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.

Ketchikan man remains missing after 6 months

The family of a Ketchikan man who has been missing for six months has filed a presumptive death petition.

Sunshine affects Ketchikan’s tourism industry

Ketchikan’s summer tourism season is well underway. Record low rainfall in May and warmer-than-usual temperatures had a lot OF tourists smiling. But in a place known for rain, is sunshine bad for business?

Walker makes appointment to Marijuana Control Board

Gov. Bill Walker has appointed members to a new board charged with developing regulations for the cultivation and sale of legal marijuana in Alaska.

Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Walker Delays Payment on Oil Tax Credits; $8.5M In Cuts to Troopers Spread a Thin Force Even Thinner; Shell Gets Federal Approval to Head North, With Some Stipulations; Sand Point Post Office Burglars Sentenced; Citizens Asked To Weigh In On A Proposed Liquor Store in Bethel; Marriage Equality and Mourning: Mildred Boesser Fought Until the End; A Psychologist Follows His Slow-Roasted, Highly Caffeinated Dream; Flying Karamazovs and Friends Bring Chautauqua Spirit to Juneau Download Audio

Walker Delays Payment On Oil Tax Credits

Gov. Bill Walker is delaying payment of $200 million worth of oil tax credits. The veto is the most significant change the governor made to the state budget. Download Audio

$8.5M In Cuts to Troopers Spread A Thin Force Event Thinner

Rural residents already complain that state troopers are slow to respond to serious crimes and dangerous situations. But as of July first, 30 state trooper positions have been eliminated. With more lay-offs coming, it's going to get worse -- in both urban and rural Alaska. Download Audio

Polar Pioneer: An Economic Boon For Dutch Harbor

Billions of dollars worth of drilling equipment and support vessels operated by Royal Dutch Shell are sitting out in the Bay in front of Dutch Harbor this week. The company has plans to take most of that equipment north for exploratory drilling operations later this summer. Many of the local businesses benefit from the oil giant’s presence. Download Audio

Sand Point Post Office Burglars Sentenced

Two men have been sentenced in U.S. District Court to serve 21 months in federal prison for burglarizing the post office in Sand Point. Download Audio

Citizens Asked To Weigh In On A Proposed Liquor Store in Bethel

An application for Bethel’s first liquor store in four decades is still alive. Download Audio

Marriage equality and mourning: Mildred Boesser fought till the end

When the Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage nationwide last week, President Obama called the ruling “a consequence of the countless small acts of courage of millions of people across decades who stood up.” Mildred Boesser stood 5 feet tall, and she was one of those people. On the day of the ruling, Boesser was on her deathbed at home in Juneau, surrounded by family. Download Audio

Psychologist Follows Slow-Roasted, Highly Caffeinated Dream

Austin Schwartz pours green coffee beans into a pan and sets a timer. For the next 8 minutes, he slowly shuffles them around. The inside of the bus is open and simple. A few of the original 1960s era benches flank the sides of a coffee counter where a teakettle sits on one corner. A two-burner propane stove stands against a wall. Download Audio

Flying Karamazovs and friends bring Chautauqua spirit to Juneau

When the New Old Time Chautauqua marched into a TEDx talk in Seattle in 2012, there were jugglers, marching band musicians with mismatched uniforms, a saxophonist with a fez and a mustachioed ringmaster in a kilt. Now, the motley troupe of almost 60 performers and educators is in Juneau for three days of workshops, shows and activities that start Thursday. Download Audio

Opening of Houston fireworks stands ‘highly unlikely’

The Sockeye Fire is nearly contained, and fires continue to burn throughout the state. Now, many are questioning whether or not fireworks will be available and legal for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The state has lifted its fireworks ban, with the exception of Western Alaska. Many municipal and borough restrictions are still in place, however.

State assistance programs approved for Kenai Peninsula fire victims

Governor Bill Walker has approved a number of state assistance programs to help victims of Kenai Peninsula wildfires.

Busy fire season prompts influx of firefighting applicants

After an outbreak of wildfires across the state the Alaska Division of Forestry and the Bureau of Land Management’s Alaska Fire Service have seen a marked increase in the number of people looking for work in the firefighting effort. But, Division of Forestry spokesman Tim Mowry says both agencies already have a list of candidates to draw from.

Man sentenced to 55 years in prison for fatal 2010 beating

A man charged in the beating death of another man in 2010 has been sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Investigator: Removal of Alaska plane wreckage weeks away

It could be weeks before the wreckage of a sightseeing plane that crashed in steep, rugged terrain in southeast Alaska, killing nine people, is recovered.

Tough budget decisions remain in Alaska

It took two special sessions for Alaska legislators to agree to a budget after a crash in oil prices contributed to a severe reduction in the state's available revenue.

On The Way Out, Mayor Sullivan Gathers Souvenirs

Packing up his office after six years on the job, Mayor Dan Sullivan reflects on what he'll take with him, and what gets left behind.

Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Shell Gets Federal Approval to Head North, With Some Stipulations; Study: Climate Change Is A Chief Threat to Polar Bears; On His Way Out, Mayor Sullivan Collects A Couple Souvenirs; State Lifts Burn Ban, OKs Fireworks Before the 4th; In Petersburg, Childcare Shortage Leaves Parents Hanging; Study: Kings Are Smaller Than They Used To Be; Kenai Borough Re-Evaluates Controversial Fish Habitat Protections Download Audio