A musk ox walking along the beach

Fish & Game raffling off Alaska big game permits to boost budget

Tickets are already on sale for what’s called “Alaska’s Super Seven Big Game Raffle.” If it sounds kind of like buying a lottery ticket for musk ox — or another one of the seven most sought after species in the state, like a brown bear or a caribou — it is.

Squirmy sustainability: one man’s mission to fix a common problem

There’s nothing like taking a walk on Alaska’s pristine wilderness. Unless you step in something — unexpected along the way. For park goers, what dogs leave behind on the trail can be a sensitive topic. But one Juneau man has an unconventional solution he thinks could ease tensions and reduce waste, all at once. Listen Now

Interior official: ‘millions’ more acres in NPR-A to open for oil development

An Interior Department official says the Trump administration is moving to open "millions" more acres in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, or NPR-A, to oil development. Listen now

Biggest-ever earthquake recorded on North Slope

A large earthquake was recorded on the North Slope, 52 miles southwest of Kaktovik, at around 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Listen now

New roads in the Tongass? Forest service signs off on state’s ask

On Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service announced it signed an agreement with the state -- officially kicking off that process. Listen now

Ask a Climatologist: In Alaska, wildfire season can go from mild to severe in an instant

Wildfire season is off to a slow start in Alaska. But that could change very quickly. That’s because predicting how severe a wildfire season will be in the state is so tricky. Alaska’s Energy Desk is checking in with climatologist Brian Brettschneider each week as part of the segment, Ask a Climatologist. Brettschneider says over the entire season, which runs through the end of July, no wildfire forecast is useful for Alaska.

Murkowski accepts climate change. What will she do about it?

Sen. Murkowski is a Republican who goes out of her way to talk about climate change and says we need to reduce emissions. But climate advocates say her deeds don’t match her words.

With ANWR drilling on its doorstep, an Alaska Native village is poised to profit

It’s still too early to know if petroleum even exists in the refuge in commercially-viable quantities. But if it’s found, Kaktovik’s residents are simultaneously positioned to be among the biggest beneficiaries, and to experience some of the biggest disruptions.

What can Alaska learn from Connecticut’s green bank?

Establishing an Alaska green bank is one of the goals included in a draft policy, which is expected to be submitted to the governor next month. Listen now

Ask the Energy Desk: Are plastic bag bans better for the environment?

Bans on plastic grocery bags have been cropping up across Alaska’s remote communities. Cordova’s ban went into effect last year. But so far, the larger cities in the state have yet to adopt one. Listen now

Repsol latest in string of oil companies to leave Chukchi Sea

In the seven months since Shell abandoned its quest to drill in the Arctic, at least four other companies have given up their leases in the region. Download Audio

Young Alaskans sue the state, demanding action on climate change

The plaintiffs argue that by encouraging oil development and permitting projects that emit greenhouse gases, Alaska is actively making climate change worse – and violating their constitutional rights. Listen now

Ask the Energy Desk: What about wave and tidal energy in Alaska?

When you think about renewable energy in Alaska, what comes to mind? Probably wind, which contributes to about 3 percent of the state’s power generation. And maybe solar panels, which are starting to gain momentum. But there’s also the potential for what lies along 6,500 miles of coastline. Listen now

As the Alaska Legislature fights over the budget, a decades-old accounting quirk takes on new importance

At Alaska’s state Capitol this week, there’s a lot of talk about something called “the sweep.” What is it, and why is it such a big deal this year?

The Cost of Cold: Staying warm near Fairbanks

“It’s something that you kind of hand down… I did it with my parents and… my grandfather. And… I guess I’m passing the torch as you would say to them,” Jeremy Eberhardt said. Listen now

The Alaska Roadless Rule decision is moving along. Some tribal governments say it’s moving too fast.

The Organized Village of Kake says the timeline has felt rushed for a decision that could have a major impact on rural Southeast Alaska.

Murkowski says Trump policies on Arctic, climate still unclear

Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said it’s still unclear what the Trump administration’s Arctic or climate policies will look like. Listen now

Hilcorp shuts down oil platforms to address Cook Inlet gas leak

Hilcorp announced Saturday (March 25) that after discussions with Alaska Governor Bill Walker, it’s shutting down two oil platforms in Cook Inlet in response to an ongoing leak from a gas line. The pipeline carries natural gas from shore to power four oil platforms in Cook Inlet. Two of the platforms have already been shut down. Listen now

State fines Hilcorp an additional $160K for violations

The state is fining oil and gas company Hilcorp an additional $160,000 for using nitrogen without permission while working on two wells in 2015 — the same practice that nearly killed three North Slope workers. Listen now

About half of BP’s Alaska employees have accepted a job with Hilcorp

BP intends to sell its entire Alaska business to Hilcorp for $5.6 billion.