Abbey Collins, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
In Portage, business boom follows glacial recession
Portage Glacier has receded a lot. And employees are seeing the changes first hand. What does that mean for a company whose business is based on this particular piece of snow and ice?
Swan Lake fire grows, moving closer to Sterling Highway
The Swan Lake fire has grown to 32,300 acres. The fire has been burning since early June in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. This weekend, winds spread the fire within two miles of the Sterling Highway.
Alaska’s senior population is growing rapidly. Why?
"We have a rapidly-growing senior population and this will continue into the 2020s."
Fire danger is high in the Chugach National Forest
Fires are still permitted in the forest, but the Forest Service is asking residents to be particularly careful.
Construction season is ramping up in Alaska. What kind of spending is expected in the industry this year?
Construction industry spending in Alaska is projected to increase by 10 percent this year compared to 2018.
Clamshell packaging curbside recycling ends in Anchorage
The city announced Thursday that #1 plastic clamshells are no longer acceptable in curbside recycling.
Black bear behavior raises concerns on Turnagain Arm Trail
Hikers in the Anchorage area are advised to use caution on the Turnagain Arm Trail, following multiple reports of a black bear displaying unusual behavior.
Claiming two first ascents, climbing group seeks to create more opportunities for women in the mountains
Last month, an all-female group of mountaineers flew high into the mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. After nine days, they claimed two first ascents of unnamed peaks.
As cruise ships grow, more passengers are headed to Alaska
Across the state, port cities are preparing to welcome a record number of passengers.
Campground closures as state deals with damage from spruce beetles
Earlier this week, the parks department announced the closure of Byers Lake Campground in Denali State Park, and South Rolly Campground in the Nancy Lake State Recreation Area.
Ask an Economist: New year brings new direction for Alaska job numbers
Economists in Alaska forecasted 2019 would be the year the state turns a corner, gaining jobs, after years of recession. The first two months of the year have followed that prediction.
DOT closes popular Seward Highway water spout
The conversation about safety in the area has been going on for many years. Concerns go beyond rockfall, and include the combination of pedestrians crossing the road and high-speed traffic.
Anchorage airport anticipates more passengers this summer
Passenger capacity on planes flying to Anchorage is projected to increase by 6 percent.
EPA report shows increased chemical releases at Red Dog Mine, state pushes back
"Eighty six percent of all release quantities of TRI chemicals reported from region 10 are from the Red Dog Mine," says Alexandra Dunn, the EPA's Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
Ask an Economist: How has industry in Alaska changed since 1990?
"One of the biggest ones that really, I would say represents a huge structural change, particularly for Southeast Alaska, was the logging industry," Fried says.
KSKA’s Bede Trantina honored for work in public media
Kameron Perez-Verdia, President and CEO of the Alaska Humanities Forum, presented Trantina the award for distinguished service in community at a ceremony in Juneau earlier this month.
How would a $20M cut affect public schools statewide?
The proposal would need to go-ahead from the legislature before becoming a reality. But school administrators are concerned about the possibility.
Ask an Economist: What does the PFD do for jobs, crime and health in Alaska?
The checks qualified Alaskans receive each year give residents some extra cash. But the Permanent Fund Dividend, or PFD, could have broader impacts, too.
After years of loss, job growth expected in Anchorage in 2019
The biggest takeaway from the AEDC's forecast for the coming year: this recession that's been dragging on since 2015 -- it's probably going to end.
Alaska’s population is down for the second year in a row — why?
More people are leaving Alaska than are moving to the state, leading to overall population decline. That's the major takeaway from data released earlier this month from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.