News

Sarah Palin sets sights on reality courtroom TV show

HELENA, Mont. — Move over, Judge Judy. Alaska’s mama grizzly is getting a gavel.A production company spokesman says former Gov. Sarah Palin has signed a… Continue reading

Alaska schools to implement new abuse prevention curriculum

KENAI — Alaska’s 54 public school districts will soon be preparing to implement programs next year aimed at preventing dating violence and sex abuse.A task… Continue reading

Officials to keep working for federal loan for bridge

ANCHORAGE — Alaska officials say they will keep working with federal authorities who turned down a state request for a more than $375 million loan… Continue reading

Supreme Court returns Alaska hovercraft case to lower court

ANCHORAGE — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned a National Park Service ban on the use of hovercraft by a moose hunter within a… Continue reading

Federal Subsistence Board restores Saxman’s rural status

The Federal Subsistence Board has ended a decade-long struggle for the Southeast Alaska village of Saxman by restoring its rural designation.As a formally recognized rural… Continue reading

In this March 5 photo, Danny Kim, a teacher at the Fairbanks Korean Language School, begins to write, "things you can do in Alaska," on the whiteboard in Korean at the school in Fairbanks.

Korean language school brings a world of culture to Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS — It looks harmless because it’s just a horizontal line, but the Korean letter “ — “ (pronounced eu) gave me more trouble than… Continue reading

In this March 5 photo, Danny Kim, a teacher at the Fairbanks Korean Language School, begins to write, "things you can do in Alaska," on the whiteboard in Korean at the school in Fairbanks.
John Sturgeon stands in the House chambers gallery while being introduced during Sen. Lisa Murkowski's annual speech to a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature in February. Sturgeon won his appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the National Park Service’s enforcement of a regulation banning the operation of hovercrafts on the Nation River in Alaska.

Supreme Court returns Alaska hovercraft case to lower court

ANCHORAGE — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned a National Park Service ban on the use of hovercraft by a moose hunter within a… Continue reading

John Sturgeon stands in the House chambers gallery while being introduced during Sen. Lisa Murkowski's annual speech to a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature in February. Sturgeon won his appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the National Park Service’s enforcement of a regulation banning the operation of hovercrafts on the Nation River in Alaska.
Gov. Bill Walker, second from right, shakes hands with Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole,left, Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, and Rep. Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, right, during a press conference at the Capitol Tuesday about the Supreme Court's ruling on John Sturgeon's use of a hovercraft on the Nation River in the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. The court on Tuesday unanimously threw out a lower court ruling that upheld enforcement of National Park Service rules banning the use of hovercraft on the river.

Supreme Court decision praised as ‘win’ for Alaska

Taking a break from the normal run of bad budgetary news, Gov. Bill Walker and four members of the Alaska Legislature held a press conference… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker, second from right, shakes hands with Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole,left, Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, and Rep. Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, right, during a press conference at the Capitol Tuesday about the Supreme Court's ruling on John Sturgeon's use of a hovercraft on the Nation River in the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. The court on Tuesday unanimously threw out a lower court ruling that upheld enforcement of National Park Service rules banning the use of hovercraft on the river.

House approves more funding for Alaska Legal Services Corp.

The Alaska House has approved a bill setting up dedicated funding for the Alaska Legal Services Corporation.In a 38-1 vote on Monday morning, the House… Continue reading

Senate Finance Committee members Sen. Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River, right, Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, and Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, listen to a presentation of SB 128, the governor's bill relating to the Alaska permanent fund, at the Capitol on Monday.

Photo: Senate Finance

Senate Finance Committee members Sen. Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River, right, Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, and Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, listen to… Continue reading

Senate Finance Committee members Sen. Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River, right, Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, and Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, listen to a presentation of SB 128, the governor's bill relating to the Alaska permanent fund, at the Capitol on Monday.

Troopers investigate counterfeit money passed in Ketchikan

KETCHIKAN — Alaska State Troopers have identified a person suspected of passing a $50 counterfeit bill at a Ketchikan business.Troopers on Wednesday took a call… Continue reading

Army delays decision to reduce troops at Anchorage base

ANCHORAGE — The U.S. Army on Monday said it will delay reducing a unit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage by 2,600 soldiers because of… Continue reading

Study: Alaska could save big if lawmakers leave new offices

ANCHORAGE — A report suggests Alaska could save $7.5 million if lawmakers abandoned plans to purchase its new, remodeled office space in Anchorage and instead… Continue reading

Last place musher arrives in Nome, ending the Iditarod

ANCHORAGE — The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has officially ended.Mary Helwig, a 32-year-old rookie from Willow, Alaska, was the last musher to reach Nome.She… Continue reading

Damage estimated at $3 million in Emmonak fire

EMMONAK — Authorities say a fire that started in a fisheries warehouse in the western Alaska town of Emmonak has destroyed several buildings and caused… Continue reading

Ex-postal worker heads to prison for stealing medication

FAIRBANKS — A former postal service worker in Fairbanks who stole prescription medication from the mail has been sentenced to four months in prison.U.S. District… Continue reading

Nenana Ice Classic celebrates 100 years

FAIRBANKS — One of the best days of Joe Dinkins’ 73 years alive is when he won the Nenana Ice Classic 10 years ago.“I got… Continue reading

House committee keeps most oil company subsidies intact

A committee of the Alaska House of Representatives has diluted a plan by Gov. Bill Walker to cut the state’s subsidy for oil and gas… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks about his government's Spring Revenue Forecast during a press conference at the Capitol on Monday.

Deficit explodes as oil stays in cellar

Alaska’s annual budget gap will explode to almost $4 billion next fiscal year, according to new estimates from the Alaska Department of Revenue.On Monday, the… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks about his government's Spring Revenue Forecast during a press conference at the Capitol on Monday.

Infographic: A visual guide to (most of) the Alaska state budget

For a larger version of the graphic, click here. Millions, billions, kazillions.There’s a lot of zeroes involved in Alaska’s annual budget process.So many, in fact, that… Continue reading