Gov. Walker signs bill recognizing the black soldiers who helped build the Alaska Highway
Yesterday, Governor Walker signed Senate Bill 46 into law, establishing October 25 as "African American Soldiers’ Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway Day.” Listen now
Court rules civil commitment statutes don’t apply to foster children, North Star Hospital
A three-year-long legal argument about committing foster children to North Star Behavioral Health Hospital is one step closer to resolution. A judge ruled in late March that the Office of Children’s Services can legally commit foster kids to the psychiatric hospital without getting a judge’s approval. Listen now
Oil prices shrink budget gap, but lawmakers remain far apart
The state’s budget problem is shrinking, but it may not be enough to resolve differences between the Senate and House. Listen now
Trump lifts ban on Arctic offshore drilling
The president has signed an order lifting a ban Obama imposed on drilling off Alaska’s Arctic shores. Environmental groups say the ban is permanent. Expect a lawsuit. Listen now
Secretary Tillerson to attend Arctic Council meeting in Fairbanks
United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will be in Fairbanks next month during the Week of the Arctic. Fairbanks Borough Mayor Special Assistant Jeff Stepp broke the news at a Borough Assembly meeting Thursday night. Listen now
AK: From tree to cream; how birch syrup makes its way to dessert bowls
The chartreuse leaves of the birch tree are one of the first signs of spring in Southcentral Alaska. But for a few weeks before the leaves unfurl the trees offer a sweet treat –a watery liquid that when tapped and boiled down turns into a rich, nutty syrup. Birch syrup is becoming a favorite flavor in the state's budding local food scene. Listen now
Mulling the possibility of a “managed retreat” from climate change
By the end of the century, researchers predict climate change could displace millions of people across the country, as rising sea levels and erosion hit coastal communities. As policymakers start to grapple with that reality, there’s a specific phrase making the rounds: “managed retreat.” In other words, relocating whole neighborhoods or communities and retreating from the coast. Listen now
Senate defies Walker’s call to weigh nominees
Governor Bill Walker tried and failed to get lawmakers to vote on his nominees Thursday. Listen now
Trump may have plans for Alaska, but not for its national monuments
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to consider scaling back some national monuments. The plans likely won’t affect Alaska, but the president still gave a shout out to the state in his speech. Listen now
UPDATE: Trump rescinds Obama’s ‘permanent’ Arctic leasing ban
President Trump is expected to sign an order Friday aimed at lifting his predecessor’s ban on new oil leasing in waters off Alaska’s Arctic coast. Listen now
Anchorage police determine one man responsible for 5 killings last summer
Police in Anchorage say they've determined that a single person was responsible for a wave of killings over the summer. Listen now
State’s biggest military training exercise takes off next week
The skies above the Interior and Southcentral Alaska will get a lot busier starting next week, when Northern Edge 2017 gets under way. It’ll be the biggest military-training exercise to be held this year in Alaska. Listen now
In public testimony, most support state income tax bill
The prospect of having a state income tax in Alaska for the first time in 37 years drew passionate responses both in favor and opposed during public testimony on Tuesday. Listen now
Two dead squid in two weeks: Coincidence?
The novelty of seeing a jumbo squid in Unalaska is not wearing off: a second one washed ashore Monday night. Listen now
Ask a Climatologist: Alaska’s lucky winter
Winter is more or less over in most of Alaska. And if you like that kind of thing — winter, that is — it was pretty decent in much of the state. But climatologist Brian Brettschneider, with our Ask a Climatologist segment said don’t get used to it. He said that “normal” winter was a sweet spot of cold in a much larger bubble of warm. Listen now
Senate majority not pleased with prospect of income tax as public testimony begins
Senators gave the proposed income tax a cool reception earlier today. Listen now
Former Goose Creek prison corrections officer sentenced in drug conspiracy
A former Department of Corrections officer convicted of smuggling drugs into Goose Creek Correctional Center was sentenced Tuesday to eight months in federal prison. Listen now
ACLU files lawsuit against city of Homer over proposed recalls
On Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska filed a suit against the City of Homer. The suit targets the proposed recall of three Homer City Council Members. Listen now
House, Senate wait for other to act on conference committees
The Legislature appears to be stuck. The House and Senate haven’t named members to the conference committees that would meet to resolve the two chambers’ differences. Until that happens, the fate of the state’s budget remains uncertain. Listen now
APD chief announces departure and his replacement
Chief Chris Tolley took over in October of 2015, and was tasked with expanding the size of the police force. He's handing the department over to Captain Justin Doll, a 20-year APD veteran coming from a community-facing role at the department. Listen now