Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Casey Grove is host of Alaska News Nightly, a general assignment reporter and an editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach him at cgrove@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Casey here.
As COVID cases skyrocket, Alaska health officials closely watch hospitalizations, staffing
In the last week, the coronavirus’s omicron variant has pushed Alaska’s daily case counts higher than the fall delta variant surge and sidelined health care workers at an alarming rate.
More Alaska health care workers are out sick or in quarantine as omicron hits
The head of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association says it’s unclear whether omicron will cause as many hospitalizations as delta did. But, already, it's forcing health care workers off the front lines.
Our Washington, DC, correspondent reflects on the Jan. 6 Capitol riot
It’s the one-year anniversary of a dark day in America’s political life — the storming of the U.S. Capitol, by a mob of former President Donald Trump supporters trying to keep him in the White House despite his election loss.
Alaska’s courts set to resume in-person jury trials
ave been put on hold sporadically since April 2020. The pauses led to a backlog of cases and concerns about defendants’ right to a speedy trial. It also put pressure on judges and lawyers to resolve criminal cases in other ways, like plea deals.
Alaska economists are pondering the state’s labor market churn
"It is the strangest, most chaotic, mysterious, and often seemingly contradictory trends that are going on in the labor market all at the same time," said state economist Neal Fried.
In gun-loving Alaska, some ammo is scarce
In a state where hunting is a way of life — not to mention a way to put food on the table — that's a problem.
Fairbanks is riding a weather roller coaster, from freezing rain to snow and frigid cold
Department of Transportation crews are battling a thick coating of ice on roads, and the local utility, Golden Valley Electric, continues working to restore electricity to pockets of customers.
Alaska’s weekend Christmas storm was one for the record books
This past holiday weekend was one for the record books. Between rain and snow, Fairbanks recorded its third highest amount of daily precipitation. In Kodiak, temperatures soared to 67 degrees — the highest temperature ever recorded in Alaska in the month of December. Meanwhile, Ketchikan recorded a record low.
Alaska aurora photographer celebrating 25 years of nocturnal lifestyle
Among those night owls casting their gaze heavenward each night is professional aurora photographer Todd Salat.
Alaska News Nightly: Friday, December 17, 2021
A proposal to cut back on the per diems paid to Juneau legislators. Also, how real estate donations keep the capital right where it is. And private vessels could help supply communities in Southeast.
Alaska detectives turning to genetic genealogy to catch cold case killers
Cold case detectives like Investigator Randel McPherron with the Alaska Department of Public Safety are finding more and more success with genetic genealogy.
Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, December 16, 2021
St. George struggles with fuel, power and water shortages in the dead of winter. And how genetic genealogy is solving cold case murders in Alaska.
Anchorage man’s magic mushroom selling leads feds to swastika stickers, charges say
Luke Edward Foster, 27, faces federal drug dealing and weapons charges. The stickers, along with a black-and-white swastika flag, were allegedly found in Foster’s possession, but are so far not part of the criminal allegations against him.
The lack of law enforcement in rural Alaska prompted promises of more police. Two years later, they haven’t been kept.
Gov. Dunleavy promised to put Alaska State Troopers and police in specific communities off the road system. But two years later, reporting by the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica has found the state has mostly failed to follow through on those promises.
Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Claims Settlement Act created a divide within families. And sponsors of a ballot initiative say tribal recognition in the state is long overdue.
Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Communities across the state are seeking changes to the Alaska Redistricting Board's new legislative map. Also, a surprise decision about halibut bycatch in Western Alaska leaves some fishermen worried. And a weather station malfunction leaves Yakutat without air travel for days.
Alaska News Nightly: Monday, December 13, 2021
A federal appeals court weighs a fishing dispute on the state's only Native reservation. Also, residents near the proposed Ambler mine are ambivalent about the project that could harm subsistence but also bring much needed jobs to the region. And a meeting on salmon declines in western Alaska leads to few solid answers.
Alaska News Nightly: Friday, December 10, 2021
Questions abound after the Permanent Fund's executive director is voted out. Also, communities around the state are rolling out access to rapid at-home COVID-19 tests. And Fairbanks tries a new type of responder to help people experiencing a mental health crisis.
Dairy farmer’s Alaska sprint mushing dreams come true in new documentary ‘Underdog’
"Underdog" is the product of 10 years of work by filmmaker Tommy Hyde, who shot, directed and edited the film, which he says tells Vermont dairy farmer Doug Butler's "curiously optimistic" tale.
Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, December 9, 2021
Alaska Native Corporations scramble to meet the deadline for spending CARES Act funds. Also, a trip to the mine described as a model for Alaska Native shareholders to earn a good living and stay in their communities. And a new documentary tells the story of a Vermont dairy farmer realizing his dream of mushing dogs in Alaska.