Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media
Zachariah Hughes reports on city & state politics, arts & culture, drugs, and military affairs in Anchorage and South Central Alaska.
@ZachHughesAK About Zachariah
Anchorage looks to private foundation to help oversee housing issues
The Municipality of Anchorage is partnering with a private foundation to fund a new position that'll be in charge of overseeing housing issues. Listen now
The weird, wonderful world of Nome after Iditarod
For nearly a week, racers continue arriving ahead of the banquet that officially concludes each year's Iditarod. For some, that means days of free time. And plenty of fun, strange events to fill it. Listen now
Iditapod: Wrapping up the 2017 Iditarod
In this episode, we talk about the 2017 Iditarod, what happens after the mushers reach Nome, and the person behind the @IditaTrump Twitter account.
Blood Bank cleared of wrongdoing, but critics still wary
The Blood Bank of Alaska said it has been cleared of any alleged wrong-doing and financial impropriety by an audit that wrapped up earlier this month. But a critic disputes that conclusion. Listen now
AK: How genetics changed mush dogs of the past
The huskies running today’s Iditarod bear little resemblance to the bulky sled-dogs Alaskans used to rely on year-round. As breeding programs have refined genetic lines to create dogs designed to excel at the thousand-mile winter-time race, the cost of specialization has been a lack of versatility. Listen now
Top ten mushers finish in Nome
The top ten teams have arrived in Nome, filling out the upper ranks of the 2017 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Listen now
Iditapod: Mitch Seavey’s record-breaking run to Nome
In Episode 15, we talk about Mitch Seavey's record-breaking run, Aliy Zirkle vying for a top-10 finish, and taking a refreshing sauna in Unalakleet.
Waiting for Martin Buser in Unalakleet: Old friends, and muktuk
Mushers who have been competing in the Iditarod a long time have relationships and traditions they re-visit each time they run the race. And for Martin Buser, when he gets to Unalakleet, that means a bag of muktuk. Listen now
Iditapod: Mitch Seavey leaves White Mountain
In Episode 14, we talk about Mitch Seavey being the first musher out of White Mountain, we get a lesson in Iditarod tradition and histoy, and discuss mushers' strategies for resting their dogs.
Iditarod’s mid-pack mushers prepare final pushes to Nome
Iditarod mushers face a grueling next few days. Not just those fighting tooth-and-nail at the top of the pack but, also, everyone else with competitive ambitions jockeying for spots in the top 10, 20 and 30.
Iditarod changes dropped dog transport standards following Friday death
The Iditarod Trail Committee said it’s changing protocols for how it transports dropped sled dogs after an one died Friday while in the organization’s care. An early necropsy on the dog showed it had overheated, dying of hyperthermia while on board a plane. Listen now
Iditapod: Mitch Seavey leads the charge up the coast
In Episode 13, we talk about Mitch Seavey's rush up the coast, what's going on in the middle of the pack, a musher reflecting on his dog's death, and we address a bunch more listener questions.
Iditapod: Top-5 Mushers Sprint for the Coast
In Episode 12, we talk about Mitch Seavey taking the lead, the Iditarod's international contingent, and we hear harrowing Iditasport tales.
Iditapod: Mushers Head Back to the Yukon River
In Episode 11, we talk about: How few dogs have been dropped, the rookies are making a run for it, and Huslia's mushing tradition.
Why are mushing teams much larger at the midway point?
The first three mushers to arrive in Huslia all had 16 dogs on the line—the same number they started the race with nearly 500 miles ago. Up and down the leader-board mushers are arriving with big teams, and dropping far fewer dogs than in recent years. Listen now
Musher suffers dog loss at Galena checkpoint
A dog has died in this year’s Iditarod. It happened shortly before midnight at the Galena checkpoint. Listen now
Iditarod strategies on view as mushers take “24’s”
At this point in the Iditarod, just about every top team has declared their mandatory 24-rest, and is either recuperating, or else charging back onto the trail. The rest gives both dogs and mushers a chance to catch their breath and rebuild some strength. And it’s one of the main indicators of a musher’s strategy, finally giving shape to the accelerating race in the days ahead.
Iditapod: Iditarod Mushers Reach Huslia
In Episode 10, we talk about: Mitch Seavey the first into Huslia, 24-hour rests and how mushers determine when to take them, and the Iditarod's educational aspects.
With sick dogs, Zirkle takes her 24-hour rest earlier than planned
Iditarod veteran Aliy Zirkle has had to upend her race plans and declare a 24-hour rest in Galena because of sick dogs. Listen now
Iditapod: Wade Marrs is the first musher into Ruby
In Episode 9, we talk about Wade Marrs leading the way to Ruby, run/rest strategies, two-way communications,and a story from Iditarod past.