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

Anchorage Police Department to Get $3.1M to Fill Budget Gap

Department had to rely on overtime hours to cover shifts after a wave of retirements, back-to-back training academies, and a misunderstanding with a municipal agency.

Ballot Measure to Combat Corruption Has A Year To Gather 30,000 Signatures

A small group of supporters behind an effort to criminalize what they see as corruption in Alaska politics gathered at the Division of Elections Friday, for a training on how to collect all the signatures they will need from across the state to put the issue to voters in 2016. Download Audio

Anchorage Capital Budget Seeking $350 Million for Port Expansion

Facing lean capital expenditures from the Legislature, the City of Anchorage is hoping a multi-year funding commitment can avoid future increases in overdue upgrades to port infrastructure.

Anchorage Massage Parlor Owner Charged With Felony Sex Trafficking

Counts come after a four-year investigation by FBI, IRS, U.S. Attorney's Office, APD and State Department of Law looking into promotion of prostitution.

Op Santa Delivers Presents and Attention To Erosion Threats in Shishmaref

Dozens of volunteers deliver Christmas presents and festive cheer as part of long-standing effort to highlight hardships faced by remote communities.

Anchorage DJ Held on $25,000 Bail for Child Pornography Charges

KASH 107.5's "Jimmy O'Brien" is accused of using Instagram, Gmail, and Kik to distribute and solicit graphic photographs of young girls, highlighting law enforcement's evolving efforts to track crimes against minors online.

Walker, Mallott Sworn Into Office

It was a celebratory tone in Juneau today during the inauguration ceremony for Governor Bill Walker and Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott. Download Audio

Anchorage Assembly Member Pushes For Pot Ban In Municipality

The Anchorage Municipality may use its leverage as the state's population center to influence how laws on commercial marijuana take shape in the year ahead. Download Audio

AK: Amazon in the Arctic

Black Friday kicks off the rush of holiday shopping, and its also given rise to a fraternal twin of sorts, Cyber Monday. But there’s one place you might not expect online retail to be turning into a fact of life: Bush Alaska.

Tennis Courts Re-Appear As the Assembly Approves a $472 Million Budget for Anchorage

With very few amendments or changes made, many members said it was one of the smoothest budget cycles they have been a part of in their time on the Assembly.

Walker Transition Team Brings 250 Delegates to Shape Policy

Small working groups made up of stakeholders from across the state met in classrooms all over the UAA campus to discuss a wide array of topics as the transition team announced two new department heads.

City to Pursue $485 Million Design Strategy for Port of Anchorage

The mayor's office announced it has selected a design for the Anchorage Port's overhaul, setting a blue-print for how the half-billion dollar project will take shape in the years ahead.

Anchorage Will Talk With Uber on Ride-Share Regulations

The ride-share service won an important battle in the Anchorage Assembly, and will be allowed to keep operating in the city as they work out a memorandum of understanding with the municipality.

Charlo Greene Facing Subpoena Over Campaign Finance Questions

The case has less to do with marijuana debate than it does with campaign finance rules, and how the state enforces transparency in elections.

Anchorage Museum Stays Up Late to Reach New Members

As cultural institutions across the country struggle to stay relevant in a changing financial landscape, many are testing new ways to raise funds and expand membership. Download Audio

Anchorage Museum Trying New Ways To Recruit New Museum Buffs

As cultural institutions across the country struggle to stay relevant in a changing financial landscape, many are testing new ways to raise funds and expand membership. The Anchorage museum is trying to recruit the next wave of museum buffs in some unconventional ways. Download Audio

East Anchorage Drug Bust Part of State-Wide Rise in Heroin, Cocaine, Meth

Police Department spokesperson Jennifer Castro said a tip allowed officers to obtain search warrants, which led them the cache of drugs--estimated to be worth $111,000 at the street level.

Rare Conference Brings Russian, American Officials To Table on Arctic Oil

A conference underway this week is trying to work around sanctions and rhetoric in order to focus on mutual interests in the Bering Sea. The Russian delegation is in Alaska to prepare for oil spills and increased marine traffic in the region.

Job Fair Highlights Challenges to Veteran Unemployment in Alaska

As military forces continue drawing down from deployments abroad, more service members are transitioning back into the civilian workforce. The state is spending resources to match vets with employers in the public and private sectors to combat the nation-wide problem of veteran unemployment.

‘All Alaska Juried Exhibition’ Showcases New, Evolving Art

The Anchorage Museum is set to open the All Alaska Juried Exhibition tomorrow--a show bringing together works of contemporary art from across the state. In its 48 years the semi-annual exhibition has served as a showcase for new and evolving art in a state with a rich creative tradition. Download Audio