Alaska musicians get creative for Tiny Desk Contest
Last week, NPR Music announced the winner of its second-ever Tiny Desk contest, Duluth, Minnesota’s Gaelynn Lea. More than 6,000 hopeful bands and solo musicians submitted videos of their original music for a chance to play NPR Music’s coveted Tiny Desk at headquarters in Washington, DC. Though there can only be one winner, here are some of the stand out Alaskan performers who competed for the title. Download Audio
Tuesday, March 8th’s Three to Read: catch up on Iditarod 44
Two days into the race, Iditarod strategies are coming into sharper contrast. As mushers leapfrog one another, here's what you need to know to...
17 journeys for 17 Iditarod rookies
The vast majority of mushers driving dog teams in this year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race are veterans. The field of rookies is small and their goals are varied, but they’re all taking cues from seasoned veterans.
DeNure scratches in Rainy Pass
Delta Junction's Zoya Denure scratched in Rainy Pass this morning at 9:50 a.m. According to an Iditarod press release, Denure made the decision due to concerns for her team.
Petit first to arrive in Nikolai
Girdwood musher Nicolas Petit is the first competitor into the Nikolai checkpoint. Dallas and Mitch Seavey are running in second and third place, respectively, with Wade Marrs trailing in fourth.
Trail Mix: An Iditarod reporter’s ambitious reading list
Trail Mix is Alaska Public Media's trail reporters' inside perspective on covering the Iditarod.
Whenever I travel, I bring something to read. Even...
Iditarod mushers battle “The Crud”
In the first couple days of racing, Iditarod dog teams are running along some of the roughest parts of trail reported on this year’s Iditarod. But the actual trail may not be the challenge. A handful of mushers are sick and others are making an effort to keep their dogs race ready.
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Petit retakes lead on the way to Nikolai
After briefly relinquishing the lead Monday, Nicolas Petit is back in front on the way to Nikolai. But, the pack isn't far behind. Dallas Seavey, Wade Marrs, Mitch Seavey and Hugh Neff are within 10 miles of Petit.
Prudhoe Bay rig count to drop by more than half
BP has announced it will cut the number of drill rigs operating at Prudhoe Bay, from five to two, as a result of low oil prices.
Alaska News Nightly: Monday, Mar. 7, 2016
Low oil prices lead BP to lower number of drills at Prudhoe Bay; what’s so critical about polar bear habitat?; shooting outside Dimond Courthouse leaves one woman dead; House passes bill protecting those who use antidote overdoses; to survive a brutal trail, Iditarod mushers tweak sleds; Southeast Alaska growing faster than rest of state; Kodiak Ancestral Remains to Return Home
What’s so critical about polar bear habitat?
A federal appeals court last week ruled the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was following the law when it designated a California-sized piece of the Alaskan Arctic as critical habitat for the polar bear. Let's take a look at this designation and what it could mean for the industry.
Hugh Neff Arrives in Rohn in Iditarod 44
Yukon Quest champion Hugh Neff is the first musher into the Rohn checkpoint, arriving at 3:57 with all 16 dogs. As of 5:00 Monday afternoon,...
Shooting outside Dimond Courthouse leaves one woman dead
A gunshot that rang outside the Dimond Courthouse late this morning has left one woman dead and rattled nerves in the heart of the Capitol City.
House bill would protect use of opioid overdose antidote
The House passed a bill Monday that provides civil immunity to those who give an antidote to reverse overdoses from heroin and other opioid drugs. Anchorage Democratic Senator Johnny Ellis sponsored the bill. This made it unusual, since few bills sponsored by members of the minority party ever come up for votes.
Mushing Explained Video: Designing the perfect dog sled
Iditarod mushers are preparing for a particularly bumpy, brutal ride on the trail’s first leg on icy terrain with little snow. Many have modified their run strategies, and adjusted one of the main tools for keeping a competitive edge: their sleds. Many mushers say durability is trumping speed this year as they expect to take a beating along the early trail.
Southeast Alaska growing older faster than rest of state
Southeast Alaska is growing older faster than any other region in the state. This so-called “Silver Tsunami” is expanding the need for housing, transportation, healthcare and social services. CoastAlaska public radio stations are presenting a series of reports talking to our older community members – and those they work with – about many of the issues they face.
Koenig scratches at Skwenta checkpoint
At 2pm, Martin Koenig of Seeley Lake, MT scratched at the Skwentna checkpoint. The veteran musher had fallen ill and it prevented him from finishing the race.
Mushing Explained Video: Feeding the furnace of elite Iditarod sled dogs
The lives of the 1,300 sled dogs running now to Nome have led up to this moment as they race to against the world’s best dogs and wiliest mushers. Years of training come down to a couple short weeks of elite performance, sometimes running more than 100 miles per day.
Tsunami castaways go on display at Oregon coast aquarium
Fishing buoys, fuel drums and even a derelict squid boat were among the tons of debris that floated into Alaska waters after Japan’s 2011 devastating earthquake and tsunami. An Oregon aquarium is about to open a display of the disaster’s living legacy on March 11.
Neff first out of Rainy Pass, takes lead
After arriving to Rainy Pass in third, Hugh Neff wasted no time in getting back on the trail.