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In this Feb. 16 photo, from right, Willow and Cabo, belonging to Lorraine Temple, demonstrate the rigging of an Alaskan dog sled while Amity Middle School's Mindy Wallace stands on the sled modeling a musher's protective clothing during Temple's presentation in Amity, Oregon.

Mush on, read on

AMITY, Ore. — Lorraine Temple pulled her van into the parking lot at Amity Middle School in Oregon. The Homer resident was greeted by Principal… Continue reading

In this Feb. 16 photo, from right, Willow and Cabo, belonging to Lorraine Temple, demonstrate the rigging of an Alaskan dog sled while Amity Middle School's Mindy Wallace stands on the sled modeling a musher's protective clothing during Temple's presentation in Amity, Oregon.

26-year-old man arrested in Iditarod crashes

ANCHORAGE — A man suspected of intentionally driving a snowmobile into teams of two mushers near the front of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race… Continue reading

Policy lets legislators decide on records releases

JUNEAU — Legislative policy leaves Alaska state lawmakers the discretion to decide whether they want to release information from their own records. That stands in… Continue reading

Researchers with the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Science check a pop-up satellite tag on a chinook salmon. The University of Alaska system cuts proposed in the Legislature would largely come out of research funding, which could create a ripple effect that damages state and federal fisheries management.

University cuts could damage fisheries, Arctic research

ANCHORAGE — A state fiscal crisis looms, and some of the Legislature’s budget cuts could send ripples into Alaska’s largest private employer and international political… Continue reading

Researchers with the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Science check a pop-up satellite tag on a chinook salmon. The University of Alaska system cuts proposed in the Legislature would largely come out of research funding, which could create a ripple effect that damages state and federal fisheries management.

GCI cell customers struggle with outages

BETHEL — Customers with Alaska telecommunications company General Communication, Inc. say they have experienced frequent outages all winter.Cellular service was spotty over the winter months… Continue reading

Wildlife biologists Rob Kaler of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Sarah Schoen of the U.S. Geological Survey examine body parts of a common murre during a necropsy on Friday in Anchorage.

Scientists researching seabird death mystery

ANCHORAGE — The common murre on Sarah Schoen’s examination table lived a short, hungry life.Measurements of its beak and leg indicated it hatched in June.… Continue reading

Wildlife biologists Rob Kaler of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Sarah Schoen of the U.S. Geological Survey examine body parts of a common murre during a necropsy on Friday in Anchorage.

Bethel officials consider vote-by-mail

BETHEL — The city of Bethel is looking into replacing going to the polls with voting by mail as a way to increase voter turnout,… Continue reading

Gold mill proposed for eastern Kenai Peninsula

KENAI — The private-owned Diamond Gold Corporation is proposing a gold extraction mill on the eastern Kenai Peninsula expected to add a boost to the… Continue reading

Senate passes bill to curb, contain Medicaid costs

JUNEAU — Legislation aimed at curbing and containing costs within the state Medicaid program has passed the Alaska Senate.Friday’s 19-0 vote sends the bill to… Continue reading

House Majority denies attempt to defund Medicaid lawsuit

The Republican-led Alaska House Majority has defeated an attempt by the Democratic-led minority to cut off funding for a legislative lawsuit to block the expansion… Continue reading

US rig count drops 9 this week to all-time low of 480

HOUSTON — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped 9 this week to 480, a record low and… Continue reading

Kito named whip, Spohnholz gets committee assignments

JUNEAU — State Rep. Sam Kito III has been named House minority whip, succeeding the late Rep. Max Gruenberg in that role.Duties of the leadership… Continue reading

Alaska House passes $8.66 billion budget

The Alaska House of Representatives worked into the early hours of Friday morning before passing an $8.66 billion state operations budget that includes $639.6 million… Continue reading

Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau, speaks against an amendment to the state operating budget on Thursday. The amendment, one of many offered by Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, was to cut 10 percent of the pay of the top-paided 100 employees working for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

Legislators debate budget deep into the night

Before the Alaska House took the floor of its chambers at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, House Majority Leader Charisse Millett spoke up in a press conference.“I… Continue reading

Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau, speaks against an amendment to the state operating budget on Thursday. The amendment, one of many offered by Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, was to cut 10 percent of the pay of the top-paided 100 employees working for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

Hawaii gift store owner admits ivory, coral smuggling

HONOLULU — The owner of a Hawaii jewelry and gift retail business is pleading guilty in a case involving smuggled ivory and black coral.Curtis Wilmington… Continue reading

Lawmakers focus on Cook Inlet during Fish Board hearing

JUNEAU — Deep divisions between fishermen harvesting Cook Inlet salmon again dominated discussion as legislators quizzed two appointees to Alaska’s Board of Fisheries during a… Continue reading

Searchers find body of man missing on trip back to village

ANCHORAGE — A 63-year-old man missing from the southwest village of Akiachak has been found dead.Alaska State Troopers say Evon Wassilie was found alongside his… Continue reading

Fairbanks man facing charges over joyride in stolen airport vehicle

FAIRBANKS— A Fairbanks man is facing charges that he stole an airport vehicle and drove it down Fairbanks International Airport taxiways and runways minutes before… Continue reading

A downed spruce tree sits near the East Glacier Trail at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in June 2014.

Murkowski questions federal Tongass plan

ANCHORAGE — The U.S. Forest Service is looking to expedite the transition away from old-growth timber in the Tongass National Forest, a plan Alaska Sen.… Continue reading

A downed spruce tree sits near the East Glacier Trail at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in June 2014.

Military to check for water contamination at 664 sites

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The military is checking whether chemicals from firefighting foam might have contaminated groundwater at hundreds of sites nationwide and potentially tainted drinking… Continue reading