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.

2nd Grader Started Fire In Bethel School Bathroom

Lower Kuskokwim school officials say it was a 2nd grade student with a lighter that caused the fire in a detached building’s bathroom. The school will be disciplining the 2nd grade student according to the district’s policies.

Shell Names New Head Of Arctic Operations

Shell has named a replacement for its outgoing head of Arctic operations, David Lawrence, who is leaving by mutual consent after numerous problems with the company's Chukchi and Beaufort Sea exploratory operations and a federal report that blamed the company for poor oversight of its contractors.

AFN Asks For Help in Voting-rights Campaign

Alaska’s largest Native organization is challenging a Southeast group to lead the regional campaign to regain federal voting-rights protections.
two kids do their homework in separate booths at a restaurant

Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Some Alaskans receive a threatening email telling them how to vote in the upcoming election. And, an Anchorage family in their third month of online learning. Plus, why some campaign signs in Juneau disappeared from a resident's home.
A white wowman speaks at a podium

Sarah Palin takes witness stand in libel case vs. New York Times

Palin testified for only about 20 minutes at the end of the day at a civil trial in Manhattan federal court after a Times editor named as a defendant in the suit testified at length.

Conference builds agreement over climate and ocean policies

A conference that wrapped up in Homer last week drafted an agreement addressing climate change and ocean acidification. The gathering included representatives of coastal...

Yukon Quest Rookies Tout Knowledge, Experience Of Champions

Of the 26 mushers signed up to race dog teams in this year’s Yukon Quest International Sled Dog race, 10 are rookies. They might be new to the race, but a few trained dog teams with a handful of well-known and champion long-distance mushers. Download Audio

Law Enforcement Community Rallies Around Hoonah

Casey Kelly, KTOO – Juneau The tiny Southeast village of Hoonah has received condolences from around the world for the recent shooting deaths of...

Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, Apr. 13, 2016

Oil and gas tax credit debate rages ahead of legislative session end; industry calls Senate oil tax credit bill "bad for Alaska"; skiers survive four days on Kenai Peninsula Glacier, credit GPS locator beacon for rescue; Chugiak Sen. Stolze announces he won't run for reelection; Bethel City Council authorizes reimbursements for overcharged property owners; Legislature tries again to let voters choose state AG; ban on Planned Parenthood from teaching sex ed fails in House Committee; warm weather to lead to mellow breakup, experts say; Sitka broadens commitment to assessing landslide risk Download Audio

Alaska News Nightly: Monday, Nov. 16, 2015

Walker sacks DOC commissioner after scathing report; House lawmakers scour prison stats; FBI to investigate controversial Sitka arrest, tasing event; Railroad hopes Congress fixes expensive math gaffe; Trans-Pacific Partnership nixes sockeye tariffs; BC tells Tulsequah mine to control leakage; Forum: Alaska holding out against emission-cutting policies; Dillingham youth center to close as funding runs dry Download Audio

More Bills Added to the Session for This Year

Legislators have released the details of more new bills going before the legislature that convenes next week. The twenty eight new bills will join those left over from last year – and those introduced last week.
Lawmakers seated around a table

Alaska Senate passes bill to maintain website aimed at spending transparency

The website was launched by former Gov. Sarah Palin in 2008 but was down for nearly a year, beginning in April 2020.

Salvation Army says more families need holiday help

It’s been a hard year for some Alaskans. Salvation Army branches around the state report significantly more requests for holiday assistance than last year. Here’s how the Southeast fishing community of Petersburg is responding to the need. Petersburg’s Salvation Army Community Center is collecting toys for 70 children this Christmas season. That’s up from 50 last year. About 85 families including around 230 people will get boxes of food. Those numbers are up too.

Judge rules that forward funding of schools is constitutional

The Dunleavy administration argued that the funding violated the state constitution’s prohibition on dedicated funds, as well as the constitution’s provision for an annual state budget. The judge rejected both of these arguments.
a white, snowy landscape of a dam covered in snow and mountains covered in snow.

Anchorage Assembly preps for legal fight with Bronson administration over future of Eklutna Dam

The Assembly and administration have major differences over who sets the policy and what the city’s position actually is.

Fishing for Profit

Alexandra Gutierrez, KUCB – Unalaska For the past dozen years, fisheries management experts have held that boats go after the biggest fish first. Now,...

Murkowski Joins Democrats on Vote for Birth Control Coverage

A U.S. Senate bill requiring companies to cover birth control in employee healthcare plans failed a procedural vote today . Both Alaska senators voted for the bill, aimed at undoing the Supreme Court’s decision in the Hobby Lobby case. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of only three Republicans to vote for the measure, dubbed the “Not My Boss’s Business Act.” Download Audio

‘These Fs are tied to the pandemic’: Thousands of Anchorage students start summer school

The Anchorage School District is prioritizing re-building kids' relationship to in-person learning and starting to address learning loss.

Alaska Democrats prepare to send delegates to national convention

Alaska Democrats are hosting their state convention Friday through Sunday in Anchorage. More than 500 party members from across the state are attending, and the event culminates in the selection of delegates to attend the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this July. Download Audio

Alaska state rep wants to name new icebreaker ‘Polar Bear’

An Alaska state representative wants the federal government to name one of its new polar icebreakers the Polar Bear.