As new companies enter Alaska oil fields, violations spike
2015 was a record year for fines in Alaska’s oil and gas fields. State regulators proposed some $1.7 million dollars in penalties against five companies -- and the University of Alaska Fairbanks -- for violating safety and environmental regulations at oil and gas wells. Download Audio
Special session off to slow start, despite looming deadlines
Gov. Bill Walker called the Legislature back to work after it failed to pass a budget by the constitutional deadline last week. Lawmakers now have 30 days to try to accomplish what they couldn't do in the last four months: pass a budget and make some progress on closing the state's $4 billion deficit. Download Audio
BP announces sale of midtown Anchorage building
BP announced Monday that it’s selling its midtown Anchorage building. In a statement, the company says the sale will “reduce costs and free up capital, allowing BP to focus on its core business.” BP will become a tenant in the building rather than the owner, in what the statement describes as a “real estate transaction.” Download Audio
Legislature convenes for special session
Alaska lawmakers are back at work Monday after failing to pass a budget by the constitutional deadline last week. It’s the first day of a special session called by Governor Bill Walker.
Flights grounded for Obama stop in Alaska
Aviators in Southcentral Alaska are being asked to observe a temporary flight restriction Saturday evening during a brief presidential visit. Download Audio
Lawmakers move $13M from education to oil & gas tax credits
State lawmakers cut education funding in the proposed budgets by nearly $13 million Tuesday night. They moved the money into the oil and gas tax credit fund. Download Audio
Alaska Dems to fight for Sanders at DNC as minor fissures emerge
Alaska Democrats spent the weekend in Anchorage picking delegates for the party’s national convention in Philadelphia this July, and setting priorities for the year ahead. Download Audio
Legislators turn down request for $7M for rural school
The Senate Finance Committee voted on Thursday against adding $7 million in funding to replace the school in Kivalina. The additional funds were requested by Governor Bill Walker’s administration. Download Audio
Alaskan storyteller charged with sexual abuse of a minor
A celebrated storyteller is facing felony charges for allegedly having sex with an underage boy. Forty-three year old Jack Dalton is charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree and attempted sexual abuse. KTUU originally reported the case. Download Audio
Representative, lobbyist argue whether ending tax credits is a money grab
Lawmakers say cutting tax credits to oil and gas companies may be a necessary step to close the state government’s budget deficit. Download Audio
Bank threatens to sue the state for $28M over LIO move
In a Tuesday letter, lawyers for the bank holding debt for renovations threaten to sue the state over breach of contract. Download Audio
A wrench and a spark shut down TAPS for nine hours
A worker with a hand-wrench sparked the fire that shut down the trans-Alaska pipeline for nine hours in April. The fire forced the evacuation of more than 50 people at a remote pump station near Coldfoot. Download Audio
Jury begins to hear case involving the death of two State Troopers in Fairbanks
A Fairbanks jury has begun hearing the case of a Tanana man charged with killing 2 Alaska State Troopers in the interior village. Twenty 2 year old Nathaniel Kangas shot Trooper Gabe Rich and Sargent Scott Johnson while they were trying to arrest his father at the Kangas home May first 2014. During his opening statement on Monday District attorney Greg Olson began making the case for first degree murder convictions. Download Audio
Bill seeks to insure families of deceased law enforcement and firefighters
When law enforcement officers and firefighters die in the line of duty, their survivors may be left without health insurance. Three families of state troopers who died in the past three years have been covered under orders issued by Governors Sean Parnell and Bill Walker. But a future administration could change this. The families are looking for a permanent solution that will cover themselves and other survivors in the future. But there's a debate over how that should happen. Download Audio
State fines Hilcorp $20K, cites pattern of violations
Hilcorp Alaska is facing a $20,000 penalty from the state for unsafe use of equipment on the North Slope. It's the latest in a string of violations for Hilcorp, which a state agency says has developed a pattern of regulatory noncompliance.
Alaska House to continue legal challenge to Medicaid expansion
The Alaska House plans to continue pursuing a legal challenge to Gov. Bill Walker's authority to expand Medicaid on his own.
Era Helicopters identifies pilot injured in Norris Glacier crash
Era Helicopters has identified its pilot who was critically injured in Thursday’s crash at Norris Glacier near Juneau as Jiri Hanis.
AK: Bristol Bay artist paints to create hope for young offenders
Bristol Bay artist Apayo Moore has painted murals in Anchorage and Juneau. Moore recently received a grant from the state’s “Percent for Arts” program to paint two 60-foot murals that will be shipped up to Bethel in the fall to be installed in the youth detention center there.
For first time, Cook Inlet oil and gas lease sale has no bidders
State officials announced this week that, for the first time ever, they received no bids for the annual oil and gas lease sale in Cook Inlet. The state Division of Oil and Gas blamed low oil prices. But industry representatives said lawmakers aren't helping. Download Audio
Coast Guard: Pilot injured in Era helicopter crash at Norris Glacier
The Coast Guard is reporting that a helicopter has crashed near the Norris Glacier and the pilot, who was the only person on board, is injured.