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.

Mixed Feelings On A New Company’s Plans To Drill in Cook Inlet

A Texas-based company will begin drilling for oil in Cook Inlet next year using extended-reach oil wells. Download Audio:

Maritime Group Approves Aleutian Shipping ‘Buffer Zones’

The International Maritime Organization’s Marine Safety Committee is in the middle of its 95th session in London this week. Included on the committee’s agenda is the adoption of five recommended “areas to be avoided” in the Aleutian Chain. The shipping buffer zones come in anticipation of increased mariner shipping traffic in the region. Download Audio:

NOAA Investigates Steller Sea Lion Deaths Near Cordova

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is investigating the deaths of several Steller sea lions southwest of Cordova. Fifteen dead sea lions were discovered in the area on June 1. Download Audio:
The EM cameras on the Magia, Steven Rhoads’ 55-foot longliner, are mounted on an outrigger boom. “I would pay to have electronic monitoring every day, rather than be selected to carry a human observer,” Rhoads told the council. (KCAW photo/Robert Woolsey)

Cameras to remedy observer problems in Alaska?

Smaller boats in Alaska’s offshore fisheries may no longer have to carry human observers in the future, if a plan to deploy cameras proves feasible. At its Sitka meeting this month, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council gave the green light to an inter-agency effort to develop Electronic Monitoring. The council would like to see cameras in action within three years. Download Audio:

Alaska News Nightly: Friday, June 12, 2015

Mixed Feelings On A New Company's Plans To Drill in Cook Inlet; Maritime Group Approves Aleutian Shipping 'Buffer Zones'; NOAA Investigates Steller Sea Lion Deaths Near Cordova; Advocacy Group Puts Setnet Restriction Measure on the Ballot; Cameras May Remedy Gripes With Alaska's Fisheries Observer Program; Feminist Icon Gloria Steinem Visits Fairbanks; 49 Voices: Matt Williams of Anchorage; AK: Ice Dance Download Audio:

Advocacy Group Puts Setnet Restriction Measure on the Ballot

The Alaska Fisheries Conservation Alliance has handed over enough signatures to the state division of elections to get a voter initiative on the 2016 general election ballot. Download Audio:

Feminist Icon Gloria Steinem Visits Fairbanks

Feminist pioneer Gloria Steinem speaks at the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Friday night. The human rights activist’s visit was instigated by local politics. Download Audio:

3-Man Seattle Team Wins Inaugural ‘Race To Alaska’

Just before 1:00 p.m. Friday, five days and fifty-five minutes after leaving Victoria, British Columbia, the three-man crew of the Elsie Piddock sailed across the finish line in Ketchikan. The premise of the race was simple: no motors, first boat to Alaska wins.

49 Voices: Matt Williams of Anchorage

This week, we hear from Matt Williams, who works as a special ed teacher in Anchorage most of the year. Every summer, he and his wife trade their frumpy teacher's clothes for Grundens and head out to Bristol Bay, where they work as commercial fishermen. Williams shares some thoughts on life at fish camp on Nushagak Bay. Download Audio
Funny River fire rages in the Kenai Keys area of the Kenai Peninsula May 25, 2014

Wildfire Season in Alaska

It’s wildfire season in Alaska and this year more than 50,000 acres have already burned. Is this the new normal? It's been a hot and dry spring and climate conditions are changing. Even the tundra is burning. How will these changes impact wildfires and how we fight them? APRN: Tuesday, June 16 at 10:00am Download Audio

AK: Ice Dance

New York dancer and choreographer Jody Sperling had a rare opportunity last year. She was an artist-in-residence aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy while it was on a research mission in the Arctic. Alone on vast ice floes, she danced while no one watched. Download Audio

Pollock B season opens in Aleutians, Eastern Bering Sea region

Pollock ‘B’ Season opened Wednesday in the Aleutian Islands and Eastern Bering Seas Region.

9th Circuit Court rules in favor of Shell’s spill response plans

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday in favor of the Department of Interior’s approval of two oil spill response plans for Arctic drilling put forward by Royal Dutch Shell. The company plans to explore for oil in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas this summer.

Troopers cite man for running down, killing bald eagles

A 28-year-old Oregon man has been accused of running over several bald eagles feeding on a roadway in Dutch Harbor, killing two and injuring two others.

Death of sea lions found to be caused by humans

Federal officials are saying several of the 15 Stellar sea lions found dead last week near Cordova had wounds indicating they had been "deliberately killed."

Youth decision-making and healthy choices

Think back to being a high school student and navigating the social world. What made you happy or lonely? How did you decide if you wanted to play sports or study hard or drink alcohol? Nowadays fewer kids are drinking and making risky decisions than many people think. And we have data showing why. This week's Alaska Edition focuses on youth decision making and how the community is supporting healthy choices. KSKA: Friday, 6/12, at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, 6/13, at 6:00 p.m. KAKM: Friday, 6/12, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, 6/13, at 4:30 p.m. Listen now:

Legislature Gavels Out

Nearly two months after its regular deadline, the Alaska Legislature finally gavels out. Both chambers have approved a $5 billion operating budget and agreed on a way to pay for the deficit. Download Audio:

‘Erin’s Law’ Passes Unanimously In the Senate

As one of its final acts, the Legislature is advancing the Alaska Safe Children’s Act. After passing in the House during the regular session, the bill passed unanimously in the Senate today. Download Audio:

Murkowski Votes ‘Nay’ on Icebreaker Provision in Defense Bill

In Congress Thursday morning, a U.S. senator proposed adding nearly a billion dollars to a Defense spending bill to acquire an icebreaker – and that senator was not from Alaska. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is normally an ardent advocate for more icebreaking capacity, but she felt compelled to vote against the icebreaker amendment. Download Audio:

Rep. Young Lobbies To Offer Land Allotments For Alaska Native ‘Nam Vets

Congressman Don Young’s subcommittee on Native affairs took testimony today on a bill to re-open land allotment selections for Alaska Natives who served in the military during the Vietnam War. Download Audio: