Anchorage Assembly confirms Michael Kerle as new police chief
Kerle has served with the department since 1996 and was deputy chief under prior chief Ken McCoy.
Old college friends of Steven Downs take the stand in Sophie Sergie murder trial
The trial may wrap up this week.
More than half of teachers are looking for the exits, a new national poll says
A new poll from the nation's largest teachers union finds burnout is widespread, and more educators say they're thinking about leaving.
Murkowski campaign has more than 6 times the cash as rival Tshibaka
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski's campaign reported bringing in nearly $1.4 million last quarter compared to Kelly Tshibaka's nearly $602,000.
Why is this Tlingit totem pole in the DC suburbs? Alaska Twitter solves one man’s mystery.
In suburban Washington, D.C., stands a Tlingit totem pole. A Juneau man had to know why.
Southeast Alaska’s upcoming tanner crab fishery could be the best in decades
State crab managers say they haven’t seen this kind of encouraging preview for Southeast’s tanner fishery for a few decades.
COVID-19 vaccine for young kids could be ready this month
zer-BioNTech is expected to file a submission for emergency use to the Food and Drug Administration for a vaccine regimen designed for use in children aged six months to five years.
USDA approves Alaska’s industrial hemp plan
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Alaska’s plan to promote and regulate the production of industrial hemp. The head of the Alaska Division of Agriculture says that means Alaska farmers will be able to diversify by growing a different crop that can be made into products that are increasingly in demand here and worldwide.
Coronavirus FAQ: Are pets a threat? My immunocompromised pal had COVID. Can I visit?
Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you'd like us to consider for a future post, email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions."
Masking becomes optional at Matanuska-Susitna Borough schools
In a letter to families on Friday, Superintendent Randy Trani said masks would be strongly urged in those cases, but no longer required.
Fantasy league brings mushing fans closer to the trail
The man who runs FantasyMushing.com has never set foot in Alaska, but the site has become a popular way for fans from around the world to follow mushing.
1 in 4 Americans say violence against the government is sometimes OK
Nearly a quarter of Americans say it's sometimes OK to use violence against the government — and 1 in 10 Americans say violence is justified "right now."
Preserving Aleutian history: collection of 1970s audio reels finds new home online
A collection of audio reels made in the Aleutian region in the 1970s was digitized and will soon be available online through the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Alaska House takes no action against Eastman for Oath Keepers membership
The Alaska House did not take action on a proposal to punish Eastman for his membership in the Oath Keepers, a far-right paramilitary organization whose leader was recently charged with seditious conspiracy for his role in the Jan. 6 riots.
Gold medalist Lydia Jacoby shares stories and laps with young Sitka swimmers
“I am inspired,” said one fan at the hour-long event “Inspired at how much faster she is than I am.”
Winter means hibernation for some — but not all — of Kodiak’s bears
By late November and into early December, they head into their dens for hibernation — but not all of them. About 30% of the Kodiak male bear population don’t den at all, according to a state biologist.
Bethel’s Pete Kaiser notches his 6th Kusko 300 win
Three former champions overcame an icy, windy trail to finish at the front of the 2022 Kuskokwim 300. The race also teased at the future of Kuskokwim mushing, with other local mushers also finishing in the top 10.
Anchorage is clearing homeless camps in midwinter for the first time, raising concerns from advocates
The city is hoping that forcing people to move their camps off public property will help connect them to shelter and permanent housing, but some advocates say it’s failing at that goal, and poses a serious exposure risk for campers.
Hometown Alaska: Hear how one Anchorage entrepreneur manages work and motherhood during the pandemic
The gig economy isn’t exactly a new income stream for individuals, but the paradigm shift of the market due to COVID and other factors have launched gig work and entrepreneurship into an undeniable macrolevel behemoth. One artist and businesswoman shares her story of how she established her brand to The Last Frontier and how we can support self-employed creatives.
There’s more money coming in, but some Alaska legislators urge caution on PFD size
As lawmakers begin their work on the budget, some are raising concerns about how sustainable the governor’s plan is, and that could have big implications on the size of permanent fund dividends.