KBay Radio

10/08/2025

Funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which supports flights carrying people, mail, and groceries to 65 rural Alaskan communities, may expire as soon as Sunday due to the government shutdown! ✈️ Secretary Duffy says Alaska is the #1 user, depending on air travel where roads don't exist. Rep. Begich blames partisan spending for holding this essential connectivity "hostage." Read the full impact and political battle here: ⚠️

A federal program that supports flights from 65 communities in Alaska may be cut as soon as Sunday due to the government shutdown.

10/08/2025

WARNING: Hyper-aggressive debt collection scams are targeting Alaskans, with the BBB reporting over $31,000 lost! 🚨 These callers often threaten jail or wage garnishment, but their real goal is identity theft, not just money. Remember the key defense: always ask for a validation notice of the debt! If they can't provide it, hang up—it’s a massive red flag. Don't fall for fake tolls or spoofed numbers. Stay safe and learn how to protect your personal info here: 🚫📞

In the past year, Alaskans have been hit with many hyper-aggressive debt collection scams. According to the Better Business Bureau, its office received 17 reports from Alaska about how debt collection scammers tried taking, in total, more than $31,000 from different people.

10/07/2025

The 2025 Alaska High School Football Playoffs are SET! 🏈 Sixteen teams across D-I, D-II, and D-III will battle for state crowns starting this Friday, October 10th. Can anyone stop D-II powerhouse Soldotna, or will D-I's roller-coaster Bartlett Golden Bears ride their hot streak to the title? The road to the championship is officially underway in the Last Frontier. See all the matchups, analysis, and predictions for every division here: ✨🏆

After eight rollicking weeks, the postseason field for high school football in the Last Frontier is officially set. Sixteen teams between Division-I, D-II and D-III will have a chance to claim their respective crowns when the playoffs begin on Friday October 10.

10/07/2025

Witness the shocking moment Big Lake near Huslia, Alaska, rapidly drains into the Koyukuk River! 🤯 Local residents say memories of picking berries and ice skating are literally washing away due to severe erosion, which is being worsened by unpredictable climate patterns and melting permafrost. The town is now deeply concerned about the future as the water threatens the ground beneath new parts of Huslia. Read the full story and watch the dramatic video here: 🌊🚨

A dramatic video circulating online shows Big Lake near Huslia eroding and draining into the Koyukuk River.

10/07/2025

How will Alaskans move in 2055? 🗺️ The Alaska DOT is developing its Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for the next 30 years, covering all modes: roads, ferries, airports, and more! They're collecting "user stories" from residents now to guide future investments and policy, focusing on safety, connectivity, and transit. Have a vision for Alaska's future? The DOT wants to hear it! Read about the plan and how to share your input:

DOT begins production of ‘Long-Range Transportation Plan’

10/07/2025

Alaskan-founded Mobile Medics International is on its way to the Philippines to aid victims of last week's devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake. Founder and CEO Teresa Gray and her small, self-sufficient team of medics are prepared to offer immediate care, from bandaging wounds to delivering babies. Gray, who considers the affected people friends, feels a moral obligation to help. They're bringing essential supplies, including antibiotics and a Starlink setup so survivors can contact loved ones. Learn more about their critical work and deployment:

Mobile Medics International team members are on their way to the Philippines to help after last week’s major earthquake.

10/06/2025

October is officially Pedestrian Safety Month in Alaska! 🚶‍♀️🚗 Governor Dunleavy issued the declaration urging Alaskans to commit to safe driving and watching out for those sharing the road, especially after Anchorage saw a decade-high in pedestrian fatalities in 2024 and 11 deaths by September this year. The Alaska DOT has vital safety tips for everyone: pedestrians should wear reflective gear and cross legally; drivers should be alert and mind their speed, especially as it gets darker—driving over 45 MPH can mean you 'overdrive your headlights.' Get the full safety breakdown here:

It’s a tradition that has been going on for a number of years.

