Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Podcast: Alaska News Nightly – Alaska Public Media
Host: Casey Grove
Date: February 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode covers key developments and stories impacting Alaskans across the state, including an update on the Alaska Permanent Fund’s performance, deep budget cuts in the Anchorage School District, rising pedestrian deaths in Anchorage, a major DUI case involving an Anchorage police sergeant, efforts to revitalize Indigenous languages, the emotional impact of Typhoon Ha Long on displaced villages, and a preview of an upcoming Southeast Alaska landslide conference.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Alaska Permanent Fund Performance and Legislative Assessments

[03:10–06:58]

• Permanent Fund Beats Benchmarks: The Alaska Permanent Fund returned 12.5% last year—significantly above its long-term target of 5% plus inflation.
  • Greg Allen (Callen CEO):
    “I'd say it's one of the, in my view, one of the best run portfolios amongst our clients.” [04:44]
• Peer Comparison: While the fund has matched or outperformed similar foundations and endowments over the past decade, its three-year returns have lagged peers due to a more conservative asset mix.
  • Steve Sinner (Callen VP): The Permanent Fund’s diverse, lower-risk investments actually mean that "the investment team is taking measured risks that are paying off well compared to the other peers in this peer group." [05:26]
• Index Fund Debate: Lawmakers have questioned if the Fund should shift to low-cost index funds (e.g., S&P 500), but consultants argue this would concentrate too much risk in a few tech stocks—the “Magnificent Seven.”
  • Greg Allen: “There's no planet on which that's considered diversified in the institutional investment world.” [06:22]

2. Anchorage School District’s Budget Crisis & School Closures

[06:58–10:18]

• Deep Cuts Amid Huge Deficit: Facing a $90 million deficit, the Board voted to cut over 500 staff (including 300+ teachers) and close three elementary schools (Fire Lake, Lake Otis, Campbell STEM).
  • Pat Higgins (Board Member):
    “Campbell STEM is a great program. It got selected in a rush … it’s occupied. It's not one of those half empty.” [08:27]
• Impact on Students: Increases average class size by four; cuts also included administrative staff, nurses, principals, and counselors.
  • Jim Anderson (ASD COO):
    “…every school is the wrong school for somebody.” [08:49]
• Preserved Programs: Middle and high school sports and some teacher/nurse positions saved through closure-related funding.
  • Kelly Lessons (Board Member):
    • “I think that there is incredibly strong support in our community for offering students the opportunity to develop the grit, the perseverance, the teamwork, all of the engagement and drive that can happen when you have something you care deeply about.” [09:32–09:45]
• Potential Relief: A one-time tax levy up for April vote could restore about 80 teaching positions.

3. Anchorage Pedestrian Fatalities and Street Safety

[13:09–16:55]

• Record Pedestrian Deaths: 15 pedestrians killed in both 2024 and 2025—the highest toll in over a decade.
• Multiple Risk Factors: Major causes include the design of Anchorage for cars, long winter darkness, speed, vehicle size, and substance use (both pedestrians and drivers).
  • Brad Coy (Anchorage Traffic Department Head):
    “We do know that almost all of the deaths are happening on those 45 mile an hour roads ... that's where the deaths are happening.” [13:52]
  • On rising truck/SUV numbers:
    “You look at the mix of our vehicles on our streets … how many are trucks, SUVs?” [14:15]
  • “A drunk pedestrian doesn't put anyone but themselves in risk. A drunk driver puts all of us at risk.” [15:16]
• Enforcement vs. Infrastructure: Police are cracking down on impaired/distracted speeding, but most dangerous roads are state-owned, complicating municipal reforms.
  • Brad Coy: “...what can I do individually?” [16:31] (Encourages all to drive safer and more attentively.)

4. Permanent Fund Immunization Controversy & Senate Hearings

[01:13–02:44]

• Surgeon General Nominee Scrutinized: Casey Means, President Trump’s nominee, denied being anti-vaccine despite past comments casting doubt on vaccine schedules. Senator Murkowski pressed for positive messaging on immunization, especially given Alaska’s history.
  • Sen. Lisa Murkowski:
    “We have been able to turn the corner on this. We're no longer seeing children with liver cancer with this liver disease and it is because the hepatitis B vaccine has been made available to them at birth.” [02:25]
• Policy Shifts: Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.'s agency recently removed several childhood vaccines (including Hep B) from universal recommendations.

