Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, January 8, 2026

Podcast: Alaska News Nightly (Alaska Public Media)
Host: Casey Grove
Date: January 8, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a broad sweep of critical Alaska news, focusing on intense national and local debates affecting the state. Major stories include congressional tensions over potential U.S. military action and the contentious talk of seizing Greenland, the abrupt reallocation of crucial transportation project funding in Anchorage, severe winter storms hitting Southeast Alaska, concerning declines in Arctic caribou herds, impacts of extreme cold on dog mushing, and the emotional revival of Alaska’s last steam locomotive.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Political Fallout Over Greenland & War Powers

[01:12 – 04:04]

• Alaska’s Senators Split on War Powers Resolution:

  • Senator Lisa Murkowski voted to require Congressional approval before any new military action in Venezuela, while Senator Dan Sullivan opposed it.
  • Parallel concerns arose over President Trump’s indication he might use military force to seize Greenland.

• Sen. Murkowski’s Rebuke:

  • Strong denouncement of the idea of annexing Greenland:

    “To do so would be a colossal mistake. It would end NATO. It would be a gift to Russia and China and all autocratic nations who lust after new territory and want it to justify their own provocations.”
    — Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Senate floor [01:47]

  • Murkowski expressed disbelief that such conversations are even necessary and underscored the anxiety it causes globally.

  • Dan Sullivan did not provide interviews but reaffirmed his support for presidential authority, especially under the guise of national security.

• Political Ramifications:

  • Trump publicly criticized Murkowski and other Republicans for supporting the resolution, calling for their defeat in future elections while continuing to endorse Sullivan, who is up for reelection.

2. Anchorage Loses Millions in Federal Road Safety Funding

[04:04 – 08:38]

• DOT Pulls $20 Million:

  • The Department of Transportation redirected roughly $20 million earmarked for Anchorage road safety projects to other locations, causing shock and outrage, especially given high recent pedestrian fatalities.

• Lawmakers Respond:

  • Nearly half the legislature signed a letter condemning the move.

    “This is a crisis involving human lives and here we are kicking the can down the road.”
    — Rep. Ted Eishite [04:42]

  • DOT Spokesperson Shannon McCarthy cited limited federal funds and the need to prioritize “shovel ready" projects.

• Anchorage Feels Targeted:

  • Assemblymember Erin Baldwin Day argued Anchorage is being disproportionately deprived despite its high rates of pedestrian deaths:

    “Either this is a situation of active negligence, incompetence or outright hostility. Those are the only three explanations for this level of asymmetry.”
    — Erin Baldwin Day [06:28]

  • Local and state officials are seeking constructive talks with DOT; Mayor Suzanne LaFrance is in discussion with the governor for alternatives.

3. Brutal Winter Storms in Hoonah, Juneau, and Anchorage

[09:24 – 13:22]

• Hoonah Declares Emergency:

  • Facing three feet of snow since December, with sunken boats and infrastructure damage.

    “Today we had eight men on top of our wastewater plant shoveling off snow to make sure it didn’t collapse. So yeah, it's just it's a big mess.”
    — Dennis Gray Jr., Hoonah City Administrator [10:33]

  • The city seeks state aid for removal and recovery, especially of two large sunken vessels.

• Juneau Joint Disaster Declaration:

  • Following more than four feet of snow, roofs are being cleared to avert collapses; school closures and limited bus service continue.

• Anchorage Prepares for More Snow:

  • Meteorologists forecast another 5–10 inches and winds that could complicate commutes.

    “We’re fairly certain that the Anchorage area will get between 5 and 10 inches of snow, with blowing snow a possibility as the winds pick up…”
    — Daniel Johnston, NWS Meteorologist [12:53]

4. Alarm Over Declining Arctic Caribou Herds

[14:12 – 16:21]

• New Data Shows Significant Drops:

  • Both the Porcupine and Central Arctic caribou herds have posted sharp declines, with the Porcupine herd down 75,000 animals (over 30%) from its peak eight years ago.

    “The general consensus is that a lot of these, especially these Arctic herds, are declining at the moment. But what that means as far as the future or what's driving it, I really don’t know.”
    — Mark Nelson, Wildlife Biologist [14:37]

  • Multiple factors might be involved (predation, food availability) but “no smoking gun.”

  • Despite current trends, no immediate changes to hunting regulations are anticipated.

5. Sled Dog Racing Adapts to Extreme Weather

[16:21 – 20:39]

• Bogus Creek 150 Postponed:

  • The race is on hold due to extreme cold, after last year’s mushing season was plagued by warmth and inconsistent snow.

• Challenging Year for Mushers:

  • Mushers are facing new difficulties, with some relocating for better snow and others adapting to unfamiliar cold and icy conditions.

    “I’m not sure that’s ever happened in the years I’ve been managing… It’s just a challenging stretch for sure. Different kind of challenging than they’re used to, maybe, in the warm temperatures.”
    — Paul Basel, K300 Race Manager [17:38]

• Yukon Quest in Transition:

  • The Canadian side of the once-bilateral Yukon Quest sled dog race is on hiatus due to organizational breakdown, but Alaska’s race will proceed.

    “There is no bad blood between Canada and us. I think that we've all just been trying to get our foundations back underneath us since COVID. It’s hard to put a race together, but it's easy to rip it apart.”
    — Lisa Mackey, Yukon Quest Alaska Board President [20:25]

6. Restoration of Alaska’s Last Steam Engine

[20:39 – 26:06]

• Engine 557 Reborn:

  • After 13 years of volunteer labor, the 1944 steam locomotive fired up again in Wasilla, a significant moment for the restoration crew.

    "Pretty soon it's sitting there going kathom, kathom, kathom... That's the heartbeat of any steam locomotive. And all of those things were inspiring for the crew. Let's say you never saw so many smiles among the crew.”
    — Patrick Durand, President, 557 Restoration Company [22:35]

• Historical Significance:

  • 557 is part of the S160 class, originally built for WWII military use but reserved for Alaska, emphasizing the railroad’s pivotal wartime role.

• Personal Passion:

  • Durand describes a “fascination with things mechanical,” humorously referring to it as “ferro equinosis—Iron horse disease.”

    “Until you actually sit in the cab of a steam locomotive and go 50 miles and you watch everything that's going on, you don’t really appreciate all of the mechanical systems that have to shake hands to make this thing go down the track… we want to see it in steam.”
    — Patrick Durand [25:08]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Greenland:

  “To do so would be a colossal mistake. It would end NATO.”
  — Sen. Lisa Murkowski [01:47]

• On Anchorage funding:

  “This is a crisis involving human lives and here we are kicking the can down the road.”
  — Rep. Ted Eishite [04:42]

  “Either this is a situation of active negligence, incompetence or outright hostility… I can't come up with a fourth option.”
  — Erin Baldwin Day [06:28]

• On Hoonah storm impact:

  “Today we had eight men on top of our wastewater plant shoveling off snow to make sure it didn’t collapse. So yeah, it's just it's a big mess.”
  — Dennis Gray Jr. [10:33]

• On caribou herd decline:

  “The general consensus is that a lot of these, especially these Arctic herds, are declining at the moment...”
  — Mark Nelson [14:37]

• On steam engine revival:

  “That's the heartbeat of any steam locomotive... you never saw so many smiles among the crew.”
  — Patrick Durand [22:35]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Greenland/War Powers Debate – [01:12–04:04]
• Anchorage DOT Funding Outcry – [04:04–08:38]
• Hoonah & Juneau Snow Emergencies – [09:24–13:22]
• Arctic Caribou Declines – [14:12–16:21]
• Dog Mushing Extreme Weather Adaptations – [16:21–20:39]
• Steam Engine 557 Restoration – [20:39–26:06]

This episode is packed with stories that encapsulate the intersection of Alaskan life with national politics, environmental events, and local heritage, providing listeners both context and personal perspectives on each issue.