Troopers investigate death, missing person in Aniak
Alaska State Troopers in the village of Aniak are reporting a death in Aniak, but they say they have not made a positive identification or determined a cause of death.
Bristol Bay salmon processors back in MSC label group
Last April, ten of Alaska’s major salmon buyers asked to rejoin the sustainability label they dropped in 2012. Negotiations failed at first, but eventually the Alaska Salmon Processors Association – led by Silver Bay Seafoods – agreed to hand over the certificate to the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, which has finally occurred.
Medicaid reform bills include provisions to root out fraud
Gov. Bill Walker's administration is proposing a renewed focus on cracking down on waste and fraud in Alaska's Medicaid program.
Alaska governor lays out expectations for gas line progress
Gov. Bill Walker says he wants the state and the North Slope's major producers to reach agreement on key contracts and issues related to a major gas project before the end of the current legislative session
Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016
Education commissioner tosses controversial AMP test; New Medicaid reform committee strives for savings; Report: Alaska prisons, justice system need efficacy overhaul; On Kenai, cracked K-Beach Road re-opens to traffic; Spice conference convenes as overdoses in Anchorage persist; UA looks to consolidate programs at major campuses; New arrivals in Kotzebue Sound preying on belugas; American Polar Society honors UAF professor; Yukon Quest racers drop off food, gear for checkpoints; Mongolia looks to Alaska for help handling domestic violence
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Unpopular AMP tests to be replaced
In a surprise statement late Tuesday night, Alaska education commissioner Mike Hanley said the Alaska Measures of Progress tests would be dropped for the 2016-2017 school year while the state considers "new assessment structures."
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New Medicaid reform committee strives for savings
As lawmakers look to trim the state’s budget shortfall, their attention is focusing on one of the biggest areas of the budget: Medicaid.
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Report: Alaska prisons, justice system need overhaul
A commission set up by the Alaska Legislature in 2014 has issued a report on Alaska's corrections and judicial systems. They say the judicial and corrections systems cost the state a lot, but they don't do enough to improve public safety.
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On Kenai, cracked K-Beach Road re-opens
Cook Inlet’s biggest recorded earthquake did little damage to infrastructure across Southcentral Alaska. And biggest damage has now been fixed up. Kalifornsky Beach Road re-opened to two-way traffic Wednesday morning.
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Spice conference convenes as overdoses in Anchorage persist
Medical emergencies connected with synthetic cannabinoids remain stubbornly high in Anchorage -- 6 to 8 percent of daily calls for hospital transport, according to Fire Department officials. City officials are convening for a two-day workshop to try to address the Spice epidemic.
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Regents endorse UA President’s plan to streamline university system
The University of Alaska Board of Regents has endorsed UA President Jim Johnsen's plan to restructure the university system, as it faces continuing declines in state funding.
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New arrivals in Kotzebue Sound preying on belugas
Kotzebue Sound is changing and beluga hunters are facing new competition: killer whales.
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American Polar Society honors UAF professor
The American Polar Society recently recognized the work of a University of Alaska Fairbanks professor. Dr. Lawson Brigham received an honorary medal for his polar research and policy work with the Arctic Council.
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Yukon Quest racers drop off food, gear for checkpoints
Yukon Quest mushers have surpassed a major milestone in preparation for running next month’s race. Tons of race food and gear were dropped off over the weekend for shipping to checkpoints along the thousand mile route between Fairbanks and Whitehorse.
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Mongolia looks to Alaska for help handling domestic violence
Efforts to end domestic violence brought a delegation from Mongolia to Nome on Monday. The group — made up of social workers, shelter managers, police officers, and more — was there to learn how Alaska is addressing high rates of sexual assault and domestic violence.
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Public Works catches up on services, still lacks workers
After a month of backlogs and overtime, Bethel’s water tanks are filled and sewer pipes emptied. Public Works caught up on water deliveries Wednesday and on sewer Saturday after a month of delayed service.
Faulty pump adds higher arsenic levels in Talkeetna water
Talkeetna water system customers will soon receive a notice about slightly elevated arsenic levels in the water in December and January.
Buccaneer asks creditors for money back
The City of Homer and local businesses were shocked last summer when the trustee of a bankrupt oil and gas exploration company’s assets demanded they give back money they were paid over a year ago. There are a lot of regrets over contracting with Buccaneer Energy. But a city official says he would do it again.
Marine Science Symposium – LIVEBLOG – Wednesday
3:30 p.m. -- Mark Brzezinski, the White House's point man for the Arctic, told participants at the Marine Science Symposium this afternoon that they're in a growth industry.
New subcommittee focusing on Medicaid reform
The Senate Fiance Committee is creating a new subcommittee to look at Medicaid reform. Senator Anna MacKinnon, a Republican from Eagle River, will chair the subcommittee. She says the other members will be announced Wednesday morning.