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.

Report Says Lower Kenai River Violates Water Standards

A report commissioned by the State Department of Environmental Conservation shows water quality on the lower Kenai River violates state standards. The report has not been released by DEC.
Lawmakers in a meeting room.

Alaska legislative leaders say passing an on-time budget is a top priority this year

Some of the leaders want to see the Legislature pass a long-term plan for the state’s finances and permanent fund dividends. But they acknowledge there are significant obstacles in both the short and long term.
a person crosses a finish line that says Ironman Alaska

Ironman Alaska canceled for the next 2 years

Liz Perry, president and CEO of Travel Juneau, said the Ironman Alaska triathlon organizer called her to say that the decision arose from economic concerns like inflation and the potential for a recession. 

‘Bye Bye Birdie’ Opens In Sitka

At the high school level, putting on a musical can take anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks. At the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, it takes two. A group of high school-age students completed the ambitious rehearsal schedule at the camp’s first-ever two-week musical theater session last week. KCAW’s Ed Ronco visited rehearsals for “Bye Bye Birdie.”

Petit retakes lead on the way to Nikolai

After briefly relinquishing the lead Monday, Nicolas Petit is back in front on the way to Nikolai. But, the pack isn't far behind. Dallas Seavey, Wade Marrs, Mitch Seavey and Hugh Neff are within 10 miles of Petit.
A sunny day near the water

Seward plans to welcome back its first cruise ships since 2019

Cruises support an estimated 20,000 jobs in Southcentral every season.
A school of red salmon.

Why is Bristol Bay’s sockeye run breaking records while other areas struggle?

In the past decade, Bristol Bay has seen consistently large salmon runs and continues to break records. But some other Alaska fisheries are experiencing historically low runs, a trend that worries scientists, fishery managers and communities. What keeps Bristol Bay booming as other areas struggle?
Sen. Shelley Hughes

Seventeen of 20 Alaska senators are in the majority. What about the other three?

Two of three senators outside the state Legislature's supermajority do not have standing committee assignments.

Air Force Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Proposal to Relocate F-16s

A draft Environmental Impact Statement released by the Air Force Friday recommends downsizing Eielson Air Force Base for cost savings, but Alaska’s leaders argue the document ignores requests for cost reduction estimates and fails to consider the local impact. Download Audio

Shell Drill Ship Arrives In Unalaska

One of Shell’s drill ships has arrived in Unalaska and the other is expected by the end of the week. The Noble Discoverer pulled into port on Saturday, accompanied by a small flotilla of support vessels. While the ships were originally scheduled to bypass Unalaska on their way to Arctic, persistent sea ice could keep them around for a while.
Jude Pate

Dunleavy picks Sitka judge for Supreme Court, first justice in decades from small-town Alaska

Jude Pate is also the first justice to come from Southeast Alaska since 2013.

There’s still little common ground on how to fix the budget in Juneau

The Alaska Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy have both talked in the first two weeks of the session about the importance of closing the gap between how much the state government spends and how much it brings in. But there are big differences in how to fix the problem.

Alaska won’t see change after Supreme Court decision on state powers to prosecute crimes on tribal land

Alaska, like some 20 other states, already has federal approval from Congress granting such authority, so the decision itself won't have much affect in Alaska, says Lloyd Miller, an Anchorage-based lawyer and Indian law specialist with Sonosky Chambers.
A photo of a big beetle on a white background.

1st live Asian giant ‘murder hornet’ of 2021 spotted in Washington state

Entomologists confirm the report of the world's largest hornet — a worrisome invasive species that originates from East Asia and Japan — by a person in a rural area near the Canadian border.

UA Regents defer consideration of Haines timber sale plan

The University of Alaska Board of Regents is delaying a decision on whether to approve the plan for a Chilkat Valley timber sale. Listen now
A close of up photo of wild blueberries on the vine

This UAF professor is looking for help collecting blueberries. She’s paying $50 per gallon.

She’s been asking for the wild blueberries for two weeks now, but has yet to receive any.

Mat-Su Teacher Enters Running For Lieutenant Governor

A Matanuska-Susitna Borough teacher has filed as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Bob Williams, a former teacher of the year, says he’ll support education funding. Download Audio

Cruise ship tourist numbers expected to be flat this year

The first cruise-ship tourists of the year are on their way to Alaska. About 1 million are expected before the season ends. The numbers...

Anchorage Police Search For Shooting Suspect

There was a shooting in a West Anchorage apartment Tuesday afternoon. Police say the victim was seriously injured and knew the suspect, who is still being sought. They say there were several other people in the apartment at the time - no identities released yet. Officers say the place was full of bear spray when they arrived, but were not yet ready to say why.

Yukon Commercial Fishermen May Be Able To Use Purse Seine Gear

As fish managers attempted preserve the Yukon River king salmon last summer, commercial chum fisherman tried out some new gear. They used dip nets and beach seine gear by emergency order during the many king salmon closures. They brought in nearly 200,000 fish, but some say that’s not enough for their income, or for the future of the fishery. Download Audio