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.

Petersburg's high school

Petersburg schools concerned about spreading trend of travel-fueled absenteeism

School administrators in Petersburg have been alarmed this year by how many families are taking extended vacations outside of school breaks.
David Wilson

Revived legislation proposes penalties for abusing Alaska’s 911 system

A bill adding criminal penalties for harassing 911 dispatchers or abusing the 911 system in Alaska is advancing in the Legislature.
a wolf

No deer, no problem: Sea otters become main course for this Southeast Alaska wolf pack

On a tiny, remote island in Southeast Alaska, scientists recently made a surprising discovery: Wolves are eating sea otters.
carbon buildup in a Toyo stove

From Juneau to Fairbanks, new Toyostoves are malfunctioning in cold weather

Alaskan stove technicians say Toyo’s mid-sized stoves are failing in cold weather, and there’s no consensus about why it’s happening.
a gun

6 major takeaways from the ATF’s first report in 20 years on U.S. gun crime

Stolen guns, untraceable weapons and other deadly devices are becoming more prevalent in U.S. gun crimes, new federal data shows.
The front entrance of a high school

Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, February 9, 2023

Kodiak residents have safety concerns after last month's failed rocket launch. School districts around the state have to make tough calls in the face of budget deficits. Plus a surprising second-place team gave Yukon Quest veterans a run for their money.
The Bartlett High School class of 2022 commencement.

Alaska lawmakers work to lower barriers to eligibility for in-state scholarships

The Alaska Performance Scholarship reported its lowest eligibility rate ever last year.

Mat-Su Health Foundation receives $15 million from Mackenzie Scott to support local initiatives

The donation was the largest of several unrestricted gifts sent to Alaska organizations from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott, who was once married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
a failed Kodiak rocket launch

Cleanup continues at Kodiak spaceport after January rocket crash

ABL Space Systems is still investigating the crash, but says the rocket rose more than 700 feet before its engines shut down 11 seconds after launch.
Brent Sass wins Yukon Quest 2023

‘High hopes for the future’: Brent Sass scores his fifth Yukon Quest win

Amanda Otto, a former semi-pro soccer player, surprised the field of top mushers to finish in second place.
man in suit smiles

An advisor to Anchorage’s mayor is at the center of several controversies. So who is Larry Baker anyway?

According to the Anchorage Daily News, Baker was a key figure in halting plans for a long-sought drug and alcohol treatment center.
killer whales

Killer whale moms are still supporting their adult sons — and it’s costing them

Scientists believe Southern Resident killer whale moms bring their sons food to make them better candidates for breeding.

As state grapples with food stamp backlog, an Anchorage middle school steps up to feed families

When principal Marcus Wilson found out about one student’s family struggling to get food, he sent out a message to all families to see if it was a bigger issue. And it was.
a running girl

Haven House running program hopes to help Homer girls

South Peninsula Haven House is seeking volunteer coaches and participants for its program Girls on the Run.
Alaska 2005 high-school yearbooks

Catching up: Researchers track 6,000 Alaskans’ paths after their 2005 high school graduations

Nearly 18 years ago, about 6,000 young Alaskans left high school and launched into adulthood. Where did they end up?
a Juneau couple

Weddings are resuming at Alaska courthouses — here’s how to get married in Alaska

Whether you go to a courthouse or not, getting married in Alaska can be an easy process, and anyone can conduct the ceremony.
a woman in a white sweater

Kelly Tshibaka takes on a new opponent: Alaska ranked choice voting

Preserve Democracy, launched by Republican Kelly Tshibaka after her failed U.S. Senate bid, seeks to stop ranked choice voting in Alaska.

Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, February 8, 2023

The Anchorage Assembly is suing to get answers from the Mayor and his administration. Also tonight, as the state struggles with a food stamp backlog, local schools are trying to fill the gap. Plus An Anchorage artist says he won't sit on the sidelines and wants to support the city's homeless population.
Close up shot of a woman with dark hair and eyeglasses looking into the distance

Biden’s fentanyl position draws support from Alaska’s chief medical officer

Anne Zink said she welcomes President Biden's efforts to prevent overdoses, make access to treatment equitable and disrupt fentanyl trafficking.
Kodiak History Museum workers

A Kodiak museum is creating a digital archive of its entire collection

The Kodiak History Museum received a $48,000 federal grant last fall to digitize its entire collection of about 2,300 items.