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.

Charlo Greene Facing Subpoena Over Campaign Finance Questions

The case has less to do with marijuana debate than it does with campaign finance rules, and how the state enforces transparency in elections.

Senate Committee Holds Hearing On High Violence Levels In American Indian, Alaska Native Communities

The trauma American Indian and Alaska Native children experience due to the high levels of violence in their communities was the subject of a hearing today in the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Both Alaska senators pressed for solutions, in law and federal dollars. Download Audio

Alaska News Nightly: November 19, 2014

Senate Committee Holds Hearing On High Violence Levels In American Indian, Alaska Native Communities; Platinum Creek Mine Operator Indicted For Alleged Illegal Mine Waste Water Discharges; Charlo Greene Facing Subpoena Over Campaign Finance Questions; What’s Next For Sen. Mark Begich?; Japan Eyes Port MacKenzie LNG Facility; Tongass Advisory Committee meets in Sitka; Weatherization Program Brings Energy Savings and Safety; Alaska Ocean Observing System Celebrates 10th Anniversary Download Audio

Platinum Creek Mine Operator Indicted For Alleged Illegal Mine Waste Water Discharges

XS Platinum and five of its employees and corporate officers have been indicted by a federal grand jury for alleged illegal discharges of mine waste water at the Platinum Creek mine in Southwest Alaska and for making false statements to authorities. Download Audio

What’s Next For Sen. Mark Begich?

Sen. Mark Begich finally conceded that he lost the election this week, but for now, until Jan. 3, he’s still a U.S. senator, and he’s back in Washington. Download Audio

Japan Eyes Port MacKenzie LNG Facility

A Japanese company, Resources Energy Incorporated, has plans to beat other, larger companies to the punch when it comes to shipping LNG from Alaska to Japan. And, the company is courting Mat Su's Port MacKenzie as a site for it's gas plant project. Download Audio

Tongass Advisory Committee meets in Sitka

Representatives from across Southeast and the country will meet are meeting in Sitka this week to hash out timber issues on the Tongass. Download Audio

Weatherization program brings energy savings and safety

The state's weatherization program began in 1978, during the energy crisis, and continues to help families deal with ever-rising energy costs. Weatherizing means making heating systems more efficient and plugging up the holes in a home to keep the heat inside. But it's not just about economics, it’s about safety. Download Audio

Warm Weather Allowing Expanded Use Of Salt On Fairbanks Roads

Warmer than normal temperatures this fall are allowing expanded use salt to combat icy roads in Fairbanks. Salt is more effective in some conditions and less expensive. Download Audio

Alaska Ocean Observing System Celebrates 10th Anniversary

The Alaska Ocean Observing System is celebrating it's 10th anniversary of aggregating information about ocean conditions and sharing that data with a wide range of partner organizations and other ocean users. Molly McCammon is the executive director of AOOS. A former director of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill trustee council, she was asked to head up a new ocean observing organization in 2003. McCammon says Congress wanted a better system to integrate ocean research and in 2004, AOOS was launched. She says traditional research looks at what needs to be learned, but AOOS starts with who the users are and what they need to know to make decisions. Download Audio

Anchorage Museum Stays Up Late to Reach New Members

As cultural institutions across the country struggle to stay relevant in a changing financial landscape, many are testing new ways to raise funds and expand membership. Download Audio

American Indian, Alaska Native Children Suffering High Rates Of PTSD

American Indian and Alaska Native children see so much violence in their homes and communities that they suffer Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at triple the rate of the general population, akin to veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. That’s one of the starting points of a new federal task force report on indigenous children and their exposure to violence. Download Audio

BOEM Drafting Environmental Impact Statement For Proposed Cook Inlet Oil, Gas Lease Sale

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is in the process of drafting an Environmental Impact Statement on a proposed Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Lease Sale. It’s could open up the federally-managed waters of Cook Inlet to oil and gas exploration. BOEM held a series of public scoping meetings on the Kenai Peninsula last week. Download Audio

Heavy Lift Ship Prepares To Tow Drilling Rig Endeavour To South Africa

A heavy lift ship dropped anchor in Kachemak Bay last Tuesday. The Zen Hua 15 is making preparations to tow offshore drilling rig Endeavour Spirit of Independence to South Africa. Download Audio

Alaska News Nightly: November 18, 2014

American Indian, Alaska Native Children Suffering High Rates Of PTSD; BOEM Drafting Environmental Impact Statement For Proposed Cook Inlet Oil, Gas Lease Sale; Heavy Lift Ship Prepares To Tow Drilling Rig Endeavour To South Africa; State Releases Plan To Improve Fairbanks Air Quality; Employee Complaints, Tests Flag Air Quality In State-Leased Office Building; Mine Critics Target Investors, Government Officials; Kuskokwim 300 to Run as 12-Dog Race; Anchorage Museum Trying New Ways To Recruit New Museum Buffs Download Audio

State Releases Plan To Improve Fairbanks Air Quality

The state has released a long in the works plan for improving Fairbanks air quality. The community regularly falls short of federal fine particulate pollution standards in the winter, but many residents rely on wood burning for heat. There’s opposition to any sort of burn ban, and that’s not part of the plan. Download Audio

Employee Complaints, Tests Flag Air Quality In State-Leased Office Building

Air quality test results show high levels of carbon dioxide and dust in Juneau’s Bill Ray Center, an office building the state is leasing for about 160 employees. For more than a month, the state has fielded complaints from employees about headaches and diesel fumes. Download Audio

Mine Critics Target Investors, Government Officials

Transboundary mine opponents are trying a new tactic in their opposition to a project northeastof Ketchikan. They’re telling investors, and anyone else who will listen, that the KSM mine is a bad place to put their money. Download Audio

Kuskokwim 300 to Run as 12-Dog Race

The Kuskowkim 300 Sled Dog race is now a 12-dog event. The race committee decided this fall to lower the dog limit from 14 to 12. Download Audio

Anchorage Museum Trying New Ways To Recruit New Museum Buffs

As cultural institutions across the country struggle to stay relevant in a changing financial landscape, many are testing new ways to raise funds and expand membership. The Anchorage museum is trying to recruit the next wave of museum buffs in some unconventional ways. Download Audio