Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 – Episode Summary

Podcast: Alaska News Nightly – Alaska Public Media
Host: Casey Grove
Date: December 3, 2025
Episode Description:
This episode of Alaska News Nightly covers a broad range of news affecting Alaskans: Congressional moves on Arctic oil leasing, unique challenges around a mining prospect on Native corporation land inside a national park, food insecurity in rural Alaska, disaster recovery after a typhoon, a PBS series highlighting Alaska's literary legacy, and practical ways to beat the winter blues.

Main Theme

The episode paints a portrait of contemporary Alaska, wrestling with national and local policy shifts on land use, energy, conservation, and social support systems. Balancing resource development with environmental stewardship takes center stage, alongside stories of community resilience in the face of hardship and a focus on mental wellness during the long, dark winters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congressional Vote on Arctic Oil & Gas Leasing (ANWR)

• Background: A pending U.S. Senate vote aims to reverse Biden-era protections limiting oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), potentially expanding leasing across the entire coastal plain.
  • [00:27] Casey Grove frames the story, noting the measure is “part of a strategy to dismantle Biden’s environmental legacy.”
• Political Dynamics:
  • Senator Lisa Murkowski supports the measure, describing ongoing Republican efforts to reduce federal barriers to Alaskan development.
    • [01:33] Ruth Anzent (paraphrasing Murkowski): “We opposed their Central Yukon Resource Management Plan... and their decision to shut down any potential development on a very small part of the coastal plain.”
  • Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) defends the protections, calling ANWR “the crown jewel of our national wildlife refuge system.”
    • [02:15] Heinrich: “It belongs to every single American. It deserves our protection.”
• Market Realities: Casey Grove points out that no major oil companies bid on the Trump-era lease sale in 2021, suggesting economic factors may buffer against rapid development.
  • [02:29]

2. Mining Prospect on Native Corporation Land in Lake Clark National Park

• Project Overview: A mining venture by Contango, on Cook Inlet Region Inc. (CIRI) land inside Lake Clark National Park, raises complex questions balancing Native shareholder benefit and conservation.
  • [03:06] “On one side is Contango, the mining company leasing the Johnson tract ... On the other are conservationists, fishermen, and local lodge owners who worry about impacts...”
• Land History:
  • Max Graham (Northern Journal reporter): Explains the unique history tracing back to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and the Cook Inlet Land Exchange, which ensured CIRI ownership of the Johnson tract.
    • [03:55] “The land itself is unique ... the Johnson tract was one of the sort of key assets that that deal guaranteed [to CIRI].”
• Development Plans:
  • Contango proposes an underground mine with ore to be processed off-site—no mill or tailings dam at the mine, with infrastructure (road and port) requiring new easements through national parkland.
    • [04:45] Max Graham: “It would be an underground operation. It would be pretty small compared to some other major mines ..., process the ore off site ... granted two easements, one for a road ... another for a port site.”
• Stakeholder Concerns:
  • Fisheries, endangered beluga whales, and lodge/tourism operators are apprehensive about ecological and economic impacts.
    • [06:27] “There’s a small setnet fishery there… [it] would really transform the bay where they fish … environmental groups … winter habitat for beluga whales… bear lodges … [concerned] this kind of development would be incompatible...”
• Unique Situation:
  • Graham notes the conflict as a “microcosm” of Alaska’s bigger tension between economic development and environmental protection.
    • [07:43] “The confluence of different interests here and the sort of history of the land itself is unique ... sometimes that tension is manifested even within one individual or one corporation.”

3. House Fires Claim Lives in Fairbanks and Eek

• Fairbanks Incident:
  • [09:29] A 39-year-old Fairbanks woman, Alicia Anderson, believed to have died in a house fire determined to be intentionally started by herself, pending autopsy.
• Eek Incident:
  • [10:17] 78-year-old Exena Black perished in a Thanksgiving fire; several occupants escaped. No foul play is suspected.

4. Disaster Recovery after Typhoon Ha Long

• Support for Displaced Residents:
  • [10:56] State and federal agencies set up in Fairbanks to guide ex-Typhoon Ha Long evacuees from Western Alaska through recovery and assistance programs.
  • Faith Kleida (Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management) provides updates:
    • [11:20] “Our primary objective was to make sure we were helping assist all of the evacuees from Pipnook that we were aware of here in Fairbanks.”
    • [11:57] “We had some uncertainty about exact numbers, but ... we're honing in on more confidence...”
• Assistance Deadlines:
  • Dec. 22 for FEMA and SBA, Jan. 8 for state assistance. [12:06]

