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.

Rep. Guttenberg Looks To Jumpstart Fairbanks LNG

State Representative David Guttenberg wants to jumpstart Fairbanks’ conversion to natural gas heating. The state is pursuing a public private project to process North Slope gas and truck it to Fairbanks, but Gutenberg says it faces a familiar problem. Download Audio

Fairbanks Rains Approach Record Levels

Scattered rain showers are in the Fairbanks area forecast, and any precipitation that falls will add to local totals that have Fairbanks on track to continue breaking wet weather records. Download Audio

Sportsmen’s Bill Falls to Senate Gridlock

A bill to ensure hunters have access to federal land was blocked in the U.S. Senate today, even though nearly half the Senate had co-sponsored it. Sen. Lisa Murkowski , who crafted the bill, was spitting nails after it was derailed. It's the latest round of an ongoing fight over whether to allow amendments - in this case, amendments about gun control - on the Senate floor. Download Audio

Gov’s Office Considers Suing Xerox Over Botched System Rollout

The Governor’s office may sue Xerox Corporation for the bungled rollout of a new system to process Medicaid claims. Download Audio

Ellis, Gara Ask DOT To Delay Demolition Of Two Anchorage Houses

A move by the state Department of Transportation to demolish two houses in an Anchorage neighborhood has become a political issue. Download Audio

Begich Co-Sponsors Bill Responding To Hobby Lobby Decision

Senator Mark Begich today joined other Democrats in sponsoring a bill that would make it illegal for a company to deny employees certain health benefits, including birth control, if they are required to be covered by federal health care law. Download Audio

Two Properties Up For Demolition To Make Way For KABATA

The state Department of Transportation has announced plans to demolish two Anchorage properties to make way for Knik Arm Bridge construction. Download Audio

Fairbanks Borough Pursuing Drone Park

The Fairbanks North Star Borough wants to set up a special area for companies to develop and test drone aircraft for the military. The project would capitalize on recent year’s state laws aimed at helping woo the defense industry and spur economic development. Download Audio

TODAY Show to Broadcast Live from Mendenhall Glacier

The NBC TODAY Show will broadcast live from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center early Thursday morning. Juneau residents are invited to attend. TODAY’s Natalie Morales will host a portion of the show from the visitor center pavilion from 3 to 6 a.m. to air live on the East Coast.

Chinese Icebreaker Set for Sixth Arctic Expedition

China’s icebreaking research vessel Xuelong, orSnow Dragon, will soon begin another summer in the arctic. Chinese state media Xinhua reports the Snow Dragon is set to leave its Shanghai base next week to embark on a sixth summer expedition to the North Pole.

Kodiak CommSta Killer Sentenced To 4 Consecutive Life Terms

The man convicted of a 2012 double murder at the Kodiak Coast Guard Base will spend the rest of his life in federal prison. Sixty-three-year-old James Wells was sentenced Tuesday to four consecutive life sentences in federal court in Anchorage. Download Audio

Helicopter Service To Diomede Halted Amid Contract Snag

Transportation to one of Alaska’s most remote communities has stopped, because of a contract delay that’s tying up funds. Download Audio

Merged Alaska Dispatch News Website Launches

The Alaska Dispatch and Anchorage Daily News websites Tuesday merged under a new name – Alaska Dispatch News. The new name will soon appear in the print edition as well. Download Audio

Juneau Police Arrest Suspect in Gold Street Racial Incident; May Also be Suspect in Celebration Case

Juneau police believe they have a suspect in connection with a racial incident that marred the parade at the end of last month’s Celebration. The Michigan man also is being investigated by the Secret Service and is wanted in Hawaii for threatening people. Download Audio

Alaska Highway Projects Likely Safe Despite Federal Shortfalls

News that the Federal Highway Trust Fund is running out of money is worrying a lot of states, but not Alaska. In a letter to transportation departments all over the country earlier this month, the federal Department of Transportation announced that if Congress did not take immediate action, the trust fund would be depleted in a matter of weeks, forcing federal highway officials to institute cash management procedures in August. Download Audio

Historic Quake Disrupts Life, Habitat In Aleutians

At a magnitude 7.9, last week’s deep-sea earthquake was the most powerful to hit the Western Aleutians in 50 years. The quake didn’t cause any structural damage — but it was a reminder that life in the islands can change in an instant. Download Audio

Atka Camp Serves Up Subsistence Lessons

A pop-up subsistence school has opened in a remote corner of the Aleutians. Atka’s second-annual culture camp is meant to keep Unangan traditions going strong. Download Audio

Lawsuit Challenging Native Language Needs at Polls Winds Down

A lawsuit over whether or not the state of Alaska's division of elections has adequately met the needs of Native language speakers for election materials is winding down in a federal court in Anchorage. Listen now:

Shaktoolik Erects Coastal Berm to Delay Relocation

For years agency reports have listed Shaktoolik as eroding with immediate need for relocation. But without government funding, little action has been taken and erosion has progressed. Now the people of Shaktoolik are taking matters into their own hands and building a coastal berm to protect their community. Listen now:

“Honor Flag” Comes to Anchorage for 4th of July

The “honor flag,” an American flag that travels the country honoring those that lost their lives in the line of duty, arrived in Anchorage yesterday just in time for 4th of July weekend. Listen now: