Zachariah Hughes

Zachariah Hughes

Reporter

Zachariah Hughes covers the military, dog mushing, politics, subsistence issues and general assignments for the Anchorage Daily News. Prior to joining the ADN he worked in Alaska’s public radio network, and got his start in journalism at KNOM in Nome.

As support streams in, one village still accounting for what was lost in Western Alaska storm

Golovin was hurt worse than other places in the Norton Sound region by the remnants of typhoon Merbok as it swirled up through Bering Sea last weekend. Repairing the damage is going to take time — and the clock is ticking on winter’s arrival.

By Zachariah Hughes●

Biden approves Western Alaska disaster request as FEMA arrives to assess storm damage

Federal officials are visiting rural communities over the weekend as aid continues rolling out.

By Zachariah Hughes●

Dunleavy requests federal disaster declaration for Western Alaska as reports of storm damage accumulate

Officials have tallied damage to 40 towns and villages stretching from the Bering Strait region in the north to the mouth of the Kuskokwim River in the south — some 1,300 miles of coastline.

By Zachariah Hughes●

‘Some of them just disappeared’: Essential pieces of life in Nome were lost in the storm

Even though most of the Western Alaska town survived the Pacific typhoon intact, nearby fish camps and infrastructure were ruined.

By Zachariah Hughes●

As storm-battered Western Alaska takes stock of damage and begins cleanup, officials pledge help

The storm shredded sea walls, compromised drinking water systems, ripped homes from their foundation, deluged streets in Nome with sea water and left houses filled with silt.

By Michelle Theriault Boots, Zachariah Hughes, Tess Williams and Sean Maguire●

As Western Alaska floodwaters recede, damage assessments begin across hundreds of miles of coastline

The storm left telecommunications outages and a trail of wreckage to infrastructure including buildings, roads, docks, seawalls and airport runways.

By Zachariah Hughes, Alena Naiden and Sean Maguire●

Worst storm in years batters Western Alaska coast

Many communities were experiencing severe flooding, power outages and wind damage as the remnants of ex-typhoon Merbok moved north across the Bering Sea. Gov. Dunleavy issued a disaster declaration, describing the storm as “unprecedented.”

By Annie Berman, Zachariah Hughes and Sean Maguire●

Court rules public has a right to access gated Hillside trail

The case of a property owner blocking off entry to the Stewart Trail has implications for other recreational routes into the Chugach State Park.

By Zachariah Hughes●

Alaska mushing legend Lance Mackey, 4-time Iditarod champ, dies at age 52

Mackey announced last year that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer a second time.

By Zaz Hollander, Zachariah Hughes and Chris Bieri●

A ‘good day to be Yup’ik’: Alaska Natives celebrate Peltola’s win in U.S. House special election

Indigenous Alaskans from around the state flooded social media with exuberant messages, reflections and recollections after Peltola’s victory was announced.

By Zachariah Hughes●

Polaris tells snowmachiners not to ride a decade’s worth of models over fire risk

A notice from the company on Tuesday affects around 230,000 Polaris models spanning 2013 to 2023.

By Zachariah Hughes●

Alaska politicos haul hoses and play with fire at union-sponsored training event

Policymakers from across the political spectrum gathered with the firefighters union in Anchorage to get a taste of what public safety spending pays for.

By Zachariah Hughes●

Anchorage Assembly kills Bronson effort to turn top election job into an elected position

The mayor’s bid to make the municipal clerk an elected position will not go on the April ballot following a decisive Assembly vote.

By Zachariah Hughes●

Amid Anchorage’s homelessness upheaval, a new shelter quietly rushed to house dozens of vulnerable people

A converted hotel now shelters 83 medically fragile and elderly homeless residents, filling a critical need and pointing to a model for the city’s ongoing response.

By Zachariah Hughes●

Reptile lovers convene in Wasilla as exotic animals gain popularity in Alaska

As more and more Alaskans collect snakes, lizards and other exotic pets, nonprofits and businesses are grappling with a host of problems accompanying the growth.

By Zachariah Hughes●