At the mouth of the Kusko, a pioneering wind system
The four villages of the Chaninik Wind Group are aiming to replace 50 percent of their diesel use with wind in the next few years. Along the way, they're pushing the limits of what's possible when it comes to integrating renewable energy into a grid. Download Audio
Yarducopia: a means to spread space for gardening
So you like eating vegetables, but they're expensive. You'd love to have a garden, but you don't have any outdoor space. The solution? Yarducopia. Download Audio
AHFC to stop accepting Home Energy Rebate applications
The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation will stop accepting new applications for the Home Energy Rebate Program waitlist next month. People who are in the process of making their homes more energy efficient are still eligible to receive up to $10 thousand dollars for home improvements. Download audio
Lawmakers recommend more cuts to University budget
The House Finance University of Alaska Subcommittee recommends cutting $35 million from the university’s budget for the upcoming year. Combined with Governor Bill Walker’s proposed $15 million cut, the university would lose one in seven dollars in state funding. Download audio
On day one, state gets 68 marijuana applications
Under revised review process, licenses for commercial cultivation will be prioritized ahead of retail stores to ensure businesses have legal products to sell upon opening. Download audio
Mysterious Sumerian tablet puzzles UAF librarians
The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Rasmuson Library has a mystery on its hands. It doesn’t know when or how, but in its collection lies a Bronze Age clay tablet. Like the Maltese Falcon, the small four thousand-year-old Ancient Sumerian clay tablet is surrounded in mystery. Download audio
Tribes to get $100 million back pay
A federal court has approved payment of almost a billion dollars by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to 700 tribes across the nation. The settlement is for decades of underpayment by the BIA to tribes for education, road construction, and other contracts.
Fairbanks strides closer to F-35 answer
The Air Force plan to station two squadrons of F-35s at Eielson Air Force Base cleared a milestone with the publication of the final environmental impact statement. It says the basing decision would not significantly harm Fairbanks air quality or harm wildlife, other than an increase of about 14 bird strikes per year. Download audio
Bill would update laws to reflect same-sex marriage rights
State laws would be updated to replace terms like husband and wife with language reflecting the legalization of same-sex marriage under legislation introduced in the Alaska House.
Senate panel hears bill aimed at easing birth control access
Representatives from Planned Parenthood, a union of current and former sex workers, small business owners and others testified on a bill that would require insurance companies to pay claims for women to get up to one year's worth of contraception at a time.
Shareholder seeks term limits for Sealaska directors
A longtime critic of Sealaska management is campaigning to limit the terms of the regional Native corporation’s board of directors. Previous efforts have failed.
Panel reassigns committee spots held by late representative
Ten days after the death of Anchorage state Rep. Max Gruenberg, legislators are moving to fill the gaps on committees that the House minority whip left behind.
Homer cannabis club could face legal battle
A new cannabis club has opened its doors on a major street in Downtown Homer and some residents are taking full advantage of the opportunity to use marijuana in - what they call - a safe, social environment. But, the club might not be legal.
Bethel moves closer to possible restaurant alcohol license
Next month, Bethel could hold its first restaurant liquor license in decades. March 6 marks the final day Bethel City Council can protest the Fili’s Pizza liquor license application. The council rejected that action at Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting, its final meeting before the protest deadline.
Iron Dog teams race against the clock during repairs in Nome
2016 Iron Dog snowmachine racers are in the middle of their daylong layover at the race’s halfway point in Nome. Teams have a little time to rest and recuperate from the first one-thousand miles they just logged over the last three days, but they’re also scrambling to repair damage to their snowmachines. Every minute racers spend on repairs counts against them on the trail.
YK tribes demand special AVCP convention
Yukon-Kuskokwim tribes are demanding the Association of Village Council Presidents hold a special convention next month to discuss regional self-governance.
Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016
Army wants airborne unit at JBER; lawmakers approve LIO study; House starts budget cutting; low-income seniors losing assistance; ferry sale on hold for now; Murkowski, Jewell joust; Aleknagik man in custody for stabbing wife; Calista announces record dividend; biologists meeting with walrus hunters; Walker proposes fishery tax increase; UAF makes efforts to combat failures in sexual assault cases Download Audio
Army officials say they’d like to keep airborne unit at JBER
Top Army officials gave their clearest statements yet that they might cancel or postpone the reduction of troops from Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. Sen. Dan Sullivan calls the testimony important, but says efforts to preserve the 4-25th aren't a done deal. Download Audio
House subcommittee starts cutting the budget
More than five weeks into the legislative session, House Finance Subcommittees recommended the first cuts to the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. They include nine point $8 million in cuts to education programs, as well as cutting all $2.7 million in state funding for public broadcasting. Download Audio
Public assistance to drop for 5,348 low-income seniors
Officials say they've tried structuring the cuts to protect the most vulnerable seniors as budget cuts from last year trickle down. Download Audio