Alaska job numbers up for June, but still below pre-pandemic levels
Alaska had about 17,000 more jobs last month than it did in June 2020, with most industries seeing gains over that period but still falling below pre-pandemic levels, a report released Friday by the state labor department shows.
Consumer prices spiked more than 6 percent in urban Alaska over the last year
Anchorage has seen a consumer price increase of more than 6% in the last year, with some sectors rising by nearly 50%.
Mat-Su had a large number of excess deaths last year, raising questions about COVID-19 reporting
The Mat-Su Borough had the country’s lowest number of reported COVID-19 deaths compared to the number of people who died in the borough beyond what would normally be expected, according to recently published analysis.
LISTEN: What I learned after an unusual brown bear encounter near Anchorage
Near the end of a 20-mile hike, former Alaska Public Media reporter and outdoor enthusiast Abbey Collins encountered two brown bears fighting one another.
Canada pledges to reopen ports to cruise ships; Murkowski floats maritime law reforms
Canadian authorities say they’ll lift a pandemic-era ban on cruise ships in the country’s waters, but it won’t happen until after the end of Alaska’s 2021 cruise season. The decision means cruise ships could again sail from Vancouver and Victoria to Alaska in 2022.
What happened to the Bronson shelter plan in Anchorage and what happens next? Here’s what we know.
Why did a planned shelter pushed by a conservative administration get quashed by the mayor's ideological allies? And what will happen to the 400 people currently staying at the emergency shelter at the Sullivan Arena this winter?
Biden to freeze Tongass timber sales, invest in other Southeast Alaska sectors
The Biden administration announced Thursday it’s freezing any remaining old growth timber sales in Tongass National Forest and will pivot to investing in other...
Recent shooting of Korean cab driver in Bethel leaves community reeling
Myoung Keun Lee was shot in the face on July 5 and survived the attack. It's the third violent attack on Korean cab drivers in Bethel since 2006.
Kenai Peninsula parents join national outcry over critical race theory; School district says it’s not in the curriculum.
“CRT, or its tenets, are not part of the KPBSD curriculum, or what we do," said Clayton Holland, incoming superintendent for the Kenai school district.
‘Boondoggle’: Financial woes may jeopardize proposed Alaska-Canada railroad project
An ambitious plan to build a 1,600-mile railroad that would link the Alaskan and Canadian rail systems is on hold and appears to be in jeopardy.
Alaska governor fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has been “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19, the state’s chief medical officer said Wednesday.
Dr. Anne Zink said in an email to...
The expanded child tax credit is here. Here’s what you need to know.
The White House says $15 billion in payments have been sent out to the families of nearly 60 million children. Families will receive the funds by direct deposit or check. How much you get will depend on income and number of eligible children.
Bronson’s new library chief, a veteran educator, faces opposition over lack of library experience
Sami Graham's appointment is prompting objections to her confirmation from those who say its leader needs specific experience. Graham’s predecessor in the $120,000-a-year job, Mary Jo Torgeson, had masters degrees in library science and public administration.
Anchorage Assembly quashes Bronson homeless shelter plan
The assembly decision is a major setback for the administration, which pushed the proposal as a humane and cost-effective way to shelter homeless Anchorage residents.
Canada’s taking it slow on reopening its border to travelers from the U.S. Here’s why.
Canadians can fly to the U.S. but cannot enter by land. Most non-Canadians can't enter Canada by land or air. The government says a full reopening may require 75% of Canadians to be fully vaccinated.
Sen. Murkowski and Sec. Granholm announce energy grants for Alaska Native communities
The grants range from $2m to add solar to Noatak's grid, down to small grants to replace furnaces and lights
Dynamic glaciers identified as cause of Southeast Alaska’s summer ‘ice quakes’
Within a set of glaciers and mountains near Juneau, there’s seismic activity almost every day in the summer. They’re called ice quakes. They’re not as widely understood as earthquakes, but researchers are monitoring them closely.
Former Bethel school principal sentenced to 15 years in prison for enticement of a minor
A former Bethel elementary school principal will spend 15 years in prison for trying to entice a child to engage in sexual activity in 2019.
Tsunami threat to Whittier less severe than early estimates, scientists say
Geologists have warned Alaskans for over a year that a 30-foot tsunami could hit Whittier following a potential landslide at a nearby arm. They’re still ringing the alarm bells, but new research suggests the wave will be a lot smaller than they originally expected.
Alaska’s child care sector, essential to economic recovery, is struggling to find workers
Workforce shortages are plaguing industries across Alaska. And, some say, one of the reasons is a lack of child care. But those child care centers are struggling to hire too.