoing overall protection costs like site preparation, armoring, environmental installation and legal for Hesco barrier installation along the Mendenhall river..."
  (20:42)
• Expansion aims to prevent repeat of August’s record flood damage; special meeting set to discuss further funding.

8. The Halloween Craft Supply Crunch in Juneau

[22:05–25:34]

• After Joann Fabrics' closure, costume makers and crafters face difficulty sourcing materials for Halloween.
• Elizabeth Bauer (Costume Maker):
  "There's not one store that you can go to and get all of those items that you're looking for for a craft project. You have to piece it together between all these different places."
  (22:57)
• Maggie Hyde (Costumer):
  Shipping and online shopping bring color-match disappointments and high costs.
• Gigi Monroe (Drag Performer):
  "Like, we know how to get what we need and figure things out. But this year, she had to pivot from a costume idea... because she couldn't find the more niche materials anywhere."
  (24:05–24:09)
• On-the-spot creativity, adaptation, and hunting for alternatives are key for local artists.
• Kathy Buell (Balloons by Night Moods):
  "Halloween is our biggest, busiest season for anything that is not balloon related."
  (24:58)
• A letter-writing effort is underway to bring a Michaels craft store to Juneau.

Memorable Quotes

• Jeremy Zedek:
  "The residents need a dry place to live and winter's on the way. Otherwise they're just living on an ice block." (04:09)

• Matt Bergin:
  "Seems like there's plenty of money to respond to emergencies and fix things like we're doing now. It seems harder to get the money for preventive measures before disasters happen." (06:45)

• Anita Fuller:
  "That's a huge chunk of money because that's $231,000 that we just lost because somebody's paying that school bond." (12:35)

• Carol Treem:
  "There's this pent up need for money to build school infrastructure or repair school infrastructure that hasn't been addressed since the moratorium." (15:54)

• Elizabeth Bauer:
  "There's not one store that you can go to and get all of those items that you're looking for for a craft project. You have to piece it together between all these different places." (22:57)

Notable Timestamps

• 01:14: Zedek on moving evacuees from mass shelters
• 03:24: Hamilton on immediate steps to repair homes after flooding
• 06:45: Bergin on need for preventive disaster measures
• 08:48: McDaniel details suspect's felony warrant in Fairbanks shooting
• 12:35: Fuller on financial impact of debt reimbursement cuts
• 15:54: Treem discusses pent-up demand for school infrastructure funds
• 17:47: Perry explains moose harvest extension for storm-affected areas
• 19:17: Prestage describes LNG project contract timelines
• 20:42: Barr outlines Juneau’s levee protection strategy
• 22:57: Bauer describes difficulty sourcing craft materials post-Joann closure

Overall Tone

Throughout, speakers are direct and practical, often expressing urgency, frustration, or concern in the face of disaster response, budget cuts, and resource constraints. The local voices add candid, sometimes wry commentary that keeps the reporting grounded and vividly Alaskan.

Listeners get a comprehensive, cross-sectioned look at Alaska’s current challenges—natural, bureaucratic, and very human—while hearing from officials, residents, and community creatives on how they’re adapting and advocating for their communities.