In Utqiaġvik, temperatures are warmer, and the ice is changing. What does that mean for whalers?
“I think it was a little more stable, and there was a little bit more assurance that the ice you were on was not going to disintegrate on you that easy,” said whaling captain Gordon Brower.
How a small, Arctic village found itself in the middle of Alaska’s new oil boom
Alaska is on the verge of a new oil boom -- and the village of Nuiqsut is right in the middle. Now the village faces tough choices. How do you maintain a way of life when the oil industry is knocking on your door?
Alaska lawmakers approve vaccine program continuation
Lawmakers have voted to extend the Alaska Vaccine Assessment Program, which provides universal
As the Lower 48 continues to dry out, Alaska could get wetter
This past winter, parts of Southeast Alaska experienced severe drought. But a new study published in the journal Nature suggests that’s probably not a preview of what’s to come in Alaska.
House Resources Committee considers making Tier 3 water protection a legislative process
The House and Senate are considering bills that would make the state Legislature responsible for approving Tier 3 nominations for federal waters.
Emmonak votes to keep alcohol and remain ‘damp’
Voters in the Western Alaska community of Emmonak have narrowly decided to continue restricted alcohol sales and remain a so-called "damp" community under local option laws.
Diomede’s outdated water system recovers only partially after failure; residents make do with snow melt and run-off
Officials say a myriad of issues — including rust buildup in the water storage tank, an outdated pressure pump and a failed heating system — caused Diomede's water system to stop working earlier this month.
The first forensic nursing academy in the US
A new forensics program at the University of Alaska Anchorage will provide training for evidence collection for both types of abuse. The new program is the first in the nation.
Proposed agriculture funding cuts would hurt ‘state’s ability to feed itself,’ farmers say
Alaskan farmers say the state gets a big bang for the small buck the state provides to agriculture. That’s why they say big cuts like those proposed by Governor Mike Dunleavy would inflict serious, long-term harm to the industry.
‘Ragin’ Contagion’ exercise tests Nome’s ability to respond to widespread disease
The fall of 2018 marked one hundred years since the Spanish flu hit Western Alaska, devastating Alaska Native populations and wiping out some villages in the region. This month, public health officials participated in a statewide exercise that tested how communities would respond if a similar widespread airborne disease happened today.
Elim without potable water; boil notice issued
The community of Elim is going into its fourth day without running water, following more than a day without power over the weekend. And as of Tuesday, the state issued a boil-water notice for the Norton Sound coastal community.
Kodiak goat dairy faces an uncertain future amid proposed budget cuts
Governor Dunleavy’s proposed budget would eliminate the state’s only dairy inspector, making it nearly impossible for up-and-coming dairies like Kodiak Baptist Mission’s Heritage Farms to sell milk commercially.
State dials back PFAS response standard
The state has rolled back a stricter PFAS drinking water contamination standard, and suspended development of new regulations for the chemicals.
Melting ice is disrupting daily life in the Y-K Delta in the worst possible way
This spring has seen record-breaking warm temperatures across Alaska. In the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, the Kuskokwim River is melting early — with devastating consequences.
What happened to Kachemak Bay shellfish?
Kachemak Bay was once abundant with crab, shrimp and other shellfish species. But by the early 1990s, populations hit rock bottom. Now a scientist and a college student are hoping to find out more about what happened.
AK: Sludge, scum and grit take toll on Sitka’s aging wastewater facility
Ever wonder what happens when you flush? At Sitka’s wastewater treatment plant, a $10 million dollar revitalization project is in the works for the facility that was built almost 40 years ago.
Public divided over process for establishing federal water quality protections
Several communities across Alaska have nominated their local waters for a federal Tier 3 designation, which is the Environmental Protection Agency’s highest water quality standard.
AK: What happens when a community gets running water? People get healthier
What’s it like to go from hauling all your water and sewer to one day being able to turn on the faucet and flush a toilet? In Eek, a multi-year project is wrapping up bringing running water to the community for the first time.
Alaska lawmakers learn about a subsistence superfood
The state’s food safety codes currently don’t allow seal oil in public facilities like nursing homes. But a movement is underway to serve the beloved food to Elders.
Sludge, scum and grit take toll on Sitka’s aging wastewater facility
What happens when we flush? Here’s why Sitka officials are pitching a multimillion-dollar revitalization project for the city’s nearly 40-year-old wastewater facility.