Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media

Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media
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Zachariah Hughes reports on city & state politics, arts & culture, drugs, and military affairs in Anchorage and South Central Alaska.

@ZachHughesAK About Zachariah

Berkowitz Appointees Reflect Focus on Housing, Community Development

Fleek-Green, Wilber, Shuttee to take over prominent roles in next mayor's administration.

Regular Flights To Russian Far East From AK Resume

If you've run out of isolated wilderness to explore in Alaska, there's good news: flights from Anchorage to Yakutsk start in July. Download Audio:

New Marijuana Restrictions Regulate Secondhand Smoke

The move is a blow for legalization advocates in Anchorage, and leaves many regulatory questions unanswered. Download Audio:

Army Troops Cope In The Cage

109 members of the military gather at JBER for two days of unsanctioned fighting.

Strings On The Bus: Anchorage Has A Conflux

Community members and cultural institutions pair up to throw Anchorage a surprise party. Download Audio:

Green Business: Alaska’s First Cannabis Career Fair Held in Anchorage

This weekend, Alaska saw its first-ever job fair for careers in commercial cannabis, offering a glimpse of how the semi-legal marijuana industry is taking tentative steps towards professionalism and profits. Download Audio:

As Marijuana Rules Take Shape, A Focus on Local Control

Emerging rules are modeled on commercial alcohol sales, with regulators hoping to learn from past mistakes in Washington and Colorado.

On Arctic Offshore, Symbolic Support from Anchorage

Resolution aims to express solidarity with the Port of Seattle and a focus on safety in Shell's plans in the season ahead.

National Guard Welcomes New Leadership

Since the start of the year there have been several major changes in leadership at the Alaska National Guard. Laurie Hummel is now Adjudant General, and Col. Joe Streff is heading the more embattled half of the organization, the Army National Guard. Download Audio:

Death of 4 in Anchorage Believed To Be Domestic Violence, No Suspect

Evidence from APD suggests one of the parents is responsible for the deaths, but just a day into the investigation detectives are not yet able to say conclusively what happened. Download Audio:

Marijuana OK’d At State’s First Pot Convention, But Only For Display

While the city's Assembly voted to allow marijuana on site at an upcoming convention, it cannot be consumed there. Download Audio:

Uber, Utility Sale Tossed By Anchorage Assembly

Two controversial business proposals for Anchorage were settled during last night’s Assembly meeting. Services connected to both taxi cabs and garbage trucks will stay the same

Anchorage: Data Show 2% Dip In Major Crime

Outgoing Mayor Dan Sullivan held a press conference Tuesday at City Hall to explain that statistics for the last year tell a more optimistic story than the one on the campaign trail.

Mine-Sweeping, Playground-Building, Parachuting Sapper Brigade Leaves JBER

The deactivation of an engineering unit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson this month is a small piece amid larger changes for the Army in Alaska. Download Audio:

Rural Alaska’s Water Issues

Today we’re discussing water. Specifically, the absence of adequate water and sewage systems in rural communities across Western Alaska. Though there has been a lot of progress building facilities in the last 20 years, the job isn’t done, leaving many with limited access to potable water. It’s not merely an issue of convenience. There are elevated health risks, economic consequences, as well as questions of fairness in resource allocation. And amid diminishing state revenues along with accelerating climate change, the problems are rapidly worsening. KSKA: Friday, May 8, at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 9, at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 9, at 4:30 p.m. Download Audio:

Berkowitz Nabs Mayoral Victory After High Voter Turnout

Anchorage voters elected Ethan Berkowitz by a wide margin Tuesday to be the city's next mayor, after runoff race consisting of two candidates from opposite sides of the political spectrum. Download Audio:

Berkowitz 59%, Demboski 41% In Anchorage Mayor’s Race

Mayoral candidate Ethan Berkowitz beat rival Amy Demboski. Turn out was nearly 30%.

Budget Cuts Mean Less Lawyers, Trying Fewer Cases

In an email Monday, the Department of Law told staff it is cutting 15 positions across the state to close a 6% budget gap.

As Early Voting Breaks Records, Uncertainty Prevails in the Mayor’s Race

High early voting returns after low turnout last month adds more uncertainty to a mayor's race with few numbers available.

Anchorage Adopts Budget After Battle Over Utility Funds, Public Safety Jobs

The $483.6 million budget came after vetoes coming from the mayor's office and a last minute deal over money connected to a utility the Administration has proposed privatizing. Download Audio: