EPA penalizes 4 Alaska gas station for delayed leak tests
The Environmental Protection Agency has reached settlement agreements with four southcentral Alaska gas stations that violated federal law for underground tanks.
Andrew Reid, ex-Bethel police officer, faces criminal charges for violent 2014 arrest
Former Bethel Police Officer Andrew Reid is facing criminal charges for assaulting and violently arresting a man in the Bethel AC parking lot.
Weekend snowstorm ups avalanche danger in Kenai Mountains
While the central Kenai Peninsula didn’t end up with much snow to show for heavy precipitation Sunday, the Kenai Mountains were loaded with as much as 4 feet, which poses significant avalanche danger.
Alaska News Nightly: Monday, Feb. 22, 2016
Japanese community recalls internment camp; ANC sets record for no snow; Kenai gets major snow dump; AK weather warmest in more than a century; Obama: prepare for a cleaner future; new charter school focuses on nature; AK novelist tell the story of 4 teens; Fairbanks skier wins XC ski race; Nome rookie has high hopes for Iron Dog; fans, mushers celebrate '16 Quest. Download Audio
Japanese community recalls JBER internment camp
New historical evidence is shedding light on the internment of Japanese people in Alaska during World War Two. A small ceremony held last Friday at Joint-Base Elmendorf Richardson was one of the first of its kind, according to officials present. The ceremony fell on the official Day of Remembrance held nation-wide, and is part of an expanding effort to recognize the experiences of Southeast Alaska’s Japanese community during the war years. Download Audio
Anchorage sets record for most days without snowfall
A nearly 60-year-old record for low snowfall went down over the weekend. National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Snider confirmed that Saturday night was the 37th day in a row without snow in Anchorage. The streak had started on January 15th. Download Audio
Iron Dog rookie from Nome has high hopes
The 33rd Annual Iron Dog snowmachine race kicked off this weekend. While most racers come from Southcentral, a few are based out of the race’s halfway point in Nome. Shawn Pomrenke dredges for gold in the summer with his race partner Amos Cruise. Pomrenke says it’s been a long road to the race’s start line.
Peninsula snows to give way to rain
Areas of the Southern Kenai Peninsula reported between 12 to 30 inches of snowfall over the weekend in addition to heavy rain showers. Rebecca Duell, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Anchorage says the amount of snowfall will most likely decrease over the next few days.
Alaska’s weather among the warmest in over a century
This winter’s warmer than normal weather could set an Alaska record. National Weather Service Alaska region climate science and services manager Rick Thoman points to a lack of extreme cold temperatures across the state. Download Audio
Legislators consider using Permanent Fund to close budget deficit
There are currently three proposals aimed at helping to close the state’s budget shortfall using the Permanent Fund. Legislators are weighing which – if any – to support. Today they heard from their own nonpartisan budget expert on what makes each plan unique. Download Audio
New Anchorage charter middle school to connect kids to nature, community
A new east Anchorage charter school is focused on hands-on, interdisciplinary STEM classes. The founders are trying to attract enough kids to open in the fall. Download Audio
Young adult novel follows lives of four Alaska teens
Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock grew up in Alaska but she says she could never have written her debut novel if she hadn't moved out of state. Her young adult book, published February 23rd, is called The Smell of Other People's Houses. Set in 1970's Alaska, the book tells the story of four teenagers who live very different lives in different parts of the state, but end up coming together in surprising ways. Download Audio
Fairbanks skier wins nation’s biggest cross country race
David Norris of Fairbanks won the nation’s biggest cross country ski race over the weekend. Norris bested an elite field in Saturday’s 51 kilometer American Birkibeiner in Wisconsin. Download Audio
Fans and mushers celebrate the end of the 2016 Yukon Quest
Mushers and fans gathered over the weekend to celebrate the completion of the 2016 Yukon Quest in Whitehorse. The event was highlighted by awards and stories from the trail. About a dozen Tlingit dancers paraded onto the stage in fur, feathers, and traditional clothing to congratulate Hugh Neff for winning the Yukon Quest. Download Audio
Obama: Oil states must prepare for cleaner future
Gov. Bill Walker asked President Obama today to allow more oil drilling on federal land. Obama told him and other governors that oil producing states should prepare for a shift to cleaner energy. Download Audio
Alaska News Nightly: Friday, Feb. 19, 2016
Did Murkowski flip-flop on filling SCOTUS vacancy?; House Speaker questions administration's analysis of oil and gas tax changes; Anchorage School Board passes preliminary $768M budget; Alaska House renames committee room after late Gruenberg; how to salvage a huge tugboat without spilling 9,500 gallons of fuel and oil; elder rescues two young lost relatives on snowmachine; Anchorage to tie record winter with 36 straight days of no snow; AK: High levels of mercury spell hazards for subsistence in Southeast village; 49 Voices: Ryan Kennedy of Anchorage Download Audio
Critics say Murkowski waffles on nomination
Critics of Sen. Lisa Murkowski are seizing on what they see as a flip-flop in her position on whether Barack Obama should be the president who chooses the next justice of the Supreme Court. In Juneau on Wednesday, Murkowski said she expected Obama would soon nominate someone to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, and she clearly stated her position on what should happen next. Download Audio
House Speaker questions administration’s analysis of oil, gas tax changes
As Alaska’s Legislature digs through Governor Bill Walker’s budget proposal, a prime focus is the overhaul Walker put forward for oil and gas taxes. By reducing tax credits and increasing minimum production taxes, Walker aims to shave $500 million off the state's massive budget shortfall. House members question whether Walker’s administration has done enough analysis of the oil and gas tax changes – as well as other tax increases Walker has proposed. Download Audio
Anchorage School Board passes preliminary $768M budget
The Anchorage School Board passed a $768 million budget that cuts more than 50 positions, but it could still change depending on funding from the Legislature. Download Audio
Alaska House renames committee room after late Gruenberg
With his family watching from the gallery, the Alaska House of Representatives approved naming the Capitol's House Judiciary Committee room after the late state Rep. Max Gruenberg. The Anchorage Democrat died Sunday at age 72. He served on the committee throughout his longtime tenure. Download Audio