In Depth Alaska

Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 is the Lunar New Year. It's a holiday celebrated around the world, particularly in Asian communities. Mei Zhao with the Alaska Chinese Association shares the importance of the holiday and some of the traditions surrounding it.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday, we sat down with Gov. Mike Dunleavy to talk about the future of oil and gas, his opinion on the name change of Denali to Mt. McKinley, education funding and more. Here is that conversation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Tuesday, the southern United States got hit hard with a winter bring several inches of snow in places where they typically don't see snow. To get some insight into forecasting a storm like that in Texas, Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey sat down with KPRC Meteorologist Justin Stapleton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Inauguration Day, President Donald Trump made several statements about opening Alaska to more resource development. We asked senator Dan Sullivan about that and several of the other executive orders signed by the president.  We also spoke with Oil and Gas Analyst Larry Persily. Here are the extended versions of those conversations.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prosecutors say Zachariah Hobbs was shot and killed by a 21-year-old former patron of the Midnite Mine in Fairbanks on January 15th. As the community now mourns the loss of a father of five and beloved friend, Aram Hobbs, Zachariah's brother, sat down with our Adrian Peterson. Here is an extended version of that conversation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday, we got word the Kuskokwim 300 was being postponed. John Thompson sat down with Race Director Paul Basile to find out why the race was put off for a few weeks and what needed to change for this race to go through. He also spoke with musher Cody Strathe about snow conditions and how the warmth impacts the dogs.  Here are the extended versions of those conversations.  See omnys...

On Thursday, January 16th Alaska's News Source was told of and reported a confirmed case of measles in Alaska. The state department of health says an infected passenger passed through Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Friday, January 10th. Officials have confirmed that infected passenger arrived in Anchorage on Alaska Airlines Flight 228 inbound from Seattle.  The original time p...

With the Supreme Court of the United States upholding the law that would allow for TikTok to be banned, John Thompson sat down with John Derting, a social media influencer in Alaska, to find out how the ban could impact him. Here is an extended version of that conversation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Iditarod Sled Dog Race a little more than 40 days away and warm temperatures forecast once again, Jordan Rodenberger, Sports Director at Alaska's News Source, sat down with Race Director Mark Nordman to get an idea of how they plan when the weather doesn't cooperate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday, Reporter Lauren Maxwell sat down with John Glover, the Wildfire Division Chief with the Anchorage Fire Dept. This is a new position with AFD so we wanted to hear about plans for this summer, how the snow pack could impact wildfire season and comparing Alaska to the devastation going on in California here’s an extended version of that conversation See omnystudio.com/listener for...

After word of the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was announced, Ariane Aramburo spoke with Rabbi Abram Goodstein with Congregation Beth Shalom and Heather Barbour, a family law attorney and a leader in the Arab community in Anchorage. Here is an extended version of that conversation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey sits down with Tracy Sinclare to talk about how she forecasted the wind storm that hit Southcentral Alaska on Sunday as well as the challenges of forecasting that type of storm and what a strange winter we've had so far.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday, Digital Reporter Nolin Ainsworth and Photojournalist Peggy McCormack spoke with Natalie Rouse, a necropsy biologist with Alaska Veterinary Pathology, about the fin whale that was stranded just off Cook Inlet in Novmeber 2024. Rouse and her team had returned to take more samples from the whale. Here is an extended version of their conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Recently, Ariane Aramburo had the chance to speak with Charitie Ropati as she returned home to Alaska for the holidays. Charitie got a big honor from Forbes magazine in early December. Here is that conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Lisa Murkowski sat down with Rebecca Palsha to discuss a wide range of topics including the Matt Gaetz report and Elon Musk's influence.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The administration of Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance released an end-of-the-year update on accomplishments and challenges during her first six months in office, as well as priorities for the coming year. LaFrance sat down with Alaska's News Source reporter Lauren Maxwell to discuss the early months of her tenure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alaska's Senior Senator Lisa Murkowski sat down with our Washington D.C reporter, Josh Rultenberg in a wide-ranging discussion on topics from the Albertsons-Kroger merger to how she will work with the incoming administration.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, hear from Charitie Ropati, a 23-year old trailblazing advocate recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list. She shares how her love of STEM inspired her to create a passion project for other indigenous girls to pursue science, technology, engineering and math. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Peter Maassen is set to retire in January 2025 as he approaches the mandatory retirement age for justices in Alaska. Political reporter Steve Kirch had the opportunity to talk with Maassen about his time on the bench, as well as his thoughts about the Alaska Supreme Court having a female majority for the first time in state history. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Reporter Lauren Maxwell sat down with U.S. Postal Inspector Alexander Laumb to discuss postal scams during the holidays and what to do if you are a victim of one.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jane Angvik, a historic Alaska figure who was the first woman to serve as Anchorage Assembly chair from 1984-1985, spoke with political reporter Steve Kirch about the news of another historic milestone for women in Alaska — Alaska’s Supreme Court will soon have a female majority for the first time in the state’s history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alaska is only three months from the start of the 2025 Iditarod — the 53rd running and the 100th anniversary of the original serum run. Sports Director Jordan Rodenberger sat down with Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach to talk about what's happening in the leadup to the big race. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sen. Dan Sullivan recently spoke with Alaska’s News Source about President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks, tariffs and combating the fentanyl crisis in Alaska. Listen to the full interview here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New report from the University of Maryland talks about how changes in sea-ice could increase storm damages on the Bering Sea coast. Reporter Georgina Fernandez spoke with Rick Thoman, Alaska Climate Specialist, about impacts and changes we're seeing already. Here is an extended version of that conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Anchorage middle school student won the first National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C.on Nov. 11, 2024. Romig Middle Schooler Emily Brubaker, who won the Alaska state finals earlier this year, beat dozens of other national finalists.  When she returned to Alaska, Joe Allgood sat down with Emily and her dad to talk about the experience See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.