KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska

Crews and volunteers have added several improvements to the trails on the south end of Near Island.  Travis Cooper is the executive director of Island Trails Network, which helps the city of Kodiak maintain hiking trails. One of their big projects this summer is to keep Near Island’s south-end trails usable. Island Trails Network Executive Director Travis Cooper peruses trails …

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Unalaska’s drinking water shows traces of PFAS. Black seaweed in Southeast is becoming less tasty and harder to find. And scientists use sediments to predict future storms.  

Kodiak is now part of an online initiative to make public health data across the country more accessible to local communities.  Kodiak is the second city in Alaska to join the City Health Dashboard (Brian Venua/KMXT) The City Health Dashboard was created by New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, and includes everything from rates of diabetes to broadband connectivity. …

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: The rapid advance of a wildfire prompted an evacuation notice last night for a neighborhood north of Fairbanks. Alaska’s Congressional delegation wants to make the “Landless” communities of Southeast landless no more. And two swimmers have successfully crossed the Frederick Sound. Andrew Simmons in Frederick Sound. Photo: Orin Pierson

The Alutiiq Museum received a grant for $144,070 from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to develop a book of modern Native art. Museum staff said the book will include over 200 pieces and feature dozens of Indigenous artists. Amy Steffian is the chief curator of the Alutiiq Museum; she said the goal is to show that Alutiiq tradition …

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Warm and dry conditions increased wildfire activity around the Interior yesterday. Satellite data provided by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute is helping state and federal agencies fight wildfires. And the Senate has passed its version of the defense bill, with money for Alaska projects. Smoke column of the Teklanika River …

Last week, the National Guard armory in Kodiak was renamed to honor Daniel Lee Harmon. Harmon was Alutiiq and a soldier from Woody Island, on the Kodiak archipelago. He was killed in action during the Vietnam War, and honored with three Bronze Stars, one of the highest military honors. Two were awarded with Valor – which denotes heroism in combat. …

Talk of the Rock host Jared Griffin talks with Alutiiq Museum Executive Director April Laktonen Counceller and Djuna Davidson, Director of Advancement and Operations, about museum programs and their $14 million renovation project. You can check out the Alutiiq Museum renovation plans at https://alutiiqmuseum.org/visit/renovation Listen to their conversation here: