Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Podcast: Alaska News Nightly – Alaska Public Media
Host: Casey Grove
Date: February 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode covers Alaska's hottest statewide news topics, with in-depth reports on the governor's race fundraising, a tense immigration enforcement incident in Soldotna, Anchorage's Gus Schumacher winning Olympic silver, Southeast mariculture challenges, updates to the Alaska Marine Highway ferry schedule, and a personal portrait of a Mat-Su trapper. The episode showcases a rich array of voices, from candidates and community members to local experts and Olympians, capturing the pulse of life across Alaska.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2026 Governor's Race: Fundraising & Competitive Field

• Major Fundraising Reports Released:
  The first round of campaign fundraising reports shows a crowded, competitive field for Alaska's upcoming gubernatorial race, with more than $4.3 million raised by early February.
• Top Fundraisers:
  • Matt Halala (Republican, Anchorage Podiatrist): Over a quarter of total raised, with nearly $1.3 million, mostly self-funded.
    • Halala: “I’m not in desperate need of big money from big, influential donors. There’s a quid pro quo and that’s a major problem. Not to say I’m not going to take money from some big donors as we keep going, but I’m going to… be very, very selective.” (04:10)
  • Treg Taylor (Republican, ex-Attorney General): $900,000+, about a third self-funded.
  • Adam Crum (Republican, ex-Revenue Commissioner): Roughly $350,000.
  • Tom Begich (Democrat, former State Senator): Leading Democratic fundraiser with $350,000—“Buying your way to the governorship is just not…good for Alaska.”
  • Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins (Democrat, former State Rep.): Late entrant but raised $750,000 in two weeks.
• Deep Field:
  • Scott Kendall (Attorney & Campaign Operative): “For probably the most important race in the state, we have a level of competition maybe we’ve never seen… here, there’s really 10 legit candidates. And it’s pretty exciting.” (05:43)
• Primary Format:
  The top four in the nonpartisan August primary advance to November’s general election.

2. Senator Dan Sullivan's Legislative Address

• Tone & Critique:
  • Sullivan again emphasized his criticism of the Biden administration, praising Trump-era gains in military, resource development, and healthcare:
    • “Under President Trump, Alaska is in the midst of a comeback…” (01:11)
    • He announced a $1.4 billion rural healthcare fund for Alaska.
  • He accused national Democrats, especially Chuck Schumer, of efforts to “hurt” Alaska (named nine times).
• Election-Year Scrutiny:
  With re-election ahead, Sullivan faced pointed questions, especially from Democratic Senator Forrest Dunbar.
  • Dunbar: “You’ve said yes to Trump many times. I’m wondering if you’re willing to say no.” (02:47)
  • Sullivan: “I’m not afraid to go after officials when they deserve it…sometimes, if you want results, that’s not always the best way to get results.” (02:52)

3. Immigration Enforcement in Soldotna: Family Detained

• Incident:
  ICE agents detained Sonia Arriaga (Mexican national) and her three sons (ages 5, 16, 18), with her US-citizen husband Alexander Sanchez Ramos recounting a forceful arrest:
  • “I’m talking about aggressively grabbing her and pulling her out…she’s still in her pajamas, for crying out loud.” (06:37)
  • He was handcuffed outside in gym shorts and sandals; the oldest son jailed, mother and younger sons detained in a hotel.
• Community & Faith Leader Reaction:
  • Rev. Michael Burke (St. Mary’s Episcopal Church): “How could anyone possibly claim to support family values when they are willing to stand by and be silent when a five year old is taken into detention?” (07:16)
• Context:
  Arriaga was reportedly legally present and seeking asylum. ICE hadn’t responded to media queries at the time of report.

4. Olympic Glory: Gus Schumacher’s Silver Medal in Italy

• Race Details:
  • Anchorage’s Gus Schumacher and teammate Ben Ogden win silver in the men’s cross-country team sprint—the US’s second such medal in 50 years.
  • Nat Herz (Reporting from Italy): Sets the scene: “It was an absolutely bluebird, sunny, gorgeous day…all the heavy hitters were there, especially on the Norwegian team…” (09:15)
  • Schumacher: “I’m really proud of how I just sort of skied with abandon in a way…because when I’m skiing free, I’m the best.” (12:30)
• Memorable Finish:
  • Herz describes the finish as “an electric moment…Gus gets to the finish line and just lets out this primal scream and just ends up in a pile with his teammate, Ben Ogden…” (12:45)
• Hometown Impact:
  • “There’s nowhere else this medal is going to come home to other than Alaska for Schumacher…knowing how many, like, young junior skiers…are going to…see what Gus Schumacher has accomplished today and be able to celebrate and feel a little bit of ownership…” (14:10)
• Legacy: Calls back to Keegan Randall’s gold medal and the inspiration for a new generation.

5. Mariculture in Southeast Alaska: Challenges & Opportunities

• Workshop in Juneau:
  • Farmers, tribal leaders, and academics discuss expanding Alaska’s oyster industry.
  • Miranda Hamm (Chinooku Shellfish Co.) demonstrates a floating upweller system (“flupsy”)—key for oyster spat.
    • “Currently there’s only so many flupsies in the state, and as a farmer, we’ve already not had seed needs met.” (16:35)
  • Most spat (young oysters) are imported due to shortages; local hatcheries at Lena Point are studying in-state production.
    • Spencer Lunda (Hatchery Manager): “It would be nice to have SPAT production in the state and as well as to…produce oysters that perform better in the conditions of Alaska because the water is very cold here…” (17:33)
• State & Tribal Relations:
  • Hamm notes the two-year permitting process rarely consults tribes about subsistence conflicts:
    • “I think it’s crucial that the State of Alaska incorporates tribal consultation rather than just city…government.” (17:46)
• Economic Potential:
  • Frank Nix (Organized Village of Khe Sanh) seeks mariculture for economic and food security:
    • “Most of us are already working three or four jobs…maybe we don’t have the manpower to run a farm, but…one or two people could manage a small hatchery.” (18:55)
  • Grant funding and training make it increasingly accessible to Native communities.

6. Alaska Marine Highway: Summer Schedule and Fleet Updates

• 2026 Summer Ferry Schedule:
  • Reservations open for May–September; only six of nine vessels operating.
  • Staffing/budget limitations: “Our crew is relatively stable right now, but you know, it’s not expanding rapidly… our budget is also a concern this year, so we will only be running one of the mainliners at any given time.” (20:00)
  • Only the Columbia sails weekly through Southeast to Bellingham.
  • Kennecott will serve as a backup vessel.
• Future of the Fleet:
  • Ongoing funding struggles; state awaits major federal grant.
  • Potential sale of the aging Matanuska, currently used as worker housing.

7. Alaska Trapping Tradition: Reflections from the Mat-Su

• Personal Profile: Corey Rauch, Mat-Su Trapper
  • Rauch, army veteran and relative newcomer, shares the visceral, ethical aspects of trapping:
    • “There’s not an intimate relationship [with store-bought food], as, like, oh, I just called this bull moose in…now I’m going to pack it out and process it…it’s going to feed me and my family. That’s very intimate.” (23:18)
  • Childhood dreams, struggles in Ohio, and a quest for purposeful living brought him north.
  • Educates his sons on hunting, trapping, and respecting the animals they harvest.
• Ethical Struggles:
  • “Believe it or not, you know, I feel bad sometimes. I hate killing. I really do. You watch the life leave that animal…” (25:14)
  • He sees honesty in facing the violence inherent in eating meat and wearing fur:
    • “Just because you see it in a store…doesn’t mean that animal didn’t die…it’s just hidden, he says. Easy, convenient. You can pretend you’re not part of it…” (25:33)
  • Finds meaning and connection in hands-on life: “His life isn’t perfect…but it has meaning in a way it never did back in Ohio.” (25:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Competitive Politics:
  Scott Kendall: “For probably the most important race in the state, we have a level of competition maybe we’ve never seen…” (05:43)
• On Immigration and Family:
  Rev. Michael Burke: “How could anyone possibly claim to support family values when they are willing to stand by and be silent when a five year old is taken into detention?” (07:16)
• On Olympic Triumph:
  Gus Schumacher: “I’m really proud of how I just sort of skied with abandon…because when I’m skiing free, I’m the best.” (12:30)
  Nat Herz (on finish line): “Gus gets to the finish line and just lets out this, like, primal scream and just ends up in a pile with his teammate…” (12:45)
• On Intimacy with Food:
  Corey Rauch: “You don’t know your food…just because you see it in a store…doesn’t mean that animal didn’t die.” (23:18, 25:33)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Governor’s Race Fundraising – [01:11] to [06:02]
• Sen. Dan Sullivan’s Address & Questions – [01:11] to [02:52]
• Immigration Detention in Soldotna – [06:02] to [08:08]
• Olympic Silver for Gus Schumacher – [08:39] to [15:20]
• Mariculture & Oysters in Southeast – [15:33] to [19:25]
• Alaska Marine Highway Update – [19:39] to [22:05]
• Mat-Su Trapper Profile – [22:05] to [26:24]

Tone & Style

The episode weaves fast-paced, closely reported stories with deeply personal insights, mirroring the authenticity and resilience of Alaskans. It balances civic scrutiny, community heart, and the celebration of local achievements, as captured in the hosts’ and interviewees’ own words.

Listeners leave with a thoughtful, nuanced sense of what’s shaping Alaska today—from politics and policy to the outdoor traditions that define the state.