5. Food Insecurity and Local Action in Kotzebue

• Community-Led Response:
  • [12:45] Town hall addresses hunger, as SNAP benefit delays and shortages strain the local food bank.
  • Ruth Anzent (co-founder, Northwest Arctic Takes Action):
    • [13:14] “We felt like instead of just complaining about policies, maybe we should take an action to help our community.”
    • [13:49] “We were very worried when [SNAP benefits] were not being paid… there was a choice by our current administration… not to pay ... this time.”
• Food Bank Challenges:
  • Only one regional food bank, paperwork and storage requirements, and not enough food for demand.
    • Natalie Dickey (food bank caretaker): [15:21] “Some facilities don’t have space or freezers ... and ... simply not having enough food to meet growing needs.”
    • [16:12] Anzent: “There were two months that we didn’t receive anything from Food Bank Alaska at all.”
• Grassroots Solutions:
  • Volunteers pack and send 50-pound totes of food to 10 villages via Bering Air.
    • [16:54] Anzent: “So we’re just starting, but we intend to continue that effort...”

6. Celebrating Alaska’s Literary Legacy: PBS “Reading Road Trip” Feature

• Series Launch:
  • [17:16] PBS releases Reading Road Trip Alaska, highlighting both historic and contemporary state authors.
  • Patience Fredrickson (Former State Librarian):
    • [17:51] “They wanted to know five or six historical authors ... and five or six contemporary authors who could be interviewed.”
• Alaska Authors & Landmarks:
  • Historic: Jack London, Margaret Murie, Frederica de Laguna, John Haynes.
  • Contemporary: Seth Kantner, Dana Stabenow, Nancy Lord, Michaela Goade, Velma Wallace.
    • [18:29] Fredrickson: “They interviewed a number of authors ... [including] Velma Wallace.”
  • Literary sites: John Haynes’s cabin, Chris McCandless’s ‘Into the Wild’ bus, local libraries, and bookstores.
    • [19:42] “That is really a nationally known literary landmark in Alaska,” Fredrickson says of the bus.
• Where to Watch:
  • Available on PBS Books Facebook Live, YouTube, PBS app and website. [20:09]

7. Combating the "Winter Blues": Affordable, Practical Tips

• Personal Investigation:
  • [21:20] Health reporter Rachel Cassandra shares self-care routines and interviews experts on beating seasonal depression.
• Expert Recommendations:
  • Debbie Maloney (Nurse practitioner):
    • [22:19] “We stay in bed longer... start getting into this very slow decline into this depressive state.”
    • [22:50] On sleep: “Our bodies actually sleep better if it’s in a more cool environment. So, cool, dark, cozy.”
    • [22:59] On mornings: “We need bright light to turn off our sleep hormones ... use sun lamps... affordable bulbs simulate sunlight...”
    • [23:38] On movement: “If we can’t go outside ... go to your favorite store and just walk around the perimeter.”
  • Rainey Malone (Alaska Behavioral Health):
    • [24:07] “Social connection is going to be a huge thing that’s going to help you get through the season.”
    • [24:37] “Just doing the opposite of what you naturally want to do, which is stay in bed and stay warm.”
    • [25:00] On night routines: “There’s a nice ambiance with a jasmine and patchouli candle...” (elaborate wind-down routine)
• Rachel’s Personal Tweaks:
  • Cooling her bedroom with a cracked window, creating a forest-like environment indoors, mixing small rituals for comfort.
    • [25:38] “I even dragged a giant tree branch inside to make my space feel more foresty and relaxing.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ANWR:
  • “The Arctic Refuge is the crown jewel of our national wildlife refuge system and it belongs to every single American. It deserves our protection.” — Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), [02:15]
• On the Johnson Tract Conflict:
  • “The confluence of different interests here and the sort of history of the land itself is unique.” — Max Graham, [03:55]
  • “This conflict is kind of a microcosm of these larger tensions between two different visions for Alaska ... environmental protection and resource development.” — Max Graham, [07:43]
• On Food Security:
  • “We felt like instead of just complaining about policies, maybe we should take an action to help our community.” — Ruth Anzent, [13:14]
• On Coping with the Winter:
  • “Social connection is going to be a huge thing that’s going to help you get through the season.” — Rainey Malone, [24:07]
  • “Even picking one or two small rituals to stick to can help your body know it’s time for bed.” — Rachel Cassandra, [25:26]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Arctic Oil & Gas Leasing Vote: [00:27]–[03:06]
• Johnson Tract Mining Prospect: [03:06]–[09:07]
• House Fires (Fairbanks and Eek): [09:29]–[10:56]
• Disaster Recovery & Relief: [10:56]–[12:32]
• Kotzebue Food Insecurity: [12:45]–[17:06]
• PBS Reading Road Trip – Alaska: [17:16]–[20:56]
• Winter Blues Coping Strategies: [20:56]–[25:38]

Closing Note

The episode ends with reminders for those experiencing depression to call 211 for resources or 988 for crisis support. Stories highlight Alaska’s distinct challenges and resilience, offering both hard news and practical wisdom for residents across the state.