Rep. Cissna Returns To Juneau On Ferry
Casey Kelley, KTOO – Juneau
State Representative Sharon Cissna returned to Juneau today aboard the state ferry Matanuska, vowing to keep fighting for...
Tiny beetles threaten spruce trees and homes in Alaska
https://youtu.be/JanC26BhtAw
Take a flight over the Mat-Su valley, the Anchorage Bowl, or the Kenai Peninsula and you may notice areas that were once evergreen, but...
Economists Say It’s Too Early To Determine Effects Of Current Low Oil Prices
Crude oil prices are hovering in the $80 range, and in Alaska that brings with it worries over the budget. But economists from either side of the political spectrum have roughly the same take on what’s playing out: it’s too early to tell.
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NEA Alaska delegates focus on state issues at national conference
The National Education Association annual meeting has thousands of delegates from across the country gathered in Philadelphia to discuss state and national priorities. The...
Looking Back on Lame Duck Swing Votes
Libby Casey, APRN – Washington DC
As Congress travels home for the holidays, the pundits in Washington are analyzing the last few weeks of...
Congress let CHIP expire; Denali KidCare OK for now
Funding for CHIP, the low-income children's health insurance program, has expired. Several states are close to running out of money. But the Alaska Division of Health Care Services says the state has enough money to continue funding its CHIP program, called Denali KidCare, until April. Listen now
Y-K Delta women describe the realities of living with climate change for foreign dignitaries
“Every year it seems to get worse,” said Newtok resident Carolyn George.
Boarding Schools Offer New Opportunities For Some Families
This time of year, many students at Alaska’s boarding schools are heading home for winter break. Boarding schools have a long and complicated history for Alaska Natives; some blame them for loss of indigenous languages, and some students suffered abuse at schools.
German News Publishes Gruesome Photos Related to Army Probe
Associated Press
The German news organization Der Spiegel has published photographs showing a US Soldier from Wasilla posing with an Afghan corpse.
Army investigators...
Army wants to find snow-loving soldiers as it commits to ‘Arctic dominance’
The Army says it will revive its "atrophied" Arctic skills, in part by recruiting soldiers who want to be in Alaska.
Fort Wainwright soldier pleads guilty in fuel-theft case
Federal prosecutors say a 36-year-old Fort Wainwright soldier has pleaded guilty to receiving bribes in a plot to steal fuel at a base in Afghanistan. Listen now
New Law Banning Synthetic Marijuana Goes Into Effect
A new state law banning synthetic marijuana has Fairbanks police taking action. The law making synthetic canabinoids, which sell under brands names like Spice and K2, went into effect July 1.
Judges Weigh Yup’ik Religious Appeal
Three judges with the Alaska Court of appeals are now weighing whether Yup’ik Fishermen, who targeted Chinook or king Salmon during a closure on the Kuskokwim River in 2012, were wrongfully convicted. Their attorney based their defense on a 1970s moose-hunting case. The fishermen say state fisheries managers interfered with their religious rights and they want new regulations to insure it won’t happen again.
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Alaska News Nightly: Friday, Dec. 22, 2017
New oil estimate for NPR-A: It's 'HUGE'; State looks to settle TAPS tariff cases; North Slope borough storm gets disaster declaration; Refuge drilling opponents prepare for next phase of struggle; Bethel Search and Rescue seeks stronger partnership with local police; Alaska Christmas trees: backyard charm or out-of-state beauty?; AK: Anchorage celebrates winter solstice with tour of trees; 49 Voices: Anita Laulainen of Palmer Listen now
Stoltze, Connelly Face off in House District 11
Republican State House incumbent Bill Stoltze has served Matanuska Valley area voters for ten years. Now, Tom Connelly is challenging Stoltze for the District 11 House seat in the upcoming primary, and the Chugiak resident plans to do it without spending a penny.
Legislators Searching for Ways to Cut Spending on Prison System
Monday, the state Senate and House Finance Subcommittees on Correction are holding a joint hearing on ways to cut what the state spends on its prison system.
It's called "The Smart Justice Summit" and will evaluate methods to solve what Anchorage Democrat Johnny Ellis calls the "prison growth crisis." Ellis is Senate Rules chairman as well as chairman of the Senate subcommittee.
Walker Names Two Fishermen to Management Council
Governor Bill Walker has named two Alaska fishermen as his top picks to serve on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. The 11-voting member council manages most fisheries in federal waters. The terms of two Alaska members were due to expire this summer.
Fairbanks Considers Wood Drying Kilns To Reduce Smoke Emissions
The Fairbanks North Star Borough is considering wood drying kilns to reduce smoke emissions from wood stoves and boilers. Dry wood burns cleaner and provides more heat. Borough Air Quality Manager Jim Connor says the current vision is to tap state and federal grant money to contract for the construction and operation of six kilns at three locations in the borough to serve local wood burners.
Dunleavy absent from candidate debates, speaking events
Bill Walker and Mark Begich have been at all seven events since the primary. Mike Dunleavy has been at three. Listen now
Dry conditions spark Wasilla wildfire
A grass fire near Wasilla was reported by a pilot about 3:00 pm Wednesday. The fire had burned into the trees and had spread to about 15 acres later in the afternoon.