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.

Early Unofficial Results Show Tight Races in Anchorage Municipal Election

Anchorage's unofficial municipal election results show at least one upset, although outcomes of most other Assembly races are not surprising.

Feds: No Listing For Southeast Herring

The southeast Alaska population of Pacific herring will not be listed as an endangered species. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday said such a listing is not warranted.

Arctic Sea Ice Reaches Season’s Maximum Extent

According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, this year’s extent averaged 5.7 million square miles – that’s more than a quarter-of-a-million miles less than the average extent measured between 1981 and 2010, but it is also slightly above the record low measured in 2006

Investigation Of Alaska National Guard Sexual Assault Allegations Underway

The head of the federal National Guard Bureau says the investigation now underway into allegations of sexual assault and harassment within the Alaska National Guard should not be hidden away.

Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame: Jane Ruth Angvik

Jane Angvik has been involved in Alaska public life since 1973. She has served as an elected member of the Anchorage Assembly and the Anchorage Charter Commission and has taught many women how to conduct campaigns for public office. Download Audio

2014 Municipal Election Results

The races for Assembly Seats 5I and 6K remain close, with only a few votes left to count. With over 98 percent of the vote counted, all but one of the Ballot Propositions are on track to pass.

Alaska’s Health Insurers Call Marketplace Enrollment Figures Disappointing

The Obama administration announced today more than 7 million Americans signed up for health insurance on government run marketplaces by Monday’s enrollment deadline. In Alaska, the final numbers aren't in yet. The two insurers on the state's federally run marketplace are reporting they had 7,500 enrollees by mid March. Download Audio

Feds Ask King Cove to Weigh In on Road Alternatives

A group of tribal and government officials from King Cove are back from a week of lobbying in Washington, D.C. -- and they’ve come home with a new assignment. Download Audio

Panel Proposes More Education Money, Pension Fix

The House Finance Committee has proposed an increase in education funding of about $300 per-student over three years. Download Audio

Alaska Native Languages Bill Clears Final House Committee

A bill that would symbolically make 20 Alaska Native languages official state languages is heading to the House floor for a vote. Download Audio

FDA Adds Alaska Salmon Testing To Radiation Monitoring Program

Alaska fish are being tested for radiation contamination from Japan’s leaking Fukushima Nuclear energy plant. The power plant was damaged during an earthquake three years ago and continues to releases radioactive water into the sea. Download Audio

Study: Forecasts For Summer Arctic Sea Ice Lack Reliability

Year-to-year forecasts of summer Arctic Sea Ice extent aren’t reliable. That’s according to a report out from the National Snow and Ice Data Center. But A two-day workshop that starts Tuesday in Colorado will focus on ways to improve sea ice extent predictions. Download Audio

Study Says Melting Permafrost Emitting More Carbon Than Tundra Can Offset

The Arctic is warming two to three times faster than the rest of the globe. As temperatures increase, permafrost melts, releasing carbon dioxide, and the growing season lengthens, absorbing CO2. Download Audio

‘Fairbikes’ To Open In Fairbanks

A bike share business plans to start operating in Fairbanks this summer. “Fairbikes” owner Jennifer Eskridge previewed what’s planned for the North Star Borough assembly last week. Download Audio

Board to Review Proposal Limiting King Salmon Fishing to Federally Qualified Subsistence Users

With salmon fishing just a few short months away, the Federal Subsistence Board will consider a special action request to limit king salmon harvest in the Kuskokwim drainage to federally qualified subsistence users. Download Audio

April Fools: Balloons Are Future Of Brown Bear Relocation

Residents in Alaska’s largest city are distressed by the increasing human/bear encounters in Anchorage parks, along the coastal trail and area streams. In the lead up to salmon spawning in local waterways, an Anchorage biologist is working on a brown bear relocation program. Dr. Robert Bastic has developed a plan that will safely take bears away from the heavy population of Anchorage while also providing a unique tourism experience. The method? Hot air balloons. Download Audio

Alaska News Nightly: April 1, 2014

Alaska's Health Insurers Call Marketplace Enrollment Figures Disappointing; Feds Ask King Cove to Weigh In on Road Alternatives; Panel Proposes More Education Money, Pension Fix; Alaska Native Languages Bill Clears Final House Committee; FDA Adds Alaska Salmon Testing To Radiation Monitoring Program; Study: Forecasts For Summer Arctic Sea Ice Lack Reliability; Study Says Melting Permafrost Emitting More Carbon Than Tundra Can Offset; ‘Fairbikes’ To Open In Fairbanks; Board to Review Proposal Limiting King Salmon Fishing to Federally Qualified Subsistence Users; April Fools: Balloons Are Future Of Brown Bear Relocation Download Audio

Parnell Signs Law Excluding Homer Harbor From Habitat Area

The Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat Area just became a little bit smaller. Governor Sean Parnell signed a bill into law Tuesday that excludes the Port and Harbor of Homer from the habitat area.

House Speaker Proposes Exception To Residency Rule For Gasline Board Appointees

Amid controversy over whether the non-residents can legally serve on state commissions, the Speaker of the Alaska State House is proposing a policy change that explicitly carves out an exception for the board that could oversee development of a natural gas pipeline.

Judge Overturns Dillingham’s Annexation Of Nushagak Bay

The 2012 annexation of Nushagak Bay into the City of Dillingham has been overturned by the local Superior Court Judge. Download Audio