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.

Murkowski and Sullivan split over how to evaluate federal judge applicants

Sullivan says he’s formed a new council of advisors. Murkowski is sticking by tradition.
soldier boots

Army soldier gets 18 months in deadly drunk-driving crash on JBER

Pfc. Andy Ramos pleaded guilty to military negligent-homicide charges in the May 28 death of Pfc. Arath Esau Martinez-Arguelles.

Walking through the Port of Alaska’s modernization plans

https://youtu.be/U7W2I6lrVs8 The Port of Alaska escaped the devastating 1964 earthquake relatively unscathed, which left it poised to take up much of the state’s cargo traffic...
a drone

Visiting scientists use drones to monitor Aleutians’ Makushin Volcano

Scientists can fly drones fitted with gas detectors over volcanic vents, measuring output to “smell” if a volcano’s activity is changing.
a wireless tower

Starlink connections among latest round of tribal broadband funding for Alaska

Alaska has received more than $400 million under the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, with more projects announced this month.
two women

Rasmuson-awarded artist plans to weave biggest Chilkat blanket ever

Chilkat weaver Sainteen Anna Brown Ehlers plans to fund the project with her $50,000 award as Rasmuson's Distinguished Artist for 2023.
the Stikine River

Wrangell wades into local impacts of Supreme Court’s wetlands ruling

The Court's Clean Water Act ruling has left communities like Wrangell wondering whether it will clear an easier path to development projects.
Dan Sullivan

With Alaska’s federal judge vacancy nearing 2-year mark, Sullivan breaks from nomination tradition

Sen. Lisa Murkowski appears skeptical about the switch, saying she’s prepared to advance nominees to President Biden.
A picture of a beige building

Officials are aiming to move all of Anchorage’s homeless campers into housing or shelter in October

Unlike last winter, the plan does not include a mass shelter like the Sullivan Arena.
two bears

From hangry to chonky: Fat Bear Week is coming

Ever since the Brooks River salmon run began, brown bears in Katmai National Park and Preserve have been feasting — and ballooning in size.
a permanent fund seal in window

Alaska heading toward fiscal ‘brick wall’ that could force end to PFD formula debate

Alaskans are set to receive $1,312 payouts, but the Legislature still can’t agree on how to determine that number in the long term.
several women in a board room

State task force begins drafting recommendations to address Alaska’s child care crisis

The task force is focused on three main topics for recommendations: licensing providers, background checks and the shrinking child care workforce.
the Anchorage PFD office

This year’s Alaska Permanent Fund dividend is $1,312

The Alaska Department of Revenue announced the amount in a statement Thursday afternoon.
a 3D printing robot extrudes concrete

Can this robot print a whole house? Nome is going to find out next year. 

Nome and its partners hope the project will prove the technology can slash the time and cost to build quality housing, even in Alaska’s most remote communities.
a musician

Áakʼw Rock Indigenous music festival starts Thursday in Juneau

Indigenous performers from across Alaska, the U.S. and the world will play over the course of three days.
a map

National Weather Service revamps Alaska maps to improve forecasts, advisories

NWS meteorologist Ryan Metzger says many of the changed zones are in the Interior, allowing for more precise forecasts across the region.
flooding

Kenai Peninsula Borough extends state of emergency over areawide flooding

The extended declaration is related to high-water incidents in the Kenai Keys, the Kalifornsky Beach area and on the eastern peninsula.
a covid test in a us postal service envelope

Free COVID tests by mail are back, starting Monday

The Biden administration says it is trying to prepare for the fall and winter COVID season.
a map

Russian military conducts exercises in Bering Sea

A Coast Guard cutter is patrolling along the U.S./Russia Maritime Boundary Line as Russian vessels perform various tactical exercises.
lawmakers

No special session this year on fiscal issues, Alaska legislators say

Members of the Alaska Legislature say they’re far apart on a long-term structure to stabilize state finances.