Alaska News Nightly: Monday, February 13, 2023
Sen. Dan Sullivan asks for more transparency from the White House on the object shot down off Alaska's coast. Also, more Alaskans are having their food stamp benefits restored, but the long backlog continues. And lawmakers welcome valentines from kids, with a message on the education budget.
U.S. defends decision to shoot down 3 unidentified objects
The weeks-long succession of objects has puzzled American officials and stirred curiosity around the world.
Anchorage has seen almost double its usual snowfall since December
The weekend storm prompted the Anchorage School District to declare a remote learning day Monday.
Metlakatla launches homegrown historical archive: ‘We have the right to know about our people’
Alaska’s only reservation is fighting to reclaim how its story is told.
Hometown Alaska: Discussing the Anchorage School District Budget
The Anchorage School Board needs to pass a balanced budget by March 1. With nearly flat funding from the state, the district is facing a $48 million dollar shortfall. That could mean cutting jobs, increasing the student to teacher ratio, and closing an elementary school. But the budget process isn’t over yet. On this episode of Hometown, Alaska we’re talking about the school district budget, how it’s determined, how the school board works and more.
Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor gets $31K raise
The raise follows more than a decade of flat pay.
Thousands of Alaskans are still waiting for food stamps as state scrambles for solutions
Even Alaskans who have now gotten their benefits say that the months they went without left them with debt and fears for the future.
Anchorage Mayor Bronson names Anne Helzer as his third municipal attorney
She takes over as the city’s head lawyer at a time of upheaval. The mayor is facing allegations of numerous improper, unethical and unlawful actions.
U.S. jets down 4 objects in 8 days, unprecedented in peacetime
A U.S. fighter jet shot down an “unidentified object” over Lake Huron on Sunday. It was the fourth such downing in eight days.
Amputations and broken bones are among the injuries caused by winches on fishing boats
Over a 20-year period, there were 125 serious injuries to Alaska fisheries from winches, according to a newly published study.
Verizon customers on Southeast Alaska’s largest island have been without cell service for weeks
Verizon says customers on 3G networks across the state may face similar outages — including in Kodiak, Juneau, Fairbanks and on the North Slope.
At Juneau rally, state workers call for more resources to fix food stamp backlog
The union criticized the state’s plan to hire contract workers to fix the backlog.
Alaska News Nightly: Friday, February 10, 2023
Less than a week after the Chinese Balloon, now an object shot down over Alaska. A number of Toyo heat stoves failed during a cold snap in December, and nobody quite knows why. Plus business is blooming for flower shops ahead of their busiest day of the year.
Sullivan: ‘Several other unidentified objects’ also traveled over Alaska
After a U.S. Air Force fighter jet shot down an unidentified object over Alaska’s North Slope on Friday, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said several other similar objects have traveled over the state in recent weeks.
After China balloon scare, Air Force shoots down object flying above Alaska’s North Slope
A Pentagon spokesperson said the shootdown was ordered by President Joe Biden.
Mat-Su school bus drivers’ strike continues as contract negotiations escalate
The union representing the drivers is accusing the company that employs them of canceling negotiation meetings and refusing to address safety concerns.
Our 24 favorite photos from this year’s Yukon Quest Alaska sled dog race
From frosty dogs to frosty mushers.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski takes Biden administration to task over Chinese spy balloon
"As an Alaskan, I am so angry," Sen. Lisa Murkowski said. "I want to use other words, but I’m not going to.”
Selawik man accused of murder after body found in a tote
Lance Brickey faces charges of murder, evidence tampering and weapons misconduct in the death of Timothy Snyder, troopers said.
Wasilla man dead after suspected carbon monoxide poisoning
Troopers said a living area inside an attic space had both a gas generator and a propane heater running without ventilation.