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.

Belugas sightings persist in the middle Yukon

Residents of the middle Yukon River from Kaltag to Ruby have seen several groups of beluga whales over the past few weeks. Download Audio

Superintendent of the Year

Chugach School District Superintendent Dr. Bob Crumley is Alaska Superintendent of the Year, 2016.

Town Square gardeners pick up the burden of city homelessness

An unlikely group of city employees are on the front-line of handling worsening woes with homelessness in Anchorage. Download Audio

49 Voices: Leah Zumwalt of Anchorage

This week, we're hearing from Leah Zumwalt, a first-grade teacher at Inlet View Elementary in Anchorage. She's originally from California, but has lived in Alaska for eight years. Listen now:
Photo by Scott Wight. Shared via KMXT.org.

Chiniak fire claims library, spares school; Residents evacuated

A growing, wind-whipped wildfire continues to burn out of control in Chiniak. The latest report is that while the Chiniak library has burnt down, the nearby Chiniak K-8 School survived. The blaze began sometime around 9 p.m. Thursday night, and may have been sparked by downed powerlines. All night flames of the rapidly growing fire were clearly visible from Kodiak City, 10 miles across Chiniak Bay.

Anchorage Mayor: Obama Visit to Cause ‘Minimal Disruption’ Downtown

Mayor Berkowitz today announced which street will close for security. He said residents should be flexible when visiting downtown for the first half of the week, but he says the event won't shut down commerce. Listen now:

Cleaning Up to Be with His Kid — Stories from Brother Francis Shelter

The morning at Brother Francis Shelter starts with a sleepy bustle. Guests wake up at 5 am, start gathering their belongings, drink some coffee and help clean the shelter. One morning in late July, in the back dormitory shelter guest William Teal wiped down the plastic sleeping mats with cleaning solution.

Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, August 27, 2015

Judge strikes down law restricting Medicaid-funded abortions; Judge hears arguments in anti-Medicaid lawsuit; Plaintiff's attorney joins by Skype; BC official says they're open to more mine treaty talks; Anchorage prepares for a stately crew of visitors; Science takes center stage at USARC meeting in Nome; For hungry bears, it's open season on garbage; Farmer in Homer tries to cultivate a north-hardy strain of garlic; Cleaning Up to Be with His Kid — Stories from Brother Francis Download Audio

Judge strikes down law restricting Medicaid-funded abortions

The Alaska Superior Court today struck down a state law that would have limited Medicaid coverage of abortions for low-income women. The judge found the law, which imposes a strict definition of "medically necessary abortion” violates the equal protection guarantees of Alaska’s constitution. Download Audio

Judge hears arguments in anti-Medicaid lawsuit; Plaintiff attorney joins by Skype

Superior court judge Frank Pfiffner heard oral arguments this afternoon in Anchorage in the Legislative Council’s case against Gov. Bill Walker to stop Medicaid expansion. The Council filed suit Monday to stop the program from going forward as planned next week, saying the governor doesn’t have the authority to expand Medicaid on his own. Download Audio

BC official says they’re open to more mine treaty talks

British Columbia’s top mining official says he’s open to involving his federal government in transboundary mine conflicts. That’s a change from earlier statements. Download Audio

Science takes center stage at USARC meeting in Nome

Science was in the spotlight when the U.S. Arctic Research Commission came together for its second and final day of meetings, covering a range of topics — from fire forecasts and walrus tagging to sea ice loss and the nutritional value of reindeer meat. Download Audio

For hungry bears, it’s open season on garbage

Local garbage bandits have been making their bi-yearly rounds in Ketchikan, leaving messes in their wake. There are grizzly bears. And brown bears. And black bears. And there are garbage bears. Download Audio

Farmers in Homer cultivate a north-hardy strain of garlic

A local farming couple is trying to change the way the state grows garlic by developing special strains resilient in the northern climate. Download Audio

SBA To Offer Sockeye Wildfire Relief

Those who suffered losses in the Sockeye Fire earlier this summer will be getting some financial help from the (SBA) *Small Business Administration. Wednesday's announcement covers both residences and businesses.

Alaska judge blocks law to limit Medicaid funds for abortions

A state court judge in Alaska has ruled that a law further defining what constitutes a medically necessary abortion for purposes of Medicaid funding is unconstitutional.

Smartphone app identifies weeds invasive to Alaska

A new smartphone application is helping researchers learn where plant species invasive to Alaska are growing.

Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, August 26, 2015

With VA problems clear, Sullivan summons officials for solutions; GOP candidate Rand Paul drums up support in Alaska; YWCA races to close the gender pay gap in Alaska; Final Sitka landslide victim recovered; Speaking at Assembly, officials say: 'Thank you, Sitka'; Bethel preschool re-opens after a monumental cleanup effort; Juneau protest looks to give BC mines a classic Alaska 'boot'; Hoonah hyrdo project cuts energy bills for local businesses; Voices From Nome's Dream Theater Download Audio

With VA problems clear, Sullivan summons officials for solutions

Officials, politicians, and veterans themselves agree on what is causing massive problems accessing healthcare recently. Now, they are pivoting towards a search for solutions. Download Audio

GOP candidate Rand Paul drums up support in Alaska

Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul spoke in Anchorage and Fairbanks on Tuesday, kicking off a swing through western states for the Kentucky conservative. Download Audio