Alaska

Ketchikan planners may redo approval for KIC shelter after some neighbors weren't notified

Ketchikan's planned permanent shelter got its parking variance in September. Now the borough may redo the vote because some condo owners were never notified.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Outside scientists find NOAA's Alaska fishing observer program sound, recommend no 2027 changes

Three outside scientists reviewed how NOAA decides which Alaska fishing boats carry observers or cameras. Verdict: sound methods, no changes needed for 2027.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Federal agency proposes marine mammal permit for Juneau's Seawalk extension

Juneau's Seawalk extension means a year of pile driving near whales, sea lions and seals. NMFS has proposed a permit covering the noise's effects.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State estimates $1.2 million to keep cleaning up Typhoon Halong fuel spills

Alaska's environmental agency estimates it needs about $1.2 million to keep cleaning up fuel spills in Western Alaska communities hit by Typhoon Halong.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Wildlife trooper rescues two Petersburg boaters stranded overnight on the Stikine River

Two Petersburg boaters spent a rainy night stuck on the Stikine River after their jet boat wouldn't go back in the water. A wildlife trooper brought them home.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska State Museum sketching series returns Saturday with guest artist Alec Dye

Juneau artist Alec Dye leads the Alaska State Museum's sketching series Saturday, Oct. 10, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, free for members and donation-based for others.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Pincush leads Brazelton 55-32 in Whittier write-in race after remaining ballots counted

Whittier's last ballots are counted: write-in David Pincush leads Heather Brazelton 55-32 for seat E, unofficially. Six questioned ballots were rejected.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Seward canvass board counts 64 ballots in city council race

Seward's canvass board counted 64 ballots Friday from the Oct. 6 municipal election, with Robert Barnwell leading the five-candidate city council race at 33 votes.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State takes comments through Oct. 29 on water quality review of AIDEA's West Susitna road

The state is taking comments through Oct. 29 on whether AIDEA's 78.5-mile West Susitna road meets water quality rules. The Corps' own window closes Tuesday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Alzheimer's Association offers $50,000 grants for Tribal health programs' dementia work

Tribal health programs in Alaska can apply for $50,000 from the Alzheimer's Association to dedicate a staff member to dementia work. Applications close Nov. 10.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Native languages council to decide if state education employees can serve

The Council of Alaska Native Languages meets Oct. 21 to decide whether state education employees can serve on it and to approve its report to the governor.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

University of Oregon seeks proposals for reading screeners in two more Alaska Native languages

Two more Alaska Native languages could get reading screeners for students learning to read in them. The University of Oregon wants proposals by Oct. 30.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

FCC clears SpaceX to send satellite service straight to phones in Alaska and the rest of the U.S.

The FCC cleared SpaceX to beam service from 15,000 planned satellites straight to phones, Alaska included, with no wireless carrier in the middle.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

St. Lawrence Island high wind warning expires after forecast of 65 mph gusts

A high wind warning for St. Lawrence Island expired Thursday after forecasting gusts up to 65 mph that could damage property and knock out power.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Winter storm warning brings up to 14 inches of snow to the Noatak Valley through Saturday

Up to 14 inches of snow and 45 mph gusts are forecast for the Noatak Valley and western Brooks Range through Saturday morning. Travel could be very difficult.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska launches online renewals for SNAP, Medicaid and four other programs

Alaskans can now renew SNAP, Medicaid and four other benefits online instead of filling out the paper form. Paper still works, just don't do both.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Anchorage police ask for help finding missing 14-year-old Luna Thompson

Anchorage police are asking for help finding 14-year-old Luna Thompson, last seen near the 7000 block of Linden Circle. Call 311, option 1, with tips.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Sitka Assembly to decide whether to extend Arctic Blue Waters' bulk water export deal

Arctic Blue Waters has a 2021 deal to buy Sitka's water for export. Five years in, the Assembly decides Tuesday whether to give the company more time.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Sitka Assembly returns Tuesday to ordinance easing backyard apartment rules

Sitka's Assembly is back Tuesday on backyard apartments: fewer hoops to build one, but no more on R-2 lots. Rentals stay tight, at 5.8% vacancy.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State offers trainings as Alaska towns apply for the first block grants that can build housing

Alaska is holding two virtual trainings this month for municipalities applying for Community Development Block Grants, with about $2.5 million available statewide and applications due December 4.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska Supreme Court rules early ICWA errors don't undo a later termination that followed the law

The Alaska Supreme Court held that ICWA errors in the early removal stage of a child welfare case don't undo a later termination that followed the law.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

