News

An Alaska Airlines jet flying from Seattle to Anchorage was diverted to Juneau International Airport late Sunday night. According to a release from the airport, Flight 731 experienced engine failure and diverted to Juneau at approximately 11:10 p.m. with 167 passengers and crew on board. The plane landed without incident. Passengers were re-booked on morning flights to Anchorage.

Congress is recessing for the Christmas holiday, but both chambers are likely to return Thursday. There many, pressing issues to complete before the year is out. Regardless of how far along the legislative process a bill gets, if it is not passed and signed into law by the end of one Congress, legislators must start over when a new Congress convenes. There is concern that Congress will let many laws lapse.

Congress has however--once again passed the National Defense Authorization Act. It’s the annual defense policy bill.

A project is underway to replace the power line across Turnagain Pass on the Kenai Peninsula. Skiers and snowmachiners between Turnagain Arm and the Johnson Pass campground are advised to be on the lookout for stockpiles of materials placed there by the Chugach Electric Association, which may be covered with snow as the winter wears on.

A federal judge has given final approval to BP PLC's settlement with businesses and individuals who lost money because of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. BP estimates it will pay $7.8 billion to resolve more than 100,000 claims by businesses and individuals.

Robin Samuelsen, a Native and civic leader in the Bristol Bay region has been named the "Person of the Year" by the Northwest Fisheries Association.

A rural school district has figured out a way to help students connect for learning... and for fun.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved genetically modified salmon, deciding the fish would not pose an environmental threat. This triggered outrage from Alaska's congressional delegation.

Alaskan Cup’ik Yup’ik military officer, Major Wayne Don, was recently promoted again in the Alaska Army National Guard.

Over the past few months, we’ve been hearing a lot of perspectives on the experience of childhood in rural Alaska. In today’s installment of our series “Being Young in Rural Alaska” we hear from some of those kids who are growing up, looking for the next step.

Alaskan Airlines Plane Diverts to Juneau; Congress May Let Some Laws Lapse; Congress Passes Major Defense Bill; Powerline at Turnagain Pass Being Replaces; Samuelsen Named Person of the Year; A Rural Christmas; FDA Approves Genetically Modified Salmon; Don Promoted in Army National Guard; Star the Reindeer Indeed the Star of Anchorage Christmas; Hopes and Dreams of Young Alaskans

An Anchorage state representative and a foster child advocacy group are again collecting used laptop computers for foster children. Democrat Les Gara says about 200 laptops have been collected and distributed over two years. He's working on collecting more with Facing Foster Care In Alaska.

Student loan debt is second only to mortgage debt in America, totaling out to about 1 trillion dollars. This is a serious financial hit for graduates, especially in a fairly weak economy. But, some Alaska legislators are working to reduce the burden on students.

Bells across Alaska rang at 9:30 Friday morning in memory of the 26 victims who were shot to death one week ago at an elementary school in Connecticut.

Congress is recessing until after Christmas without an agreement on staving off the fiscal cliff. Senator Mark Begich is not optimistic. Late Thursday night Speaker John Boehner canceled a vote on his alternative to President Barack Obama’s plan to prevent tax increases and spending cuts January second. That proposal, called Plan B, would have raised taxes on people making more than one million dollars per year.

The main prey of polar bears has been declared a threatened species because of diminishing sea ice due to climate warming. The National Marine Fisheries Service on Friday declared ringed seals as a threatened species, joining polar bears on the list. The agency also placed a second ice-dependent seal, bearded seals, on the list.