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.

Stimson Patrol Vessel Leaves Dutch Harbor for Kodiak After 17 Years

The Patrol Vessel Stimson sailed out of Dutch Harbor Monday morning, marking the end of an era for Unalaska and for the Stimson. After 17 years based in Dutch Harbor, it’s heading to Kodiak, where the state of Alaska’s biggest patrol vessel will be based.

Shageluk Man Dies After Reportedly Jumping from Boat

A Shageluk man has died after reportedly jumping out of a boat in the Innoko River. State troopers say 48-year-old Robert Demientieff jumped out of the boat about seven miles upriver of Shageuluk late Friday evening.

Slow Fall Chum Run Leaves Yukon Smokehouses Empty

Slow fall chum runs have kept subsistence fisherman from being too active on the Yukon River this past week, but as Chinook continue crossing the border, officials say their numbers are well above escapement goals.

3,000 in Anchorage to Lose Food Stamps Under Change to Work Requirement

Residents across the state told of changes in a June letter detailing work requirements many must meet in order to qualify for benefits longer than three months. Download Audio:

Alaska News Nightly: Monday, August 3, 2015

3,000 In Anchorage to Lose Food Stamps After Work Requirement Change; Alaska Exempt From New Federal Clean Power Rules; Murkowski Votes to Move Planned Parenthood Defunding Bill; Summer Work Underway at Red Devil Mine in Advance of Big Cleanup; Pregnant Kotlik Woman Loses Child After Assault; Former NICU Parent Helps Others Navigate A Stressful Time; With Subsistence Foods Running Short, Bering Strait Villages Receive A Donation of Halibut; Gambell Basketball Player Chooses Between Hometown Team and Seattle Offer Download Audio

Alaska Exempt From New Federal Clean Power Rules, For Now

The White House and the EPA today released the final version of its rule to cut carbon emissions from power plants. The administration's Clean Power Plan sets targets that states have to meet and requires them to submit plans detailing how they will acheive them. But Alaska will not have to comply with new mandates, at least not yet. Download Audio

Murkowski Votes to Move Planned Parenthood Defunding Bill

A bill to defund Planned Parenthood failed a procedural vote in the U.S. Senate today. Sen. Dan Sullivan is a co-sponsor. Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted to advance the defunding measure also, but she says she doesn’t want to see Planned Parenthood’s funding removed without an investigation. Download Audio

Summer work underway at Red Devil Mine in advance of big cleanup

Crews are sampling water and sediments this summer near the site of the old Red Devil mercury mine in the middle Kuskokwim. It’s work that comes in advance of a large clean up project. Download Audio

Pregnant Kotlik Woman Loses Child After Assault

State Troopers are investigating an assault in Kotlik after a pregnant victim’s baby died. Download Audio

Former NICU Parent Helps Other Families Navigate A Stressful Time

Most people working in a Newborn Intensive Care Unit have some type of advanced medical degree. But one employee at The Children's Hospital at Providence in Anchorage has a very different set of qualifications. Ginny Shaffer spent more than three months in the NICU as a parent, with her daughter who was born at 23 weeks. Now she helps other parents through one of the most stressful times of their lives as a Parent Navigator. Download Audio

With Subsistence Foods Running Short, Bering Strait Villages Receive A Donation of Halibut

For four communities affected by this spring’s poor walrus harvest, help is on its way in the form of 10,000 pounds of halibut. Download Audio

Draft petition calls for a third city in Ketchikan

Consolidation has failed in Ketchikan many times in the past. Now, a group of people in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough’s North End is trying something completely different: They want to create another city in the borough, which would add a fourth local government in a community of about 13,000 people.

Q2 Earnings Reports Show It’s a Tough Time for Oil

As Shell’s Fennica icebreaker endured a standoff with Greenpeace protesters in Oregon last week, the company was also contending with the release of a dismal second quarter earnings report.

Alaska power plants exempt from new greenhouse gas emission rules

Alaska will be exempt from new federal rules aimed at cutting greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants. Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she got word Monday in a phone call from EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

Juneau Assembly considers $1 million hit to Juneau seniors’ sales tax perk

The Juneau Assembly advanced a series of policy changes Thursday that would leave lower-income seniors entirely exempt from paying city sales tax, while reducing wealthier seniors’ benefit. Several other sales tax proposals failed.

Labor Rights FAQ Translated to Tagalog

Not all employees in Alaska speak English proficiently, but the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development wants to make sure that all of them understand their rights. The department recently released several translations of its employee “frequently asked questions” pamphlet in different languages, including one in Tagalog.

Officials announce Yukon Quest purse of at least $115,000

Race officials will offer at least $115,000 to the winner of the 2016 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.

Seward Highway crash leaves one dead, several injured

A multi-vehicle crash on the Seward Highway Friday has left one person dead and several others injured. According to Alaska State Troopers, the crash was reported just after noon on Friday, at mile 80 of the highway in Girdwood.

July was wettest on record for Juneau, says weather service

The National Weather Service says this July was the wettest on record for Juneau, with 10.4 inches of rainfall at Juneau International Airport.

Attorney General Says Tribal Protection Orders Deserve Equal Recognition

Law enforcement must uphold tribal protection orders the same as it does state protective orders, regardless of whether the order has been registered with the state, the attorney general announced in an opinion issued Thursday. The AG also encouraged the legislature to amend Alaska law to bring it into compliance with the Violence Against Women Act. Download Audio