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's police chief

Ketchikan reinstates its police chief after felony assault charge is dropped

Ketchikan Police Chief Jeffrey Walls returned to work Aug. 22.
a person looks into a microscope next to another person

Quinhagak’s museum has the world’s largest collection of Yup’ik artifacts, and archeologists keep finding more

This year alone they found five complete masks, new arrowheads, spoons, stick dolls, ivory earrings, ulus and more.
a sign says River Terrace RV Park

After surprise eviction notice, residents of a Soldotna trailer park are wondering what’s next

“There’s no need for these people to become homeless, and that’s what’s gonna happen to the majority of them,” said longtime resident Daniel Lynch.
the outside of an airport

More small airports are being cut off from the air travel network. This is why.

The pilot shortage and changing economics are to blame for legacy airlines departing regional airports.
a man in a suit

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy replaces budget director

Neil Steininger was replaced by Lacey Sanders, formerly administrative services director for the state education department.
a village on the water

Alaska watches, nervously, as Ukraine war pushes more Russian oil through Bering Strait

While the ships are free to pass through the Bering Strait, its 55-mile width means that any spills would be likely to drift toward Alaska communities.
a man holds a cat

Leo the cat, missing since Juneau’s record flood, is safe

After escaping the house that tumbled into the river and then spending weeks in the woods, somehow Leo is in pretty good shape.
A sculpture / fountain, with an elevated walkway visible behind it.

University of Alaska system boasts overall enrollment growth after financial challenges

The news of overall 4.7% growth systemwide comes after a five-year downward trend in student enrollment.
people stand around a casket

After burying Marshall mother, friends and family ask why it took so long to find her

Kimberly Fitka O’Domin was buried in early August, almost two months after she went missing.
cigarette buts in a blue bucket

Sitka’s tourism boom has brought a staggering increase in cigarette butts

What started as a community cleanup has become a legitimate scientific study.
a network of pipelines outside

Oil and gas companies have outsized economic impact on Alaska, says industry study

The study found that oil and gas employment, spending, tax revenues and spinoff effects supported 16% of the state’s jobs in 2022.

Alaska ACLU sues state Department of Corrections over suicide deaths in jail

According to the ACLU, 18 people died in DOC custody last year, the most ever in a single year.
a woman standing near a building

Providence breaks ground on behavioral health crisis center in Anchorage that aims to keep people out of emergency room

The center will have space for 24 people who need mental health and substance-use stabilization.
the Willow project

ConocoPhillips says court case is likely do-or-die for Alaska’s Willow oil project

Willow would be the first large project constructed in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
A row of brown and white cows looking straight at the camera on a background of green grass.

This remote Alaska island is home to hundreds of feral cattle. But should it be?

Some have wondered whether Chirikof Island, trampled by hooves, should instead be returned to seabirds that could desperately use more habitat.
A birch tree is splintered where it is snapped in half at the base.

Strong winds in Anchorage lead to power outages and downed trees

As of 5 p.m., the highest recorded gust in the Anchorage area was around 70 mph near Potter Marsh.
A woman speaking at a round table

HUD Secretary Fudge meets with rural and urban Alaskans to discuss housing struggles

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, who accompanied Secretary Marcia Fudge on her visit, underscored that Alaska is different from much of the country.
A screenshot of the Alaska Board of Education and Early Development virtual special meeting Aug. 31, 2023.

Alaska education board bans trans athletes from girls’ high school sports

The change will apply to all public high schools in the state competing under the Alaska School Activities Association.
a person talks to a group outside

HUD announces $7.5M for Kenaitze and Salamatof housing project

The money will fund an 18-unit elder housing project in Kenai.
A crowd of people gather in front of solar panels as those in the front hold a yellow ribbon that is about to be cut by two people holding large scissors.

Mat-Su Borough welcomes Alaska’s biggest solar farm

The 8.5 megawatt solar array is expected to power about 1,400 homes, and has already begun feeding energy into the Matanuska Energy Association grid.