Local news, from the source.

Alaska Overhauls School Construction Funding to Help Rural Districts Compete

The state is changing how it evaluates school construction projects to level the playing field for smaller districts that cannot afford expensive application processes.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

Alaska House Panel Advances Bill to Speed Up State Contract Payments

The House Finance Committee narrowly approved legislation requiring faster payment of state contracts despite concerns about $1 million+ costs and potential consequences for small nonprofits.

by Alaska News5mo ago

Alaska House Rejects 30% Cut to Regional Jail Funding Despite Low Use

The Alaska House of Representatives voted down an amendment that would have reduced funding increases for underutilized regional jails, with supporters citing 22% statewide utilization rates.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

Alaska House Approves $2M for Talkeetna Trooper Post Using ANWR Funds

The Alaska House of Representatives voted to allocate $2 million from Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lease revenues to reestablish a state trooper post in Talkeetna, addressing public safety concerns along the Parks Highway corridor.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

State Opens Two-Day Geoduck Fishery in Kaigani Strait

Alaska Department of Fish and Game opened a two-day commercial geoduck fishery in Kaigani Strait for April 22-23 to harvest the remaining 7,000 pounds of quota in Subdistrict 103-30-001.

by Alaska News5mo ago

Alaska Fishermen Report Salmon Declines Amid Bycatch, Management Concerns

by Alaska News5mo ago

Bristol Bay tribes fight to defend EPA veto of Pebble Mine in court

by Alaska News5mo ago

Alaska Airlines Pilots Raise Concerns Over Hawaiian Merger Integration

Alaska Airlines pilots are raising concerns about seniority integration, route operations, and job stability as the carrier completes its merger with Hawaiian Airlines.

by Alaska News5mo ago

Early construction work causes two-hour delays on Palmer commute

Construction work starting at 6 a.m. on April 23 caused two-hour delays for Palmer commuters during morning rush hour.

by Alaska News5mo ago

Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission Meets Tonight

The Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission holds its regular meeting tonight at 7:00 PM to address zoning updates, subdivision approvals, and land use matters affecting the Prince William Sound community.

by Alaska News5mo ago

Permafrost Thaw Releases Unexpected Methane in Alaska Uplands

Research shows Alaska's thawing permafrost is releasing unexpected amounts of methane while coastal erosion threatens Native villages across the state.

by Alaska News5mo ago

Alaska mines release toxic metals into rivers, state data shows

Alaska mines lead the nation in toxic releases, with both active operations and abandoned sites contaminating rivers and affecting communities that depend on clean water for subsistence.

by Alaska News5mo ago

Interior hunters report early black bear harvests as spring season begins

Interior Alaska hunters are reporting early spring black bear harvests on social media as the April-May season begins, contributing to statewide annual harvests that average 2,800 to 3,250 bears and support predator management programs.

by Alaska News5mo ago

Remote Alaska villages pay $6.63 per gallon as fuel costs strain budgets

by Alaska News5mo ago

Alaska Tribes Removed 1.5M Pounds Marine Debris Despite Funding Barriers

Rural Alaska communities successfully cleaned massive amounts of marine debris from shores but face significant barriers accessing federal funding and resources needed to continue protecting subsistence areas.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

Senate panel advances property tax cap bill despite state warnings

The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee moved forward with a bill allowing municipalities to cap annual property tax assessment increases at 3 to 10 percent, despite state officials warning of revenue losses and administrative complexity.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

State regulators extend review periods for Railbelt utility tariffs

Alaska regulators extended review periods for Railbelt utility tariff filings and set procedural schedules for rate cases involving Chugach Electric and Enstar Natural Gas.

by Alaska News5mo ago

Alaska Lawmakers Propose Legislative Oversight of $80B Permanent Fund Board

House committee considers requiring legislative confirmation of Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation trustees for the first time since 1982, though constitutional concerns may require a constitutional amendment.

by Alaska News5mo ago

Alaska considers ban on driverless commercial trucks amid safety debate

The Alaska House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on HB 217, which would require human drivers in all commercial autonomous vehicles, effectively banning driverless operations statewide.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

Alaska School Funding System Favors Wealthy Districts, Senators Say

Senate Finance Committee members raised concerns that Alaska's school construction funding process allows affluent districts to pre-fund projects and jump ahead of poorer communities that have waited years for repairs.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

Senate panel advances retirement bill despite $400M cost shift concern

The Senate Finance Committee moved forward with HB 78, a retirement reform bill that would shift nearly $400 million in unfunded liability costs from municipalities to the state over 13 years.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

Alaska House debates school transportation funding amid rural-urban divide

The Alaska House of Representatives debated Amendment 31 targeting pupil transportation funding, revealing geographic divisions over education funding equity between rural and road-system districts.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

Alaska Rural Health Program Flooded with 'Surprising' Number of Quality Ideas

The state's Rural Health Transformation Program has received an unexpectedly high volume of quality project proposals, creating intense competition for limited funding and prompting officials to explore partnerships with philanthropic groups.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

Alaska Senate Panel Weighs Tougher Hit-and-Run Penalties

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on legislation that would establish a 4-7 year presumptive sentencing range for fatal hit-and-run crashes involving criminal negligence.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

Alaska Senate Shelves Homemade Food Safety Bill After Complex Debate

The Alaska Senate Resources Committee set aside a bill restricting sales of home-canned foods in reduced oxygen packaging after lawmakers struggled with complex food safety definitions and enforcement questions.

by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago

Alaska residents share bear and moose encounters as spring wildlife season begins

by Alaska News5mo ago

Northern lights draw crowds to Fairbanks and Kodiak viewing spots

by Alaska News5mo ago

Fairbanks and Kodiak Residents Capture Last Aurora Displays Before Midnight Sun

by Alaska News5mo ago