Programs

Alaska has one of the nation’s most diverse populations which results in an equally diverse restaurant and service industry. However, that doesn’t make the industry immune to the state’s current recession.

Walker seeks to deepen trade ties with China; Governor Walker pushes for fiscal solution: "The worst plan is no plan"; Public testimony backs stable or increased state budget; House majority down two members; Murkowski backs bill to ID school threats; Iditarod ceremonial start kicks off in Anchorage; Fans participate in trailgate parties to celebrate Iditarod start; Redington, Pettersson and Seavey first into Skwentna checkpoint; Zoya DeNure scratches in Skwentna, first scratch of 2018 Iditarod; Kodiak oil response crew cleans up spill; Trying to solve a moose-sized mystery in the tundra near Nome Listen now

In less than 24 hours, the Iditarod front-runners have made it to the Finger Lake checkpoint, 123 miles into the 1,000-mile race. But not before checking in at Yentna and Skwentna, the first two checkpoints after leaving Willow. And, even before that, KNOM's Davis Hovey caught up with two top candidates for Rookie of the Year: Two Rivers' Matt Hall and Nenana's Jessie Holmes.

Mushers in the 2018 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race are officially on course for the 1,000-mile trek to Nome after the restart in Willow. We take a rather, uh, unique question from a listener, and Alaska Public Media's Zachariah Hughes does whatever it takes to get an interview.

The 2018 Iditarod kicks off with the ceremonial start in Anchorage and an 11-mile jaunt through downtown and the city's trails, past race revelers that call themselves "trailgaters." We introduce KNOM News Director and trail reporter Davis Hovey, and hear from DeeDee Jonrowe, Nicolas Petit and some of the folks along the trail.

Alaska SB 92 would crack down on derelict boats; Starting positions set for 2018 Iditarod; 67 mushers to depart from Willow on Sunday; Jeff King on PETA and past Iditarod protests; Roll reversal: Anchorage Iditarod prep means dumping snow on city streets; State House to hear public testimony on budget in Anchorage-- the same day as Iditarod start; Response crews reach Shuyak spill; Body of snowboarder caught in avalanche recovered; Why don’t you see people-sized salmon anymore?; AK: How an Arkansas duck tagger became a champion musher; 49 Voices: Bede Trantina of Anchorage Listen now

Politicians on both sides say we need to tap into the Permanent Fund in order to close the state's multi-billion dollar budget gap. But how would that draw on the $66 billion dollar fund be structured? And how might it affect the longevity of the state's largest investment account? LISTEN HERE

"New Arrivals" is Alaska Public Media's profiles of people who recently moved to Anchorage. Every Tuesday, we meet a New Arrival from another country, another state, or another part of Alaska. This week we meet a number of different students from Bartlett High School. LISTEN HERE

KSKA: Thursday, Jan. 11, at 2 & 8 p.m. We have some fun people to introduce you to on the next Outdoor Explorer: twin brothers came in to talk with us. They're beer brewers, who are fanatic for snow machine-assisted backcountry skiing. This is where you ski or board remote powder slopes, but without spending the sweat to get there on foot or the money to get there on a helicopter--you ride out on a snow machine. There’s a ton of skill involved and a lot to learn, and these guys are great at talking about it. LISTEN HERE

This week we're hearing from KSKA’s long-time program director Bede Trantina. Bede is retiring today after 39 years of public radio service. Listen now

The Iditarod is upon us, and those who follow the race know that dog mushing is home to many colorful characters. It might seem strange that one of Alaska's top mushers has a southern accent - but, when one reporter from Arkansas heard Allen Moore's southern drawl, she immediately recognized one of her own. Listen now

KSKA: Friday, March 2 at 2:45p.m. It's 1934 and the world's most famous stage director, Max Reinhardt, is directing the film version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream when two of the characters from the play (Oberon and Puck) suddenly materialize and want to be in the show. If that sounds like a classic set up for a Ken Ludwig Farce, you're correct. Anchorage Community Theatre is presenting Ludwig's Shakespeare in Hollywood March 2-25 and Director Jocelyn Paine with actors Scott Rhode and ShaeLisa Anderson drop by Stage Talk this week to talk about it. LISTEN HERE

KSKA: Wednesday, March 7, 2 pm and 8 pm. Hometown Alaska will address choices voters will soon make on the future of Anchorage in our next two shows. Coming up first, we'll have both an advocate and opponent of Proposition 1, an ordinance that would regulate gender in public bathrooms by birth certificate rather than identity. It is a divisive topic, but we're planning on a civil and informative discussion and welcome your calls. LISTEN HERE

KSKA Tuesday, March. 6 2018, at 2:00 p.m. This show is all about the Iditarod National Historic Trail. This isn’t your average Iditarod dog mushing show though, this is also a celebration. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the national trail system, which includes the Iditarod trail. The Iditarod Trail is the only winter trail in the National Trails System and the only Congressionally-designated National Historic Trail in Alaska. LISTEN HERE

Monday, March 5, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Those who have never visited a hospital emergency room, especially at night, have fortunately missed what can be a very eye opening experience. Actually that is one of several reasons why pediatric patients need their own emergency care space. Join Dr. Thad Woodard for a discussion about the new Providence pediatric emergency facility on this program. LISTEN HERE

Coast Guard makes plans for ramping up Arctic operations with new icebreaker; Senate votes to let car insurers base renewal rates on credit histories; Lacking competitive benefits, exodus of troopers causes 'critically low' staffing; Forest Service chief, Murkowski hear from Tongass stakeholders; Forest Service official says fighting Lower 48 wildfires is cutting into Alaska forest services; KEA chooses contractor for Terror Lake hydroelectric project expansion; Scientists confirm traditional knowledge regarding seal pup migration; Ketchikan High School wins state Academic Decathlon competition; Dillingham-raised artist’s work draws attention to missing and murdered Alaska Native women Listen now

We talk about this year's Kuskokwim 300, touch on the importance of mid-distance mushing races leading up to the Iditarod and talk to KUAC-FM reporter Zoe Rom about covering the Yukon Quest, Alaska's other 1,000-mile sled dog race. Also: We talk about the Anchorage ceremonial start, who we expect to see running at the front of the pack and answer our first listener question!

Bill would let Alaska judges temporarily take guns from likely threats; Bethel High students stage walkout to raise awareness for gun violence; What can unflappable geese teach us about the future of Arctic development?; Recovery effort for man buried in avalanche temporarily suspended; Popular Alaska peak weighs new rules for climbers' waste; Iditarod set to start under a cloud of scandals; New GOES satellite will aid weather forecasting in Alaska, Western US; Scrutiny urged over Hydro One’s Alaska foray Listen now

Did Russia compromise Alaska election websites or systems? NBC News report says it did; Committee scales back draw from permanent fund earnings; State veterinarian urges farmers to watch for new diseases in Alaska wildlife, livestock; Wind causes oil spill north of City of Kodiak; University of Alaska opens first all-gender restroom; Richardson Highway avalanche more inconvenient than dangerous; Can Southeast share the wealth of tourism growth?; Unalaska revisits wind power, hoping for a renewable energy source; A recent earthquake leaves Kodiak’s fire station damaged, but energizes efforts to replace it; Air Station Sitka: An airborne mission over Alaska’s maritime landscape Listen now

This program is all about long serving Alaska Public Media Program Director Bede Trantina, as well as memories of the early days of KSKA. We sat down with Bede and Alex Hills, the founding general manager of KSKA who hired Bede 39 years ago to find out more about how the station got started and how Bede began her tenure here. LISTEN HERE