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.

Talkeetna’s Feline Mayor Returns Home

Talkeetna’s honorary mayor is recovering in his hometown after a dog attack on Labor Day weekend sent him to the hospital. The attack left Mayor Stubbs, a 16-year-old yellow tabby, with a punctured lung, broken sternum, and a four inch gash in his side, as well as other injuries. Download Audio

Pilot Killed In Big Lake-Area Crash

A home-built airplane crashed Monday north of Big Lake. The pilot of the plane was killed; he's identified as Kenneth Whedbee, 66, of Big Lake.

Search Continues For Missing Plane Near Yakutat

The Air Force and the Coast Guard continue looking for a plane that went missing Monday on a flight from Yakutat to Anchorage. The pilot is reported to be Alan Foster, 47, of Eagle River.

Anchorage School Board Approves Teacher Contract

The Anchorage School Board unanimously approved a new contract for teachers on Monday night. The district saved money in two ways, by not providing benefits for some part-time teachers and by issuing bonuses that do not count toward benefits for other teachers instead of increasing their salaries.

Big Feat, Little Feat Creative Challenge

If you have artistic tendencies, visions of unicorns, love performing or simply want to explore what feats you're capable of, don't miss out on this adventure! Learn more.

Schools Struggle With Heating Bills, But No Takers For Loan Program

Every year, the state spends $100 million on school districts' utility bills. Back in 2010, the legislature established a loan program to help bring down those costs. The loans would cover energy upgrades to public buildings, and they would be paid back with the money saved on heating fuel. But even though rising energy costs continue to be problem for districts, schools haven't used the funds as a fix. Download Audio

Ongoing Fixes Delay Arrival Of UAF’s New Arctic Research Ship

Next month marks a year since the launch of the National Science Foundation’s new Arctic research vessel Sikuliaq. The 261-foot ice class ship, to be operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, remains at dock at a shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. Download Audio

Extent Of Tribal Court Authority Questioned In Minto Trial

The state has intervened in a case on the side of a man convicted of attempted murder, kidnapping, and assault of the mother of his children. At issue is the authority of a tribal court over a non-tribal member and tribal court procedures. Download Audio

Interior Tourism Officials Expect Average Summer Numbers

The Interior is coming off what’s likely to be a flat tourism season. Official numbers are not in yet, but Fairbanks Convention and visitors Bureau president and CEO Deb Hickock doesn’t expect anything surprising. Download Audio

Holland America Halts Dawson City Bus Tours

As the summer tourism season wraps up, Interior operators are already looking to next year – and worrying how they’ll deal with a move by a major industry player. Download Audio

Emergency Dispatch Consolidation Plan For Mat Su

Two emergency dispatch centers in the Matanuska Susitna Borough are one too many, according to findings of a feasibility study released to the Borough Assembly at its last meeting. As Although a plan to consolidate Palmer and Wasilla's 911 emergency call centers is gaining favor in the Borough, critics say the merger will only hamper state law enforcement capabilities. Download Audio

Low Enrollment Pushes Juneau, North Pole Football Teams To Southeast Conference

The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears and North Pole Patriots football teams are playing in the medium schools football division this year. The two used to compete against Alaska’s largest high schools. Now they’re part of the small Southeast Conference. Download Audio

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

Cal Worthington Dead At 92

Cal Worthington, who built a fortune from a series of West Coast car dealerships and became a TV fixture thanks to commercials urging customers to "go see Cal," has died. He was 92.

How Many Shrews Can a Rainbow Trout Eat?

Today, we meet a rainbow trout with an unbelievable appetite. Mark Lisac is a fish biologist at the Togiak Refuge, and just a few weeks ago he and group of his colleagues were catching rainbow trout for a tracking project. “I can’t say for certain that I’ve ever seen a well preserved shrew in a stomach analysis,” Lisac says.  Let alone 19 of them. Read more.

Charlie Rose: Interview with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

In this global television exclusive, Assad gives his only television interview since President Barack Obama asked Congress to approve the use of force against the Syrian regime for alleged use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people. TV: Monday, 9/9 at 7:00pm & 11:00pm

Man Arrested For Heroin Possession In Bethel

Bethel police arrested a man for possessing what they believe to be heroin. On August 29, police arrested 30-year-old Travis Longbotham of Nikiski. He was staying at the Long House Inn Hotel when employees noticed the smell of drugs coming from his room and called police.

Alakanuk Gets $2.2 Million For Road Development

The Village of Alakanuk is getting a $2.2 million grant to pave almost three miles of dirt roads. The money is coming from the U.S. Department of Transportation and will pay for part of the road project. The total amount is estimated to cost around $5.2 million.

We Are Mountain Runners

Ellyn Brown and Matias Saari are two of the most well known athletes in the Alaska mountain running community. Both runners have won Alaska's toughest races, but will tell you they measure their success not by races won, but by how much time they get to spend running.

Responders Untangle Gillnet from Humpback Whale

Marine mammal responders have wrapped-up efforts to try and disentangle a southeast humpback whale after removing more gillnet from the animal this week.