5. Anchorage Police Sergeant Arrested for DUI

[11:04–13:09]

• Incident Details: Sgt. Corey Adkins, found asleep at the wheel in a ditch, was charged with DUI after blowing a .13 BAC.
• Transparency Push: Follows recent efforts to publicly release information on officer misconduct after similar arrests in 2023 and 2024.

6. Southeast Alaska Landslide Conference and Community Preparedness

[16:55–18:30]

• About the Conference: The Southeast Alaska Landslide Information Preparedness Partnership ("SLIP") is hosting a regional conference in Sitka, March 3–4, to share risk reduction strategies and support after 12 regional deaths in the past decade.
  • Lisa Bush (SLIP Director):
    “...the idea of SLIP is really a community of practice. It's this idea of sharing between communities.” [17:25]
• Topics: Includes info on mental health support (with Green Cross), homeowner mitigation, and insurance.

7. Push for Masters in Teaching Indigenous Languages at UAS

[18:30–20:32]

• Pioneering Degree: UAS language educators propose a North America-leading graduate degree to train Indigenous language teachers.
  • Hune Lance Twitchell (Tlingit Professor):
    “...what they're permitted to do is just not enough.” [19:12] “... monumental shifts in the way that we do things, which is really hard today because one of the things that a colonial government likes to do is pretend that there's no time, there's no money, everything's already spoken for.” [20:14]
• Significance: Would create new pathways for teacher qualification and language revitalization.

8. Typhoon Ha Long Displacement and the Healing Role of High School Basketball

[21:22–25:58]

• Student-Athletes Reunite: Displaced Kipnuk and Quigilingok students formed new basketball teams, finding camaraderie and normalcy despite the trauma of evacuation.
  • Curtis Dock Jr. (Student):
    “It feels lighter than Anchorage.” [22:03]
  • Coach Jesse Hochak:
    “[The team] always give me strength to look forward for the next day.” [23:36] “You guys always give me strength to look forward for the next day.” [23:36]
  • Adrian Kayunya (Parent):
    “I can see so much motivation because they look forward to practice. Like, not only for basketball, it was for [something]... now we’re here.” [25:07]
  • Curtis Dock Jr.:
    “It doesn't feel the same because of that typhoon. It just changed our life.” [25:47]
• Emotional Healing: The tournament provided a rare moment of joy and a step toward recovery for both youth and families deeply affected by the storm and displacement.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Permanent Fund Star Performer:
  “I'd say it's … one of the best run portfolios amongst our clients.” – Greg Allen [04:44]

• On School Closures:
  “Every school is the wrong school for somebody.” – Jim Anderson [08:49]

• On Street Safety:
  “If your answer is no, that sounds completely insane and dangerous, then it's a good indicator that our system is built with the focus on vehicle traffic.” – Brad Coy [13:13]

• Indigenous Language Future:
  “…to get to that is going to take some monumental shifts in the way that we do things...” – Hune Lance Twitchell [20:14]

• On Displacement & Basketball:
  “You guys always give me strength to look forward for the next day.” – Coach Jesse Hochak [23:36]
  “It doesn't feel the same because of that typhoon. It just changed our life.” – Curtis Dock Jr. [25:47]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 03:10 Alaska Permanent Fund performance report
• 06:58 Anchorage School Board budget cuts and school closures
• 11:04 Anchorage police sergeant DUI case
• 13:09 Anchorage pedestrian deaths trend and traffic safety overview
• 16:55 Southeast Alaska landslide conference preview
• 18:30 UAS Indigenous Language teacher’s Masters program
• 21:22 Basketball and recovery in Typhoon Ha Long’s aftermath

Summary

This episode of Alaska News Nightly offers a comprehensive rundown of pressing statewide issues—fiscal, educational, public safety, and cultural—paired with deeply human stories of resilience and adaptation from the state’s diverse communities. From financial stewardship to the lived impact of disaster recovery, it combines data and policy with distinctly Alaskan voices and experiences.