‘Pretty unbelievable,’ says Kotlik hunter who helped document recent spike in seal deaths
Harold Okitkun counted 18 dead seals north of Kotlik — a number he says he’s never seen or heard of other people in the village seeing.
Murkowski differs with Trump on campaign help from foreign powers
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was not happy to hear President Trump say he would accept foreign intel on a political opponent.
Corrections commissioner cancels prison’s Father’s Day event
Alaska's Corrections commissioner has canceled an upcoming Father's Day event at Goose Creek Correctional Center near Wasilla a couple days before it was set to take place, due to concerns about contraband and safety, the department says.
Senior living in Alaska
Alaska’s senior population is booming. Meanwhile, the state is experiencing what experts call a housing "crisis." How are communities working to meet the growing need for senior housing and long-term care options?
Dunleavy calls for round two in Wasilla after Alaska Legislature adjourns first special session
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has called for a second special session to be hosted in Wasilla next month. The session’s agenda is limited to PFD funding.
Partnering with FBI, Unalaska police aim to finish Ballyhoo crash investigation
Two local high school students were killed when a truck plunged off the cliffside and fell about 900 feet to the shoreline below. Authorities said they hope to have an explanation by the end of June.
Why fishermen are mailing corks to Murkowski
Bristol Bay fishermen who oppose the Pebble Mine are adding an unusual task to their pre-season chores: They’re writing messages on cork floats and mailing them to Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Vote to draw from state savings account to pay for capital projects falls short
With large differences remaining over permanent fund dividends, that means the special session will likely end Thursday or Friday with more work left to do.
State employees anxious as government shutdown threat looms
A state operating budget is now on its way to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s desk. The question is whether it will be enough to prevent a government shutdown on July 1.
$20M state grant released to Alaska schools, but future funding remains unclear
School districts across Alaska are looking forward to a bump in their bank accounts from a $20M grant appropriated last year. But the overall outlook for state education spending is far from clear.
Unusually high number of seal deaths reported along the coast of the Bering and Chukchi Seas
“We don’t know if it’s lack of sea ice, or if there was a harmful algal bloom,” said Julie Speegle with NOAA Fisheries. “There’s quite a range of factors.”
Goat yoga? In Fairbanks, there’s a new animal to flow with: reindeer
“You’ll see the reindeer getting into these amazing poses,” said Jane Atkinson, owner of Running Reindeer Ranch. “And it’s like wow…. Look at this little yoga move that they do!”
Work begins on new site for village of Newtok
The Air Force and the Marines started work on Tuesday, helping to construct the new site for the village of Newtok.
New Anchorage senior living homes see growing demand
As Alaska’s senior population booms, leading to the construction of hundreds of new assisted living home rooms, developers report surging demand — from seniors in state and Outside.
Hoonah taps federal funds to ease cruise visitor congestion
Hoonah is planning a $4.77 million pedestrian project to improve the walkability of its harbor area and make it possible to walk to the community’s cemetery on Pitt Island.
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.
As the Alaska Legislature fights over the budget, a decades-old accounting quirk takes on new importance
At Alaska’s state Capitol this week, there’s a lot of talk about something called “the sweep.” What is it, and why is it such a big deal this year?
Capital budget, Power Cost Equalization, college scholarships are caught in PFD debate
If an amendment to the capital budget to pay full permanent fund dividends isn’t successful, the Republican House minority leader expects there won’t be enough votes to draw from the Constitutional Budget Reserve.
City of Anchorage program trains child care providers, parents on potentially toxic products
A new city program in Anchorage is training childcare providers and parents on what to look for in household products to avoid potentially harmful ingredients.
Escalating tariffs, lingering questions hamper University of Alaska timber sale in Haines
There are various factors slowing the 10-year timber sale the University of Alaska announced last March.