News

Lawmakers say ‘OK’ to free travel on frozen rivers

The Alaska House of Representatives has given its OK to a bill protecting free travel on Alaska’s frozen rivers during winter.House Bill 216 confirms that… Continue reading

Group criticizes Gov. Bill Walker on fisheries policy

JUNEAU — Fishermen, Alaska Native tribal members and clean water advocates on Wednesday criticized Gov. Bill Walker’s administration over its handling of fisheries and water… Continue reading

Dalton Hwy risks severe flooding after 2015 closure

ANCHORAGE — The only road leading to Alaska’s North Slope oil fields is again at risk of severe flooding during the spring thaw, with conditions… Continue reading

Anchorage noticed nationally for reducing childhood obesity

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage has been recognized by a national public health foundation as one of four communities in the country to have reduced and maintained… Continue reading

Officials investigate Emmonak blaze, faulty fire gear

ANCHORAGE — Kwik’Pak Fisheries plans to rebuild facilities that burned at its fish-processing plant in the western Alaska village of Emmonak, company officials said.The fire… Continue reading

Committee approves funding for Sweetheart Lake dam

The Alaska House Finance Committee has approved a bill allowing the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to fund the Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Project southeast… Continue reading

Committee approves bigger subsidy for oil and gas drillers

The Alaska House Resources Committee has approved a bill increasing the state’s subsidy for oil and gas drilling.The committee voted 7-2 at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday… Continue reading

University of Alaska Southeast Assistant Geology Professor Sonia Nagorski investigates the undercut bank along the Mendenhall River in December 2015. The river is nearing the point of cutting through a meander bend just north of Brotherhood Bridge.

Bill would let lawmakers decide top-tier water designations

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker has proposed giving the state Legislature the power to designate waters where no long-term degradation is allowed, a move that… Continue reading

University of Alaska Southeast Assistant Geology Professor Sonia Nagorski investigates the undercut bank along the Mendenhall River in December 2015. The river is nearing the point of cutting through a meander bend just north of Brotherhood Bridge.

Bills propose adding legislators to gas line board

JUNEAU — Two Republican lawmakers want to add legislative oversight to the board of an organization that plays a key role in Alaska’s natural gas… Continue reading

Alaska trawlers furious about Walker’s council nominations

Two months after a heated meeting, trawlers are again accusing Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Sam Cotten of short-changing their industry.Gov. Bill Walker… Continue reading

Troopers arrest man suspected of firing gun at driver

SOLDOTNA — Alaska State Troopers have arrested a Kasilof man suspected of firing a gun at a driver near Soldotna.Troopers at about 6:30 a.m. Monday… Continue reading

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