After 5 years of mail-in ballots, Anchorage election officials say voter turnout has gone up
About 28% of registered Anchorage voters cast a ballot in the spring election. It’s the lowest voter turnout since the city moved to by-mail voting. But election officials say it’s still higher than in years before the change.
Federal commission hears from Alaskans on high rate of missing and murdered Indigenous people
The Not Invisible Act Commission met in Anchorage this week to hear testimony from victims and from advocates working to prevent violence.
Disney sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, claiming ‘government retaliation’
The suit was filed just after a DeSantis-picked board voted to abandon their predecessors' agreement letting Disney keep control over its district.
Planners finalizing design for Fairbanks expressways’ new intersection
The proposed $81 million interchange linking the Steese and Johansen expressways includes a popular pedestrian underpass.
Alaska governor and Anchorage mayor remain close with city library leader, despite her history of offensive remarks
The inflammatory remarks from Anchorage's deputy library director, Judy Eledge, were most recently documented in a story by the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica that included audio secretly recorded by one of Eledge's subordinates.
Kenai Peninsula educators wait on legislative solutions to budget woes
School districts around the state are waiting anxiously to see if the Alaska Legislature will increase school funding after years of stagnant state support.
Telephone Hill residents plan next move after Juneau acquires property from state
With public meetings on the future of Telephone Hill set to begin this summer, some residents are asking the city to delay evictions.
To avoid spending from savings, Alaska Senate ponders smaller dividend, shrunken school increase
The full Senate is expected to vote on a draft state budget next week as the legislative session nears its end.
Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena shelter will close to hundreds Monday
Up to 90 people with mobility or other impairments will be able to stay in the shelter until May 31.
Corps to reconsider permit rejection for proposed Pebble mine
It's a partial win for Pebble on appeal, but mine developers also have an EPA veto to contend with.
Rep. Peltola’s party-bending chief of staff departs
Alex Ortiz was the last chief of staff for Rep. Don Young and helped cement Peltola's image as bipartisan.
As rural communities prepare for climate change, a UAA scientist is trying to connect them with data
Dr. Micah Hahn received an EPA grant to make air quality and health data easier to access in rural Alaska.
Anchorage’s former Golden Lion Hotel to open as low-income housing next month
Anchorage Homelessness Coordinator Alexis Johnson says the city plans to begin transitioning people into the Golden Lion as the Sullivan Arena mass shelter starts shutting down.
State sales or income tax? As Alaska lawmakers consider proposals, economists weigh in
Sales taxes tend to hurt lower income Alaskans more than progressive income taxes, but economists say there are ways to mitigate the harm.
Talk of Alaska: Building healthy communities
Think about your community. Do you feel safe there? Do you have access to clean water or to adequate housing? How connected are you to your neighbors? To the land? All these things are elements of a healthy community. On this Talk of Alaska we discuss what’s happening around the state to build healthy communities where everyone thrives.
In secret recordings, a top Anchorage library official calls Alaska Natives ‘woke’ and ‘racists’
Despite Judy Eledge’s history of inflammatory comments and social media posts, Anchorage’s mayor placed her in a key position in the city’s library and Alaska’s governor awarded her public money and a national role.
Fort Wainwright soldier charged with murdering his wife
Spc. Endeavor Riley, 24, is charged with first-degree murder in 25-year-old Kayla Kugtsun's Sunday death, according to Fairbanks police.
Sitka teen’s ‘need for speed’ gives her rubric for solving Rubik’s Cubes
Rianna Bergman, a "speedcuber," says she can solve a Rubik's Cube in about 15 seconds.
Nome students’ animal alert and snow blower snow cones ideas win statewide prizes
Denali Walrath and Bradley Rowe were recognized in Fairbanks for projects they entered in the Alaska Innovation Competition.
Alaska writer Don Rearden finds AI has his number, and it freaks him out
Don Rearden challenged a bot to write a poem. The result was trippy for him, and for reporter Liz Ruskin.