Sled dog racing
Dallas Seavey sets out from the checkpoint in Iditarod on Thursday afternoon, March 11, 2021, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Zachariah Hughes/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)
Last musher brings dogs over Alaska's Iditarod finish line

Mar. 18, 2021 02:05 PM EDT

Richie Diehl mushes up the first part of the Happy River Steps on Sunday, March 14, 2021 during the Iditarod, in Alaska. The steps are normally a tricky downhill part of the race, but this year mushers are also doing it in reverse. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)
Dallas Seavey wins Iditarod, matches most wins by a musher

By Mark Thiessen Mar. 15, 2021 01:13 PM EDT

Dallas Seavey wins a pandemic-shortened Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and matches the most wins by a musher

Mar. 15, 2021 09:05 AM EDT
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Dallas Seavey wins a pandemic-shortened Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and matches the most wins by a musher. ...

Ryan Redington, right, with his team in harness, stops near a team bedded down near the trail as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race headed toward the Rohn checkpoint Saturday, March 13, 2021. (Zachariah Hughes/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)
Dallas Seavey on the cusp of 5th title with Iditarod lead

By Mark Thiessen Mar. 14, 2021 06:03 PM EDT

Past Iditarod champions Joar Ulsom, right, and Pete Kaiser pose for a photo with Richie Diehl, left, in the Ophir, Alaska, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 12, 2021. The three are close friends and have been traveling close together for sections of the race. (Zachariah Hughes/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)
Dog illness prompts former Iditarod champion to scratch

By Mark Thiessen Mar. 13, 2021 05:08 PM EST

Gunnar Johnson travels down the Susitna River during the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday, March 7, 2021. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Iditarod officials contact tracing after positive virus test

By Becky Bohrer Mar. 11, 2021 07:31 PM EST

Coronavirus-positive racer removed from Iditarod race

Mar. 11, 2021 06:20 AM EST
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A veteran Iditarod musher was removed from the race Wednesday after he tested positive for the coronavirus, organizers said. ...

Aliy Zirkle, of Two Rivers, greets fans as she passes by at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race start at Deshka Landing in Willow, Alaska, Sunday, March 7, 2021. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)
Iditarod musher Zirkle suffers concussion, injuries in fall

By Mark Thiessen Mar. 09, 2021 02:33 PM EST

FILE - In this March 14, 2014, file photo, Howard Farley, who helped organize Nome as the end of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ahead of the first running in 1973, is seen at the Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum in Nome, Alaska. The world's most famous sled dog race starts Sunday, March 7, 2021, without its defending champion in a contest that will be as much dominated by unknowns and changes because of the pandemic as mushers are by the Alaska terrain. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Pandemic forces route change, other precautions for Iditarod

By Mark Thiessen Mar. 06, 2021 11:02 AM EST

FILE - In this Saturday, March 2, 2019, file photo, musher Aliy Zirkle, holds a feather given to her as a gift by a fan at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska. Zirkle says she will retire after this year's race, her 21st. She made the announcement on her webpage, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. She says the race has always been a spectacular adventure, but it's been physically and mentally demanding. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen,File)
Fan favorite Iditarod musher Zirkle retiring after '21 race

By Mark Thiessen Feb. 12, 2021 03:15 PM EST

FILE - In this March 3, 2018, file photo, musher Aliy Zirkle runs her team during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska. There has been another dramatic change to the world’s most famous sled dog race this year because of the pandemic, with officials announcing Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, that the ceremonial start has been canceled. (AP Photo/Michael Dinneen, File)
Iditarod drops ceremonial start over crowd-size concerns

By Mark Thiessen Feb. 05, 2021 09:17 PM EST

Tampa Bay Lightning's Mikhail Sergachev, left, of Russia, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Seth Jones fight for a loose puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets beat the Lightning 5-2. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
The Latest: Bucknell men's and women's hoops back on court

By The Associated Press Jan. 25, 2021 10:29 AM EST

FILE - In this March 18, 2020, file photo, a crowd standing behind ExxonMobile signage watches as Thomas Waerner, of Norway, arrives in Nome, Alaska to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The world's most famous sled dog race has lost another major sponsor as the Iditarod prepares for a scaled-back version of this year's race because of the pandemic, officials said Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. ExxonMobil confirmed to The Associated Press that the oil giant will drop its sponsorship of the race. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)
ExxonMobil becomes latest sponsor to sever Iditarod ties

By Mark Thiessen Jan. 21, 2021 08:08 PM EST

Start location changed for scaled-back Iditarod

Jan. 05, 2021 09:12 PM EST
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Officials with the scaled-back Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday announced another change for the 2021 competition. ...

Peter Herley wears a face covering to help prevent the spread of coronavirus while volunteering at a food pantry at the First Universalist Church, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Norway, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Pandemic forces cancellation of Maine sled dog races

Nov. 25, 2020 02:30 AM EST

FILE - In this March 18, 2020 file photo, Thomas Waerner, of Norway, celebrates his win in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska. The world's most famous sled dog race will go forward in 2021 officials are preparing for every potential contingency now for what the coronavirus and the world might look like in March when the Iditarod starts. It's not the mushers that worry Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach; they're used to social distancing along the 1,000 mile trail. The headaches start with what to do with hundreds of volunteers needed to run the race, some scattered in villages along the trail between Anchorage and Nome, to protect them and the village populations. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)
Virus restrictions lead Norwegian champ to drop Iditarod

By Mark Thiessen Nov. 23, 2020 08:17 PM EST

Security workers in protective suit prepare for administering COVID-19 testings for workers at the parking lot of the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. Chinese authorities are testing millions of people, imposing lockdowns and shutting down schools after multiple locally transmitted coronavirus cases were discovered in three cities across the country last week. (AP Photo)
The Latest: China reports results of mass testing

By The Associated Press Nov. 23, 2020 02:29 AM EST

FILE - In this March 18, 2020 file photo, Thomas Waerner, of Norway, celebrates his win in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska. The world's most famous sled dog race will go forward in 2021 officials are preparing for every potential contingency now for what the coronavirus and the world might look like in March when the Iditarod starts. It's not the mushers that worry Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach; they're used to social distancing along the 1,000 mile trail. The headaches start with what to do with hundreds of volunteers needed to run the race, some scattered in villages along the trail between Anchorage and Nome, to protect them and the village populations. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)
Iditarod preps for any scenario as 2021 race plans proceed

By Mark Thiessen Sep. 24, 2020 08:36 PM EDT

A group of women dressed in traditional clothing pose for a selfie as they celebrate South Africa's Heritage Day at Zoo Lake park in Johannesburg Thursday Sept. 24, 2020. As the number of worldwide Covid-19 death is nearing the million mark, coronavirus related case numbers and deaths in South Africa hit the lowest in months. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
The Latest: $14M more in virus funds for 3 Ariz universities

By The Associated Press Sep. 24, 2020 03:37 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 30, 2020, file photo, a girl rides her bicycle past a family of geese at South Lake park in Overland Park, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Among the mainstays of 2020 claimed by the pandemic: Spring

By Mallika Sen May. 14, 2020 03:05 AM EDT