KTOO News
Extreme risk of ‘historic’ avalanches prompts evacuation recommendation in Juneau
Residents in several Juneau neighborhoods should evacuate due to extreme danger from potentially historic avalanches, the City and Borough of Juneau announced on Saturday.
Vaccines and safety measures hang in the balance as Alaska lawmakers allow COVID-19 response power to expire
Lawmakers are allowing Alaska's emergency authority to respond to COVID-19 to expire. But the pandemic isn't over — so what's the plan now?
Some Alaskans are refusing to quarantine because they won’t get paid if they don’t work
The issue is raising concern among state and local public health leaders.
Despite the pandemic, Alaska’s primary and general elections to follow normal voting process
Many were pushing for a move to mail-in ballots, but the Lieutenant Governor said that the current voting system, including absentee ballots, will be able to meet the demands of voters should a sharper outbreak of the coronavirus occur.
Watch: Dunleavy signs off on $1,600 PFD, agrees to restore funds to multiple budget items
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a bill Monday that provides permanent fund dividends of $1,600. He says he expects to call a third special session this fall, solely to pay another roughly $1,400 per Alaskan in PFDs. Watch the video address here.
Watch live: Alaska Legislature holds joint session on budget veto overrides
Alaska lawmakers in Juneau have scheduled a joint session between the House of Representatives and Senate to vote on overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s nearly $400 million in vetoes to the state’s operating budget.
Earthquake Felt in Southeast Alaska, No Tsunami Expected
An early morning earthquake today is causing widespread communications problems in Southeast Alaska. Both Alaska Communications and AT&T wireless and internet services were affected.
Alaska Lawmakers Vote To Allow Medevac Membership Programs
Legislation allowing medevac membership programs to continue is on its way to Gov. Sean Parnell for his signature. The Alaska House unanimously approved Senate Bill 159 on Tuesday. It sailed through the Senate in late February.
Sam Kito III Named As New Juneau Representative
Governor Sean Parnell on Friday morning named Sam Kito III as the new District 32 representative to the Legislature for downtown Juneau and Douglas.
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Bartlett Regional Hospital CFO To Resign
Another member of Bartlett Regional Hospital’s leadership team is stepping down. Chief Financial Officer Ken Brough will resign at the end of the year, according to a hospital news release. Interim CEO Jeff Egbert made the announcement in an email to hospital and medical staff and the Bartlett board of directors.
‘Little Smokey’ Finds A Home
The young black bear cub called Little Smokey has a new home. The cub orphaned earlier this month near Seward will be a resident of Sitka’s Fortress of the Bear.
Wrangell Sawmill Burns
One of the last major sawmill operations in Wrangell has been destroyed by fire. Mike Allen Enterprizes burned to the ground in Tuesday’s mid-afternoon fire at 13 Mile Zimovia Highway.
Jury Returns Verdict In Infant Homicide Trial
A Juneau jury has found David J. Paul not guilty on a single count of second degree murder with extreme indifference to the value of human life. Paul has been found guilty of manslaughter.
Eagle Knocks Out Power; Juneau Airport Evacuated
Approximately 100 passengers and employees were evacuated Monday morning when the smell of diesel fumes started to fill the Juneau International Airport terminal shortly after a power outage occurred in Mendenhall Valley.
Only Survivor From Tenakee Boating Accident Has Died
The survivor of a recent deadly boating accident near Tenakee Springs has died. Juneau police say 26-year-old Jim A. Brown Jr. was found unconscious and not breathing at a North Douglas Highway home just before midnight.
Recount Gives Kreiss-Tomkins 32 Vote Victory in House District 34
Sitka Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has won a Southeast Alaska state House seat after a recount. Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai says Kreiss-Tomkins defeated Republican incumbent Representative Bill Thomas of Haines by 32 votes. The final count was 4,130 votes for Kreiss-Tomkins and 4,098 for Thomas.
Juneau Brothers Die In Boating Accident Near Tenakee Springs
Two brothers from Juneau died in a boating accident Friday near Tenakee Springs. Alaska State Troopers Spokeswoman Megan Peters says 26-year-old Casey Newman and 23-year-old Kelly Newman went missing when their 18-foot Lund skiff capsized late Friday. Peters says Jim Brown, Jr., in his mid-20s, was also on the boat and was able to swim to shore.
Kreiss-Tompkins has a 28 vote lead
An additional 86 absentee ballots have been counted, according to Gail Fenumiai, director of the Alaska Division of Elections. Sitka Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins now has 4,110 votes to Haines Republican Representative Bill Thomas’s 4,082 votes. The remaining 26 special absentee ballots will be counted on Wednesday along with any other eligible ballots postmarked from overseas that arrive by Wednesday.
Egan Joins Majority As Transportation Chairman
Juneau Senator Dennis Egan is the first Democrat to join the new Alaska Senate majority. He’ll chair the Senate Transportation Committee, according to a press release from the majority caucus.
Rehabilitated Harbor Seals Head for the Ocean
On Friday, two young harbor seals had an audience at False Outer Point as the seals made their way into the ocean for the first time since they were rescued in May.