Texting While Driving Now Illegal in Alaska
Governor Parnell today (Thursday) put the final touches on a law that legislators thought they had handled four years ago. With his signature, it is now illegal to send or read a text message while you are driving. Period, no question about it.
Election Commission Digs Into Ballot Mess
The Election Commission for the Municipality of Anchorage will hold a final public meeting today (Monday) to interview people who were unable to...
Mayor Sullivan Announces Investigation into APD
The Mayor of Anchorage has announced an external investigation into the policies and procedures at the Anchorage Police Department. KSKA's Daysha Eaton...
Polar Bears Show Signs of Mysterious Illness
Biologists have found Polar Bears in the Beaufort Sea with hair loss and skin lesions. Those are the same symptoms that have sickened ice...
Assembly Chair Refuses Call for Outside Election Investigator
Voters are still waiting to find out why there was a shortage of ballots during the April 3rd Anchorage Municipal Election. The Assembly has...
Controversial Parnell APOC Appointee Withdraws Name
Governor Sean Parnell’s pick for the Alaska Public Offices Commission pulled his name from consideration yesterday because of disparaging remarks he had previously made about Alaska Natives. Read More
Cutter Anacapa Sinks Japanese Ghost Ship After Hours of Shelling
Last night the Coast Guard fired a number of rounds into the derelict Japanese ghost ship off the coast of Southeast Alaska until it burst into flames and then sank. The cutter Anacapa began shelling at around 1:00 pm yesterday afternoon and finally watched it go down at about 6:15, leaving just a light sheen in the water about 180 miles offshore.
More photos of sinking ship
ACLU Calls for Independent Investigation of Anchorage Election
The American Civil Liberties Union is requesting an outside investigator look into the ballot mess in Anchorage. Voters reported widespread ballot shortages at polling places during municipal elections Tuesday, and there are allegations that some voters were turned away at the polls. Late today, the ACLU sent a letter to the Anchorage Assembly making the request. Read More
Congressman Young Holds Rural Energy Hearing
Alaska’s Congressman Don Young today (Thursday) hosted a hearing of the subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs in Fairbanks. Young spoke candidly with Native Alaskan representatives, who testified about how federal laws and policies effect rural energy prices.
Coast Guard Sinks Ghost Ship
A U.S. Coast Guard cutter is attempting to sink a derelict Japanese fishing vessel off the coast of Alaska. The Ryou-un Maru is currently about 180 miles southwest of Sitka. It’s been adrift since last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Anchorage Police Confirm Body Found in Lake is Samantha Koenig
An Anchorage police spokesman says the Alaska state medical examiner's office has confirmed that a body recovered from Matanuska Lake is that of an 18-year-old coffee stand worker who vanished Feb. 1. Read More
Coast Guard to Sink Japanese Ghost Ship
The U.S. Coast Guard has a cutter at the scene and intends to sink the Japanese ghost ship floating off the Southeast Alaska coast this morning. The shrimper Ryou-Un Maru was cut loose a year ago in the tsunami and drifted un-manned across the Pacific . The cutter Anacapa arrived on scene last night, equipped with weapory. Read More
House Finance Subcommittee Chair Mia Costello Holding Up Senate Bill to Continue Film Tax Credits
A program using tax credits to encourage film and television producers working in Alaska will get another hearing today. Representative Mia Costello of Anchorage chairs the Finance subcommittee reviewing Senate Bill 23, the film subsidy tax credit act that sunsets next year. In her mind, there is still a lot to resolve before moving the bill. Read More
Alaskans for Justice Hold Anchorage Rally
A number of Alaskans, including our congressional delegation, turned up for a rally at the Anchorage airport organized by Alaskans for Justice, a group...
Bethel Judge Removed From Bench
For the first time in Alaska history, there is a recommendation to remove a judge from the bench, permanently.
Cleveland Volcano Acts Up
The Alaska Volcano Observatory says a small explosion at Cleveland Volcano in the Aleutian Islands may have sent up a small ash cloud. Clouds prevented satellite observation of an ash cloud.
City Clerks Office Reviews Voting Problems
The Anchorage city clerks office is calling the voter turn out in yesterday's election "unprecedented." The office is investigating the election, working today to figure out which voting precincts ran out of ballots. Read More
Congressman Young Criticizes Federal Oceans Policy at Anchorage Hearing
Invited panelists spoke out against a new National Oceans Policy at a Congressional subcommittee hearing in Anchorage this (Tuesday) morning. Congressman Don Young chaired...
Body of Anchorage Woman Abducted From Coffee Stand Found Under Ice of Lake
Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew says investigators have found what they believe is the body of missing barista, Samantha Koenig. He made the announcement at APD Headquarters late Monday explaining that a forensic dive team discovered the body in Matanuska Lake. Read More
View Matanuska Lake Map
Senate Presents Its Version of New Oil Taxes
Stedman: "This goes to the core of the structure of our oil taxes and addresses some of the bigger concerns that have been pointed out."