Iditapod: Halfway there, fully committed
Iditarod mushers and their dog teams are now either in the middle of their mandatory 24-hour layovers or back out on the trail, if they opted to do that earlier. We've got the frontrunners at the Cripple checkpoint, as well as a chat with the folks who 24ed in McGrath, now making up the chase pack. There's also an old-timer for our Dog of the Day, a couple listener questions about how to get into dog mushing and, related, what it means to be a handler.
Regenerative Tourism
On this Outdoor Explorer, we’ll have a conversation about regenerative tourism. It’s a concept that has been around for a while but is gaining traction around the world, driven by indigenous communities and other protectors of our wild spaces. Our guests, Mary Goddard, Lee Hart, Sarah Leonard are out to make Alaska the world leader in regenerative tourism.
Iditapod bonus: Apayauq Reitan interview with Shady Grove Oliver
Kaktovik dog musher Apayauq Reitan, the first out trans woman to compete in the Iditarod, talks to Iditapod colleague and Alaska Public Media contributor Shady Grove Oliver - originally for a piece in the Guardian newspaper - about Reitan's goals for this year's race, what it's like to mush dogs, her Alaska Native culture, coming out as trans and a lot more.
Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Gov. Mike Dunleavy criticizes the Biden administration's handling of proposed oil and mining projects. Also, Hilcorp pays fines after delaying reports of potential
gas leaks. And students in Anchorage learn carpentry skills and explore a new career path.
I am an Alaska Native Healer | INDIE ALASKA
Amelia Simeonoff helps others heal their traumas with ancient Indigenous practices.
Iditapod: Playing catch up
Our Iditapod crew gets caught up - to get you caught up - as sled dog teams in the 2022 Iditarod race through the third full day of mushing the 1,000-mile trail. We'll hear about some of the most technically difficult sections and get an update on who is where... for now. We'll also hear from mushers Aaron Burmeister and Apayauq Reitan, among others, and we also have a bully of a Dog of the Day and a listener question about how to find the trail (because sometimes it's not so obvious).
Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Legislators consider renaming the Glenn Highway. Also, hospital officials look toward a return to normalcy following the omicron wave. And opponents of a state bill banning transgender athletes from girls' sports teams say much more is at stake.
How do mushers afford the Iditarod? Anja Radano says every year it’s a struggle.
Running the Iditarod takes months of preparation, training and a lot of money. While some mushers have major tour businesses and sponsors that help fund their kennels and pay for staff, Radano waits tables to help balance the big bills that come with being a dog musher.
Iditapod bonus: Bridgett Watkins interview with Lex Treinen
Editor's note: This extended interview discusses a violent encounter with a moose and might not be suitable for all listeners. Alaska Public Media's Lex Treinen gets all the details of rookie Iditarod musher Bridgett Watkins' run-in with a moose while on a training run near Salcha, in Interior Alaska, in early February.
Alaska News Nightly: Monday, March 7, 2022
A new bill aims to help retain village public safety officers in rural Alaska. Also, the state's Board of Game could change requirements for beaver traps. And the legal dispute over a toddler's burial place comes to a close in tribal court.
Iditapod: Different strokes for different folks
As Alaska Public Media reporters Jeff Chen and Lex Treinen head out on the trail, Iditapod host Casey Grove updates some of the early Iditarod standings. Plus, we have a story of an ER nurse whose training for the Iditarod helped him cope with the trauma of working on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Lex also brings us a report on the Sunday restart in Willow, as well as another dog profile, and we have a couple questions with a couple different answers (watch out: one involves some math).
Iditapod: A joyful, more normal Iditarod start
The 2022 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race kicked off Saturday in Anchorage with its usual fanfare, after not holding a ceremonial start in 2021. Alaska Public Media reporters Casey Grove, Tegan Hanlon, Lex Treinen and Jeff Chen were out in the snow with the mushers, dogs and race fans, including plenty of kids and other trailgaters.
Alaska News Nightly: Friday, March 4, 2022
There are now no limits on campaign contributions in Alaska, unless lawmakers act. Also, advocates for police body cameras in Anchorage are frustrated by the slow pace of implementation. And how training for the Iditarod helped an ER nurse cope with a traumatic year.
Line One: The rise in fentanyl overdoses in Alaska
Overdose deaths from fentanyl are on the rise in Alaska, and its important to remember that the statistics account for more than just one person.
Mushers celebrate the 50th running of the Iditarod | Alaska Insight
The five-decade history of the Iditarod is a story filled with adventure, skill, triumph and lots of change, and it's best told by those who have experienced it, firsthand.
Talk of Alaska: Breaking the cycle of removal for Black and Indigenous children
Alaska Native and Black children are significantly overrepresented in our state’s foster care system. A recent study found they make up 65% of those in foster homes.
Iditapod: Iditarod gets back on track
Iditapod is back for the 50th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Host Casey Grove and fellow Alaska Public Media reporters Tegan Hanlon, Lex Treinen and Jeff Chen discuss last year's pandemic-altered Iditarod, some of the mid-distance sled dog races this season, as well as COVID-19 protocols (and already a scratch/switcheroo), scary moose encounters and the heartwarming story of an unlikely Iditarod dog.
State of Art: Kikkan Randall and others share their #alaskaseafoodhacks
On this episode of State of Art we hear from five-time Olympian Kikkan Randall and Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute communications director Ashley Heimbigner about their seafood hacks, underrated seafood options, and more.
Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, March 3, 2022
Lawmakers propose relief checks for Alaskans as fuel costs rise. Also, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces plans for the state to divest from Russia. And the owner of a Mexican restaurant in Anchorage celebrates 50 years of business.
Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Washington changes course on a new gas tax. A COVID-positive Iditarod musher gets a four-time champion to take his place.