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.

Alaska marine debris experts call for tighter regulation and more cleanup funding

Coordinating teams to collect and sort marine debris, plus shipping it to a landfill or recycling center is an expensive logistical nightmare.

Village awarded federal grant for river turbine design

The U.S. Department of Energy has picked a southwest Alaska village for funding to advance development of an underwater river turbine that could replace diesel power with clean energy.
A cruise ship is docked at Ketchikan’s downtown Berth 2. Such ships brought about 1 million passengers to Southeast this season. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)

Ketchikan responders train for terrorism

About 33 law enforcement officers and first responders from 10 different federal, state and local agencies in Ketchikan recently came together for a two-day anti-terrorism training event. They learned how to be more aware of potential terrorist plots and, just as important, built inter-agency relationships. Download Audio
Alaska News Nightly by Alaska Public Media

Should the U.S. enter conflict with North Korea, Alaska at center of response

Alaska will be at the center of the response if the U.S. gets into a conflict with North Korea. That's according to Alaska’s senior military officer. Listen now
Kitty Douglas selfie

Families, activists question why so many people in Alaska’s jails and prisons have died this year

Kitty Douglas is the youngest of 15 people to die in custody in Alaska this year. It's the most since 2015.

Senate passes its version of state budget after charged debate

The vote came after the Senate defeated 24 proposed amendments, including one that would have raised permanent fund dividends to the full amount. Listen now

K300 raises 2017 purse to $150,000

The Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race Committee has once again raised its purse, maintaining the race’s money pot as the second highest in the state for sled dog racing behind the Iditarod. Download Audio

Parnell Urges Mining Students To Follow Their Passions

More than 50 high school students taking an “Intro to Mining Occupations” course through the University of Alaska Southeast had quite the guest speaker on the first day of class Tuesday. Governor Sean Parnell urged them to follow their passions, whether they end up working in the mining industry or not.
Campaign signs rest upside down against a white pickup truck

Impounded campaign signs highlight new interpretation of Alaska’s old billboard law

The Department of Transportation is enforcing a state law that forbids posting most signs in its right of way along state roads.

Bethel Democrat to Lead PNWER Arctic Caucus

Representative Bob Herron, a Democrat from Bethel was elected the chairman of the Arctic Caucus during the 25th summer summit of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region, or PNWER. Download Audio
people talk to staffers in windows at the PFD office

Amid coronavirus restrictions, Alaskans get extension to file for dividend

The filing deadline was supposed to be March 31, but an emergency bill passed by the legislature extended the filing period until the end of April.

Julie Kitka On Tribal-Federal Relations

The Alaska Federation of Natives Convention got underway this morning in Fairbanks. The keynote speaker today was Nelson Angapak, retired as Senior Vice President of AFN. He urged young people to work hard to achieve success, to listen to their elders and for Native people to come together to confront big challenges like threats to subsistence and federal cuts to programs. Download Audio

Dunleavy appointee resigns after being accused of lying about his credentials

After less than two months on the job, Department of Revenue Commissioner John Quick has resigned.

State Decides Not Apply for ‘No Child Left Behind’ Waivers Yet

The Parnell Administration has let pass an opportunity to get waivers from parts of the federal “No Child Left Behind” Act of 2001. The federal standards that accompany the law have drawn criticism in Alaska – particularly in rural school districts that are not able to provide staff and services needed.
Alaska News Nightly by Alaska Public Media

Interior Secretary Jewell to address AFN Friday

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will address the AFN Convention tomorrow. Listen Now

Wolf kills dog along Brotherhood Bridge Trail in Juneau

Wildlife biologist Ryan Scott thinks the wolf just happened to kill a deer near the trail and was protecting its kill. He doesn’t think there’s any public safety or pet safety issue out of the ordinary. Listen now

A Moving Target: Stopping Booze at the River

Citizens in Bethel are weighing a decision on a proposal for the for the first liquor store in decades. In the shadow of the debate is a powerful and elaborate bootlegging economy across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The region’s three Western Alaska Alcohol and Narcotics Taskforce investigators can’t be everywhere at once. Some villages are trying to fill in gaps where bootlegged alcohol reaches dry option communities. In the second of a three-part series on the law enforcements efforts to stem the flow of alcohol to the region KYUK’s Ben Matheson reports on Akiak’s tribal approach.

Alaska Tribes Celebrate Heritage On Homer Beach

Every two years, a special ceremony is held on the beach in Homer to celebrate the heritage of Alaska tribes living in the region. KBBI’s Peter Sheppard attended this year, as the final installment of our series looking at culture in Alaska. Download Audio

Tuckerman Babcock retires from Dunleavy administration

Tuckerman Babcock's resignation letter went out late Friday along with a media release with a statement from Dunleavy thanking Babcock for his service.

Mine Critics Target Investors, Government Officials

Transboundary mine opponents are trying a new tactic in their opposition to a project northeastof Ketchikan. They’re telling investors, and anyone else who will listen, that the KSM mine is a bad place to put their money. Download Audio