Programs

Governor Dunleavy issues a disaster declaration in advance of the arrival of the coronavirus. Plus: how a rookie musher learned he had just a few days to prepare for the Iditarod. And, a cruise ship is headed to Juneau early, prompting some tough discussions about the coronavirus.

The Iditarod can be a cathartic experience, with all those good dogs, bad dogs, #uglydogs… In this episode we catch up on the race and discuss how it's nearly impossible to analyze who's really in the lead as mushers start to take their mandatory 24-hour layovers at different checkpoints. Alaska Public Media's Tegan Hanlon has a story about Jeff King's substitute Sean Underwood, AKPM's Zach Hughes and Ben Matheson take in the Blood Moon in Takotna, we have a somewhat surprising answer to a listener question, and Brent Sass talks about his lead dog, Jeep.

Sean Underwood got the surprise of a lifetime last week. The 28-year-old musher found out four days before the start of the 2020 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race that he'd be competing in the event. Long-time musher and four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King had to drop out of the race at the very last minute, and tapped Sean, one of his dog handlers, to fill in.

On summer solstice 2019, Sophia Tidler became the first woman to solo the Chugach Linkup. On winter solstice 2019, Sophia began another attempt and almost 55 hours later became the first person to successfully complete a winter linkup.

State officials say preparation can slow the spread of coronavirus when it gets to Alaska. Plus: hear from an Anchorage resident whose parents have been stuck on that coronavirus cruise ship in California. And, weakening migratory bird protections could have a significant impact for species in Alaska.

With plenty of snow on the Iditarod Trail this year, some of the more technical runs have not been as difficult as years past. But the Happy River steps and the Dalzell Gorge are always a challenge, and Alaska Public Media's Tegan Hanlon joins Iditapod host Casey Grove to discuss why we call both of those sections "technical."

Governor Dunleavy tries to reassure Alaskans as the coronavirus upends the global economy. Plus: Training dogs as a rookie Iditarod musher. And, a Wrangell basketball player finally gets a chance to play after spending years on the bench.

It’s Monday, and Iditarod sled dog teams are heading into their second full day of racing after the official start yesterday in Willow. From there they mushed west to the Yentna checkpoint about 50 miles into the race, on to Skwentna at about 80 miles, and the front-of-the-pack teams are already heading up and up and up into the Alaska Range, toward the mountainous checkpoint of Rainy Pass.

This month Arctic Entries brings you “Arctic Re-Entries: stories of incarceration, freedom and second chances.”

This month Arctic Entries brings you “#Blessed: stories of luck, gratitude and karma.”

The Iditarod rookie came in for a rather lengthy interview last week. We talked about his past and present, and, among other things, Quince’s experiences being transgender. As far as we know, he’s the first openly trans person in the Iditarod.

The 2020 Iditarod began in earnest Sunday with the official restart in Willow, where, to the surprise of many, musher John Schandelmeier replaced his wife, Zoya Denure, who reportedly had some last-second health issues. What wasn't a surprise, at least for this winter, was more snow!

The Iditapodders took to the streets of downtown Anchorage, and the trails of midtown Anchorage, for the ceremonial start of the 2020 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Alaska Public Media reporters Zachariah Hughes and Tegan Hanlon joined Iditapod host Casey Grove in talking to mushers, but then Casey hopped on a sled with Quince Mountain, riding the entire 11-mile course. AKPM reporter Liz Ruskin also joined in with an audio postcard from the trail-side parties.

Health officials say the state has enough tests for coronavirus. Plus: Doctors in Alaska say people should not panic over the virus. And, the Southeast community of Tenakee Springs tries to cope without ferry service.

On the eve of Iditarod 2020, we discuss four-time champion Jeff King dropping out due to a medical emergency, how his rookie handler is taking King's top-notch team, and how heavy snow along the Iditarod Trail (a trench in places) will surely affect this year's race. Host Casey Grove is joined in the studio by Alaska Public Media reporters Tegan Hanlon and Zachariah Hughes.

This week on State of Art, artist and educator, Thomas Chung joins us for a conversation about cultural appropriation, his approach to art and finding humor in dark places.

Problems of the spine can manifest themselves in many ways, like back pain, neck pain, and even shooting pain down your arms and legs. Not all back problems require surgery, however, there are some conditions where surgery can make a big difference.

Alaska's legal system can seem complex and confusing from the outside looking in. The purpose of today's show is to make one sliver of...

Coronavirus is spreading rapidly across the globe. While Alaska has not yet had any confirmed cases, the United States has, and health and emergency preparedness officials are getting ready to combat the virus locally.

State officials continue to prepare for the arrival of coronavirus cases. Plus: new research studies how women participate differently in Alaska's fisheries. And, a pilot program that increased lunch and recess time at several Anchorage elementary schools could have national implications.