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Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, left, and Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, listen during the House Finance Committee meeting as they work on SB 128, the Permanent Fund spending bill, in the Bill Ray Center on Monday.

House hostile to Permanent Fund bill

Members of the Alaska House Finance Committee continue to express uncertainty and hostility toward a measure that would use money from the earnings of the… Continue reading

Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, left, and Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, listen during the House Finance Committee meeting as they work on SB 128, the Permanent Fund spending bill, in the Bill Ray Center on Monday.

A’s to your Q’s on the Permanent Fund bill

The Alaska Legislature is moving quickly to address a bill that would divert a portion of the Alaska Permanent Fund to pay for the state’s… Continue reading

As Legislature balks, state's credit rating continues to fall

As Legislature balks, state’s credit rating continues to fall

The last credit rating agency to give Alaska a top credit rating has changed its mind.On Tuesday, Fitch Ratings gave the state an AA+ rating… Continue reading

As Legislature balks, state's credit rating continues to fall
This screengrab from the Southeast Alaska Power Agency website shows the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Facility

Ketchikan dam project complicated by high lake level

Crews encountered some difficulties beginning the project due to a warm winter and wet spring that left water levels higher than expected at Swan Lake… Continue reading

This screengrab from the Southeast Alaska Power Agency website shows the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Facility

Ketchikan could see raise in sales tax cap

KETCHIKAN — Residents of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough could see an increase next year in the borough’s $1,000 sales tax cap that was put in… Continue reading

US says airlines are improving at on-time performance

Airlines are doing a better job of sticking to their schedules, and consumer complaints are falling.The Department of Transportation said Monday that 84.5 percent of… Continue reading

Woman dies after ATV overturns in Mat-Su creek

ANCHORAGE — An Anchorage woman died Sunday night after her all-terrain vehicle overturned in a creek that feeds into the Knik River in the Matanuska-Susitna… Continue reading

Southeast Alaska ferry service still owes money on $3M loan

KETCHIKAN — An independent ferry serving communities in southeast Alaska is struggling to come up with the funds to continue its service, and the operators… Continue reading

Truck fire leads to arrest of man suspected of burglary

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage police have arrested a man suspected of breaking into a business, stealing a truck and crashing it on the Glenn Highway.Police said… Continue reading

Flags fly at half-staff as Juneau residents attend a noon vigil Monday at Marine Park for the victims of the Orlando shootings over the weekend.

House has moment of silence for victims

JUNEAU — The Alaska House of Representatives stood for a moment of silence Monday to honor the shooting victims of the deadly attack at the… Continue reading

Flags fly at half-staff as Juneau residents attend a noon vigil Monday at Marine Park for the victims of the Orlando shootings over the weekend.

Two vie for state’s top schools job

Two men from rural Alaska are in the running to become Alaska’s next commissioner of education, but regardless of who wins the role, he’s in… Continue reading

Legislature hits home stretch of special session

The Alaska Legislature is entering the final week of its 30-day special session with the biggest item of the year still unresolved.The ball is largely… Continue reading

Man held after high-speed crash into Glenn Highway signs

PALMER — A man suspected of driving nearly double the Glenn Highway speed limit was arrested Friday morning after crashing into road signs.Alaska State Troopers… Continue reading

Anchorage police arrest suspect in Spenard shooting

ANCHORAGE — An Anchorage man is being held on suspicion of felony assault following a shooting Thursday night in Anchorage’s Spenard neighborhood.Police say 21-year-old Cody… Continue reading

Juneau company awaits license for hydroelectric dam project

JUNEAU — The company behind a proposed hydroelectric dam project in Juneau is one step closer to beginning its operations after federal regulators determined it… Continue reading

Remains of Georgia man found in Denali National Park

ANCHORAGE — Denali National Park rangers say the remains of a 22-year-old Georgia man were found this week by backcountry hikers.The remains are believed to… Continue reading

Alaska officials say moose attacked man

ANCHORAGE — Wildlife officials in Alaska’s largest city now believe a moose and not a bear caused severe injuries to a man this week.The Alaska… Continue reading

In this June 2 photo, Ron Rady poses next to the concrete walls his company installed at the Sgt. Scott Johnson and Trooper Gabe Rich Memorial Park in North Pole. Rady never thought he would be in a position to make this kind of contribution to his community. He arrived in Alaska in 2000 after deciding to get out of the Arizona heat.

North Pole contractor credited for effort on public memorial

NORTH POLE — Three concrete walls jut out of the dirt and shimmy across the ground like humongous eels.The walls on Doughchee Avenue off of… Continue reading

In this June 2 photo, Ron Rady poses next to the concrete walls his company installed at the Sgt. Scott Johnson and Trooper Gabe Rich Memorial Park in North Pole. Rady never thought he would be in a position to make this kind of contribution to his community. He arrived in Alaska in 2000 after deciding to get out of the Arizona heat.
In this June 2 photo, from left, Mike Pierce, Candy Pierce, Julie Schmitts and Ted Howard get together outside the Pioneers Home in Sitka. Their band, Cornsilk, had a reunion over the weekend after a four decade hiatus.

Concert reunites Sitkans, bandmates

SITKA — It’s been about four decades since the band CornSilk played the tunes of the Beatles and Crosby, Stills & Nash in bars along… Continue reading

In this June 2 photo, from left, Mike Pierce, Candy Pierce, Julie Schmitts and Ted Howard get together outside the Pioneers Home in Sitka. Their band, Cornsilk, had a reunion over the weekend after a four decade hiatus.

Farmers use hydroponics to feed rural arctic villages

KOTZEBUE — Though farming outside in the tundra of the arctic isn’t an option, an Alaska Native company is working to grow fresh produce for… Continue reading