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.

Schools Struggle With Heating Bills, But No Takers For Loan Program

Every year, the state spends $100 million on school districts' utility bills. Back in 2010, the legislature established a loan program to help bring down those costs. The loans would cover energy upgrades to public buildings, and they would be paid back with the money saved on heating fuel. But even though rising energy costs continue to be problem for districts, schools haven't used the funds as a fix. Download Audio

Ongoing Fixes Delay Arrival Of UAF’s New Arctic Research Ship

Next month marks a year since the launch of the National Science Foundation’s new Arctic research vessel Sikuliaq. The 261-foot ice class ship, to be operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, remains at dock at a shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. Download Audio

Extent Of Tribal Court Authority Questioned In Minto Trial

The state has intervened in a case on the side of a man convicted of attempted murder, kidnapping, and assault of the mother of his children. At issue is the authority of a tribal court over a non-tribal member and tribal court procedures. Download Audio

Interior Tourism Officials Expect Average Summer Numbers

The Interior is coming off what’s likely to be a flat tourism season. Official numbers are not in yet, but Fairbanks Convention and visitors Bureau president and CEO Deb Hickock doesn’t expect anything surprising. Download Audio

Holland America Halts Dawson City Bus Tours

As the summer tourism season wraps up, Interior operators are already looking to next year – and worrying how they’ll deal with a move by a major industry player. Download Audio

Emergency Dispatch Consolidation Plan For Mat Su

Two emergency dispatch centers in the Matanuska Susitna Borough are one too many, according to findings of a feasibility study released to the Borough Assembly at its last meeting. As Although a plan to consolidate Palmer and Wasilla's 911 emergency call centers is gaining favor in the Borough, critics say the merger will only hamper state law enforcement capabilities. Download Audio

Low Enrollment Pushes Juneau, North Pole Football Teams To Southeast Conference

The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears and North Pole Patriots football teams are playing in the medium schools football division this year. The two used to compete against Alaska’s largest high schools. Now they’re part of the small Southeast Conference. Download Audio

Alaska Tribes Celebrate Heritage On Homer Beach

Every two years, a special ceremony is held on the beach in Homer to celebrate the heritage of Alaska tribes living in the region. KBBI’s Peter Sheppard attended this year, as the final installment of our series looking at culture in Alaska. Download Audio

Cal Worthington Dead At 92

Cal Worthington, who built a fortune from a series of West Coast car dealerships and became a TV fixture thanks to commercials urging customers to "go see Cal," has died. He was 92.

How Many Shrews Can a Rainbow Trout Eat?

Today, we meet a rainbow trout with an unbelievable appetite. Mark Lisac is a fish biologist at the Togiak Refuge, and just a few weeks ago he and group of his colleagues were catching rainbow trout for a tracking project. “I can’t say for certain that I’ve ever seen a well preserved shrew in a stomach analysis,” Lisac says.  Let alone 19 of them. Read more.

Charlie Rose: Interview with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

In this global television exclusive, Assad gives his only television interview since President Barack Obama asked Congress to approve the use of force against the Syrian regime for alleged use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people. TV: Monday, 9/9 at 7:00pm & 11:00pm

Man Arrested For Heroin Possession In Bethel

Bethel police arrested a man for possessing what they believe to be heroin. On August 29, police arrested 30-year-old Travis Longbotham of Nikiski. He was staying at the Long House Inn Hotel when employees noticed the smell of drugs coming from his room and called police.

Alakanuk Gets $2.2 Million For Road Development

The Village of Alakanuk is getting a $2.2 million grant to pave almost three miles of dirt roads. The money is coming from the U.S. Department of Transportation and will pay for part of the road project. The total amount is estimated to cost around $5.2 million.

We Are Mountain Runners

Ellyn Brown and Matias Saari are two of the most well known athletes in the Alaska mountain running community. Both runners have won Alaska's toughest races, but will tell you they measure their success not by races won, but by how much time they get to spend running.

Responders Untangle Gillnet from Humpback Whale

Marine mammal responders have wrapped-up efforts to try and disentangle a southeast humpback whale after removing more gillnet from the animal this week.

Sea Ice Changes Begin Affecting Vegetation On Land

The Arctic sea ice has been surprising scientists for the last six years. It set a new record for melting back during the International Polar Year in 2007. Last year it beat that record, but at the same time the seasonal ice in the Bering Sea has been increasing – also to a record last winter. Whatever is driving these changes is also beginning to affect the vegetation on land. Download Audio

Magone Sells Renowned Marine Salvage Business

After 40 years in western Alaska, salvager Dan Magone is selling his namesake diving and marine rescue business. But, Magone will still be there to help when disaster strikes. Download Audio

Pilot, Researchers Stranded Near Mt. Mageik

A helicopter, its pilot, and two researchers are still stuck near the top of 7,100-foot Mount Mageik in Katmai National Park and Preserve. They’ve been there since Wednesday evening. Download Audio

Rain Hammers Valdez, Cordova

Winds will not be significant for Southcentral Alaska this weekend, but rain is hammering the Valdez and Cordova area. Download Audio

Carnival Cruise Ships Installing Air Pollution ‘Scrubbers’

The world’s largest cruise corporation will soon install new pollution-control equipment on 32 of its ships. Carnival, Princess and Holland-America vessels sailing Alaska waters are likely to be among those getting the gear. Download Audio