Review begins for Shell’s proposed oil-by-rail project

ANACORTES — Washington state and Skagit County officials are beginning an environmental review of a proposed oil-by-rail project at the Shell Puget Sound Refinery near… Continue reading

This Oct. 10, 2014 photo shows Matthew Hamby, left, and his husband, Christopher Shelden, speaking during a news conference in Anchorage. The couple were among five that challenged Alaska's ban on same-sex marriages, which was struck down Oct. 12, 2014.

State: About 285 same-sex couples wed in past year

JUNEAU — About 285 same-sex couples have married in Alaska in the year since a federal judge struck down the state’s ban on gay marriage… Continue reading

This Oct. 10, 2014 photo shows Matthew Hamby, left, and his husband, Christopher Shelden, speaking during a news conference in Anchorage. The couple were among five that challenged Alaska's ban on same-sex marriages, which was struck down Oct. 12, 2014.

4th suicide in 3 weeks hits village

ANCHORAGE — A fourth young adult has killed himself in less than three weeks in a remote Alaska Native village, the latest in a tragic… Continue reading

State school board approves tougher test standards

The Alaska School Board has approved tough new grading standards for the Alaska Measures of Progress standardized tests.The tests, issued to students in grades 3… Continue reading

Columbus Day renamed Indigenous Peoples Day

Gov. Bill Walker opened the first day of the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage by renaming the second Monday in October from Columbus… Continue reading

AMHS may explore selling Taku ferry

If the state’s budget outlook remains unchanged, the Alaska Marine Highway System will begin investigating whether to surplus the state ferry Taku in the next… Continue reading

Remains of child found in burned Tununak home

ANCHORAGE — Authorities say the remains of a small child have been recovered from a home that burned down in the western Alaska village of… Continue reading

Anchorage man shot after opening door to his home

ANCHORAGE — Authorities say a man was shot by a gunman after opening the door of his Anchorage home.The Alaska Dispatch News reported that police… Continue reading

Strong wind, heavy rain collapse village home on stilts

ANCHORAGE — High wind and heavy rain are blamed for the collapse of a home on stilts in southeast Alaska.A village public safety officer in… Continue reading

Gov’t recognizes river’s Native names

ANCHORAGE — The federal government will now recognize a major river system in Alaska by its two native names.The Interior Alaska river currently known as… Continue reading

AFN convention to kick off in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE — Alaska’s largest gathering of indigenous people is scheduled to take place in Anchorage this week, giving participants a forum for discussing crucial issues,… Continue reading

In this undated photo, bergy bits cover the surface of College Fjord in Prince William Sound. Iceburgs that threaten tanker ships carrying oil from Valdez are predicted to get smaller and more numerous over the next two decades.

More, smaller icebergs could show up in Alaska tanker lanes

ANCHORAGE — Icebergs that threaten tankers carrying oil from the trans-Alaska pipeline are likely to be smaller but more numerous over the next two decades,… Continue reading

In this undated photo, bergy bits cover the surface of College Fjord in Prince William Sound. Iceburgs that threaten tanker ships carrying oil from Valdez are predicted to get smaller and more numerous over the next two decades.

Crisis team sent to village after trio of suicides

ANCHORAGE — A Native village on Alaska’s western coast is reeling from back-to-back suicides of three young adults — with each subsequent death influenced by… Continue reading

Josephine "Josie" Bahnke started her new job as the director of the Division of Elections on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. Bahnke, née Hardy, comes from Nome, where she served as city manager for seven years.

Meet the Nomeite in charge of Alaska’s elections

On the third floor of the court plaza building is Josephine Bahnke’s boat.For the new head of the Alaska Division of Elections, it’s one of… Continue reading

Josephine "Josie" Bahnke started her new job as the director of the Division of Elections on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. Bahnke, née Hardy, comes from Nome, where she served as city manager for seven years.

Researchers investigate uptick in stranded and dying otters

KENAI — Researchers are trying to figure out what has been causing more dead and dying sea otters to wash up on Kachemak Bay beaches… Continue reading

Familiar face becomes APFC pope

Angela Rodell will be the next executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.Analogous to Alaska’s pope, the director holds no direct political power but… Continue reading

A bullet casing is marked at the scene of a deadly shooting at Umpqua Community College on Oct. 1.

University system takes steps to ready for shooting response

JUNEAU — Immediately after the shooting at an Oregon community college, students, faculty and staff at the University of Alaska Anchorage received an email.That correspondence… Continue reading

A bullet casing is marked at the scene of a deadly shooting at Umpqua Community College on Oct. 1.

Ferry system cuts terminal positons

KETCHIKAN — The Alaska Marine Highway System has cut 20 shore positions as officials deal with a scaled back budget.In the past week, 14 people… Continue reading

In rare event, the remnants of Pacific hurricane hit Southeast

JUNEAU — Remnants of Pacific Hurricane Oho battered Alaska’s southeast coast on Friday, the latest unusual weather event to hit a state that so far… Continue reading

Jenn-Marie Mann, a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines, demonstrates how carry-on roller bags fit up on their sides in new larger luggage bins installed a Alaska Airlines 737-900ER airplane on Friday in Seattle. The new overhead compartments, which Boeing calls "Space Bins," can hold six standard-size bags in the same space that used to hold four. Alaska Airlines will be the first to use the new bins, both on new and retrofitted planes.

Alaska Airlines debuts bigger overhead bins

Alaska Airlines is rolling out a new feature that fliers are sure to appreciate — larger overhead storage bins.The “Space Bins” debut today as Alaska… Continue reading

Jenn-Marie Mann, a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines, demonstrates how carry-on roller bags fit up on their sides in new larger luggage bins installed a Alaska Airlines 737-900ER airplane on Friday in Seattle. The new overhead compartments, which Boeing calls "Space Bins," can hold six standard-size bags in the same space that used to hold four. Alaska Airlines will be the first to use the new bins, both on new and retrofitted planes.