News

Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency announced today they are starting a formal process to look at using EPA’s authority under the Clean Water Act to stop development of the proposed Pebble Mine. Download Audio

The EPA’s announcement today was directly targeted at the Pebble Mine. The developers of that project are understandably not pleased with what they say is a gross overreach of federal authority which should be concerning to all Alaskans. Download Audio

People from across Alaska and the Lower 48 assembled in Fairbanks today to bid final farewell to former Territorial Governor Mike Stepovich. Download Audio

Willow runner Dave Johnston has set a new foot record in the 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational race. Dragging a sled over snow, ice and dirt trail, Johnston covered the distance in 4 days, 1 hour and 38 min. That’s over 87 miles per day. Johnston bested the old record set by Steve Reifenstuhl of Sitka in 2005, by more than 14 hours. Download Audio

This week we’re headed to Takotna, a village of around 50 people located on the Iditarod trail west of McGrath. Nell Huffman is the secretary of the Takotna community Association. Download Audio

Starting this year, foreign nationals who wish to drive in Alaska may be getting more scrutiny when they go to the DMV. A bill pegging the expiration date of a driver’s license to a person’s immigration status is now on its way to the governor’s desk.

EPA Starts The 404-C Veto Process To Stop Development At The Pebble Mine; Pebble Opponents, Proponents React To EPA Decision; Bill Could Link Drivers Licenses To Immigration Status; Pacific Area Commander Tapped As Next Coast Guard Commandant; People Say Final Farewell To Former Territorial Governor Stepovich; Senate OKs Medevac Memberships; Final Friday Marks Last Public Day For Alaska State Museum; Willow Runner Sets New Iditarod Trail Invitational Record; AK: New Bishop; 300 Villages: Takotna Download Audio

The White House has nominated the Coast Guard’s Pacific Area commander to be its next commandant. Vice Admiral Paul Zukunft was nominated Friday to replace outgoing Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Robert Papp.

Education and the funding of education remain deeply contentious in Juneau. The Anchorage School District passes the budget for the coming year. Flint Hills refinery closes - controversy follows. Channel 2 has a series "Inside Alaska Prisons." Anchorage Municipal Elections are barely a month away. US Senate candidate Dan Sullivan not only has raised a lot of money, he has a lot of his own and family money. Eielson AFB remains in the hunt for the F-35 fighter. CH2MHill returns to the troubled port of Anchorage as a contractor. The Iditarod. KSKA: Friday, 2/28 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, 2/28 at 6 p.m. KAKM: Friday 2/28 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday. 2/28 at 4:30 p.m.  Listen now:

A bill that puts restrictions on Medicaid payments for abortions narrowly passed its final committee of review in the State Legislature. It advanced without any money for family planning services.

Three men are okay after their vessel sank near Valdez while participating in an oil spill response drill. The Coast Guard Sector Anchorage Command Center received a report Wednesday night that the landing craft Belltech 5 was taking on water and sinking near Valdez Arm. Download Audio

On Tuesday afternoon, four snowmachiners were rescued by the Alaska Air National Guard in the Talkeetna Mountains. Download Audio

It’s been about three years since the tsunami in Japan washed away entire towns, sending thousands of tons of debris out to sea. Less than eight months after the tsunami, items started showing up in Alaska and have continued to do so in the months and years since. It will still be a few months before clean up crews take to Kodiak’s beaches, but the planning process for those clean ups is already well under way. Download Audio