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.

New Mat-Su Trooper Unit Gets First Arrests

A new Alaska State Trooper crime unit in the Matanuska Susitna Borough area has already nabbed its first criminals. In mid December, Troopers announced a new property crimes unit, to start work on January first of this year. Download Audio

Hilcorp completes repairs on Cook Inlet gas line leak

A natural gas leak in Cook Inlet has finally been repaired, more than three months after it began. Listen now

Tribal Members Move Ahead Toward Unifying Region

Despite having no quorum and no vote, tribal members at the Calista-sponsored Yukon Kuskokwim Governance Convention on Monday decided to move ahead with an interim step toward unifying the regional politically. Leaders put the future of a proposed regional tribal government first in the hands of tribal councils and set a deadline of 30 days for them to vote. If successful, the proposal would then go before individual tribal voters who would vote yes or no on it.

Opening of Houston fireworks stands ‘highly unlikely’

The Sockeye Fire is nearly contained, and fires continue to burn throughout the state. Now, many are questioning whether or not fireworks will be available and legal for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The state has lifted its fireworks ban, with the exception of Western Alaska. Many municipal and borough restrictions are still in place, however.

Study Says Melting Permafrost Emitting More Carbon Than Tundra Can Offset

The Arctic is warming two to three times faster than the rest of the globe. As temperatures increase, permafrost melts, releasing carbon dioxide, and the growing season lengthens, absorbing CO2. Download Audio

Hill visits: It’s all about access in DC

Conventional wisdom has it that politicians only grant access to donors or lobbyists. Does the phenomenon of the "Hill visit" prove the cynics wrong? Listen now
Brooke Mulligan

‘A guilty mind’: Sitka woman gets 4 years in cyclist’s hit-and-run death

Brooke Mulligan, 21, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in Terry Carlson, Jr.'s death — which the judge called closer to manslaughter.

Congressman Don Young releases fundraising numbers

A federal campaign funding report shows that Congressman Don Young received nearly $45,000 in contributions last quarter but paid out more than $425,000 in...

Coastal Management Program Facing Elimination

Dave Donaldson, APRN – Juneau The state’s Coastal Management Program faces certain termination on July first unless the legislature and governor agree to grant...

Corps. of Engineers Recommend Expanding Nome’s Deep-Water Arctic Port

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers is set to unveil its first steps toward expanding deep-water Arctic ports, and Corps officials say the main focus will be expanding the existing Port of Nome. Download Audio

Marine Science Symposium – LIVEBLOG – Sunday

LIVEBLOG PREVIEW: This is the week when a whole lot happens in Arctic science. The latest results from last year's field season begin to go public, by way of hundreds of speeches, powerpoints and poster presentations before about 800 people in downtown Anchorage. It's more information than anyone could possibly absorb, but they'll try.

State Settles With Mercer

Associated Press Alaska’s attorney general says the state has settled a breach of contract and professional malpractice lawsuit against its former actuary, Mercer Inc., for half-a-billion...

Bell Challenges French for Senate Seat

Senate District J, which represents West Anchorage and Sand Lake, is one of the most contentious races in the upcoming election. Because of redistricting, the Spenard part of the district shrunk while the Sand Lake and Jewell Lake neighborhoods were added. Republican Businessman Bob Bell is challenging longtime Democratic Senator Hollis French for the seat.

Parnell Begins Accepting Resignations From Commissioners, Other High-Level Officials

Dave Donaldson, APRN – Juneau Governor Parnell will replace nearly half of the cabinet-level people that met him when Sarah Palin resigned last year.  ...
A boat with hoses spraying a bunch of conexes on a barge

Garbage fires spur new shipping regulations in Sitka. Who will pay the price?

Last fall, Alaska Marine Lines announced it would start refusing shipments of solid waste in open containers on June 1. That poses a problem for Sitka because the city ships its solid waste in containers without lids.
A man with curly hair and a head lamp

Musher who was disqualified, then reinstated, now withdraws from the Iditarod

Eddie Burke Jr. said he leased dogs to other mushers after he was disqualified and it was too difficult to reassemble his team.

Tularemia Cases Reported In Delta Junction

A snowshoe hare has tested positive for Tularemia in Fairbanks. The sick animal was found by member of the public and brought it to a local vet, where it was dead upon arrival. Download Audio

Another Congress, Another Bill to Rename it Mount Denali

Sen. Lisa Murkowski has filed a bill to forever change the name of Mount McKinley to Denali. As in past years, it will no doubt be blocked by lawmakers from Ohio, the birth state of President McKinley. Murkowski says it’s still an important cause. "It’s something that Alaskans look at in the state and are just reminded that there are decisions that are done for us, outside the state, without consultation," she said. Download Audio

Education Funding Activism

Gov. Sean Parnell has declared this year the education session the legislature, but if you are involved in schools in Anchorage you already know that education funding and policy are hot topics. On the next Hometown Alaska, host Charles Wohlforth will be joined by education activists to lead a community discussion on school funding and school choice. Should state funding increase, and should it be available to private and religious schools? KSKA: Wednesday, 3/12, 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Listen now:

NSB Mayor Race Heading for Runoff Election

The North Slope Borough mayor’s race is heading for a run off election. Three candidates were vying for the position, Charlotte Brower, former borough mayor George Ahmaogak Sr and Fenton Rexford. Brower received 639 votes, Ahmaogak 601 and Rexford 583.