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.

State Budget Cuts Squeeze Wildland Firefighters

Firefighting efforts are winding down on two wildfires in Southwest Alaska. The state's firefighting assets that responded to these fires were based out of McGrath, the station that covers the nearly 90 million acres of Southwest Alaska. Next month McGrath will lose the majority of its firefighting staff due to state budget cuts. Download Audio:

New Marijuana Restrictions Regulate Secondhand Smoke

The move is a blow for legalization advocates in Anchorage, and leaves many regulatory questions unanswered. Download Audio:

Nikiski Seeks More Law Enforcement as Petty Crime Booms

More property crime and the potential for hundreds of new residents in the coming years has the unincorporated area of Nikiski looking for more law enforcement. Download Audio:

Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Key Provisions of Erin's Law Restored; Village Crime Victims Need Intervention, Senators Told; State Consolidates Two Divisions in Dept. of Labor; Lawyers Say Walker Can Act On Medicaid Without the Legislature; Fairbanks Man Likely Contracted Measles in Mongolia; State Budget Cuts Squeeze Wildland Firefighters; New Marijuana Restrictions Regulate Secondhand Smoke; Nikiski Seeks More Law Enforcement as Petty Crime Booms; Study Investigates Water Contamination in North Pole; With Seconds to Spare, Coast Guard Rescues Crew of Kupreanof Download Audio:

With seconds to spare, Coast Guard rescues crew of Kupreanof

Four people are safe after their fishing tender sank off Cape Fairweather early Wednesday morning. A helicopter from Air Station Sitka hoisted the crew of the 80-foot tender, just as the vessel rolled and sank in six-foot seas near Lituya Bay. Download Audio:

Net Restrictions on the Yukon Aim to Preserve Kings

Summer chum and Chinook salmon have begun their runs along the Yukon River.

Alaska confirms first measles case in more than decade

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services says the state's first measles case in more than a decade has been confirmed in Fairbanks.

Ketchikan man dies after accidental shooting

A 22-year-old Ketchikan man died Sunday night from what Alaska State Troopers say appears to be an accidental shooting.

Talkeetna River Dam Project could have preliminary license revoked

A required progress report on the proposed Talkeetna River Dam is overdue, according to the federal agency that licenses large energy projects.

Navy holds community forum in Kodiak

Navy representatives held a community forum in Kodiak yesterday to address concerns about its training in the Gulf of Alaska, which they say begins Monday. They say many people believe this month’s training will include bombs, sonar, and exercises that will disturb commercial fishing, but say much of that is misinformation.

Kuskokwim community King harvest permit program underway

A community permit system for a limited Kuskokwim king salmon harvest begins on Wednesday. 32 communities are eligible for the permit and so far 16 communities are signed up and a few still pending for the 7,000-fish king salmon permit fishery.

Budget negotiators agree on per-pupil school funding

House and Senate budget negotiators have agreed to fully fund the per-student funding formula for the coming year, as work continues to reach an overall budget deal. Download Audio:

Coal Lawsuit Results In Little Change

The Sierra Club is claiming a victory for environmentalists opposed to Seward coal shipments. Download Audio:

Coastal Communities Rally to Protest Naval Activity in the Gulf of Alaska

Several coastal communities, including Kodiak, Cordova, and Homer, have held both land-based and fishing boat flotilla protests over the last few weeks to voice their concerns about planned Navy and joint military training exercises in the Gulf of Alaska. Download Audio:

Rep. Don Young Marries on 82nd Birthday

Alaska Congressman Don Young tied the knot today, on his 82nd birthday. Young married 76-year-old Anne Garland Walton, a flight nurse from Fairbanks. She says his birthday cakes will never be the same. Download Audio:

NOAA Survey Ships Depart For Arctic

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially launched its Arctic survey season in Alaska yesterday. Two research ships, Ranierand Fairweather, will set out from Kodiak to chart the underwater and shoreline topography of the Arctic Ocean. Download Audio:

Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Budget Negotiators Agree on Per-Pupil School Funding; Coal Lawsuit Results In Little Change; Coastal Communities Protest Naval Activity in the Gulf of Alaska; Rep. Don Young Marries on 82nd Birthday; NOAA Survey Ships Depart for Arctic; Wood Bison Get Acquainted With Their New Habitat; Deciphering the Journey of Bristol Bay Smolt; Budget Woes Hurt Small Spuds; Kinetic Energy, A Ball and An Unlikely Path to Art; Odess: 'Sitka Opened Her Arms To Me' Download Audio:

Wood Bison Get Acquainted With Their New Habitat

The first load of wood bison bulls has been successfully released into the wild in the Innoko River valley.

Deciphering the Journey of Bristol Bay Smolt

Every year, millions of sockeye salmon return to Bristol Bay, headed for spawning grounds in area rivers. Little is known about what happens to outbound juvenile fish each spring. Download Audio:

Budget Woes Hurt Small Spuds

The legislature's lack of action on a budget is no small potatoes. Download Audio: