Goldbelt Tram Update: Safety, Certification and the Path to Reopening

End-of-Life Care in Juneau: Hospice, Support and Starting the Conversation

In this edition of Capital Chat, Cliff Dumas speaks with Jeff Short of the Foundation for End of Life Care [https://foundationforendoflifecare.org/] about the organization’s work supporting hospice services, bereavement care, end-of-life planning, and community education in Juneau and Southeast Alaska. Schwartz explains what hospice is, and what it is not, while addressing common misconceptions and the emotional difficulty many families face when beginning these conversations. He also discusses Alaska’s low use of hospice care, Bartlett Regional Hospital's role as the hospice provider for northern Southeast Alaska, and how the community can support this essential work.

Goldbelt Tram Update: Safety, Certification and the Path to Reopening

In this edition of Capital Chat, Cliff Dumas speaks with McHugh Pierre, president and CEO of Goldbelt, about the April 30 mechanical malfunction at the Goldbelt Tram [https://www.goldbelttram.com/] in Juneau. Pierre shares the results of Goldbelt’s investigation, explains the emergency safety stop, and outlines the rigorous inspection, testing, and certification process now underway ahead of the tram's reopening. He also discusses Goldbelt’s decision to refund season pass holders while still honoring their access and benefits once operations resume. The conversation offers a clear update for locals, visitors, and anyone following developments regarding one of Juneau’s most recognizable attractions.

More Choice, More Control: The Push for Self-Directed Care in Alaska

Alaska is currently the only state without a Medicaid-funded self-directed care program, leaving many seniors and people with disabilities with fewer choices when it comes to receiving support at home. In this episode of Capital Chat, Maggie Winston of Southeast Alaska Independent Living, or SAIL, explains what Centers for Independent Living do, how they support people with disabilities across every stage of life, and why self-directed care matters. The conversation explores how participant-directed care can give individuals more control over who provides their care, how services are delivered, and how they remain as independent as possible in their own homes and communities. Maggie also discusses the slow-moving effort to bring this option to Alaska and how organizations like SAIL are advocating for systems change so Alaskans with disabilities, seniors, and families have more options, more dignity, and more control over their daily lives.

Poetry Outloud Finalist Cassie Lumba

On this episode of Capital Chat, Cliff Dumas visits with Cassie Lumba, a Juneau-Douglas High School senior and national finalist in the Poetry Out Loud competition. Cassie talks about graduating, heading to Anchorage to study biology with plans to go into dentistry, and what it feels like to close one chapter while stepping into the next. The conversation also explores social media, pressure on young people, and the importance of stepping back to find real connections. Cassie shares why she chose “Longings” by Nellie Rathbone Bright [https://poets.org/poem/longings], a poem published in 1927 that still feels strikingly relevant today, and how its themes of freedom, nature, and emotional honesty connected with her own generation.

Alaska Airlines, Atmos Rewards and Why Air Service Matters in Southeast Alaska

On this episode of Capital Chat, Cliff Dumas talks with Scott Habberstadt, managing director of Alaska Airlines [https://www.alaskaair.com/], about the airline’s deep connection to Juneau and Southeast Alaska. The conversation covers Alaska Airlines’ merger with Hawaiian Airlines, recent improvements to the airline’s app and web systems, the launch of the new Atmos rewards program, and what Club 49 members should know. Scott also explains why air service in Southeast Alaska is about more than travel; it is about health care, commerce, school sports, family connections, and keeping communities linked together. Plus, they discuss Alaska Airlines’ busy summer schedule out of Juneau, new international service from Seattle, and why customer service remains one of the airline’s most important calling cards.