Alaska News Shorts

Walter AlaskaNews39m ago2 min read

Mendenhall Lake is expected to flood Friday afternoon as a secondary release from Suicide Basin pushes water levels toward ten feet. The National Weather Service warns that flooding will impact the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, Nugget Falls Trail, and West Glacier Trail. Mendenhall Campground Road could see three feet of water. Forecasters expect the lake to pass its nine-foot flood stage by ten o'clock Friday morning.

Bill AlaskaNews1h ago1 min read

Households that held a 2026 Chitina Subdistrict dip net permit must file a harvest report online by October 15. This requirement applies even to those who did not fish or caught nothing. Failing to report by the deadline will result in the denial of a 2027 permit. Reports must be submitted through the state website or mobile app, as mailed or hand-delivered forms are not accepted.

Maggie AlaskaNews1h ago2 min read

Alaska transportation officials are warning drivers to stay off the Denali Highway until May 2027. Regular maintenance on the 135-mile route ended Thursday. The road is now unmaintained, meaning travelers face deep snow, ice, and washouts. Emergency services are unavailable along the remote stretch. Officials say the highway is only safe for snowmachiners and others with specialized equipment prepared for dangerous winter conditions.

Walter AlaskaNews4h ago2 min read

The Dillingham City Council votes Thursday, October 1, on a proposal to exempt federally recognized tribal land from local property taxes. The ordinance would remove qualifying tribal land from the city tax roll immediately. City officials have not provided an estimate on how much tax revenue the city might lose. Improvements on tribal land used for commercial profit will remain subject to city property taxes.

Bill AlaskaNews5h ago1 min read

Federal regulators have approved a request from the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation to swap unused fishing quotas. The group traded two hundred tons of flathead sole and seven hundred tons of yellowfin sole for nine hundred tons of rock sole. This change allows for a larger rock sole harvest in the Bering Sea through December thirty-first, supporting economic development for sixty-five western Alaska communities.

Walter AlaskaNews5h ago1 min read

Residential fires killed 14 people in Alaska throughout 2025 and injured 32 others. These blazes also injured 28 firefighters and caused 45 million dollars in property damage. Governor Mike Dunleavy released these figures Thursday while declaring October Fire Prevention Month. More than half of the victims died in homes without smoke alarms. Officials now urge residents to inspect heating equipment and install alarms on every level.

Bill AlaskaNews8h ago2 min read

A man survived after his fishing boat sank near Murder Cove on Sunday. After his life raft began taking on water, he swam to the shore of Admiralty Island wearing a survival suit. A Coast Guard helicopter crew located him on Monday afternoon. He was hoisted from the beach and flown to Sitka in stable condition. The cause of the sinking remains under investigation.

Walter AlaskaNews9h ago2 min read

The Anchorage Assembly will introduce a plan on Tuesday, October 6, to transfer a steep downtown lot on Christensen Drive to the city street maintenance department. The city says the move allows crews to finish old utility work on the unbuildable parcel. Residents can testify on the proposal during a public hearing scheduled for October 20. The land will remain dedicated to public utility use.

Walter AlaskaNews9h ago1 min read

The Anchorage Platting Board meets Wednesday, October 7, to consider a request to combine two industrial lots into one larger parcel. The proposal includes vacating a railroad easement that never carried tracks and trimming three nearby streets. If approved, the project will trigger over ten thousand dollars in utility assessments. Residents can testify by phone during the meeting held at the Loussac Library starting at 6:30.

Walter AlaskaNews10h ago2 min read

Juneau officials are considering new regulations for the city's whale-watching industry. A local task force will review draft proposals on Saturday, October 10, that could introduce a city licensing system and cap the number of boats allowed to operate. The plan mirrors local marijuana regulations and aims to address congestion. Any final decision on these potential permits rests with the Juneau Assembly following further public meetings.

Walter AlaskaNews10h ago3 min read

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to censure a commissioner who made controversial remarks about the Ketchikan Indian Community. While the commissioner apologized for her comments, she refused to resign. The borough assembly is now considering a new ordinance that would create a formal process to remove appointed board members for good cause, with a public hearing scheduled for October fifth.

Alaska News10h ago2 min read

Juneau's Historic Resources Advisory Committee meets Wednesday, October 7, to review a bid to list the Telephone Hill neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places. The city currently plans to demolish the area's seven historic homes by late 2026 to build over one hundred new housing units. A federal historic designation would not legally prevent the city from proceeding with those planned demolition projects.

Alaska News10h ago2 min read

A downtown Juneau gift shop is seeking city approval to widen its front entrance. The Alaska Shoppe wants to replace its single metal door with a double door on the historic Blomgren Building. Because the structure is part of a protected historic district, the city's preservation committee will review the proposal on Wednesday, October seventh. The plans also include updated signage for the storefront.

Walter AlaskaNews11h ago2 min read

The United States Senate blocked a bill on Wednesday that would have required state regulators to consider making large data centers pay for grid upgrades. The measure failed to reach the sixty votes needed to advance. Alaska senators voted in favor of the proposal. Opponents argued the bill made protections optional, while supporters said it would prevent families from covering costs tied to massive energy users.

Walter AlaskaNews11h ago1 min read

A bill to ban stock trading by members of Congress and their families stalled in the Senate on Wednesday, September thirtieth. The measure failed to advance after falling short of the sixty votes needed to end debate. Alaska senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan both voted in favor of the proposal. The legislation would have required public notice before selling investments and imposed fees for any violations.

Walter AlaskaNews11h ago2 min read

The United States Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor on Wednesday in a forty-seven to forty-one vote. Alaska senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan supported the nomination. The department processes seasonal worker visas that are critical for Alaska seafood processors. Murkowski previously pressed Sonderling to ensure these applications are handled quickly so that workers arrive in time for the annual salmon runs.

Bill AlaskaNews13h ago7 min read

A new Senate permitting bill introduced Wednesday would overhaul federal project reviews nationwide. While the four hundred seventeen page document mentions Alaska only once, its general rules on review deadlines, court challenges, and wetlands permits would apply across the state. The bill gives developers more control over agency timelines and limits the power of courts to stop projects while legal reviews are underway.

Maggie AlaskaNews13h ago1 min read

A winter weather advisory is in effect for the Richardson Highway through Isabel Pass until ten Thursday night. Forecasters expect up to eleven inches of snow, with the heaviest accumulation between mileposts two hundred five and two hundred thirty-five. Travel conditions could become very difficult as temperatures drop below freezing. Drivers should prepare for slick roads and check current conditions by calling five-one-one.

Alaska News15h ago1 min read

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Skagway through Thursday afternoon. Forecasters expect southwest winds between 20 and 30 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 40 miles per hour until 1 p.m. Residents should secure loose gear to prevent damage. Ferry passengers should check for potential service delays before heading to the dock, as high winds often complicate vessel arrivals in the area.

Alaska News15h ago2 min read

President Donald Trump called a Petersburg man running for Senate a fraud during a Wednesday event. The candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, shares a name with the incumbent Republican senator. While the state tried to remove him from the ballot, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled on June 29 that he remains eligible. He now appears on the general election ballot as Daniel J. Sullivan Junior.