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.

A person in drag stands on stage raising their hands

Vaxxed, unmasked and ready to party: Juneau Drag brings hundreds out for live show

Over the weekend, Juneau Drag performers hosted their first live show in 15 months, which was maskless but required proof of vaccination to attend.

Dunleavy says budget vetoes weren’t too aggressive

In a call with reporters, Dunleavy also said Alaskans will want half of whatever earnings the state spends each year. He directed that message at legislators interested in changing the PFD formula.

Quick survey for APRN web visitors

We have a question for those of you using APRN's online news on a regular basis. As you've probably noticed, we post two primary news...

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Bill Passes US House

The U.S. House has passed a $73.5 billion Military Construction Appropriations bill, which includes Veterans Administration programs. About $200 million of that would be spent in Alaska. Representative Don Young says the bill includes money to start reducing a backlog of VA claims.

FERC Begins Susitna Watana Dam Environmental Impact Analysis

The first of a series of scoping meetings for the proposed Susitna Watana hydroelectric dam took place in Anchorage Monday, kicking off the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s environmental impact analysis of the proposed 700-foot dam. Talkeetna is the first community downriver from the Dam, and some residents are wary of the impacts the $4.5 billion project could have on local river ecology.

Officials Documenting Wreckage of St. Marys’ Crash

The chief of the agency's Alaska office, Clint Johnson, said an investigator with the NTSB and another from the Federal Aviation Administration on Sunday reached the site where a single-engine aircraft went down near the village of St. Marys. Download Audio

Vote to remove Stevens from U.S. Senate Republican Conference postponed

Stevens may not be headed back to the Senate in January, but he survived the threat of getting kicked out of the Republican Conference...

Top 10 Things Alaskans Want To Know About Healthcare

Juneau residents took their questions to healthcare experts Monday night and got them answered by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium navigator Monique Martin, United Way navigator Crystal Bourland, chief operating officer for Enroll Alaska Tyann Boling, and chief administrative officer for Enroll Alaska Chanel Moesh. Download Audio

Appeals Court Revives Alaska Suit On Roadless Rule

Alaska will continue its court battle against a U.S. Forest Service policy that blocks logging in undeveloped areas of national forests. Download Audio

Judge Throws Out Lawsuit Challenging Wishbone Hill Permits

Last week, federal judge John Sedwick dismissed a lawsuit over Usibelli Coal’s mining permits for the Wishbone Hill mine near Sutton. The suit had been filed in federal court in May by groups opposed to the mine.

Thomas Files Recount Request

State Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, said Tuesday that he was “99.9 percent sure” he’d ask for a recount in the race to keep his seat in the Legislature. On Wednesday, he chipped in the 0.1 percent.

Alaska Native Medical Center to host state’s first Ronald McDonald House

Alaska’s first “Ronald McDonald House” is opening next year at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. The facility will provide temporary housing at little or no cost for pregnant women and families with children receiving care. Download Audio

Hilcorp reports another spill in Cook Inlet

Hilcorp has reported another spill this week. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation confirmed the spill happened Monday on the Steelhead platform the company operates in the Trading Bay oil field in Cook Inlet. Listen now

Obama’s Supreme Court nomination draws criticism and praise

President Obama Wednesday nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Both of Alaska’s U.S. senators issued written statements reaffirming their support for the Senate’s Republican leaders, who are refusing to hold a hearing or a vote on the nominee. Download Audio
A woman poses in a jacket outside.

At Sophie Sergie murder trial, jury hears recordings of Steven Downs’ interrogation

Law enforcement officers who arrested Steven Downs for the 1993 rape and murder of Sophie Sergie testified at Downs’s trial on Wednesday.

UPDATE: Former Petersburg School Maintenance Director Charged For Child Porn

The former maintenance director of the Petersburg School District appeared in a Juneau courtroom Wednesday after being charged with distribution and possession of child pornography.
A red-haired white girl looks up and to the left in the cover of a vogue magazine with text about the Tongass

Alaska News Nightly: Friday, August 28, 2020

Federal officials investigate an interaction between the Russian military and Bering Sea fishing vessels. And, a man falsely accused of a murder in Sitka seeks compensation. Plus, re-imagined magazine covers start a new conversation about the Roadless Rule.

Dunleavy veto cuts school project debt reimbursement in half

Governor Mike Dunleavy’s vetoed half of the state’s contribution towards debt service for school projects. Local governments will likely dip into reserves, or raise taxes, to make up for the nearly $49 million shortfall.

States Files Suit Over Pebble Mine Initiative

The state of Alaska wants to invalidate the results of the Lake and Peninsula Borough ban on large scale resource extraction that would adversely impact salmon habitat.
the Alaska State Capitol

Alaska Senate bill proposes more legal aid for domestic violence victims, others seeking help

Alaska doesn’t guarantee legal help for Alaskans facing civil suits, so nonprofits bear an increasing burden.