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.

House Finance Committee Blocks Medicaid Expansion Bill

House Finance Committee Chair Steve Thompson says the committee will not advance the Governor's Medicaid expansion bill. Download Audio:

UAF Gets a Federal Boost for Unmanned Aircraft

The FAA last week named University of Alaska Fairbanks a “Center of Excellence” for research on unmanned aircraft. UAF and partner universities are charged with helping the FAA figure out how to integrate the unmanned machines in the national airspace. It’s still not clear if much federal money will follow. Download Audio:

Death of 4 in Anchorage Believed To Be Domestic Violence, No Suspect

Evidence from APD suggests one of the parents is responsible for the deaths, but just a day into the investigation detectives are not yet able to say conclusively what happened. Download Audio:

Body of Argentine Climber Found High on Denali

The National Park Service reports that the remains of an Argentine climber have been found at a camp high on Denali. Download Audio:

Fairbanks Police Experiment With Body Cams

Repeated cases of actual or alleged police brutality, have spurred conversation about officer worn body cameras across the U.S. Download Audio:

Out of the ashes: a downtown eyesore is transformed

In 2004, an awning patch-job went bad and led to a fire that razed a historic commercial building in the heart of downtown Juneau, where the grand opening of Sealaska Heritage Institute's Walter Soboleff Building will happen Friday. Listen now:

Hooligan Run Lowest in Years on the Chilkoot

Hooligan fishing is a tradition for many people in the Upper Lynn Canal. But this spring, those who fish in the Chilkoot had disappointing results. Researchers say the mysterious fish seem to have turned right instead of left into the Taiya, near Skagway, instead of the Chilkoot. And there’s no way to know exactly why. Download Audio:

Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, May 14, 2015

House Finance Committee Blocks Medicaid Expansion Bill; UAF Gets A Federal Boost for Unmanned Aircraft; Death of 4 Believed to Be of Domestic Violence Incident; Body of Argentine Climber Found High on Denali; Fairbanks Police Experiment with Body Cams; Historially Low Hooligan Run On the Chilkoot Is a Mystery; Eyesore to Eye Candy: Juneau Rebuilds A Historic Treasure; 'Republic of the Arctic' Proponent And Native Rights Activist Charles Etok Edwardsen Dies Download Audio:

‘Republic of the Arctic’ Proponent And Native Rights Activist Charles Etok Edwardsen Dies

A life devoted to whaling and land rights has come to an end. Charles Etok Edwardsen passed away in the place he loved best, a whale camp. Download Audio:

Pre-Historic Shark Fossil Comes Home

A unique fossil rock from Atigun Gorge is back in the state after a 29 year detour in Washington, DC. The rock bears the imprint of teeth from an animal that has not been seen on Earth for about 250 million years, and the story behind the rock and it's current status as centerpiece of a Seward art exhibit is almost as fascinating as the prehistoric creature which imprinted it. Download Audio:

Three People Ill After Eating Fermented Seal Flipper

Three people have contracted botulism after eating separate batches of fermented seal flipper in Koyuk over the weekend.

Katmai staff take closer look at F/V Northern Pride

Staff from Katmai National Park and Preserve were on the scene of the wrecked fishing vessel Northern Pride Monday.

KPBSD Schools Receive Threatening Automated Phone Calls

Two Kenai Peninsula Borough schools received threatening phone calls the afternoon of Wednesday, May 13th, which were later determined not to be credible. That’s according to a release from the district.

Bobby Andrew, leading voice in anti-Pebble fight, Dies At 73

Bristol Bay elder Bobby Andrew, who has been a leading voice in the fight against Pebble Mine, passed away Tuesday in Aleknagik at the age of 73. State troopers say Andrew died of natural causes, and was found at his cabin on Lake Aleknagik Tuesday afternoon.

Borough Budget Still A Work In Progress

The Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly was handed a letter Wednesday night from the Borough manager, outlining a dire revenue forecast for the coming four years. The bad news further dampened budget discussions.

Marijuana OK’d At State’s First Pot Convention, But Only For Display

While the city's Assembly voted to allow marijuana on site at an upcoming convention, it cannot be consumed there. Download Audio:

Man Survives More Than An Hour Adrift After Skiff Capsizes

A goose hunter spent about an hour and a half adrift after his skiff took on water and capsized in rough seas. Listen now:

Sitka Parks Feel the Strain of Fiscal Belt Tightening

State officials have rolled out their plan to terminate direct management of state parks in Sitka, including two of the most historic sites in Alaska. Download Audio:

Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Anchorage Hospitals Compete for New ER Beds; Marijuana OK'd At State's First Pot Convention, But Only for Display; 4 Found Dead In South Anchorage Home; Man Survives More Than An Hour Adrift After Skiff Capsizes; Sitka Parks Feel the Strain of Fiscal Belt Tightening; Budget Cuts Sideline Taku Ferry July Through Sept.; Sow With 3 Cubs Stands Her Ground On Juneau Trail; Re-Introduced Wood Bison Faring Well; Ancient Buzz Saw Shark Fossil Returns to Alaska Download Audio:

Sow With 3 Cubs Stands Her Ground On Juneau Trail

U.S. Forest Service officials are concerned about a stressed out mama bear near the Mendenhall Glacier. Download Audio: