Yakutat declares disaster emergency, citing an imminent threat of roofs collapsing
Borough Manager Jon Erickson said Yakutat has gotten about 6 feet of snow over the past few weeks, causing intermittent power outages, damage to buildings and school closures.
Bristol Bay sings for slavii, but celebrations look different this year
Slavii is a Russian Orthodox tradition in what’s now Ukraine, but it has a long history in communities around the state, including Bristol Bay.
Americans are tuning out as omicron rages. Experts call for health messaging to adapt.
Amid a surge in omicron cases and hospitalizations, public health is grappling with how to get a tuned out public to pay attention. Experts urge communicators to cut through the noise.
Anchorage ER doctor says omicron presents a whole new set of challenges
While those infected with omicron tend to have milder symptoms, the sheer number of cases — more now than at any previous time in the pandemic — means hospitals are bracing for an influx of sick patients needing specialized care.
‘A long time coming’: Brent Sass bags first Copper Basin 300 win in 10 tries
Despite temperatures down to 60 below in this year's Copper Basin 300, Sass says it was a smooth race.
Swarm of earthquakes, some strong, hits off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands
Natalia Ruppert, a seismologist at the Alaska Earthquake Center, said it was a “very unusual, very energetic swarm of earthquakes.”
No injuries after two buildings’ roofs collapse in Juneau
The roofs of at least two buildings in Juneau have failed, apparently due to heavy snow loads. Emergency responders confirmed both buildings were vacant.
State investigation finds Anchorage corrections officers used excessive force in 2017 pepper spray incident
The incident took place more than four years ago, and investigators say the state corrections department still hasn’t made adequate changes to prevent similar incidents.
As COVID cases skyrocket, Alaska health officials closely watch hospitalizations, staffing
In the last week, the coronavirus’s omicron variant has pushed Alaska’s daily case counts higher than the fall delta variant surge and sidelined health care workers at an alarming rate.
U.S. COVID hospitalizations hit new record high, raising risks for patients
There are more patients and, in some places, not enough health care workers to go around. Research shows the crowding will impact care and increase mortality for all patients.
After 33 years, Fish Radio’s Laine Welch hangs up her mic
Laine Welch served as host of Alaska Fish Radio for more than three decades, bringing news and perspectives on the fishing industry to listeners around the state.
Alaska gains residents for the first time in four years
“It was just 0.1 percent,” said David Howell, the state demographer. “But still, it broke our trend of population losses that we’ve been seeing.”
Anchorage residents are still waiting out long lines at COVID test sites
The health department promised more test sites by Monday, but so far hours and locations haven’t increased forcing people to burn up sick leave and wait for up to 3 hours for a test.
How to get insurance to pay for at-home COVID tests, according to the White House
The Biden administration says Americans should be able to order COVID tests online later this month.
Long-serving Alaska magistrate is fired after writing letter to the editor criticizing Republican Party
Seward Magistrate George Peck, the longest serving magistrate in Alaska, is no longer on the bench after writing letters to the editor critical of the Republican Party.
State job vacancies lead to unplowed roads and other service gaps
Critical state jobs are going unfilled this year. That’s led to unplowed roads, ferries tied up at dock and slowdowns in the court system.
Alaska is changing how it tracks the pandemic. Here’s what you need to know.
Omicron is now the dominant COVID variant in Alaska — and it is transforming the way the health department looks at the pandemic.
Winter storm closes Juneau schools, state offices and largest grocery store
National Weather Service forecasters are warning of rain and ice forming on top of the snow, which could cause flooding on Monday.
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions jumped in 2021, a threat to climate goals
The spike was attributed to a slew of causes, including behavior changes after COVID-19 vaccines became widely available, but environmental advocates say it's worrisome.
Alaska SeaLife Center scientists learn from two baby belugas with diverging paths
Tyonek became the first beluga calf to be successfully nursed back to health when the Alaska SeaLife Center rescued him in 2017. The success story came just a few years after the nonprofit took in another stranded beluga calf named Naknek.