Mysterious diesel fuel spill at Unalaska boat harbor
Local Coast Guard personnel are investigating a diesel fuel spill at the Carl E. Moses boat harbor. The spill was discovered on Monday afternoon, when the crew of a neighboring vessel noticed it and notified the Coast Guard's Dutch Harbor of
Soldotna martial arts teacher indicted on sexual abuse of a minor charges
A martial arts teacher in Soldotna was indicted by a Kenai Grand Jury on Wednesday on one count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, one count
of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and three counts of unlawful exploitation of a minor.
Wal-Mart wouldn’t allow job fair information in store
Wal-Mart says it’s trying to do right by its soon-to-be-laid-off employees in Juneau. For example, it’s flying in trainers to help with job skills. But it’s also been strictly sticking to a corporate policy that left some outgoing employees in the dark about a state-organized job fair held specifically for its employees.
Senate takes public testimony on Walker’s Permanent Fund bill
Alaskans get their first chance today to tell legislators what they think of the centerpiece of Gov. Bill Walker’s fiscal plan for the state.
Sen. Sullivan co-sponsors bill to split 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
The age-old effort to split up the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is back. Republican senators Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Steve Daines of Montana have co-sponsored the latest bill.
Proposed bill would protect Chilkat River, among others
The Chilkat Indian Village in Klukwan is trying to preserve its main salmon resource – the Chilkat River — with the highest environmental protection available.If the river is named an Outstanding National Resource Water, it would be protected from activities that degrade water quality. But there is no system in place in Alaska to evaluate this kind of water protection request. That could change with a bill in the State Legislature that would place these types of decisions in the hands of lawmakers.
Anchorage paramedic travels to Greece to help with rescues
Anchorage resident Teresa Gray just returned from volunteering in a refugee camp in Lesvos, Greece. Gray is a retired paramedic who was moved to volunteer for three weeks in January with a relief organization based in Ireland, after she saw the tragic and widely circulated photograph of a small refugee boy who died and washed up on a beach. Download Audio
Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016
Permanent Fund earnings targeted; AK House passes military code reforms; Court to hear Medication expansion; ANSP has ideas for Mt. Edgecumbe; Zika low risk in Alaska; First Alaskans Institute hosts equity summit; Anchorage paramedic travels to Greece to help with rescues
Three pitches for closing state budget deficit with the Permanent Fund
Gov. Bill Walker has proposed using the Permanent Fund to pay for much of the state’s annual budget. But Walker isn’t alone in eyeing the $50 billion account. Lawmakers have introduced two other bills to pay for part of the budget using the fund. Download Audio
Mat-Su takes up pot codes
Mat Su Borough commercial marijuana codes are ready for Assembly debate, but some want the panel to hold off until after an October election.
AK House passes military code of justice reforms
The state House today passed a bill designed to strengthen the state's Military Code of Justice. It passed on a 39-0 vote with one member absent, and now goes to the state Senate. Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, a Republican from Anchorage, says the revisions create a state code which is similar to the federal code. The code would apply to military members in Alaska not covered by federal regulations, such as many members of the Alaska National Guard. Download Audio
Court will hear oral arguments on Medicaid expansion
The issue of Medicaid expansion will be back before a Superior Court in Anchorage Thursday morning. The Republican led legislative council sued last summer to stop Governor Bill Walker from unilaterally expanding Medicaid. Download Audio
ANSEP proposes to run Mt. Edgecumbe as 3-year STEM school
Lawmakers this week heard a proposal from the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program to turn Mt. Edgecumbe High School into a three-year accelerated program. Download Audio
Low risk of Zika virus in Alaska
The World Health Organization declared Zika virus a global health emergency this week. Experts believe there is a strong link between the virus and a serious birth defect, but that the risk to most Alaskans is low. Download Audio
Summit explores achieving racial equity in Alaska
The First Alaskans Institute hosted a Racial Equity Summit in Anchorage this week. The event's dialogues focused on what racial equity is and how we can start to achieve it. Part of the first step -- having difficult conversations. Download Audio
Bill aims to split Ninth Circuit Court
The age-old effort to split up the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is back. Republican senators Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Steve Daines of Montana have co-sponsored the latest bill.
Ortiz gives an update on the legislative session
The Alaska Legislature is about two weeks into the current session. KRBD’s Leila Kheiry talked with House District 36 Rep. Dan Ortiz to get a sense of how the session is going, so far.
Rep. Ortiz says the atmosphere in Juneau is pretty positive, with most lawmakers focused on resolving the state’s $3.5 billion deficit rather than delaying action.
Former Board of Fisheries nominee pleads not guilty to fraud, theft
A former Alaska Board of Fisheries nominee has pleaded not guilty to 17 felony and misdemeanor charges that he fraudulently obtained commercial fishing permits and Alaska Permanent Fund dividend payments. He withdrew his name from consideration suddenly last February and faced criminal charges that he illegally obtained resident hunting and fishing licenses in Montana.
Kachemak Selo: An Unmet Priority in Kenai School District
A new school for the town of Kachemak Selo is at the top of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s list of funding requests to the legislature. But with the state in financial crisis due to declining oil revenue, their request may go unmet. The tiny Russian Old Believer village is at the head of Kachemak Bay
Revision to Kodiak law bans camping, lying on sidewalks
Kodiak officials have passed a revision to an ordinance that targets the city's homeless population. The Kodiak Daily Mirror reports the revision approved by the City Council Thursday prohibits aggressive panhandling and camping, sitting or lying on public sidewalks.