Alaska News Nightly — November 5, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Alaska News Nightly delves into major issues that are impacting Alaskans across the state, including the ongoing federal government shutdown and its toll on local workers, the controversial fast-tracking of the Donlin Gold Mine, community responses in Bethel after extreme weather displacement, restoration of Akiak's electricity after a prolonged outage, adjustments to Fairbanks air quality regulations, renewed debate over a sales tax in Anchorage, and the recognition of carver Jerry Lactonen with the Rasmussen Distinguished Artist Award. Hosted by Casey Grove, the episode offers firsthand accounts, on-the-ground reporting, and thoughtful interviews with those directly affected.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Impact of the Federal Government Shutdown on Alaskans (00:24–05:24)

• Furloughed Workers Struggle: The federal shutdown, now the longest ever, has left thousands of Alaskans without pay or work, leading to financial strain and increased anxiety.

  • Personal Stories:
    • Liza Sandin (NOAA employee) is picking up substitute teaching work and her family is cutting back on expenses. Her children are asking for less expensive gifts this Christmas.

      "When your teenagers ask for $20 Lego sets as opposed to Xboxes and new cell phones, I appreciate them, you know, trying to be reasonable." – Liza Sandin (02:31)

    • Jason Rogers (National Park Service archaeologist) voices concerns about new rules censoring park employees and the pressure of job and budget cuts.

      "The administration has imposed new rules censoring what park employees can say about things like gender, like sexual orientation, like basic facts about American history." – Jason Rogers (03:02)

    • Stephanie Rice (Bureau of Land Management, union president) expresses concern for her job, calling for accountability in the administration:

      "They have to impeach these officials, you know, if these officials will not follow the law, that is the answer." – Stephanie Rice (04:06)

• Broader Effects:

  • The shutdown’s reach goes beyond federal workers to landlords, communities, and families—highlighting Alaska’s deep dependence on federal employment.

2. Fast-Tracking the Donlin Gold Mine Project (05:24–07:39)

• Donlin Gold Mine Gains Federal Support: The Donlin Gold Mine in southwest Alaska has been added to a federal fast-tracking program (Fast 41), intended to streamline permitting for major projects.
  • Company Perspective:

    "What the program is going to provide is more certainty on the permitting schedule, you know, and also, you know, accountability for the agencies and transparency on the process." – Rick Fernandez, Donlin Gold’s environmental and permitting manager (05:53)

  • Controversy:
    • Tribal governments and environmental groups, including Salmon State, argue the fast-track is not appropriate.
    • Criticism that gold isn't a "critical mineral" and project could harm salmon-dependent communities.

      "Gold is not a critical mineral and it's plentiful. There's plenty of it already and it does not change… whether or not we develop Donlin doesn't… will have no effect on our national security." – Lindsey Bloom, Salmon State (07:22)

3. Project Resource Connect: Bethel’s Expanded Community Support (08:00–11:25)

• Event Renamed and Expanded: Bethel’s twice-yearly resource fair has broadened from "Project Homeless Connect" to "Project Resource Connect" to serve both unhoused residents and those displaced by Typhoon Ha Long.

  • Services included haircuts, meals, vaccinations, warm gear, and connections to agencies for housing and pet care.
  • Teresa Quiner, library director, emphasized destigmatizing and increasing inclusivity:

    "We've been thinking about changing the name for a while anyway, just to kind of destigmatize the name of the event." – Teresa Quiner (08:26)

• Special Focus on Evacuees: Yugtun interpreter Kayla Sadler worked to ensure evacuees understood and accessed available resources.

  • "It is bigger than the village and it takes a while to learn what's going on and what the resources are and having stuff like this a place of resource, it helps so much…" – Kayla Sadler (10:49)

4. Power Restored in Akiak After 43-Day Outage (11:42–12:38)

• Community Endures: Residents faced high generator costs (up to $70 a day), but community facilities managed using backup power.
  • Mayor Olinka Jones describes relief and the ongoing need for repairs and upgrades:

    "There's a lot of emotions going on here right now. We're happy to have everything on and we're slowly going to get everything back to working water." – Olinka Jones (12:02)

  • AVCP provided some aid, and is working on compensation for those unserved during the crisis.

