Anchorage Edition: February 27, 2009

Fri, February 27, 2009

Each week, host Michael Carey gathers commentators for a review of the week’s news, politics and public affairs in Anchorage and Alaska. Topics this week include:

Governor Palin stumps for a House bill to promote an abortion restriction bill aimed at minors
Palin is looking a little haggard and the press corps in Juneau is looking irritated with her, especially compared to last year
There’s disagreement in Juneau over how to handle incoming federal stimulus money
The death penalty debate in Juneau is in full swing
Governor Palin agrees to reimburse the state for some of her per diem payments
State is upset with BP over a powerful North Slope pipeline explosion
Louisiana Governor Jindal makes light of volcanic monitoring in the stimulus bill and Alaska blows its collective top
36% of kids in Anchorage Schools are overweight, as was revealed in a new study
Alaska legislators may get a pay raise to more than $50,000 annually, a boost of about 100%, though they would lose their per diem benefit
The 90-day legislative session is extremely tight

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Alaska Weather Extras: Mar 2 – Apr 12

Thu, February 26, 2009

Each day during Alaska Weather (5:30pm, 7 days a week), our local National Weather Service meteorologists share weather updates with a statewide perspective, but they also share brief video “extras” that cover astronomy, aviation and aeronautics, weather, boating safety, navigation and emergency preparedness.

Here are the “Alaska Weather Extras” planned for March 2 through April 12, 2009 if you’d like to plan your viewing:

Anchorage Edition: February 20, 2009

Fri, February 20, 2009

Each week, host Michael Carey gathers commentators for a review of the week’s news, politics and public affairs in Anchorage and Alaska. Topics this week include:

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski addressed the Alaska Legislature this week, pressing for natural gas development and more
One of the ideas Murkowski presented was directional drilling from just outside ANWR to under ANWR lands
Palin proposes more budget cuts amidst oil revenue crash
Ted Stevens’ corruption case continues to make headlines as federal prosecutors are embarrassed and an inexperienced FBI agent is being accused of overreaching in his accusations against prosecutors; what could possibly happen next?
Ted Stevens developed a close relationship with Alaska Natives over his many decades in office; are Senators Murkowski and Begich following that path, too?
Palin and Begich have had back tax troubles like so many other politicians; Begich paid his, Palin is being asked to pay hers (on her per diem)
15 candidates are running for the wide-open Anchorage Mayor’s seat; why so many? Can they all raise money? And how can news organizations cover everyone?
Alaska Legislature is debating changes in pollution regulations covering the cruise ship industry

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Anchorage Edition: February 13, 2009

Fri, February 20, 2009

Each week, host Michael Carey gathers commentators for a review of the week’s news, politics and public affairs in Anchorage and Alaska. Topics this week include:

Attorney General Talis Colberg suddenly resigns from the Palin administration. Was it due to some ethical disagreement? Burnout?
Is ‘Troopergate’ now behind us?
Stimulus plan is getting through Congress and there’s money for Alaska. What will we do with it? Will it create jobs?
President Obama suggests Alaska’s natural gas line project has “great potential”
Is the natural gas line a market-compatible project?
Alaska Permanent Fund has lost billions in this market, and a lot of finger-pointing has ensued
Will there be a Permanent Fund Dividend this year?
A two-lane Knik Arm Crossing bridge project may now cost $700 million, according to a new estimate; the report also suggested the project would take more than 3.5 years to complete
An Anchorage group is promoting a “tax cap” law, possibly up for a public vote
The Rasmuson Foundation announced a reduction in grant sizes and numbers based on losses in their endowment
Government bureaucrats and appointees have been going to the Legislature making the case for their budgets

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Anchorage Edition: February 6, 2009

Fri, February 6, 2009

Each week, host Michael Carey gathers commentators for a review of the week’s news, politics and public affairs in Anchorage and Alaska. Topics this week include:

Governor Palin’s reaction to the Obama federal stimulus package
“Bullet” gas line project proposed by ENSTAR to supply southcentral Alaska
Will prices of natural gas ever go back down?
Legal and political fallout of “Troopergate”
State of Alaska facing a major deficit for FY2010, but also discovered a FY2009 budget hole
Governor Palin has asked for supplemental appropriations; what are they?
Jay Ramras issues a report on high gasoline prices in the state, summarizing the hearings from around the state
Permanent Fund erosion provoking “angst” amongst legislators
Governor Palin is talking about building a road to Nome

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About the DTV transition delay

Thu, February 5, 2009

converterbox You may have heard this week that Congress passed a bill pushing the mandatory shutdown of analog TV broadcasting from February 17 back to June 12, 2009. Full-power TV broadcasters across the country — like KAKM here in Anchorage — must now turn off their analog TV transmitters no later than June 12. However, many broadcasters may still shutdown their analog service on February 17, as has been planned since 2005. Others may choose to shutdown analog TV sometime between February 17 and June 12.