National conservation fund gives $255,000 to Alaska Center group backing three House candidates

A national conservation PAC gave $255,000 to The Alaska Center IE, about two-thirds of what the group has raised to back three state House candidates.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State keeps Pribilof red and blue king crab closed, bars pot gear near the islands

Alaska keeps Pribilof red and blue king crab fisheries closed for 2026/27 and bars crab pots from waters around the islands, extending a blue king crab shutdown that started in 1999.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Kodiak Assembly member asks for monthly short-term rental counts, citing Coast Guard housing crunch

Kodiak's borough counts about 165 short-term rentals, same as last year. One Assembly member wants monthly updates as Coast Guard growth squeezes housing.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

FAA proposes redrawing Anchorage basin airspace and flight paths for JBER's extended runway

The FAA wants to redraw the airspace over the Anchorage basin so JBER can use an instrument landing system on its longer runway. Comments are due Nov. 9.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Chugach backed USS Ted Stevens commissioning and worked on its cybersecurity

Chugach Alaska Corporation sponsored the USS Ted Stevens commissioning and its federal services arm helped modernize the destroyer's cybersecurity before the Navy commissioned it in October.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Southcentral weekend brings ski swap, winter prep and fall festivals

Southcentral Alaska hosts a ski swap, winter prep fair, half marathon, pumpkin festival and Indigenous Peoples Day celebration Saturday through Monday as cool, wet weather moves in.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Fairbanks senior commission to consider asking mayor to speed up a Senior Center bus shelter

Fairbanks Senior Citizens Advisory Commission votes Thursday on asking Mayor Grier Hopkins to move a covered bus shelter at the Senior Center from 2037 to the next few years of the capital budget.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Houston approves plastics recycler's permit as state reviews groundwater contamination at site

Houston approved a plastics recycler at a gravel pit where the owner's own consultant found petroleum in the groundwater. The state is still looking into it.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Houston passes two-year pause on data centers as state weighs AIDEA land transfer

Houston's City Council paused data center permits for two years while the state weighs giving 20,000 acres just north of the city to AIDEA for free.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State commission fines governor candidate Bernadette Wilson $2,473.50 over LLC contribution

State regulators fined governor candidate Bernadette Wilson $2,473.50 over a $25,000 LLC contribution and underreported fundraising costs. The max was $26,225.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Follows: APOC sets Tuesday hearings on four disclosure complaints against statewide candidates

State puts emergency erosion work on Talkeetna's only highway out to bid

The Susitna River has been chewing at the bank near the only highway into Talkeetna. The state wants erosion protection in place there by Dec. 15.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Oct 2

Kodiak's projected deficit shrinks to about $94,000 at year end

Kodiak closed fiscal 2026 with a $94,000 general fund shortfall after a $1.14 million transfer from investment earnings reduced what had been a projected $3 million deficit.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Nome Common Council certifies Oct. 6 municipal election results

Nome Common Council certified Oct. 6 election results Thursday, with all races uncontested and winners taking 89 percent or more of votes cast.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Glacier Fish, SeaShare present halibut donation permit to council

Glacier Fish and SeaShare asked federal regulators to let the Northern Glacier donate up to 5,000 pounds of halibut it now discards, sending the fish to Western Alaska food banks if approved.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Kodiak's two council members on the city investment committee are both leaving the council

Two departing Kodiak City Council members leave both seats open on the investment committee that oversees the city's $48.5 million portfolio, with the mayor to appoint replacements by Oct. 26.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Kodiak resident says city seeks 506% more tax from auto shop than Highmark Marine paid

A Kodiak resident told the council the city wants 506% more tax from a local auto shop than Highmark Marine paid. Her comparison couldn't be checked.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State seeks avalanche forecaster to watch the Klondike Highway above Skagway for up to five winters

Alaska is seeking an avalanche forecaster for the Klondike Highway above Skagway at a cost of up to $500,000 over five winters, with proposals due by Oct. 28 or 29.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Mat-Su Assembly asks school board to start classes the day after Labor Day

Mat-Su kids would start school after Labor Day instead of mid-August if the school board agrees. It's only a request, and the vote may not even stand.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Follows: Mat-Su resolution would ask school board to start classes after Labor Day

Giessel says governor kept DNR commissioner from legislative hearing on AIDEA land transfers

Governor blocked the DNR commissioner from testifying at a legislative hearing on state land transfers to AIDEA, leaving lawmakers without answers on nearly 20,000 acres north of Houston.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read