10/06/2025

Welcome to this week's Community Corner! Check out these events happening around the Kenai Peninsula:
Wednesday, October 8 Wellness Wednesday (South Peninsula Hospital): 5:30 PM–7:30 PM. Join PMHNP/CNM Hayley Walters for a vital talk on mental health in pregnancy and postpartum. Includes Yin Yoga and free soup. 🤰
Community Teen Art Project (Homer Council on the Arts): 4:00 PM–6:00 PM. Teens (12-18) get a free art space to create a public art project focusing on youth mental health. Snacks provided! 🎨
Thursday, October 9 Annual Educator Evening (The Pratt Museum): 4:00 PM–6:00 PM. Local educators can explore museum resources, kits, and field trip opportunities. Includes gallery tour, refreshments, networking, and a 10% store discount. FREE, but pre-registration is required. 📚
Friday, October 10 Riedel Wine Glass Experience (Homer Council on the Arts): 6:00 PM. Learn how glass shape affects wine taste with a workshop including 4 wine tastings and lite bites. Take home a 4-glass set ($198 value). Proceeds benefit HCOA. Limited seats! 🍷
Saturday, October 11 Oktoberfest (Aspen Creek Assisted Living): 12:00 PM–4:00 PM. A fun, community-wide celebration with live music, food, drinks, and classic games. Vendors/breweries welcome. Bring your family! 🥨
Second Saturday (The Pratt Museum): 11:00 AM–4:00 PM. Enjoy FREE admission! Join the Skeleton Scavenger Hunt with prizes and an "Object at Hand" demo featuring a raven skeleton (12:00 PM–2:00 PM). 🦴
Chilkat Weaving Demo (Bunnell Street Arts Center): 1:00 PM–3:00 PM. Watch weaver Laine Rinehart demonstrate the intricate art of Ravenstail or Chilkat weaving on a large loom. Suggested donation $10-$20. 🧵
Wildlife Felting Classes (Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center): 1:00 PM–3:00 PM. Craft a Sandhill Crane with Lora Haller. Registration is required. Suggested $3 donation. 🐦
What event are you most looking forward to checking out this week?

10/04/2025

Great news for Alaska travelers! Southwest Airlines is adding service to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) starting May 2026! ✈️ They'll offer one daily flight from Anchorage to Denver and one from Anchorage to Las Vegas. COO Andrew Watterson says Anchorage checks all the boxes for their customers! Flights go on sale next week when the schedule is published. This is a huge win for tourism and travel choice in Alaska! Read all the details here: 🏔️☀️

Southwest Airlines will be adding seasonal service to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport beginning in May 2026

10/04/2025

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council secured its full 2025 funding but now faces chaos from the looming federal government shutdown. 🚨 The council's October meeting, already moved online due to prior budget fears, is seeing hasty agenda changes as federal scientists advising on Alaska's fisheries may soon be absent. Key decisions on Bering Sea snow crab and red king crab management, plus adjustments to incidental catch rules, are at risk of postponement. NOAA officials warn a long shutdown could seriously impact timely fish stock assessments. Read why this is challenging essential Alaska fisheries management: 🦀📉

The council, which manages fisheries in federal waters off Alaska, shifted to an online-only October meeting and now may postpone some of its planned work

10/03/2025

Alaskan scientists found the celebrated Salmon River in Kobuk Valley National Park is now a "rusting river" due to climate-change-induced permafrost thaw. 😱 This acid rock drainage is leaching toxic levels of iron, aluminum, and other metals—similar to mining pollution—into a protected waterway, a new study reveals. Researchers found metal concentrations exceed EPA standards, posing a risk to aquatic life and potentially impacting Western Alaska salmon runs. Read more about this alarming, remote pollution: 🐟⛰️

A study of the “rusting” Salmon River and its tributaries in Kobuk Valley National Park suggests that permafrost thaw is causing wider ecological problems.

10/03/2025

Huge congrats to UAF grad students Willa Johnson and Xochitl Muñoz for earning the prestigious 2025-2026 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship! 🎉🔬Willa, a marine biology master's student, is diving into microplastics in wild-caught fish in Southeast Alaska. 🐠 contaminating Xochitl, a paleontology master's student, is digging up small theropod dinosaurs from Alaska’s North Slope, uncovering ancient Arctic ecosystems. 🦖❄️This fellowship provides three years of financial support and incredible professional development. Read more about their groundbreaking research and this impressive achievement! 🎓🐳🦕

Willa Johnson and Xochitl Muñoz are recipients of the 2025-2026 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships