State Economist says global spike in oil prices not likely to affect price forecast
In Alaska, North Slope crude rose to more than $63 a barrel by Monday. Listen now
Unalaska revisits wind power, hoping for a renewable energy source
Residents are eager to find out if wind will be Unalaska's ticket to a greener future. Listen now
The U.S. Forest Service sued over Kuiu Island timber sale
The forest service received zero bids on the timber sale in 2016. Earlier this month, it went out for bid again. Listen now
BLM projects ‘insignificant’ impact from seismic work in ANWR
Officials from the Bureau of Land Management expect "no significant impact" from a 3d seismic survey in the Arctic Refuge. They expect to approve the request in time for work to begin this winter. Enviros say the work could disturb denning polar bears. Listen now
In Fairbanks, building a home on permafrost with an uncertain future
When Benesch bought this property back in 1999, he was pretty sure it had permafrost under it, though he didn’t know for certain. Listen now
As Alaska warms, the Y-K Delta heats up even faster
Regional temperatures are a big deal because Y-K Delta residents can only travel to other villages by water or by plane. In the past the river usually froze thick enough before December to allow for an ice road, but that hasn’t been the case for the last couple of years.
Don’t count on oil to bail out Alaska’s budget soon, says unpublished state tax memo
The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska is a hot area for oil development right now. But don’t count on new production there to bail out the state budget any time soon. That’s the takeaway from a previously unpublished, two-month-old analysis drafted by former independent Gov. Bill Walker’s administration.
Cash-strapped state of Alaska takes aim at North Slope government’s oil money
A proposal by Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy would strip the North Slope Borough of its power to collect nearly $400 million in property taxes from oil companies each year. The idea gets at a longstanding question: How much money from oil should stay in the North Slope, where it’s pumped from the ground?
Donlin Gold looks to schools, workforce development for future employees
Donlin Gold promised to hire local workers for its proposed gold mine. To fulfill that promise, the company knows that it has to start now and it has to start young.
Village of Igiugig one step closer to replacing diesel electricity with hydrokinetic system
“One year from now, we’ll know whether the community would like to own this device,” says IVC President AlexAnna Salmon. “If it really is going to prove itself to be an effective option for providing power.”
A year after a dam was removed, this river near Anchorage is still waiting for water
The effort to remove the dam on the lower Eklutna River couldn’t succeed on its own because upstream, utilities divert the river into a hydroelectric power plant. Officials say it will take years before they decide whether to add more water that could help restore salmon.
Longstanding tensions underlie Arctic Slope Regional Corporation’s withdrawal from AFN
Long before Arctic Slope Regional Corp. announced its withdrawal from the Alaska Federation of Natives last week, there were signs of a schism.
Yukon aims to sell renewable power to Skagway cruise ships
It could be a win-win. The Yukon territory could turn a profit on their surplus, cruise ships could green up their local image, and Skagway might enjoy better air quality near the port.
Dunleavy issues mandates for fishery workers as concern from Bristol Bay officials escalates
Workers will have to wear masks when traveling to Bristol Bay and quarantine themselves for two weeks immediately on arrival.
Tribal members shouldn’t need state permits to fish in Metlakatla’s traditional waters, lawsuit argues
Attorneys for Metlakatla point to a Supreme Court case from 1918 that says the reservation included deep waters around the islands.
Study links Alaska seals’ waning health to warming Arctic
A new study has found evidence connecting the rapid warming of the region with a physical decline in three species of Alaska seals.
NASA keeps watch of shrinking Arctic ice
The future of monitoring Arctic ice begins in space. Listen now
Stranded seal gets first-class rescue in Unalaska
Most of the time, a seal in Unalaska doesn’t attract too much attention, but a ringed seal is a different story. The marine mammals live near ice and typically are found further north. When a sick ringed seal appeared and then vanished last week, the community united to find it. Listen now
BlueCrest is latest company to stop work, citing state’s defunct cash-for-credits scheme
BlueCrest is the latest to fall victim to the now-defunct cashable credit program. It announced on August 1 that it couldn’t afford to keep drilling on the Kenai Peninsula and that it would be laying off about 150 people. Listen now
Is Alaska’s climate risk, a credit risk?
State investment officer says the areas most affected by climate change don't affect the state's ability to pay its bills. Listen now