News

All news stories, regardless of topic (local, statewide + national news stories, as well as Talk of Alaska, Alaska News Nightly, Alaska Insight, Alaska Economic Report). Some news stories may also have other categories marked, which will also put them on a subpage. Not all news stories will fall into a subpage.

available wifi networks are shown on an iPhone screen

Summer crowds can slow down Juneau’s cell service. More public Wi-Fi could help.

The more visitors use public Wi-Fi, the more space there is on cell networks for locals.
a grocery store

Wait for food stamps continues, but could prompt legislative changes

The state is working through a backlog of thousands of applications for SNAP benefits, after Alaskans waited months for help buying food.
A view of Eklutna Lake.

Eklutna Hydro Project owners’ plan would return water to most, but not all of Eklutna River

The plan would bypass the dam and send water back down 11 of 12 miles of the Eklutna River. But some want to see the river fully restored.
High school kids waving protest signs.

Hundreds of Mat-Su students stage walkout to protest school board decisions 

The protests follow recent controversial decisions by the board, including the removal of its student representative.
A close up of a skeleton sculpture with traditional Mexican attire for Día de Muertos on an altar.

Día de los Muertos celebration offers comfort and community connection

Día de los Muertos is a Mexican and Mexican-diaspora celebration of people who have died and Anchorage is celebrating it for the 19th year.
a portrait of a man in a dark button up shoirt

Alaska turned to a private guardianship agency to care for some of its most vulnerable residents. The result: dysfunction and debt.

The Office of Public Advocacy, facing a staffing crisis, relied on a fledgling nonprofit to lighten its caseload. Some transferred clients lost critical benefits.
a meeting

Alaska Permanent Fund board unlikely to pursue faster, riskier path to $100B

The Alaska Permanent Fund appears headed toward maintaining its current steady growth over the next few years.
an arm badge

Juneau chooses Colorado police chief to lead its force

Derek Bos, currently the police chief in Eagle, Colo., was one of two finalists for Juneau police chief along with JPD Lt. Krag Campbell.
birds

These American birds and dozens more will be renamed, to remove human monikers

The American Ornithological Society has vowed to change the English names of all bird species named after people, or deemed offensive or exclusionary.
set-netters

Kenai borough Assembly asks governor to declare east side set-net economic disaster

A declaration from Gov. Mike Dunleavy would open up the fishery to grants from the state Legislature and accelerated capital projects.
a building

Denali Borough voters to elect new mayor, Assembly, school board

"All of our districts, every seat, is up for election" in the borough's downsized Assembly and its school board, according to the borough clerk.
salmon

Salmon runs in Alaska’s Kuskokwim River show some positive signs, but totals remain low

Preliminary numbers show chum salmon returns were better this year than last year and better than the record-low conditions of 2021.
a woman in the u.s. capitol

Murkowski says aid for Israel must be part of a broader security package

America's adversaries will seize the moment if the U.S. only addresses the latest crisis, the senator said.
a Picture of a lake with blue skies and green grass

State sues Anchorage homeowners over contested public access to Campbell Lake

It's the latest move in a long-running dispute over the large man-made lake in South Anchorage that is surrounded by expensive homes.
canned food

Addressing the SNAP backlog | Talk of Alaska

How is the food stamp backlog being addressed and what are potential answers for long term stability?
a dog in a superman costume

We’re spending $700 million on pet costumes in the costliest Halloween ever

More U.S. shoppers are buying into Halloween this year, scaring up a new spending record for costumes, decorations, candy and cute outfits for pets.
a highway

Extreme flooding on Alaska’s Arctic highway caused thaw-induced sinking in later years

A 2015 flood that closed the Dalton Highway to the North Slope triggered permafrost thaw even miles away from the road, UAF research finds.
a vigil

Bethel residents light candles for victims of domestic violence

The Tundra Women's Coalition hosted its final event marking this year's Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a Thursday candlelight vigil in Bethel.
salmon

Federal research group seeks public input on Alaska’s salmon

The Alaska Salmon Research Group is tasked with building a report on data gaps in Pacific salmon research and supporting sustainable management.
a meeting

Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board all but rejects plan for riskier investment target

Board members had been considering a four-year plan that included an aggressive strategy to reach $100 billion by 2028.