As of this writing, the bill is awaiting a signature from the President to become law (Obama has said he will sign the bill). Then the FCC must issue new rules around the law, instructing TV broadcasters on what to do. Most broadcasters will additionally wait for advice from our media lawyers to ensure our actions are in compliance with FCC rules and the new law. All those steps are likely to be completed this week or by early next week.

What happens next?

For now, KAKM is continuing to air all required announcements about the February 17, 2009 analog TV shutdown date. We are working to replace these notices with new ones that reference the June 12, 2009 date instead. By law, we will continue to air no less than 180 seconds of DTV transition education every single day until the analog shutdown is completed. We hope to have the on-air spots replaced by early next week.

NOTE: Other stations in the Anchorage market may shutdown their analog services on February 17, despite the deadline extension. You may want to check with each station to confirm whether they are changing on Feb 17.

For the record, KAKM Channel 7 already broadcasts a full-power Digital TV signal, so if you have a converter box or a DTV tuner in your television — along with an antenna appropriate to your location — you can immediately tune in KAKM’s DTV signal from our transmitter about 11 miles north of downtown Anchorage.

KAKM currently expects to continue broadcasting our analog TV signal up to the June 12 deadline. That may change, based on conversations with other stations in the Anchorage market and with our viewers. Whatever the final date, however, we hope you’re immediately taking steps to prepare for the analog shutdown, if you’re not already prepared.

More news and updates as we have them.

PBS Kids lineup changes coming Feb 11

Thu, February 5, 2009

Beginning Wednesday, February 11, the weekday and weekend PBS Kids lineups on KAKM Channel 7 will change. Most of the changes are schedule-oriented — a show that was on at noon is now on at 1:30, for example. But there are a few new shows your kids may enjoy, while three programs are going away entirely, at least for now.

You can download a printable daytime programming grid (PDF) for a complete weekly view. We’re expecting this new PBS Kids schedule to hold steady until the traditional PBS Kids shuffle in August or September.

New and Returning Shows

The Electric Company: Fridays at 4:00 p.m., repeating Sundays at 9:30 a.m. (This revival of the popular 70’s program started in early January, but since it’s a weekly program, you may not have noticed it.)
Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies: Saturdays at 7:30 a.m.
Angelina Ballerina: Saturdays at 8:00 a.m.
Franny’s Feet: Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.
Jay Jay the Jet Plane: Sundays at 5:30 a.m.
Animalia: Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
DragonflyTV: Sundays at 12:00 p.m.

Shows with Some Airings Eliminated

Curious George: no longer aired on Saturdays, but still airs Weekdays and Sunday
Sid the Science Kid: no longer aired on Saturdays, but still airs Weekdays and Sunday
Super Why!: no longer aired on Saturdays, but still airs Weekdays and Sunday
Clifford the Big Red Dog: no longer aired on Saturdays, but still airs Weekdays and Sunday
Sesame Street: no longer aired on Sundays, but still airs Weekdays and Saturday
Barney & Friends: no longer aired on Sundays, but still airs Weekdays
Between the Lions: no longer aired on Sundays, but still airs Weekdays

Shows Being Canceled (for now)

Zoboomafoo: had run Sundays at 1:30 p.m.
Berenstain Bears: had run Sundays at 1:00 p.m.
Postcards from Buster: had run Sundays at 11:30 a.m.

Why the changes?

Two reasons. First, our ability to control the programming schedule on KAKM is somewhat limited ever since a staffing cut in late 2006. We heavily rely upon an automated programming service provided by PBS, which keeps our costs down but also means program schedules are often beyond our control. Second, PBS is making several satellite distribution changes this month and those changes have shuffled some programming lineups, especially in the PBS Kids collection.

We know changes in the PBS Kids lineup are more difficult for parents to manage than moving, say, Antiques Roadshow around. We apologize for the scheduling conflicts and hope at least some families will find the changes helpful in their daily routines.

And we hope you’ll agree that with almost any schedule, the children’s programming available via KAKM Public TV is a safe, trusted place where your kids can spend time with entertaining and educational material, free from excessive commercial messaging.