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.

Rows of cots are organized on the floor of an arena.

How did an Anchorage soup kitchen make millions on its homeless shelter contract? A reporter explains.

The money came from a generous city contract funded by federal taxpayers. And more than a year after Bean’s Cafe lost its contract to run the shelter at Sullivan Arena, the billing dispute remains unresolved.
A woman and her dog walk around a yellow van

With Anchorage’s shelters full, homeless campers eke out life in limbo

Policymakers haven’t publicly said what they’ll police within the camps. For now, the plan is to meet the campers where they are.
Scrabble pieces on wood table. Letters read "MENTAL HEALTH"

Line One: Ketamine Therapy

Ketamine was approved for Treatment Resistant Depression in 2019 and has quickly become a growing treatment option for this challenging form of depression. Despite the current buzz around this newly approved approach, many questions remain. How safe is Ketamine? What are the side effects? And is it effective? On this Line One, host Prentiss Pemberton and his guest discuss the uses, risks, and benefits of Ketamine in treating mental health conditions.
Craig Johnson

Alaska’s legislators and top executive-branch officials will receive pay increases by 2024

The state House and Senate failed to pass a bill that would have blocked the pay hikes from coming into effect.
a drink

Homer grapples with date rape drugging at local bars

Advocates say it’s an ongoing problem in Homer, and urge the public to be more aware and to intervene when they see it happen.
a vaccine vial

FDA approval of historic RSV vaccine offers hope for rural Alaska medical providers

Approval of GSK’s Arexvy vaccine for use in adults 60 and older, the first of its kind, has given Alaska doctors new hope for dealing with RSV.
A white bearded man sits at a desk in front of a gold seal while two people talk to him.

Senate fails to pass budget Tuesday, leaving narrow window for a deal during the regular session

The Senate adjourned on Tuesday afternoon without passing a budget bill for the House to consider.
A vast expanse of Interior Alaska's boreal forest

Alaska House follows Senate to pass bill authorizing sale of carbon credits from state land

Senate Bill 48 authorizes the leasing of state land for up to 55 years for preservation of its powers to absorb atmospheric carbon.
two women hug in a doorway.

LizAnn Williams, mother of Alaska congresswoman, has died

Congresswoman Mary Peltola's mother, LizAnn Williams, was raised on the Gweek River and in Kwethluk. She retired as a medical records clerk.
Two people walk through a prison.

Alaska Legislature unanimously passes bill requiring IDs for people leaving prisons

The bill would make identifications issued by the Department of Corrections serve as legal IDs.
a man in front of a weather map

After 47 years, Alaska Weather TV is going off the air

The 30-minute daily show covers things like incoming storms, sea ice and big picture climate trends while reaching some of the most remote places in Alaska. But after June 30, it will no longer broadcast on public television.
a Navy cruiser

Navy missile cruiser stops in Kodiak during Northern Edge exercise

The USS Lake Champlain is the second naval vessel to visit Kodiak this month during this year’s Northern Edge military training exercise.
water pools around houses and covers roadways

Flooding closes schools in Glennallen as high waters continue to inundate Alaska communities

Officials say the floodwaters are swamping Alaska towns, tearing buildings from foundations, seeping into homes and covering roads.
a line of toy cars and trucks on the ground

Talk of Alaska: The child care crisis

For working families across Alaska, the challenge of finding affordable, quality childcare is not new, but during the pandemic, the already limited capacity for childcare was further restricted. The lack of available help is spiking the costs of care and forcing parents to make difficult decisions about whether to keep jobs or even stay in the state. Is there any relief on the horizon from either state or federal policymakers? We discuss the crisis in childcare on this Talk of Alaska.
a portrait of a man smiling

Legislature votes to allow Alaska prisons to issue state IDs

Valid ID is required for everything from getting a job and housing to opening a bank account, buying a phone, or enrolling in Medicaid and Social Security.
A pile of sawdust in a muddy parking lot

New lumber-grading bill could open markets for Alaska sawmills

The state’s Department of Natural Resources would oversee the new certification program and provide free training for sawmill operators.
Crooked Creek flooding

What’s going on with flooding in Alaska? A meteorologist explains.

Meteorologist Mike Ottenweller says it's been a dynamic breakup so far, after a cool April and rapid mid-May warmup.
Aleknagik Lake

North Carolina man dies after leaving remote camp north of Dillingham, troopers say

Troopers say 53-year-old Marc Jackson walked away from his camp sometime overnight Wednesday, and was found suffering from hypothermia.
two people lay on a pile of fish

USDA to buy almost $120M of Alaska sockeye and Pacific groundfish, with nudge from congressional delegation

It’s a win for the state’s marketing branch. But the purchase won’t totally clear out the storehouses and shelves.