Programs

State gets timeline for federal environmental review of Alaska LNG project; Troopers release names of officers involved in Pilot Station shooting; Ulsom first into White Mountain, 77 miles from the finish; Old guard content to watch new generation of mushers take reins of sport; Even in corridors of power, the Iditarod intrigues; Scientists listen for mammals, ships in a changing Bering Sea; Mixing science with traditional knowledge, researchers hope to get seal oil on the menu Listen now

There was a major shakeup at the front of the 2018 Iditarod on Monday, when Joar Leifseth Ulsom slipped past previous leader Nicolas Petit while Petit lost the trail on the Bering Sea coast between Shaktoolik and Koyuk. The table is now set for Ulsom, first to White Mountain and only 77 miles from the finish in Nome, to win his first Iditarod championship and the first for a Norwegian -- or anybody else not originally from the U.S. -- since 2005. But, as we hear in this episode, a lead and a long rest at White Mountain hasn't always translated to a win. Meantime, many of mushing's old guard are happy to pass the mantle to the next generation of elite mushers (not including defending champ Mitch Seavey, still mushing near the front in third place).

House passes fast-track bill to fund Medicaid, ferries; Tariffs already boosting Alaska aluminum prices; To disrupt land in Upper Kuskokwim, Donlin Gold may preserve land by Cook Inlet; Weather hampers ongoing search for missing Mendenhall climbers; Petit lead disappears as Ulsom overtakes on coast; Alaskan skier wins gold, silver medals at Paralympic Games; Governor Walker asks feds to declare Pacific cod disaster; Ferry reform effort gets a legislative boost; Cama-i 2018 honors its roots; Ask a Climatologist: A winter of warm temps and decent snow Listen now

The final panel discussion about solutions to Alaska’s high health care costs. This session explored systemic changes, such as the establishment of a single-payer system, addressing the 80th percentile rule, and establishment of an Alaska Health Care Authority.

It's Monday and the frontrunners in the 2018 Iditarod are on the Bering Sea coast, venturing out on a trail over sea ice from Shaktoolik to Koyuk. Alaska Public Media's Zachariah Hughes caught up with the top three -- Nicolas Petit, Mitch Seavey, Joar Leifseth Ulsom -- in Unalakleet on Sunday, as well as the legendary musher DeeDee Jonrowe, who scratched earlier in what she says was her last Iditarod after 36 total starts. We also hear from a Norwegian mushing reporter on four-time Iditarod champ Dallas Seavey's foray into the Finnmarksløpet, Europe's longest sled dog race.

Here’s the Sunday, March 11th, 2018 edition of Algo Nuevo con Dave Luera — Something New with Dave Luera. If you have questions, comments or music requests for host Dave, send email to algonuevo@alaskapublic.org or post your comment at the bottom of this post.

As Girdwood's Nicolas Petit, Norwegian Joar Leifseth Ulsom and defending champ Mitch Seavey lead a chase pack to Unalakleet and the Bering Sea coast, we talk to Alaska Public Media's Zachariah Hughes about how the 2018 Iditarod shaped up like this and how that chase pack got so bunched up. Also on today's Iditapod, we have a report from KCAW's Katherine Rose about a way for Iditarod fans around the world to get connected to the race: fantasy mushing.

With the Iditarod leaders on the mighty Yukon River and through the village checkpoint of Grayling, we hear about how weather prevented flying supplies to Eagle Island and caused the checkpoint to be downgraded to a mere "hospitality stop." That's why mushers scrambled to get mandatory rest in earlier and why they had to load up on supplies before one of the most formidable overnight trips of the race. Plus, back in Takotna, the village reflects on why it's been so steady as a checkpoint over the years, and we hear from KYUK's Johanna Eurich about what it used to be like covering the Last Great Race.

Zulkosky takes seat as House District 38 representative; House bill to declare state of emergency for Alaska Native languages passes committee; Following alcohol complaints, governor's office proposes meeting with Napaskiak leaders; Larsen Bay residents fear losing school; Bad weather all but shuts down critical Iditarod checkpoint; Musher chases bison off trail, with an ax; AK: Juneau shamanism retreat leader’s financial, cultural and spiritual legitimacy challenged; 49 Voices: Richard Hensley of Kotzebue Listen now

Alaska is still in recession- and the state's economic engine is significantly smaller than it was three years ago. But job losses have slowed.  So is there an end in sight for the first state recession in three decades? And what will it take to stage a real recovery? LISTEN HERE

This week we're hearing from Richard Hensley in Kotzebue. Hensley lives in an assisted living facility now, but used to live with his sister and brother-in-law. Listen now

KSKA: Thursday, January 18, at 2 & 8 p.m. On the next Outdoor Explorer, we’re talking about a key part of the body for your outdoor explorations, the brain. I’m Charles Wohlforth. New research shows that being active can make you smarter, growing parts of the brain, and keep your brain healthy as you age. But we’re also going to talk about brain injuries. We’re learning the serious impact they can have on every aspect of life and how important it is to protect your head when you are doing outdoor sports. LISTEN HERE

Sealaska Heritage Institute says the Dance of the Deer Foundation exploits shamanism. Listen now

KSKA: Wednesday, March 14, 2 pm and 8 pm. Voters will decide over the coming weeks if Anchorage will have one electric utility or two. On the next Hometown Alaska, join us as we explore the reasons behind the proposed sale of Municipal Light and Power to Chugach Electric Association and ask your questions, including the impact on rates, taxes, jobs and energy. LISTEN HERE

KSKA: Tuesday, March 12 at 2pm. On the program this week we get to learn about the Alaskan Consular Corps. We’ll answer some questions like “who are consuls?” “why do we have them in Alaska?” and “what do they do?” This was a panel discussion featuring some very experienced consuls sharing with us what their jobs entail and what to expect when traveling to their home countries. LISTEN HERE

Monday, March 12, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. In his best selling book, Feeling Good​, Psychiatrist Dr. David Burns highlights how our automatic negative thoughts, cultivated by years of practice, cause nearly all depressive episodes. How do we develop these automatic negative thoughts and how can we change our thinking to shift our internal dialogue, improve our self esteem, and increase motivation? On the next Line One: Your Health Connection, co-host, Prentiss Pemberton welcomes back Dr. David Burns for a more in depth look at specific strategies and techniques aimed at changing our thinking and improving our mood. LISTEN NOW

Friday morning saw Girdwood musher Nicolas Petit charge ahead leading the 2018 Iditarod to Anvik after passing teams resting in the ghost town checkpoint of Iditarod. As the first to reach the Yukon River, Petit is treated to a five-course meal. The main course is bison, which is an animal Whitehorse's Marcelle Fressineau encountered very much alive and not on a dinner plate farther back on the trail. We talk to Fressineau about how she fended off the bison with an axe, as well as some of the Alaska Native mushers in the race.

Trump official says Interior aims to move ‘pretty quickly’ on Arctic Refuge oil development; Sweeney Interior nomination in limbo; State, hospitals seek funds to prevent payment emergency; Trump administration sued over Pacific walrus; For this expat mom, raising healthy girls means going to prison; Rep. Guttenberg taken to hospital for ‘unknown medical emergency’; As Iditarod has changed, so has its relationship with its Native roots, mushers say Listen now

As Iditarod mushers decide when and where to take their mandatory 24-hour layovers, the leaders are in to the ghost town of Iditarod. And our trail reporters are breaking into their snack packs! Also, we hear from a Takotna elder about the moose he shot and fed at the village checkpoint.