News

All news stories, regardless of topic (local, statewide + national news stories, as well as Talk of Alaska, Alaska News Nightly, Alaska Insight, Alaska Economic Report). Some news stories may also have other categories marked, which will also put them on a subpage. Not all news stories will fall into a subpage.

In Transition: When a Family of Five Calls One Room Home

Juneau charity organization St. Vincent de Paul has a record high number of people staying in its transitional housing shelter. Usually, around 55 people live in the 26 units. At the moment, there are 66 occupants, almost half are children. Download Audio

FERC Nominee Approved Despite Murkowski’s Objection

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm two members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. One of those nominations was approved over the outspoken objection of Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski. Download Audio

Earthquake Rattles Yakutat; Felt in Whitehorse; No Damage Reported

A strong earthquake near the Canadian border rattled portions of Southern Alaska and the Yukon Territory just before 4 this morning. Download Audio

Skiing on Eagle Glacier Connects Alaska to the World

In most places, summer isn’t the best time to ski. But atop a mile-high glacier in Girdwood, elite skiers have converged from across the country—and the world—to train. Download Audio

Alaska News Nightly: July 17, 2014

NASA Testing Arctic Sea Ice Monitoring Technology With High-Flying Ex-Spy Plane; Report Investigates Coal Dust Hazards In Seward; Musk Ox Killed After Attacking Sled Dog; In Transition: When a Family of Five Calls One Room Home; FERC Nominee Approved Despite Murkowski’s Objection; Earthquake Rattles Yakutat; Felt in Whitehorse; No Damage Reported; Skiing on Eagle Glacier Connects Alaska to the World; People Mover Teams Up With Google To Make Bus Route Planning Easier Download Audio

People Mover teams up with Google Maps to make bus route planning easier

Anchorage's People Mover bus system is trying to become more people -- and tech -- friendly. You can now use Google Maps to figure out your bus route. KSKA tested the feature this morning. Download Audio

Barrow Youth Study Lemmings And Endangered Species

Young Barrow scientists study lemmings and endangered species. Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There is an increasing effort in Alaska to engage youth in hands-on scientific activities. One group of teens is collecting data way up in Barrow. Read more.

Tuck Fined $14,000 For Campaign Finance Violations

House Minority Leader Chris Tuck acknowledged that he mixed up his campaign contributions with his personal savings and failed to make accurate and timely disclosures. Download Audio

Kerry Names Ex-Coast Guard Boss Special Rep to Arctic

Secretary of State John Kerry today named former Coast Guard commandant Robert J. Papp Jr. as special representative to the Arctic. Kerry created the new position to elevate Arctic issues in America's foreign policy and national security strategy as the U.S. prepares to assume the chair of the Arctic Council. Download Audio

Murkowski Joins Democrats on Vote for Birth Control Coverage

A U.S. Senate bill requiring companies to cover birth control in employee healthcare plans failed a procedural vote today . Both Alaska senators voted for the bill, aimed at undoing the Supreme Court’s decision in the Hobby Lobby case. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of only three Republicans to vote for the measure, dubbed the “Not My Boss’s Business Act.” Download Audio

Authorities Investigate Explosion in Petersburg

Details are emerging about an explosion that injured a Petersburg person over the weekend and has brought federal explosives agents there to investigate. Download Audio

Permitting Officials Explore Alternatives For Donlin Gold Mine

Donlin Gold is in a multiyear permitting process for the proposed gold mine located north of Crooked Creek about 120 miles upriver from Bethel. Scientists and engineers are now studying not just Donlin’s proposed plan, but several variations that would significantly change the mine. Download Audio

Alaska LNG Project community meeting provides questions and hope

The Alaska LNG Project hosted a community meeting in Anchorage on Tuesday night. About 90 people listened to an explanation of the newest version of a plan to get natural gas from the North Slope to market. Project manager Steve Butt explained this project is different from previous failed attempts to build a gas pipeline. Download Audio

Fall Chum Season Opens on the Yukon

The fall chum salmon season on the Yukon begins Wednesday. Download Audio

Arctic Climate Researchers Zoom in on Plankton

They’re not recognizable like polar bears or whales. But phytoplankton are a key part of life in the Arctic – and now, they’re at the center of a new research effort to predict how the region will respond to climate change. Download Audio

Scientists Find Climate Cooling Effect in Ancient Thermokarst Lakes

Scientists have long believed melting permafrost emits large amounts of carbon-rich greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide to the atmosphere resulting in a warming climate. But a new study published online by the journal Nature today indicates ancient lakes that formed after permafrost in the Arctic first melted roughly ten thousand years ago may in fact have a net climate cooling effect over long time scales. The study also increases the total amount of carbon estimated in the frozen soils of the Far North by more than 50 percent. Download Audio

Alaska News Nightly: July 16, 2014

Tuck Fined $14,000 For Campaign Finance Violations; Kerry Names Ex-Coast Guard Boss Special Rep to Arctic; Murkowski Joins Democrats on Vote for Birth Control Coverage; Judge Blocks Law Limiting Medicaid Payments For Abortion; Authorities Investigate Explosion in Petersburg; Permitting Officials Explore Alternatives For Donlin Gold Mine; Alaska LNG Project Community Meeting Provides Questions and Hope; Fall Chum Season Opens on the Yukon; Arctic Climate Researchers Zoom in on Plankton; Scientists Find Climate Cooling Effect in Ancient Thermokarst Lakes Download Audio

Lesser Sandhill Cranes: Feeding the Colt

Feeding a colt (that's a baby crane) is a full time job. These Lesser Sandhill Cranes are finding leeches, worms, snails, fish, and other invertebrates in the mud. More.

Judge Blocks Law Limiting Medicaid Payments For Abortion

In an order issued on Tuesday, Judge John Suddock wrote that there are "serious questions of constitutional validity" of a new state law that puts limits on what qualifies as a "medically necessary" abortion. Download Audio

Questions Remain About Alaska’s Prison Deaths

A number of inmate deaths in Alaska prisons over the past few months have prompted state legislators to seek answers. But at a hearing hosted by Senator Hollis French (D – Anchorage) on Tuesday in Anchorage, few questions were resolved. Download Audio