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.

Some Bears Still Active on Anchorage Hillside

Once the snow flies and the skis come out of storage, most Anchorage residents expect bears to be asleep for the winter. But this winter, at least one brown bear, likely a boar, is still roaming the hillside area. Substantial bear tracks have been spotted on some of the popular cross country ski trails there.

Senator Cowdery plans to skip special session in wake of Kott trial allegations

Anchorage Republican Senator John Cowdery today announced he will not take part in next months' special legislative session dealing with oil taxes. In a...

Parnell Selects New Attorney General

Steve Heimel, APRN - Anchorage John Burns is Governor Sean Parnell's choice for Attorney General.  Burns is a Fairbanks lawyer.  He  will replace Dan Sullivan,...
two students

Revitalizing Iñupiaq culture, one phrase at a time

Gail Smithhisler's Facebook page, Iñupiaq Word of the Day, features daily videos describing and pronouncing words and phrases from the language.

Alaska’s US senators split on abortion vote

The U.S. Senate on Monday rejected a bill to ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of only two Republicans to vote “no” on the procedural motion. Listen now

Law Will Require Insurers Cover Autism

Insurance companies will have to help pay for autism treatments in Alaska under legislation that’s now slated to become law. Governor Sean Parnell gave tacit approval to the measure this month by sending it back to the legislature without his signature. The new requirement only covers a portion of the insurance market for now. However, supporters see it as an important step in providing relief for parents who struggle with the high cost of autism therapy and counseling.

Marine Debris Awareness Gets Second Symbol

It’s been about a year since Ophelia, the marine debris octopus, was built by Kodiak High School art students. The sculpture, which now resides in the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, was constructed using items collected from Kodiak beaches. Ophelia has become a mascot for marine debris clean up, and a vivid example of how much trash is circulating in the world’s oceans. But she won’t be the only example for long. Download Audio
Tuluksak

Help is on the way for Tuluksak’s school, but it’s not clear when running water will be restored

Repair work on a broken water line has been hindered by freezing and thawing on the ice road between Bethel and Tuluksak.

In this shutdown, every day is a winding road

Sen. Lisa Murkowski says it's slow-going, but she sees progress at the U.S. Capitol among lawmakers working to end the partial government shutdown, now in its fourth week. 

Inupiaq school in Kotz fundraises for Yup’ik sister school

When the Nikaitchuat Ilisagviat Inupiaq immersion school opened in Kotzebue, its founders turned to Bethel’s Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Yup’ik immersion school for guidance. With Ayaprun’s building destroyed earlier this month in a fire, its Inupiaq sister school is stepping in to offer support. Download Audio

Fairbanks Lowers Air Quality Threshold for Kids Playing Outside

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks The Fairbanks School District has lowered the air quality threshold when kids are allowed to play and exercise outside.  The...

Flooding Closes Dalton Highway

The northern end of the Dalton Highway is closed again. A month after overflow from the Sag River shut it down, spring melt water has made the only access road to the North Slope oil fields impassable again. Download Audio:

49 Voices: John Active of Bethel

This week we're hearing from John Active in Bethel. Active translates world news for Yup'ik listeners at KYUK, and loves telling stories he learned from his grandmother. Listen now

‘This place is on fire with COVID’: Younger, unvaccinated patients strain Fairbanks hospital

Medical workers at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital say the hospital’s capacity is being strained by high COVID-19 rates, and the community should be more alarmed.

Spill Claimants Encouraged to Cash Checks

A number of claimants in the Exxon Valdez oil spill case who have received punitive damages from the company haven't cashed their settlement checks...

Shuttered for months, Kotzebue churches slowly reopen to parishioners

While in-person ttendance is still lower than before the pandemic, churches have added an online component to their services.

What’s school like in Tenakee Springs without a school?

Tenakee Springs is a small Southeast Alaska town on Chichagof Island about 46 miles southwest of Juneau. In 2015, the state reported it had about 140 residents. It also has a small student body that fluctuates from year to year. Frances Ziel said some families were already choosing to home-school before the closure. After the school shut down, she said the district wanted to support them. Listen Now
a person delivers pizza to a musher

In Unalakleet, pizza orders from around the world give exhausted mushers a boost

“Nice to be in Eskimo country!” said Iñupiaq musher Ryan Redington. He said his mother was born and raised in Unalakleet, and it’s been nice to visit with the community.

Alaska News Nightly: Monday, Apr. 25, 2016

Alaska Republican donors go to court over increasing campaign contribution limits; Senate president aims to finish session in Juneau; Seward Highway crash leaves two dead near Girdwood; Dillingham wins first overall and sportsmanship at state NYO; Bristol Bay Native Corporation plans to acquire Katmailand; deadly bat disease spreading; residents asked to help survey the flying mammals; Calista campaigning to reduce quorum requirements before descendants enroll; Wasilla pilot avoids injury after plane loses power; The Ecology of Breast Cancer: Researching the risks for breast cancer Download Audio

King run rebounds on the Yukon, but is it too little, too late

The king salmon run on the Yukon River has bounced back, after a very weak start. But it still won’t be enough, fishery managers...