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.

Homer, state argue over gas assessments

The City of Homer wants the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to pay a little more than $26,000 in natural gas assessments for eight state-owned plots of land. DOT refuses. The city and DOT are negotiating a solution. Download Audio

Buccaneer Oil trustees agree to reduced payments

The city of Homer will return some of the payments received in the 90 days before Buccaneer Oil filed for bankruptcy in May 2014. Download Audio

Ice locked in glaciers may substantially contribute to sea level rise

Researchers say more than half the ice locked up in glaciers could be gone by the end of the century. A new study suggests the resulting runoff could raise the earth’s oceans three inches or more. The study suggests fisheries and hydro-electric dams could also be impacted by the change. Download Audio

Study: Tundra fires induce permafrost melt, land change

Wildfire on Arctic tundra can cause permafrost melt from the top down, contributing to landscape slumping, known as thermokarst. Download Audio

Southeast conservation leader steps down

Southeast Alaska’s largest environmental organization is advertising for a new executive director. Download Audio

A look back as Juneau Assembly considers Gastineau reboot

The burned out Gastineau Apartments are supposed to be demolished in April, but a last-minute deal could restore the downtown dwelling. Three years after the fire, the owner has a purchase agreement with a Seattle developer. It’s on Monday’s Assembly agenda. Download Audio

Action of 2 teens essential to family’s survival in plane crash

The pilot of the private plane that crashed in the Lynn Canal Wednesday shared more information about his wife’s condition and the ordeal they went through.

Ferry system missing 30 prints from Ketchikan office

Alaska State Troopers are investigating the theft of signed art prints from the state ferry office building in Ketchikan.

Ketchikan marijuana committee to consider pot tax proposal

A Ketchikan resident is proposing a tax on marijuana to support funding for school travel.

Recovered pups find comfort in Sitka

Eleven homeless pups landed in Sitka on Thursday. The dogs, recovered from Ketchikan, will be ready to adopt shortly.

Katmai bear-cam viewers witness strange, unexplained death of two brown bears

Last month at Katmai National Park, the final hours of two brown bears played out in front of an online audience of thousands. The two animals laid down and died within days of each other.

Potential legislation could close small schools in Diomede, Nome, and other western communities

To receive state funding, Alaska schools must have a minimum of 10 students. At least, that’s the rule right now. But some lawmakers are looking at raising the number to 20 students — or even 25 — in an effort to slash state spending. If passed, the legislation could close around 60 schools statewide, including several in western Alaska.

Bethel visit humanizes Kilbuck fire to Gov. Walker

Gov. Bill Walker visited Bethel Friday to meet with city and school officials as well as teachers and students displaced by Tuesday’s fire that incinerated the Kilbuck campus, housing two schools and residential dorms.

Alaska News Nightly: Friday, Nov. 6, 2015

With Alaska LNG, how secret is too secret?; Obama brings Native youth into spotlight; Alaska appeals abortion funding decision; Walker ousts agricultural director; At Fairbanks 4 hearing, bootmark ID'd on victim in question; With new medical provider, Juneau clinic finds stability; AK: A classic holiday opera gets an Inupiat twist; 49 Voices: Bernadette Charlie of Fairbanks Download Audio

With Alaska LNG project, how secret is too secret?

The Alaska legislature officially gaveled out of its third special session this year. The House and Senate united behind Gov. Bill Walkers bid to buy out TransCanada. But the session was also marked by divides, especially over how much of the project should be kept secret. Download Audio

Obama brings Native youth into spotlight

Politicians and captains of industry would give a small fortune for this invitation, but a 16-year-old Anchorage girl had an hour-long discussion yesterday with the President of the United States. The opportunity came as President Obama addressed the White House Tribal Nations Conference, an annual event that started with his administration. Download Audio

Alaska appeals abortion funding decision

The state of Alaska plans to appeal a judge's decision that found a regulation further defining what constitutes a medically necessary abortion for purposes of Medicaid funding to be unconstitutional. Download Audio

At Fairbanks 4 hearing, bootmark ID’d on victim in question

Fairbanks police believed they could see the shape of one of the Fairbanks Four’s boot lugs in the facial injuries of John Hartman. Download Audio

With new medical provider, Juneau clinic finds stability

Front Street Community Health Center in Juneau has a new permanent nurse practitioner after a year of temporary medical providers. The health clinic, which caters primarily to people who are homeless, has gone through a lot of growing pains since it separated from Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium two years ago. Download Audio

Walker to oust agriculture director

State agriculture director Franci Havermeister has been given notice that her job is on the line. In a press release Friday, Governor Bill Walker said that he is looking for new agricultural leadership, and the Havermeister will stay until early December 4, while the state looks for a replacement. Download Audio