News

Nonprofit announces heating oil help for 20 Alaska villages

ANCHORAGE — A nonprofit organization serving 20 western Alaska villages says it will make $325,000 available this year to help people in its communities pay… Continue reading

Volcano spews smaller amounts of ash at lower levels

ANCHORAGE — An Alaska volcano kept pumping out new ash Tuesday that could threaten aircraft, but it came in smaller amounts at lower heights, according… Continue reading

Fairbanks borough voters to decide on 5 pct. pot tax

FAIRBANKS — Fairbanks North Star Borough officials have agreed to put a marijuana sales tax proposal before voters this fall.The Borough Assembly approved the ballot… Continue reading

House passes two bills

The Alaska House of Representatives has extended the work of the state parole board and approved legislation regularizing the dividend paid by the Alaska Industrial… Continue reading

Committee wants public’s thoughts on Medicaid reform

The Alaska House Finance Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 74, the Medicaid reform bill, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight.Juneau residents… Continue reading

Fugitive on AMHS ferry arrested

KETCHIKAN— Law enforcement officers with the Alaska State Troopers and Ketchikan Police Department arrested a fugitive from Washington state early Sunday morning.The suspect, a 31-year-old… Continue reading

House used as checkpoint for Iditarod burns down

FAIRBANKS — A Nikolai home that is used as a checkpoint for dog races has burned down.The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported that the home, which… Continue reading

US Supreme Court declines to hear appeal on Tongass

JUNEAU — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review an appeals court decision that reinstated prohibitions on road-building and timber harvests in roadless areas… Continue reading

6-year-old suspected in Ketchikan fire that burned garage

KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — Alaska State Troopers say a 6-year-old boy was responsible for a weekend fire that burned a garage in Ketchikan.The North Tongass… Continue reading

NAACP joins GOP in call for criminal justice reform

The Anchorage chapter of the NAACP has partnered with the Alaska Republican Party on a resolution in support of a bill reforming Alaska’s criminal justice… Continue reading

Kodiak resident applies for city’s first marijuana business

KODIAK — A Kodiak woman is hoping to open the city’s first commercial marijuana business.Janiese Stevens has applied for a cultivation facility in the city.… Continue reading

In this Sunday, March 27, 2016, Pavlof Volcano, one of Alaska's most active volcanoes, erupts, sending a plume of volcanic ash into the air. The Alaska Volcano Observatory says activity continued Monday. Pavlof Volcano is 625 miles southwest of Anchorage on the Alaska Peninsula, the finger of land that sticks out from mainland Alaska toward the Aleutian Islands. (Colt Snapp via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Volcano ash cloud covers 400 miles

ANCHORAGE — Strong winds Monday pushed an ash cloud from an Alaska volcano into the heart of the state, grounding flights and limiting travel to… Continue reading

In this Sunday, March 27, 2016, Pavlof Volcano, one of Alaska's most active volcanoes, erupts, sending a plume of volcanic ash into the air. The Alaska Volcano Observatory says activity continued Monday. Pavlof Volcano is 625 miles southwest of Anchorage on the Alaska Peninsula, the finger of land that sticks out from mainland Alaska toward the Aleutian Islands. (Colt Snapp via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
In this Feb. 1, 2016 photo provided by Val Kreil, seal oil is served with raw sheefish and caribou and cooked seal meat during a potluck at a nursing home in Kotzebue, Alaska. The Alaska Native organization that operates the home is hoping to regularly serve its nursing home residents the nutrient-rich oil, a traditional staple that's banned in public settings because of its high risk for botulism if not properly processed. (Val Kreil via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Alaska nursing home asks to serve seal oil to Native clients

ANCHORAGE — Alaska regulators are working with an Alaska Native organization that wants to serve its nursing home residents nutrient-rich seal oil, a traditional staple… Continue reading

In this Feb. 1, 2016 photo provided by Val Kreil, seal oil is served with raw sheefish and caribou and cooked seal meat during a potluck at a nursing home in Kotzebue, Alaska. The Alaska Native organization that operates the home is hoping to regularly serve its nursing home residents the nutrient-rich oil, a traditional staple that's banned in public settings because of its high risk for botulism if not properly processed. (Val Kreil via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
This letter, from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, asks the Alaska GOP to allow him to keep the five delegates he won in the March 1 Presidential Preference Poll.

Trump and Cruz lose Alaska delegates as Rubio returns

Four weeks after Alaska’s Republican Presidential Preference Poll, Marco Rubio has returned to the race.In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Senator from Florida has asked… Continue reading

This letter, from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, asks the Alaska GOP to allow him to keep the five delegates he won in the March 1 Presidential Preference Poll.
Sen. Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, introduces a new bill pertaining to the public employees' and teachers' retirement systems during the Senate session Monday. The bill will be given a first hearing on Tuesday.

Senate cost-cutters turn to retirement programs

Fiscal cost-cutters in the Alaska Senate have turned their attention on the state’s Public Employees Retirement and Teachers Retirement systems as they seek to level… Continue reading

Sen. Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, introduces a new bill pertaining to the public employees' and teachers' retirement systems during the Senate session Monday. The bill will be given a first hearing on Tuesday.
Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau, speaks in favor of HB 143 during a House session on Monday. Rep. Muñoz's bill allows the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to issue $120 million in low-interest loans to the backers of the Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Project. The bill passed 36-0.

House votes for Sweetheart Lake funding

The Alaska House has voted 36-0 to allow the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to issue $120 million in low-interest loans to the backers… Continue reading

Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau, speaks in favor of HB 143 during a House session on Monday. Rep. Muñoz's bill allows the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to issue $120 million in low-interest loans to the backers of the Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Project. The bill passed 36-0.

Bison taken from interior Alaska village by helicopter

GRAYLING — A tagged bison had to be taken from an interior Alaska village by helicopter after it seemed to be stranded there.The Fairbanks Daily… Continue reading

In this May 25, 2015 photo, Jillian Glasgow watches Beth Van Sandt's Scenic Place Peonies and Farm booth at the opening day of the Homer Farmers Market in Homer, Alaska. Glasgow, of Portland, Oregon, is a "woofer," or worker with the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, program.

Homer Farmers Market ahead of today’s trends

HOMER — After a trip to Washington state in February for a farmers market conference, the management of the Homer Farmers Market is certain of… Continue reading

In this May 25, 2015 photo, Jillian Glasgow watches Beth Van Sandt's Scenic Place Peonies and Farm booth at the opening day of the Homer Farmers Market in Homer, Alaska. Glasgow, of Portland, Oregon, is a "woofer," or worker with the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, program.

Walker reiterates call for budget plan amid dour forecast

JUNEAU — A dour revenue forecast brought with it a warning from Gov. Bill Walker that state legislators need to deliver a plan to address… Continue reading

Kodiak safety officers to carry new fire suppression tools

KODIAK — Public safety officers in Kodiak are now better able to fight fires thanks to new equipment.The Kodiak Daily Mirror reported that village public… Continue reading