5. EPA and Air Quality Plan Changes in Fairbanks/North Pole (13:57–17:34)

• Energy Audit Rule Dropped: Alaska's plan to improve air quality in Fairbanks/North Pole no longer includes mandatory home energy ratings, with the EPA's blessing.

  • Real estate professionals and home sellers relieved by reduced bureaucracy:

    "The energy rating itself is not doing anything to improve the air quality like it was a data grab." – Heather Ferguson (14:29)

  • Environmental groups express concerns over effectiveness:

    "To sacrifice human health and the environment is a recipe for destroying lifestyle. Nothing puts a damper on lifestyle more than not being able to breathe or heart problems." – Patrice Lee, Citizens for Clean Air (16:59)

• Ongoing Challenge: Region must meet standards by 2027, though local advocates doubt the voluntary measures will suffice.

6. Anchorage Considers 3% City Sales Tax Proposal (18:30–20:27)

• Purpose and Structure: Proposed tax aims to invest in infrastructure, housing, childcare, and ease property taxes amid shrinking state/federal support.
  • Mayor Suzanne LaFrance:

    "It's very clear that if we don't have new revenue, we are going to be facing service and other kinds of cuts." – Mayor LaFrance (18:58)

  • The new proposal allocates revenue: 1/3 to property tax relief, 1/3 to housing/childcare, 1/3 to infrastructure/public safety.
  • Policy Director Nolan Clauda notes share paid by nonresidents (commuters, tourists) would be significant:

    "It looks like greater than a third of the sales tax revenue would be paid for by non residents of Anchorage." – Nolan Clauda (20:17)

7. Jerry Lactonen Named 2025 Rasmussen Distinguished Artist (21:27–25:31)

• Background and Recognition: Lactonen, an Aleutic carver from Kodiak, began his art career after his fishing livelihood ended with the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
  • Self-taught, he drew from museum collections, learning without formal instruction.

    "I didn't have anybody to teach me. In fact, I never have had any kind of instruction of any kind. But I just went from pictures of old paddles or masks, from catalogs from collections all over the world..." – Jerry Lactonen (22:21)

  • Describes the abrupt life change:

    "It was my life and then all of a sudden, I had to find something else. It was kind of a tough change, real fast like that." – Jerry Lactonen (23:35)

  • On the importance of recognition and encouragement for others:

    "Well, maybe it'll inspire other people to start doing what I did. I don't know. And it's… out there, and I don't think a lot of people have started to do it." – Jerry Lactonen (24:31)

  • On self-recognition of his work:

    "As a matter of fact, when I go through my photo in my cell phone, I have like, thousands and thousands of pictures of stuff that are so beautiful. I can't believe I did it." – Jerry Lactonen (25:10)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "I'm scared of retribution, but at this point, it's too important and I feel like I need to speak out." – Jason Rogers (00:19, 03:02)
• "They have to impeach these officials, you know, if these officials will not follow the law." – Stephanie Rice (04:06)
• "We've been thinking about changing the name for a while anyway, just to kind of destigmatize the name of the event." – Teresa Quiner (08:26)
• "There's a lot of emotions going on here right now. We're happy to have everything on..." – Olinka Jones (12:02)
• "The energy rating itself is not doing anything to improve the air quality like it was a data grab." – Heather Ferguson (14:29)
• "It's very clear that if we don't have new revenue, we are going to be facing service and other kinds of cuts." – Suzanne LaFrance (18:58)
• "It was my life and then all of a sudden, I had to find something else. It was kind of a tough change, right? Real fast like that." – Jerry Lactonen (23:35)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Federal Worker Shutdown Impacts: 00:24–05:24
• Donlin Gold Permitting Fast-Track: 05:24–07:39
• Bethel Project Resource Connect: 08:00–11:25
• Akiak Power Outage Recovery: 11:42–12:38
• Fairbanks Air Quality/EPA Decision: 13:57–17:34
• Anchorage Sales Tax Debate: 18:30–20:27
• Jerry Lactonen’s Artist Award Interview: 21:27–25:31

Tone and Language

The episode is grounded, informative, and empathetic. Personal stories convey urgency and the resilience of individuals and communities, while interviews with officials and experts provide practical context and a nuanced look at state policy. The hosts and reporters maintain a tone of respect toward the challenges faced by Alaskans, interspersed with moments of hope, pride, and calls for action.

For more details and the full audio, visit alaskapublic.org.