Biden approves Willow oil project, announces new limits elsewhere in NPR-A

The Biden administration announced Monday that it will approve ConocoPhillips' Willow project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

Iditapod: Hanging onto a lead and an Iditarod dream

Ryan Redington has a secure hold on first place in the 2023 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, heading into the final 100 miles of trail. Meanwhile, one rookie musher had some trouble holding onto his dog sled, after falling asleep, falling off and getting a fortuitous lift. We have a listener question, not about losing a dog team, but about losing stuff along the Iditarod Trail. And it's a twofer of Dogs of the Day: Riley Dyche's smart and mellow Elway and Mike Williams Jr.'s smart and hyper Viper.
A man in a fur hat poses with shaggy black poodles

Iditapod bonus: John Suter in Anchorage

In this extended interview, we hear more from John Suter, an Iditarod finisher who famously had a team that included poodles. Suter ran the Iditarod with poodles in 1988, '89, '90 and '91, finishing each year ahead of other teams racing more traditional sled dogs.
A dog team runs on a flat trail

Iditapod: The champ has scratched. Long live the champ.

Iditarod teams are passing through the village checkpoint of Anvik and onto the Yukon River.  We have that, as well as stories from earlier on the trail about how mushers were setting their teams up for these runs earlier in the checkpoint of Iditarod and about the tiny village of Takotna reopening as an Iditarod checkpoint this year, after closing down due to COVID. Then there’ll be an update from Jason Mackey about carrying his brother Lance Mackey’s ashes along the trail, a Mackey Dog of the Day named COVID and a listener question about what the mushers are listening to, if they’re listening to anything at all, aside from, you know, dog feet and sled runners.

Iditapod: Rollin’ on a river (the Yukon, that is)

Iditarod teams are passing through the village checkpoint of Anvik and onto the Yukon River.  We have that, as well as stories from earlier on the trail about how mushers were setting their teams up for these runs earlier in the checkpoint of Iditarod and about the tiny village of Takotna reopening as an Iditarod checkpoint this year, after closing down due to COVID. Then there’ll be an update from Jason Mackey about carrying his brother Lance Mackey’s ashes along the trail, a Mackey Dog of the Day named COVID and a listener question about what the mushers are listening to, if they’re listening to anything at all, aside from, you know, dog feet and sled runners.
A musher in the night

Iditapod: Run, rest, eat and repeat

In this episode, we hear from Iditarod mushers in the midst of their required 24-hour layovers and from our current Red Lantern musher. We also have a chat with a former top 10 musher who’s returning to the race and running a team of mostly rookie dogs, plus a look at the Iditarod's new pilot program for tracking dropped dogs. And as always we have our Dog of the Day -- not a new dog but a dog who got a new name -- and a listener question with answers from several mushers this time. (Hint: This one might make you hungry).
A dog team runs up a frozen riverbank

Iditapod: The dog days of Iditarod

Iditarod mushers are making decisions about where to stop for their mandatory 24-hour rests, some opting to take that break earlier than planned, as the teams continue to contend with warm weather. The village of Nikolai is also fully open to visitors for the first time in three years of COVID-19 restrictions, and that's where some mushers were dealing with busted sleds and their own bruised bodies. In this episode, we also get into how the race shapes up after those 24-hour layovers and how the weather is expected to change for the cooler. Plus, we have a speedy Dog of the Day -- Matt Failor's Mach 10 -- who's learning to slow down, plus a listener question, a musher answer and a follow-up to yesterday's question about adopting retired sled dogs.
A man with curly hair and a mullet and sunglasses sits on a pad

Iditapod: Hot doggin’ and leapfroggin’

Iditarod teams are contending with warm weather in the thousand-mile race, many choosing to run in the cool of night as much as possible. We'll talk about that in this episode, plus a little about what other sports some mushers have participated in outside of mushing. We have another Dog of the Day -- this time, a trusty leader named JoAnna and, as always, a listener question.
Two dogs wearing bright orange booties smile wide in their harnesses.

Iditapod: One paw in front of the other

Iditarod mushers took their sled dog teams on an untimed, celebratory fun run from downtown Anchorage on the city’s trails, with hundreds of fans cheering along the way. We hear from mushers and fans – maybe the pitter patter of little dog feet – as well as a joyful bride, a grumpy bear, a curious moose (or three), a former Miss Alaska and her mom, who had a fox on her head, and more!
Two yellow lead dogs in bright pink booties

Iditapod: Iditarod kicks off with a chilly start

Iditarod mushers took their sled dog teams on an untimed, celebratory fun run from downtown Anchorage on the city’s trails, with hundreds of fans cheering along the way. We hear from mushers and fans – maybe the pitter patter of little dog feet – as well as a joyful bride, a grumpy bear, a curious moose (or three), a former Miss Alaska and her mom, who had a fox on her head, and more!
a dog leaps into the air, on a dog team

Iditapod: Springing back as Iditarod begins anew

That's right, it's Iditarod time, and we're back with another season of Iditapod. In the first episode of our seventh season, host Casey Grove and trail reporters Lex Treinen and Ben Matheson discuss the smallest field in race history and how a quarter of the mushers in the 2023 Iditarod are rookies. We also recap last year's race, talk about the legacy of the late four-time champion Lance Mackey and we even have a Dog of the Day, a spunky little leader named Dusty.

Alaska leaders fly to D.C. to press for Willow project

The ConocoPhillips project is opposed by environmental advocates but supported by Alaska's political and business establishment.
Man in plaid jacket.

Juneau update: James Brooks does the math on school funding and Alaska Permanent Fund dividends

The Legislature has had 45 days to get its arms around the problems. Next up: search for solutions, says Alaska Beacon reporter James Brooks.
people sitting, wearing masks, in a lobby

Anchorage VA clinic named for pioneering female Army colonel

Mary Louise Rasmuson was head of the Women's Army Corps. She later married Anchorage banker Elmer Rasmuson and moved to Alaska.
a woman behind a microphone gives a thumbs up

Murkowski delivers ‘tough love’ address to Alaska Legislature

U.S. Sen. Murkowski urged legislators to have a vision, "think big" and not rely solely on federal money.
Snow, ice and icicles overflow the roof and gutters of a house.

Should you shovel your roof now? Here’s why you might want to.

For most homeowners, the load isn't the problem.
a woman at a podium

In homecoming address to state legislators, Peltola praises the ‘Alaska model’ of bipartisanship

Bipartisanship is U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola's motto, and her first address to the Alaska Legislature was on-brand.
A man with glasses energetically speaks behind a podium.

Launch of campaign to repeal ranked choice voting draws a crowd in Anchorage

A few hundred people met at a south Anchorage church Thursday night to kick off a signature drive aiming to get rid of ranked choice voting and go back to the way Alaska used to elect candidates.
An aerial view of one of the exploration pads and wells that ConocoPhillips drilled during the 2018 exploration season at its Willow prospect.

Biden administration can’t have it both ways by shrinking Willow project, Murkowski warns

Alaska’s U.S. senators say half measures won’t suffice as they push for ConocoPhillips’ drilling proposal in the western Arctic.
A four story concrete building

Alaska joins more than a dozen states banning TikTok on state devices

Gov. Mike Dunleavy cited security and privacy concerns regarding use of the app.