Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Casey Grove is host of Alaska News Nightly, a general assignment reporter and an editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach him at cgrove@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Casey here.
2019 Yukon Quest champ Sass talks about return to elite dog mushing — and Iditarod
He's sitting out this year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race -- that starts March 2 in Anchorage -- but Eureka musher Brent Sass just won the Yukon Quest again, after taking a year off from racing. Sass is a former Iditarod Rookie of the Year, and though he's struggled in a couple other attempts at that race, he said his young dog team will likely be ready for an Iditarod run next year.
Iditapod: Iditarod pre-season and a chat with the Yukon Quest champ
We take a quick look back at competitive mid-distance sled dog races that many Iditarod mushers use as qualifier or tune-up races. And though he's not in Iditarod this year, we talk to Yukon...
For Anchorage’s Ed Wesley, sense of duty to civil rights activism runs deep
Ask Wesley about his history as an African American leader, especially in the context of Black History Month, and he mostly defers to give credit to the contributions of others. But Wesley does tell a story that shows -- from his arrival in Alaska with the Army, to working security during construction of the pipeline and later settling in Anchorage -- he has a sense of civic responsibility that formed during the civil rights movement that has stayed with him over the years.
A Wasilla teacher is charged with abusing students. Now their parents are suing the school district
The families of three Wasilla children allege a teacher molested their kids and are now suing the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, accusing officials of negligence.
Iditapod: An abridged history of Alaska dog mushing and 2018 Iditarod
Ramping up our 2019 Iditarod coverage, we look back at the history of dog mushing in Alaska, the dawn of long-distance racing and... yes, we talk a little about last year's race.
Move over mushers and planes, drones to deliver emergency supplies
UAF recently announced an upcoming test to fly a test package across Turnagain Arm from Indian to Hope, and while that package is only one step toward those goals, it could eventually lead to major changes for Alaska communities off the road system.
State sues second opioid manufacturer
State attorneys announced Monday a lawsuit against Mallinckrodt, manufacturer of several opioid medications. The lawsuit alleges Mallinckrodt played down the risks of its products while exaggerating the benefits and using deception in marketing the drugs to doctors and other prescribers.
State trooper charged with illegal use of computer
An Alaska State Trooper serving on active duty with the Alaska National Guard has been arrested and charged with two felony counts of illegal use of a computer.
Dillingham well tests positive for PFAS contamination
The Department of Transportation says it was recently alerted to potentially harmful chemicals contaminating a drinking water source near the Dillingham airport.
Mat-Su emergency services director resigns with incendiary letter
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough's emergency services director has resigned in a fiery, accusatory letter to the borough.
On Alaska’s stately birds, some ponder the beguiling raven
There are flutterings of a small movement taking wing in Alaska to change the state bird from willow ptarmigan to raven.
Anchorage detective’s 30-year career started with fleeing Communism
A longtime Anchorage homicide detective, Slawomir Markiewicz, recently retired after three decades on the force. As detective sergeant of the Anchorage Police Department's homicide unit, Markowitz was a familiar face and voice in news stories about Anchorage murders.
First-of-its-kind program to offer Alaska banking for cannabis businesses
An Alaska credit union wants to offer banking services to businesses in the state's legal cannabis industry. Based in Anchorage, Credit Union 1 is starting a pilot program to learn more, and Credit Union 1 CEO James Wileman talked with Alaska Public Media’s Casey Grove about the program.
Are mine’s investors online ‘Pebble trolls’ or ‘social engineers’?
There are some long-term investors in the proposed Pebble Mine that are fighting for the project online. Many have held onto their stock for years hoping the massive gold and copper deposit in Southwest Alaska gets developed. The political fight and concerns over its proximity and potential risk to Bristol Bay salmon have left their dreams, so far, unrealized.
Sheffield memoir ‘from Great Depression to Alaska Governor’s mansion’
The autobiography chronicles former Alaska Gov. Bill Sheffield's beginnings as the son of a farmer in the Great Depression, to when he arrived in Alaska in the 1950s, to his term as governor from 1982 to 1986. Sheffield was also CEO of the Alaska Railroad and director of the Port of Anchorage.
South Pole or bust: UAF students make Alaska-Antarctica trek
Science can sometimes take Alaska-based researchers on adventures to distant lands. And a project bringing together data from the Arctic and Antarctic recently sent two University of Alaska space physics students all the way from Fairbanks to the South Pole.
Seattle’s new hockey team would be the closest US-based team to Alaska
Seattle is going to have a team in the National Hockey League, and for Alaska hockey fans, it'll be the closest U.S.-based team and one of only two in the Pacific Northwest.
Alaska senators sometimes split on recent votes
The US Senate took some big votes last week, and Alaska's senators sometimes split over them. Alaska Public Media Washington D.C. correspondent Liz Ruskin talked to Alaska News Nightly host Casey Grove.
Ask A Climatologist: What hope is there for snow lovers this season?
The lack of snow for a lot of Alaska is again on our minds in this week's Ask a Climatologist segment.
Mat-Su Salvation Army gets $1200 gold coin in red kettle
An anonymous donor dropped a gold coin, which the Salvation Army says is worth $1,251, into the kettle at the Three Bears store on Knik-Goose Bay Road in Knik.