Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Podcast - Alaska Public Media

Overview

This episode of Alaska News Nightly offers an in-depth look at the ongoing recovery efforts in Western Alaska following ex-Typhoon Ha Long, the science and logistics of avalanche forecasting in Juneau, a spectacular aurora display driven by major solar flares, a local farm boosting food security in Haines, a retrospective on Dick Cheney’s quietly memorable fishing trip in Bethel, and an uplifting tale of nine abandoned puppies quickly finding new homes in Fairbanks.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Recovery Efforts in Bethel After Ex-Typhoon Ha Long

[00:19 - 06:16]

Community & School District Efforts:
- Relief operations in Bethel involve social workers, nonprofits like Team Rubicon, and the Army National Guard.
- Over 130 students, displaced by the storm, have entered Bethel and Lower Kuskokwim School District schools.
- Relief supplies—ranging from winter coats to basketball shoes—are being distributed directly to affected villages.
  - “Next round is basketball shoes, everyone's asking for.” (Alex Solomon, 02:21)
Supply Logistics:
- A network of warehouses and hangars are repurposed to store relief goods.
- The National Guard is moving tons of building supplies using Chinook helicopters, prioritizing insulation, plywood, and essential infrastructure repairs.
  - “I know we've sent out last week...560 bundles of insulation...about 800 sheets of plywood.” (Mark Conde, 04:14)
- Local involvement has been critical:
  - “There's been a huge turnout from locals that have come to offer time, equipment, and materials of their own.” (Senior Airman Scott Nord via Narrator, 05:18)
Scale and Challenges:
- The cost and extent of recovery are still being calculated, with state and federal disaster assistance in early stages.
  - “From the ground in Bethel, one thing is the recovery effort is enormous.” (Evan Erickson, 06:11)

2. Avalanche Forecasting in Juneau

[06:16 - 11:07]

Scientific Monitoring & Technology:
- Avalanche forecasters at Alaska Electric Light and Power and Alaska DOT are reinstalling advanced sensors on Mount Roberts.
- Devices include snow height sensors, precipitation gauges, temperature probes, and net radiation meters.
  - “That white cylinder with the black top, that's a heated tipping bucket, and that measures precipitation.” (Narrator, 08:52)
  - “That particular sensor is important for understanding when we're getting...weak layers forming at the surface." (Narrator, 09:15)
Risk Modeling:
- Data will feed into a Swiss snowpack model for better avalanche prediction across Alaska's vast, under-monitored terrain.
  - “That's especially relevant in Alaska, where we have limited high elevation monitoring sites, but we have miles of roadway that we're forecasting.” (Patrick Dreier, 10:21)
Forecasting Limitations:
- Despite advances, forecasters acknowledge the challenges of local variability and the risks of imperfect predictions.

3. Anchorage Pedestrian Fatality Update

[11:16 - 12:19]

Incident Report:
- A man, Jason Felder, died after being struck by a pickup truck in South Anchorage, marking the 14th pedestrian fatality of the year.

4. Dazzling Aurora & Triple X-Class Solar Flares

[12:19 - 15:22]

Eyewitness Accounts:
- Residents and new arrivals in Fairbanks braved -10°F to witness a rare, vivid aurora display.
  - “‘It's my first time actually seeing even faintest of the faintest.’” (Fatin Pasha, 12:41)
Scientific Context:
- The event was driven by an unusual series of three powerful “X-class” solar flares, including one dubbed “Cannibal,” disrupting satellite and monitoring equipment.
  - “Unfortunately, the spacecraft sensors are all a little bit disruptive at the moment. I suspect that we just got hit by that third one." (Mark Conde, 14:08)
Impacts & Rare Opportunity:
- Past events have knocked out satellites and disrupted power grids.
- The speed and scale of the current flares are historic:
  - “The flares...are traveling at the highest speed he's ever seen, about 870 miles per second.” (Shelby Herbert, 14:36)
  - “‘So the event we're experiencing right now...is certainly something that is not an everyday event by any stretch of the imagination.’” (Mark Conde, 14:44)

5. A Community Farm Blooms in Haines

[15:22 - 18:54]

Food Security Efforts:
- A new farm in the Chilkat Valley turned vacant land into a thriving source of fresh food, producing nearly 3,000 pounds this season.
  - “I’m going to use every freaking leaf of every cabbage that I harvest and if…and the pieces that I can’t are going to go into compost to make my cabbages next year.” (Liz Landis paraphrased, 15:42)
Distribution & Community Impact:
- Produce is given through trade, for free, or to senior centers, food pantries, and volunteers.
Future Goals:
- The lead farmer hopes for more volunteers, expanded fields, and “the first all-Alaskan gumbo”—dependent on okra’s growth next year.

6. Remembering Dick Cheney’s Bethel Fishing Trip

[18:54 - 22:59]

Anecdotes From the 1991 Visit:
- As Defense Secretary, Cheney visited Bethel for a low-profile fishing vacation, dodging media and enjoying down-to-earth hospitality.
  - “By ordinary standards, maybe not a vacation. You're never not. Secretary of Defense.” (Dick Cheney, 20:08)
Local Color:
- Stories included multimillion-dollar helicopter pizza runs, chocolate cake on a private jet, and Cheney’s pride in a well-used fishing lure.
  - “And this little hook has got all these feathers and stuff on. It was completely wore out. Monster smile with this hook, he says. I got at least 20 fish on this hook.” (John Wallace via Mark Conde, 22:26)

7. All Nine Dumped Puppies Adopted in a Day

[22:59 - 25:36]

Discovery and Shelter Response:
- Nine German Shepherd mix puppies were rescued from the Fox transfer site and brought to the Fairbanks animal shelter.
  - “They're about 13 weeks old right now and about £15 apiece. They'll be a bit bigger, but my goodness, are they sweet and cute and calm.” (Narrator & Mayor Greyer Hopkins, 23:48)
Adoption Success:
- After waiting for an owner, all nine puppies were vaccinated, checked, spayed/neutered, and adopted the same day they became available.
  - “We have a warm building here that they can get all that care that they need and then find those homes and not have to stay at the transfer site in a cold cage.” (Sandra Hill, 24:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Community Response:
“There's been a huge turnout from locals that have come to offer time, equipment and materials of their own…”
– Senior Airman Scott Nord, [05:18]
On Aurora:
“So I'm hanging around in this negative weather hoping to catch a glimpse.”
– Fatin Pasha, [12:50]
On the Solar Storm:
"The event we're experiencing right now...is certainly something that is not an everyday event by any stretch of the imagination."
– Mark Conde, [14:44]
On Local Food Production:
"Generally I got to go around and be the little vegetable fairy. And some say thank you for the time that you give to other people. Here's a bag of peas."
– Liz Landis (Paraphrased), [15:42-18:54]
On Cheney's Alaskan Approach:
“By ordinary standards, maybe not a vacation. You're never not. Secretary of Defense.”
– Dick Cheney, [20:08]
On Puppy Adoptions:
“All nine...had all found new homes.”
– Patrick Gilchrist, [25:24]

Timestamps for Major Segments

Bethel storm recovery & relief logistics: 00:19 – 06:16
Avalanche forecasting technology & interviews: 06:16 – 11:07
Anchorage pedestrian fatality: 11:16 – 12:19
Aurora & X-class solar storm science: 12:19 – 15:22
Chilkat Valley community farm: 15:22 – 18:54
Dick Cheney’s Bethel fishing trip (reminiscence): 18:54 – 22:59
Dumped puppies adopted in Fairbanks: 22:59 – 25:36

Tone and Style

The episode blends factual reporting with vibrant local color and interviews, maintaining a community-focused, informative tone that highlights the resilience, resourcefulness, and warmth found across Alaska. Personal stories and scientific explanations intertwine, giving a voice to those impacted and those responding, all while capturing the unique spirit of the state.