Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon
Dead bowheads in Beaufort and Chukchi point to increased killer whale presence in Arctic
There are new signs that killer whales, which are swimming farther north and spending more of the year in Arctic waters, are increasingly preying on Alaska’s bowhead whales.
Last year’s seabird bycatch toll was lower than average, but so was fishing effort, report says
Bycatch, the incidental catch of untargeted species in commercial fisheries, is not just about salmon or crab. Seabirds are also caught and killed unintentionally in fishing gear.
Western Arctic Caribou Herd decline continues, bringing population to a third of peak size
One of the world’s biggest caribou herds is continuing a long-term population slide, according to new numbers released by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Monitors headed to certain Alaska polling sites to ensure compliance with federal laws
The U.S. Department of Justice will have monitors on duty at polling places in four Alaska areas to help ensure compliance with various federal laws protecting voters.
Ranked choice voting likely to be important in North Anchorage House race
In a district holding Government Hill, JBER and part of Muldoon — and known for low voter turnout — two Democrats are challenging a Republican incumbent.
Election in West Anchorage could be key to control of Alaska state Senate
Two veteran lawmakers running against each other have much in common but one big difference: their views on the value of bipartisanship.
Angst over youth outmigration emerges in Alaska campaign rhetoric and debates
University funding, career prospects and lifestyle amenities are factors cited as important to young Alaskans pondering their futures.
In Republican Mat-Su, voters are choosing between different conservatives
The tight race between Sen. Mike Shower and challenger Doug Massie is focusing on effectiveness and implications for the state’s only booming region.
First decade of Alaska’s dental therapy program shows successes in Yukon-Kuskokwim region
A new study shows positive results from 10 years of an Alaska program allowing professionals other than dentists to provide general care in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Study tracks reductions in time and space for ice roads in the Arctic, including Alaska
A new study from scientists at Nanjing University in China has quantified shrinking annual times and areas for using ice roads across the Arctic, including Alaska.
Bycatch task force considers new rules, more research to protect Alaska fish intercepted at sea
As salmon runs falter and western Alaska villagers suffer, some worry that measures will be too incremental and slow to provide meaningful help.
Gubernatorial candidates spar over gas pipeline, fiscal plans at Anchorage debate
The event, hosted by the RDC, was the first to feature all four candidates in one place — including Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Charlie Pierce, who have appeared less frequently.
White House Arctic strategy puts new emphasis on national defense, Russia
A new Arctic strategy released Friday acknowledges some big changes in the region over the past decade – the rise of military threats posed by Russia, the largest Arctic nation.
Redistricting pits two Anchorage House Democrats with similar policy views against each other
The choice between incumbents Harriet Drummond and Zack Fields, now in a tight race, may come down to more subtle differences in style.
Typhoon Merbok spotlights Alaska’s need for science and climate-resilient infrastructure
With intense storms expected to increase, experts want more data to support flood forecasts and infrastructure investments that keep communities out of harm’s way.
Study links lack of running water to prevalence of ear infections among rural Alaska children
Data from screenings of more than 1,600 Bering Strait schoolchildren found that lack of running water corresponded to a 53% higher rate of middle-ear infections.
NOAA asks Alaskans for help Saturday in annual Cook Inlet beluga count
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be staging a citizen-science event on Saturday called Belugas Count!
Alaska park managers are preparing for the loss of some of the state’s most iconic attractions: glaciers
At Kenai Fjords National Park and elsewhere, areas long known for their up-close glacier views are expected to be drastically different in the future.
House candidates make pro-development pitches at Alaska oil industry conference
“What we need to do is really articulate how Alaska does it best,” Alaska's first congresswoman, Mary Peltola said at a candidate forum on oil and gas issues just before her special-election victory.
Dry summers could mean trouble for use of lake water for North Slope ice roads, study says
Guidelines for taking water from North Slope tundra lakes should be refined to consider rare summer droughts and other factors, study says.