Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media
Zachariah Hughes reports on city & state politics, arts & culture, drugs, and military affairs in Anchorage and South Central Alaska.
@ZachHughesAK About Zachariah
@ZachHughesAK About Zachariah
Valhalla strip mall closed for biz, even two months after quake
City inspectors have examined damage at roughly 1,800 properties, but have around 1,200 left -- and are still finding damage.
Defense Dept. says climate change is a threat to bases around the country
The report looks at 79 major military installations around the country, assessing both the current and future risks of flooding, drought, wildfires, desertification, and thawing permafrost.
Port project cost estimate doubles to nearly $2B
According to the latest estimate, overdue repairs will be twice as expensive as originally forecasted, leaving city officials are dismayed.
Jason Pavila wins Bogus Creek 150 in rookie race
Fifteen-year-old Jason Pavila of Kwethluk and his nine dogs won the Bogus Creek 150 on his first attempt.
Volunteer veterinarians at the Kuskokwim 300
Many of the veterinarians who check sled dogs before the annual Kuskokwim 300 volunteer for the race each year. Some come from distant places in the Lower 48; for others, it’s a family affair.
Military’s remote Cold War radars face a new threat: climate change
Even with decades of technological advances, 15 remote radars across Alaska are still the military's primary way to monitor airspace over huge swaths of the continent. But now their core mission is threatened by climate change.
Elite medics mix combat and wilderness training in Alaska Search and Rescue
Alaska hosts some of the most elite, specialized rescue operators and equipment in the world. The state is a training ground for highly trained para-rescue medics.
Dunleavy requests federal disaster money for earthquake recovery
The step could unlock tens of millions of dollars in disaster relief funds for entities damage during the November 30th quake and continuing aftershocks.Â
Public health data shows 13 percent rise in Alaska suicides
New report comes beside a study documenting the presence of drugs and alcohol in incidents of self-harm.
DOT proposes fee for Uber and Lyft to operate at Alaska international airports
If you're using ride-hailing services to get to certain Alaska airports, it could soon be a little more costly.
33 Jesuit priests named in report on abuse claims in Alaska
More than a hundred priests who worked in western states are named in a document from Jesuit West Province, along with details of abuse claims made against them.
Price tag for 7.0 earthquake: $76M. So far.
The figure represents just a partial accounting, with more information still being collected ahead of a formal request by the state for federal relief money.
Crowd packs Eagle River school for quake recovery update
Local, state, and federal officials were on hand in Eagle River to give information on how property owners should be filing damage claims, and what comes next.
Anchorage biz supplies military women with practical fashion
Gaps in the clothes and accessories available to service-members led an Anchorage entrepreneur to try meeting a market demand that's particularly acute for women in the military.
Rare military ceremony at JBER for Service Cross recipient
The recognition comes from Sgt. Justin Gallegos’s role in the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan, when a small group of Army soldiers held off an ambush by around 300 Taliban fighters.
Damage tally to Anchorage utilities, facilities stands at $30M
The early assessment estimates it will take millions to repair water and waste infrastructure, as well as roads and municipal facilities.
‘We’re still not safe’: Nome reckons with sex assaults
For months, the town has been grappling with calls for reform in a system that many claim ignores assault reports from Alaska Native women.
Handful of new jet-fighters could come to JBER after Florida storm
The move is part of a broader effort to consolidate the Air Force's stock of F-22 Raptors as it makes way for new F-35s.
Anchorage Assembly to appoint interim member
Two-term Assembly member Amy Demboski of the Eagle River-Chugiak district resigned from her seat Monday to serve as a deputy chief of staff in the Dunleavy administration. Her seat will be filled with an interim appointment made by sitting Assembly members, then go up for a regular vote in April's municipal elections.
Got quake damage? Officials outline next steps for claims
As residents in southcentral Alaska clean up damage from last week's earthquake, government officials have one major request: take notes.