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Home To Roost: #40 Feb 06, 2026

In addition to how the Trump administration is affecting Alaska’s ferry system and Scouting America, we look at how ICE enforcement is affecting immigrant and refugees in Alaska and how ICE might play a role in the conduct of the mid-term elections in light of the Constitution’s elections clause.

Inside The City: Palmer City Manager Kolby Zerkel Feb 06, 2026

Join host Mike Chmielewski and Palmer City Manager Kolby Zerkel to discuss current topics involving The City of Palmer.

Avalanche Report: February 6th, 2026 Feb 06, 2026

Join us for the current 24-hour avalanche report by Lead Forecaster Tim Rogers of the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center. Forecast good until 7:20am Saturday, February 7th.

Cross Country Ski Report: February 6th., 2026 Feb 06, 2026

Current cross-country skiing conditions from Ed Strabel of the Mat-Su Ski Club

Page 2 Fri. Feb. 6: Bus Drivers Veering Strikeward Feb 06, 2026

It’s time for Page Two: News that might not make the front page for Friday February 6, 2026.

The person driving your child to school arrives at the bus barn early in the morning, You might not even be awake. He or she punches in a number. The manager gives them announcements for the day and assigns a route.

Drivers with seniority get the same route every day. Newbies might get different routes every week.

The person driving your child to school inspects the bus. Does the heater work? Do the chains fit properly? How about the tires? The brakes?

If there’s a problem, the driver who takes your child to school must find an alternative bus. This takes time. And there’s pressure to pick up your child on time in varied weather conditions.

The person driving your child to school in the morning is close to going on strike.

How we got here is a long story. It involves the 230 employees of Durham School Services in Mat-Su and their union, Teamsters Local 959. Negotiations with Durham started last July. They made some progress. However, negotiations came to a halt last month. The Durham team left the state. There are no plans to re-start negotiations.

The Department of Transportation has minimum standards for medical check-ups for bus drivers. The union and the company agree that the drivers should meet higher standards than the minimum.

The union says the company is forcing its drivers to pay more than is necessary for extra tests. Drivers may be forced to get check-ups from doctors outside of their network, for example. And the bus driver pays. It’s a financial burden to pay extra for out of network service.

Political coordinator for Teamsters 959 Patrick Fitzgerald said, “I can get my physical within my network and it’s affordable.” But Durham wants to pick the doctor. And it costs more if the doctor is not in the driver’s network. And the driver pays. Fitzgerald notes that any other transportation company, like an airline, pays those costs.

There are other issues. The union wants more inventory. Drivers want equipment to be immediately available to replace a bus that fails inspection.

But the health issue looms large enough to lead to an impasse.

Fitzgerald doesn’t know what is going to happen next. Talks are at a standstill.

The Durham negotiating team is not here.

Drivers are passionate about the items on the table. They voted to authorize a strike. The turnout was high. 99% voted yes.

The conflict is not between the school district and the drivers. Durham is a private company contracted with the school district to provide transportation. The union is starting to pressure the district. They argue that the school district should fine Durham if it doesn’t meet the terms of the contract. Teamster Business agent Kelsey Taylor spoke to the school board about this issue Wednesday. He argued that it amounts to “corporate welfare” if the district doesn’t hold Durham to the terms of its contract.

Learn about glaciology in the Mat-Su with Joe Moore on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Mat-Su Health Foundation building in Wasilla. Join retired soil scientist Joe Moore on all things glacial.

Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.

Please support Page 2 News. Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.

This Page Two article was written by David Cheezem and read by Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.

That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Friday February 6, 2026.

Ag Matters: Sauntering Roots Farms Feb 05, 2026

Host Ken Hoffman interviews Brandi Jo Nyberg from Sauntering Roots Farm about its use of sustainable and ecological farming practices.

From The Farm: February 3rd, 2026 Feb 05, 2026

Nelson Crone gives the monthly update on the UAF Farm and Extension Service, along with his sage advice.

Internet Weather Report: February 4th, 2026 Feb 05, 2026

Join host Mike Chmielewski with Peter House from Deep Tree as they discuss current cybersecurity threats

Page 2 Thu. Feb. 5: Weekend Things Feb 05, 2026

It’s time for Page Two: News that might not make the front page on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Harp Daddy meets Jesse James tonight at the Palmer Ale House Unplugged from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Angela Wade of the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council talks about culturally modified trees for the Castle Mountain Coalition Matanuska River Watershed Series tonight at 7 p.m. at the Sutton Library.

Here are some Friday happenings.

The First Friday art opening at the Art Cafe features block prints by Joe Halladay. Stop by between 5 and 7 p.m. to meet the artist and see his work.

Then stop by the Palmer Museum of History and Art between 6 and 8 p.m. for the Beyond the Classroom exhibit. This juried art exhibition showcases outstanding artwork by local high school students.

