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
With Handy leaving, Alaska to get new top general
New head of 11th Air Force, Alaskan Command, and Alaska's NORAD operations was once a fighter pilot who did a stint at Elmendorf. Listen now
Signs, cash, puppies: competing strategies in state’s most expensive primary
If turnout stays at 2012 levels, candidates will have spent $59 per vote fighting to be the Republican option on the November ballot.
The shadow of giants: Schaeffer legacy honored in Kotzebue
Nation's first Iñupiaq two-star general played a critical role in fighting for the people of the Northwest Arctic at a pivotal time in Alaska's history.
Delta power outage cancels and delays thousands of flights
Delta Airlines said it's investigating the cause of today's power outage that knocked out its computer systems worldwide. Delta canceled more than 450 flights by early afternoon, and a flight tracking service counted 2,000 delayed flights. Listen now
Anchorage assembly member fined over child labor violations
Penalties are less about malicious intent than clerical errors and a misunderstanding over the definition of a dumpster.
Military’s $4B moving program keeps climbing — and no one knows why
Even as the nation draws down the size of the armed forces, taxpayers continue to pay for a relocation program that's shooting far over inflation. And there are no plans for reform.
Walker sacks industry advocate from Marijuana Control Board
One of the state's key regulators on commercial cannabis has been unexpectedly ousted by the governor. Listen now
Anchorage moves forward on downtown road plan
Officials in Anchorage have taken the first step in what could be a major transformation to a vital piece of the state's transportation system. Listen now
Post reporter booted from Pence event is an Alaskan
The Washington Post reporter at the heart of a high-profile campaign incident grew up in Alaska and graduated from an Anchorage high school.
Assembly vote means Anchorage business can start growing legal pot
The Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a move forward for the municipality's first commercial cannabis business, setting the stage for crops of legal marijuana to be planted in the weeks ahead. Listen now
Could the Marine Corps be coming to Alaska?
The head of the U.S. Marine Corps stopped in Anchorage and the interior this weekend to evaluate new opportunities for training. But some see it as a potential first step in building a permanent presence.
Head of USMC to visit military bases in Alaska this weekend
The head of the U.S. Marine Corps is coming to Alaska this weekend, stopping at military installations in both Anchorage and the Interior. Listen now
ADN owner responds to $1 million dollar lawsuit
The owner of the Alaska Dispatch News has submitted a response to a $1 million lawsuit filed against her. Listen now
City pressure, fire dangers push homeless resources over capacity
Anchorage's homeless shelters and social services are drastically and unexpectedly overwhelmed. It's the result of a city policy pushing people out of homeless camps in parks and along trails. Listen now
19-year-old Shishmaref man honored at the White House
A 19-year-old from western Alaska was honored last week at the White House for his work advocating on behalf of communities experiencing climate change first hand. Esau Sinnok spoke to me from his cousin's house in Nome on his way back home to Shishmaref. He was in Washington advocating for "climate equity." Listen now
Walker gives ‘unprecedented’ address on local budgeting woes
Walker's vetoes on the operating budget have carved at $17 million dollar hole in the Anchorage's revenues, with the bulk of that drop hitting the school district. Listen now
Officer-involved shooting leaves 1 dead in East Anchorage
Police say a man advanced on officers with a weapon before they opened fire behind a Home Depot. Listen now
Anchorage LIO landlord begins effort to recover millions in damages
The landlord for the embattled Legislative Information Office in downtown Anchorage is taking the first step in what could be a lengthy process toward a lawsuit.
Erosion threat at remote military radars decades ahead of schedule
Erosion driven by climate change is happening decades sooner than the military predicted, leading them to spend tens of millions fortifying remote radar sites in the North Slope.
AK: The solitary rhythm of life at a remote Air Force installation
Scattered across Alaska are 15 radar sites in some of the most remote areas of the state, feeding information to a command center in Anchorage. Keeping them humming 365 days a year are tiny crews of private contractors who live there for months at a time. To a lot of people, the prospect sounds crazy. To others the solitary rhythm makes total sense. Download Audio