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.

people in yellow shirts in a meeting room

Contract negotiations to resume after striking Mat-Su bus drivers pack school board meeting

“This bus company does not care about the safety of these children as much as we bus drivers do,” Alice Smith told the school board.
A worker leaves some class doors

Alaska emphasizes state employee telework amid virus worries

Alaska plans to emphasize telework for state employees for the next month as the COVID-19 pandemic strains Alaska’s health care system.
A gray baby beluga pokes its head out of the water next to other white belugas

Volunteers make over 200 beluga observations in rivers this spring

Those who live close to the Kenai and Kasilof rivers know belugas sometimes feed there. But it’s been a mystery how many whales actually travel through those waterways...until now.

More Safety Center Vans Deployed as Shelter Rules Tighten

This week social service providers held a town hall at Beans Cafe to discuss winter safety with Anchorage's homeless community. Keeping warm and safe outdoors is more important this winter than ever because the city's homeless shelter is going back to a rule that kicks people out if they're not making progress toward finding permanent housing. Download Audio
Youth dance at AFN conference in Anchorage.

Tribes aim to ask voters for state recognition

Across the US, only 10% of Indigenous tribes with federal recognition also have recognition from their respective state governments. In Alaska, tribal members aim to change that. Last year, they organized to collect tens of thousands signatures in support of a ballot initiative that would ask voters to decide. Supporters say the recognition opens up doors for more resources and symbolizes a respectful government-to-government relationship.
A crowd skates on an ice rink on a school basketball court.

Mountain View Elementary celebrates the opening of a new community-funded ice rink

Teacher James Cornelison set up a GoFundMe that raised $8,000 to help students get outside and on the ice for the winter.

American Masters: Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Discover the life, music and influence of the African-American gospel singer and guitar virtuoso Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973). During the 1940s-60s, she introduced the spiritual passion of her gospel music into the secular world of rock ’n’ roll, inspiring some of its greatest stars, including Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. Thursday 2/28 @ 7:00 p.m.

SeaLife Center rescues ribbon seal from… Wasilla

Photo by Tim Lebling, Alaska SeaLife Center The Alaska SeaLife Center is taking care of its first Ribbon Seal. The 220-pound female was rescued yesterday...
a printing press

The Peninsula Clarion stops the press

The Clarion's pressman, Eric Trevino, is losing his job as the Washington-owned newspaper shifts to digital content.
A Chilkat robe laid on a table

Weavers will study ‘secrets in the weavings’ of historic Chilkat robe returned to Southeast Alaska

The robe is now in Sealaska Heritage Institute’s archives and collections department. Next month, weavers will start learning from it.

State hopes environmental monitoring will clear up unknowns about Cook Inlet gas leak

State regulators have given preliminary approval to Hilcorp’s plan to monitor the environmental impacts of the gas leak in Cook Inlet. Listen now

AK: How do you grow a zoo in Anchorage?

The Alaska Zoo has dramatically transformed over the last five decades. The process of expanding a collection of rare animals isn't easy. None the less, there have been some acquisitions lately. The process of integrating new wildlife into the facility combines non-profit budgeting with the whims of mother nature. Listen now

School Board Passes Preliminary Budget 6-1

The Anchorage School Board passed their preliminary 2013-2014 budget Monday (2/4) night after hearing testimony from the public.
an anchorage police car is parked in a parking lot

Man dead, suspect sought in Midtown apartment shooting

Anchorage police have identified the suspect in Monday's fatal shooting as 27-year-old Jesse Lee Jones. They say his whereabouts are unknown.

Musher Scratches in Yukon Quest after Dog Dies

A dog has died in the Yukon Quest.  Rookie musher Terry Williams of Fairbanks scratched from the race yesterday after an 8-year-old male...

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.

Congress adjourns with ANWR supporters crying in the wilderness

Congress has left the US Capitol for the August recess – except for a handful of Republicans who spent Friday afternoon talking to an...

Anchorage police: homicide, assault and property crime calls are down

The Anchorage Police Department reported this week that calls for police assistance appear to have decreased in the city this year, compared to the last three years. Reports of assault, thefts and property crimes are all trending somewhat down, according to Chief Justin Doll, who presented the statistics to the assembly’s Public Safety Committee on Wednesday.
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If you’re finding this stage of the pandemic especially confusing, you’re not alone

Part of the problem is the conflicting, ever-changing advice people are hearing from different political leaders.

Alaska Miners Dispute Claim That ‘Much’ Of Alaska’s Federal Lands Are Open To Mining

Alaska mining advocates are taking issue with something Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said last week, while defending federal resource management in Alaska. Download Audio