Mat-Su Traditional Music and Family Dance is hosting contra dancing at the Palmer Moose Lodge. Orientation is at 5:40 p.m. followed by dancing at 6 p.m. Please bring a pair of soft sole shoes or thick socks, a water bottle, and a joyous heart. Feel free to bring something to tip the band. Ten Dollar Bet will be playing and Maria will be calling.

Wow, too many great choices on Saturday:

It’s the first Saturday of the month so the vendor market is open at the borough gym from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Discover a vibrant collection of Alaska artisans, makers, and small businesses that offer something for everyone.

Get help on scholarships and financial aid at Fund Your Future: Financial Aid Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mat-Su College. This free public event helps students tap into millions of dollars in scholarships and financial aid.

Attendees can meet one-on-one with Financial Aid Advisors and representatives from local organizations to learn about grants, scholarships, and other resources that make higher education more affordable.

Wiley Post plays Hatcher Pass Lodge from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Totally Polar Pride Prom runs from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Depot. Get ready to turn up the neon and chill out in style at this 18 and older event. Polar Pride Prom is the annual fundraiser for the Queen’s Guard of Alaska.

The Mardi Gras Gala for The Children’s Place is at Raven Hall on the Fairgrounds from 5 to 10:30 p.m. This mix of Mardi Gras and upscale formal features a southern flavored dinner, live and silent auctions, live entertainment, and a photo booth. The Facebook event has a link to buy tickets.

The annual Cabin Fever Reliever benefit for the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center is from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Palmer Senior Center. It features live music from The Super Saturated Sugar Strings, a charcuterie spread by Rabbit Rabbit Catering, local craft beverages, and door prizes. Kids 13 and younger are free with a ticketed adult. Find the link to tickets at hpavalanche.org.

The Shayne Smith comedy show takes place at Everetts at 7:30 p.m. Shayne is a Utah born comedian, writer, podcaster, and musician.

And then you can sleep in and get your weekend chores done on Sunday.

Tune in to the airwaves for an avalanche report by Lead Forecaster Tim Rogers of the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center at 7:20 a.m. tomorrow.

An update on cross country skiing conditions from Ed Strabel of the Mat-Su Ski Club follows at 7:30 a.m.

MEA Chief Strategy Officer Julie Estey joins Mike on Valley Edition at 5 p.m. tomorrow, repeating at noon on Saturday.

Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and about 6 p.m.

Please support Page 2 News. Donate today.

This Page Two article was written and read by me, Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.

That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Page 2 Wed. Feb. 4: School District Seeks Feedback Feb 04, 2026

It’s time for Page Two: News that might not make the front page for Wednesday February 4, 2026.

Mat-Su school district officials want input from residents on budget cuts for next year. They encourage residents to take an online survey.

The three-question survey is open through the end of February. It asks users to rank district programs and topics. One question asks users to rate which items are important to them. Another question asks which items users believe the district can reduce or cut.

The Mat-Su Borough School District is facing an estimated $23 million shortfall in funding for the next school year. The gap is being driven by two things. Operational costs for items like classroom supplies and staff salaries continue to rise. And funding from the state and borough has not kept up with inflation.

District leaders emphasize that substantial cuts are necessary. Otherwise, the financial strain could jeopardize the district’s ability to operate schools effectively.

The district implemented more than $10 million in budget cuts for this school year. They also used about $3 million from reserves.

District officials recommend widespread reductions rather than another one-time fix using reserve funds. Relying on reserves again would reduce the district’s ability to respond to future emergencies or unexpected expenses. And the district would face the same budget challenges next year.

The cost-cutting options presented in the survey include measures that affect students, families, and staff. The options include consolidating neighborhood schools, reducing bus routes, increasing facility usage fees, cutting teaching and administrative positions, raising class sizes, and slashing extracurricular activities.

District spokesperson John Notestine said the survey is designed to prompt residents to consider the difficult trade-offs the district faces. These trade-offs are unavoidable given the size of the shortfall.

Survey responses will be compiled and shared with the School Board before its March 4 meeting. A preliminary budget for the 26–27 school year is expected to be presented at that meeting. Officials say the survey rankings will help guide how reductions are distributed across the district.

In addition to the survey, the district plans to launch a second public engagement tool called “Balancing Act.” This interactive platform will allow participants to experiment with budget adjustments and submit comments and ideas.

These efforts aim to involve the community directly in shaping how the district navigates financial challenges while maintaining essential educational services.

This article was summarized from the Mat-Su Sentinel.

The school board meets tonight at 6 p.m. You can listen to the meeting on bigcabbageradio.org.

Angela Wade of the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council talks about culturally modified trees for the Castle Mountain Coalition Matanuska River Watershed Series tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Sutton Library.

Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.

Please support Page 2 News. Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.

This Page Two article was written by Mike Chmielewski and read by Lee Henrikson.

If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.

That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Wednesday February 4, 2026.