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.

a black and white photo of Adak Island

Alaska sues Interior Department over contaminated ANCSA lands

The state of Alaska has sued the U.S. Department of the Interior in an attempt to hold the federal government responsible for the identification...
A cat

Juneau’s animal shelter has too many cats

The town’s shelter is asking people to consider taking in a new family member — temporarily or forever — and urging people to spay and neuter the cats they already have.
a plane drops water on a wildfire that tops trees

Alaska is experiencing wildfires like it’s never seen before

Already more than 530 wildfires have burned an area the size of Connecticut and the usual worst of the fire season lays ahead.
a portrait of a woman

Alaska US Sen. Murkowski says she has tested positive for COVID

Murkowski is vaccinated against COVID-19.
two people voting

Two Alaska governor candidates report big Outside donations. Another had more small in-state gifts

The amount of cash individuals can give to campaigns is unlimited this year, after an appeals court tossed out the relatively strict limits Alaska used to have.

From frozen pizzas to toilet paper, Alaska stores deal with erratic shortages

On the Kenai Peninsula, many grocers agree that it’s hard to predict which items will be unavailable during any given week.

Skagway’s busiest cruise ship dock at risk of catastrophic rockslide, study says

A new report compiled by geotechnical engineers shows that Skagway’s busiest cruise ship dock is at significant risk for rockslides impacting the dock, moored ships, cruise ship passengers and workers.

Evidence of invasive crab that could wreak havoc on Alaska fisheries found near Metlakatla

The crustaceans uproot eelgrass beds in search of food, which serve as habitat for herring and salmon.
smoke billows from mountains

2 pilots, including one from Anchorage, die after firefighting helicopter crashes in Idaho

The pilots were employees of the Anchorage-based ROTAK Helicopter Services, which was contracted to help fight the Moose Fire.
A balding man in a suit speaks on a podium

Alaska News Nightly: Friday, July 22, 2022

What campaign contributions can tell us about Alaska's gubernatorial race. Yukon River fishermen turn to food stamps during the lowest chinook run on record. And state health officials urge older Alaskans to seek COVID treatment quickly after testing positive.
Exterior: salmon hanging up to dry

‘We don’t want more food stamps, we just want our way of life’: Low chum numbers disrupt Yukon River residents’ lifestyles

As the Yukon River begins to switch over to fall management, fishermen along the river say that they’re having to rely increasingly on expensive store goods and food stamps to meet their caloric needs.
The seal of the state of alaska as seen from below

Alaska Supreme Court tosses highest-ever sentence for vehicular homicide, in case of drunk driver who killed teens in 2013

In August of 2013, Stacey Graham, 40, swerved off a South Anchorage road, striking and killing Jordyn Durr and Brooke McPheters, both 15, as they were walking on a sidewalk next to the road.

Tale of two salmon fisheries: Bristol Bay breaks record, but Yukon River collapses

The booming Bristol Bay salmon run has broken the record set just last year, while on the Yukon River, Chinook are too scarce to harvest.
A group of people pose with an approved bill.

Alaska will formally recognize Native tribes, likely negating planned ballot measure

Gov. Mike Dunleavy will sign a tribal-recognition bill next week, the Alaska Federation of Natives said on Thursday.

Amid turmoil, international Inuit group gathers online to promote protecting Arctic

The Inuit Circumpolar Council, meeting virtually for its quadrennial assembly, celebrated achievements made despite unusual challenges.

Catch limits increase as sockeye runs hit highs on Kenai and Kasilof rivers

A record number of sockeye salmon passed through the sonar on the Kasilof River Thursday. About 125,628 sockeye were recorded at the sonar there — a new daily record for the run.
A woman in a pink jacket holds a plastic bag in front of produce shelves at a grocery store.

Alaskans are rethinking their spending habits as record inflation hits the state

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics measured Anchorage and Mat-Su consumer prices up more than 12% from a year ago. It’s one of the highest jumps in the nation.
A glass vial with a clear liquid sitting on top of a cardboard box that says etesevimab injection

What you need to know about accessing COVID treatments in Alaska

There are a wide range of factors that could qualify you for one of four COVID treatments currently available.
A woman in a pink jacket holds a plastic bag in front of produce shelves at a grocery store.

Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, July 21, 2022

Anchorage police officers exchange gunfire with a man at a campground opened to the homeless. Also, how inflation is impacting Alaskans' grocery bills. And amid low salmon runs, a Yukon River processor is selling vegetables instead of fish.
Police cars and yellow tape at a crime scene in the forest

Anchorage police name suspect injured in shootout with officers at homeless campground

Police say 32-year-old Iese Gali Jr. shot at officers, who returned fire.