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.

Balash Appointed Natural Resources Commissioner

Gov. Sean Parnell has named Joe Balash as his Natural Resources commissioner. Balash has served as acting commissioner since September, and he was previously a deputy in the department. He was one of the governor's point people on the recent overhaul of the state's oil tax system. Download Audio

Estimated 6,000 Gallons Of Diesel Spilled From Arctic Hunter

Two weeks after the Arctic Hunter ran aground outside Unalaska, state officials are estimating that the boat has released up to 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the water. Download Audio

Sitka Urges Governor To Accept Obama’s Medicaid Plan

Several organizations around the state have recently asked Governor Parnell to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, including the Anchorage NAACP, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and the Alaska Chamber. Download Audio

Tribal Entities Ask Feds For Overdue Contract Payments

Some 60 tribal entities from across the country, including more than a dozen from Alaska, have written to ask President Obama to pay them long overdue contract shortfalls. Download Audio

Olympic Flame Travels By Dogsled

The Olympic flame traveled by dogsled through the capital of Chukotka in Russia earlier this week. The torch was carried by Russian musher Mikhail Telpin. Download Audio

Taxi Ordinance Garners No Support At Assembly Meeting

The Anchorage Assembly has been crafting an ordinance that will overhaul the permitting process for taxicabs, limousines as well as chauffeurs and dispatch services and other vehicles for hire. Dozens from the industry testified on the issue at Tuesday's regular meeting and virtually nobody liked it. Download Audio

Lacey Act Violation Nets Fisherman Probation

A Washington State man who fishes out of Kodiak was sentenced Friday in federal court for four felony violations of the Lacey Act.

Bethel Search And Rescue Ends Role In Search For Missing Men

Bethel Search and Rescue has ended its participation in the search for Nick Cooke and Jim Lee Napoka due to deteriorating weather conditions and the coming freeze up.

Troopers Conduct 2 SARs In Mat-Su

The Alaska State Troopers were involved in two search and rescue operations in the Mat-Su Borough on Sunday.

Salty Sisters’ Roasted Alaska Spot Prawns with Fennel, Olives, and Oranges

Heidi-Drygas-Shrimp-Excerpt There comes a time in every woman's life when her grit, determination, and willpower are put to the test. A time when resolve and fortitude are challenged in a epic battle of skill, creativity, and knowledge. Of course, I'm talking about the Alaska Sustainable Seafood Cookoff! The Challenge: Four duos battle it out in one hour to produce the best seafood dish for 5 local foodie judges. Click for the story and recipe.

Mayor Reports Initial Deals with AMEA

The Municipality of Anchorage has a preliminary agreement with the union which negotiates for the largest number of its employees. Download Audio

Hultberg Leaving Admin Commissioner Post

Gov. Sean Parnell's cabinet continues to experience turnover. Becky Hultberg is resigning from her post as commissioner of the Department of Administration.

Group Says State Taking Wrong Approach For Lowering Crime Rates

The bi-partisan Indian Law and Order Commission issued a report on Tuesday saying Alaska is on the wrong track to help Alaska Natives fight crime, but the state Attorney General says the Parnell Administration is doing a good job at tackling a mammoth problem. Download Audio

Bartlett’s Interim CEO Wants To Build Culture Of Trust, Communication

Bartlett Regional Hospital’s interim CEO Jeff Egbert wants to create a culture of open communication with hospital staff and stability, something the hospital hasn’t had for a while. Download Audio

Groups Seek Decision On Southeast Alaska Wolves

Two environmental groups want the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decide whether a strain of gray wolves on Prince of Wales Island should be considered for an endangered species listing, a decision that could affect future logging. Download Audio

Sea Otter Hunts Increase In Southeast Alaska

Southeast Alaska and the state as a whole has seen an apparent upswing in sea otter hunting in recent years. That’s according to numbers compiled by the US Fish and Wildlife Service which says this year will yield the biggest reported harvest on record for the marine mammals, which can only be hunted by Alaska Natives from coastal communities. Download Audio

Tree Dates Eruption That Spewed Ash Across Southeast

We recently had a story of an ancient, charcoal tree found beneath a pile of ash near Sitka. Scientists hoped tests would help them better understand the area’s rich volcanic history and the results are in. Download Audio

Life In Antarctica’s Icy Waters

Jumping into the icy waters off the coast of Antarctica isn’t for everyone. But it is for open water swimmer, Lynne Cox. Cox was in Fairbanks recently to talk about her career. Download Audio

Fishing Industry Fights Back Against Proposed Set-net Ban

Commercial fishing groups are pushing back against a proposed ballot initiative that would ban a sector of their industry.

ML&P Power Outage Impacts Downtown

The power has been out in Downtown Anchorage much of the day. A spokesperson for Municipal Light and Power says the outage started around three in the morning and crews have been working all day to fix it. Download Audio