In Depth Alaska

Dr. Joe McLaughlin, Alaska's State Epidemiologist, talks about the hantavirus, explaining what it is, what the current outbreak looks like, and how worried the average person should be.

Local artist Duke Russell is a long time Alaskan and has a deep connection with his community and his art reflects his intense vision. Producer Jennifer Summers sat down with Russell as a new exhibit of his work is opening at the Anchorage Museum.

River breakup season is the most dangerous flooding event that recurs in Alaska. Typically taking place between the end of April and the end of May, ice breakup along Alaskan riverways can pose a threat to surrounding and low-lying communities.

Meteorologist Bailey Braun speaks with Shawn Dahl from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center how space weather effects our local atmosphere.

Alaska's News Source talks one-on-one with senior Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski about escalating tensions in the middle east, and the impact of affordability on the upcoming midterms. She explained why she continues to spar with President Donald Trump on occasion, reflects on U.S. relations with NATO and the future of the west, and discusses federal land management topics impacting Alaska. 

Youth Services Librarian Kim Cameron shares some recommendations for books to celebrate Black History Month. 

Gus Schumacher, from Anchorage, Alaska, won a silver medal on Wednesday at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Digital Content Manager Joey Klecka sat down with Kikkan Randall, gold medalist from 2018, to get her reaction to the medal and how she thinks this might inspire the next generation.

Anchorage’s Fur Rondy is celebrating its 91st year as festivities kick-off in downtown Anchorage Feb. 26. Lauren Maxwell spoke with new Executive Director Dakotah Fujan, who said she’s excited to be part of what’s considered the city’s premier winter festival which she said has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years.

With all the talk about the Federal Reserve, we decided to do a quick review of what it is, what it's supposed to do and why it's the subject of controversy right now. Al Biss, Certified Financial Planner with Biss Wealth Partners, explains.

Senior reporter Rebecca Palsha sits down with Nathan Bentley, Chef and Owner of Altura Bistro in Anchorage, Alaska, after the recent James Beard nomination. 

Eight cross-country skiers with Alaska ties were selected this week to represent Team USA at the Winter Olympics next month in Italy. With such strong representation from the 49th state, a line can be drawn connecting the current crop of Alaska’s best to those who came before and helped inspire the latest generation of Alaska’s winter stars. With the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo games starting up on Feb. 6, Kikkan Randall took a moment with Alaska’s News Source to lay out her expectations on the Alaskans representing Team USA.

With Greenland prominent in the headlines, Augusta McDonnell talks with Professor Cameron Carlson, Dean of the College of Business and Security Management at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks about the potential impacts on Alaska. 

With the New Year on our minds, Tracy Sinclare sat down with local Certified Financial Planner Al Biss with Biss Wealth Partner to talk about what we can do now to set us up for a successful 2026.

Doug Murray has been an instructor at Juneau Shotokan Karate Club for more than forty years. He sat down with reporter Joe Allgood after the roof of the dojo collapsed due to heavy snowfall in Southeast Alaska. While the loss of their dojo is unfortunate, he's hopeful about the future of the club. Here is an extended version of that conversation. 

Reporter Lauren Maxwell sits down with Tiffany Hall with Recover Alaska about Dry January and how you can be more successful in cutting back on your alcohol use. 

Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance sat down with reporter Lauren Maxwell to discuss the state of Anchorage's finances including the possibility of cuts and a potential sales tax.

Over the weekend, three people fell through the sea ice near Kotzebue. One man, 46-year-old Elmer Brown, was rescued but later died. Another man was rescued and one is still missing as of this recording. Matt Mertes spoke with Climate Specialist Rick Thoman with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Preparedness about how the sea ice on Alaska's coast has changed over the years and what happens now. 

On Monday night, Palmer swore in their new mayor, but he isn’t an unfamiliar face. City councilor and former Mayor Jim Cooper returns to the Palmer mayoral seat. Political Reporter Wil Courtney sat down with the new mayor Monday before he was sworn in.

Political Reporter Wil Courtney sits down with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum for a broad ranging discussion including the government shutdown, Ambler Road and the Alaska liquified natural gas pipeline. 

With many Alaskans receiving their Permanent Fund Dividend payous on Thursday, Certified Financial Planner Al Biss, with Biss Wealth Partners, sat down with Dani Tompkins of Alaska's News Source to talk about what to do with the PFD checks. 

Alaska's News Source sits down with Alaska's former Attorney General Treg Taylor. Topics include Taylor's gubernatorial run and his time as AG. Over his tenure, he covered a serious of controversial topics, garnering both praise and criticism. 

In this episode, Political Reporter Wil Courtney sits down with former Revenue Commissioner for Alaska Adam Crum who announced his bid to run for governor a few weeks ago. This interview was done Crum's last day as Revenue Commissioner and the day before he announced that he is running for governor.

On Wednesday, Political Reporter Wil Courtney sat down with Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Begich to discuss his run for Alaska's highest office. 

Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey speaks with Dave Schneider, geophysicist with the USGS and the Alaska Volcano Observatory about the recent changes on Mt. Spurr. 

On Thursday, August 14, Investigative Reporter Augusta McDonnell sat down with Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan to talk about the summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Alaska Pipeline Project. This is that conversation.

On Wednesday, August 13, Investigative Reporter Augusta McDonnell sat down with Alaska Governor, Mike Dunleavy, to talk about the summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to be held in Alaska on Friday. Here is that conversation.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-Alaska) spoke with Political Reporter Wil Courtney about his reaction to the announcement that Pres. Donald Trump would meet with Pres. Vladimir Putin in Alaska. 

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) sat down with Rebecca Palsha to talk about the recent announcement that President Donald Trump would be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week to discuss the ending of Russia's war on Ukraine. 

We sat down with Clayton Holland, Superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District to talk about his plans and the challenges for the upcoming school year. 

Many Alaskans were surprised and confused about a mysterious balloon that was floating at high altitudes over our state. Alaska's News Source learned on Tuesday the balloon is developed by Aerostar, a company out of Sioux Falls, Douth Dakota and is a part of a defense exercise happening at JBER. On Wednesday, Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey spoke with Russ Vanderwerff, Vice President of Stratospheric Solutions at Aerostar to learn more.

Dr. Randy Trani shares his thoughts and hopes for the school year ahead for the students and staff Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. 

Kristen Faulkner speaks about the 2024 Olympics and what happens behind the scenes to make big dreams come true.

Political Reporter Wil Courtney spoke with Ed Ulman, President and CEO of Alaska Public Media, about his concerns as Congress debates cutting funding to public television and radio. 

On Tuesday, July 15th the Anchorage AssembLy passed an ordinance to make it illegal to camp in certain parts of the city. Reporter Lauren Maxwell sat down with Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case to find out what he expects to happen now and how it will be enforced.

Sen. Dan Sullivan speaks after Trump's 'big beautiful bill' passes US Senate. 

Investigative Reporter Augusta McDonnell speaks with Sen. Dan Sullivan about the GOLDEN DOME act announced on Tuesday, what it will do and how much it will cost.

Senator Dan Sullivan sat down with Investigative Reporter Jonson Kuhn to discuss the "golden dome," the "Big, Beautiful Bill," Adak and more in a wide-ranging discussion.

Rebecca Palsha spoke with Sen. Dan Sullivan in a wide-ranging interview including air safety in Alaska, looking at the country as a whole and recent protests at town hall meetings.

On Thursday, Investigative Reporter Jonson Kuhn sat down with Chief Sean Case of the Anchorage Police Department, to discuss officer involve shootings, a recent homeless initiative and a look back as his first year in the office. 

U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska, Michael Heyman, sat down with us to discuss the fentanyl crisis in Alaska and why drug cartels specifically target our state. 

Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance addressed the frustrations residents are feeling amidst the growing homeless camps and shelters soon closing.

We learned of the death of Pope Francis early Monday morning. Reporter Georgina Fernandez sat down with Archbishop Andrew Bellisario of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau to speak about the Pontiff's legacy and his own personal meetings with Pope Francis. Here is an extended version of that conversation.

After hearing about the death of Pope Francis early Monday morning, Associate Producer Casandra Mancl spoke with Fr. Madison Hayes about the times he met with Pope Francis and the legacy he leaves behind. 

John Thompson sat down with Senator Dan Sullivan to talk about the future of LNG, Russian incursions into Alaska's air space and DOGE cuts. 

A combination of recent possible changes within the mountain and the Alaska Volcano Observatory’s (AVO) inability to detect volcanic gases via air or satellite data has led to some uncertainty in the current unrest on Mt. Spurr. Chief Meteorologist sat down with Matthew Haney, Scientist in Charge at the AVO, to discuss the latest information and what they are seeing on Mt. Spurr. 

Assembly member Meg Zaletel has been Executive Director of the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness. On Friday, she announced she would be stepping down from that position this summer. Reporter Quinn White sat down with Ms Zaletel to talk about her time at the coalition.

John Thompson had the opportunity to speak with Senator Dan Sullivan on Thursday afternoon. They covered topics from possibly re-opening the Military base at Adak to aviation safety in Alaska. Here is that conversation.

In 2019, Shaq Aribuk contracted a rare bacterial infection that cost him his legs and his sight. Shaq said it has been a challenging journey adjusting to life, but reached out to the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired for help. Reporter Joe Allgood sat down with Shaq to hear his story.

Financial advisor Al Biss, Biss Wealth Partners, sat down with Tracy Sinclare to talk about market volatility, how the changing tariff situation could impact personal and business decisions and your 401K.

Alaska financial advisor Al Biss explains the expected impact of widespread tariffs on a majority of goods imported into the United States on Alaskan residents and companies.