Renegade Alaska House member makes his case: ‘This partisan thing has been killing us’
After the fall election, Alaska House Republicans thought they had 21 votes -- barely enough to form a majority in the 40-member chamber. But Kenai Rep. Gary Knopp abandoned the group and has been pushing for a coalition balanced between Democrats and Republicans.
Build a wall with military funds? Murkowski says no
Trump has been floating the idea of building a wall using military construction dollars. Sen. Lisa Murkowski isn’t on board with that. With 5,700 Alaskans unsure whether they'll miss a payday, she wants to see Congress pass the less controversial bills to at least shrink the number of workers affected.
After years of loss, state economists forecast modest job growth in 2019
In 2019, state economists think Alaska could finally start gaining a modest amount of jobs.
Legislation would put 90-day legislative session, PFDs in Alaska Constitution
Two constitutional amendments were among the first batch of legislative proposals released before the Alaska Legislature convenes on Jan. 15.
Despite shutdown, Trump administration continues work to begin oil drilling in ANWR
As the partial government shutdown drags on, the Trump administration is making sure some Interior Department employees continue work on one of its biggest, most controversial priorities: opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
Alaska Supreme Court rules for LeBon in pivotal election recount case
The Alaska Supreme Court is meeting in Anchorage this morning to hear arguments in Kathryn Dodge’s case against state election officials and her election opponent.
Dunleavy requests federal disaster money for earthquake recovery
The step could unlock tens of millions of dollars in disaster relief funds for entities damage during the November 30th quake and continuing aftershocks.
Alaska Fire Service has furloughed most employees as shutdown continues
Although wildfires are unlikely to bust out in the Interior anytime soon, the shutdown is hampering the Alaska Fire Service’s planning and preparation for the coming fire season.
U.S. House Dean Don Young swears in Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Alaska's lone congressman had a ceremonial role in a major transition that happened Thursday in Washington D.C.
Public health data shows 13 percent rise in Alaska suicides
New report comes beside a study documenting the presence of drugs and alcohol in incidents of self-harm.
Murkowski aims to revive public lands bill, despite objection
One of Sen. Lisa Murkowski's first priorities of the year is to pass a 680-page public lands bill. Murkowski nearly passed it last month but was thwarted by a single senator.
Coast Guard personnel to receive Dec. 31 paychecks despite government shutdown
According to an update posted on Coast Guard All Hands, the official blog for Coast Guard workers, meeting payroll in January “will require a fiscal 2019 appropriation, a continuing resolution, or passage of an alternative measure.”
Government shutdown, if it continues, could cost Alaska’s lucrative Bering Sea fisheries
Even if the shutdown persists, the federal government will still open the Bering Sea fisheries as scheduled. But the government requires inspections of things like scales and monitoring equipment. Those inspections won’t happen until the government reopens.
State gasline corporation to miss key deadline with Chinese partners
Alaska Gasline Development Corporation is pushing for a six-month extension on negotiations with three Chinese partners interested in the Alaska LNG project.
Cruise industry’s victory over Juneau has implications for other port communities
This year’s record cruise ship season brought in $21.6 million in state passenger fees that will be mostly shared with coastal communities. But the cruise industry’s recent victory in a lawsuit against Juneau has implications on how port communities can spend their share.
Large home explosion scatters debris across Sterling Highway
The Sterling Highway remained closed until the early morning hours Friday, blocking access to and from Homer.
Fed fisheries will open in spite of shutdown, but details hazy
The partial federal government shutdown has left some Alaska fishermen and others wondering whether federal fisheries set to start in January will open on time. The National Marine Fisheries Service has been affected by the shutdown and many employees aren’t there to answer phones, leaving some with more questions than answers.
33 Jesuit priests named in report on abuse claims in Alaska
More than a hundred priests who worked in western states are named in a document from Jesuit West Province, along with details of abuse claims made against them.
Price tag for 7.0 earthquake: $76M. So far.
The figure represents just a partial accounting, with more information still being collected ahead of a formal request by the state for federal relief money.
Magnitude 4.9 aftershock rattles Southcentral
A magnitude 4.9 aftershock struck near Anchorage at 5:21 a.m Thursday.