Southcentral

Anchorage Assembly to consider awareness month for families of homicide victims

The Anchorage Assembly will consider recognizing a month for families of homicide victims. Its Anchorage homicide figures don't match the state's crime report.

by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago1 min read

Troopers seek tips after moose found near Palmer with only its antlers taken

Someone took only the antlers from a moose near the Matanuska River in Palmer and covered the rest with brush. Wildlife Troopers want to know who.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2d ago1 min read

Nova Minerals says its Port MacKenzie plant could support far more than its funded first phase

Nova Minerals says its secondhand Port MacKenzie plant can grind 216,000 metric tons of ore a year and models up to 20,000 tons of antimony with more gear.

by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min read

Follows: Antimony refinery developer Nova Minerals says its cash won't fund a year of plans

Mat-Su staff back two cabins 50 feet from Rainbow Lake, inside the 75-foot setback

Mat-Su planners back letting a builder put two cabins 50 feet from Rainbow Lake, inside the 75-foot setback, though the lot has a spot that meets the rule.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min readFrom Nov 4

Scientists recommend a higher Gulf pollock limit for 2027, then a cut in 2028

Federal scientists recommend raising the Gulf pollock catch limit about 17% for 2027, then cutting it for 2028. Their surveys point in different directions.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago3 min read

Seward homeowners who live in town would get two property tax breaks under final budget

Seward's final budget would cut property taxes and add a break for people's own homes, backed by a 6% summer sales tax. Nothing assured for renters.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago3 min readFrom Nov 6

Follows: Seward plan for no city sales tax in winter, 6% in summer gets its first public hearing

Wrangell-St. Elias keeps winter subsistence moose quota at five bulls

Wrangell-St. Elias capped its winter subsistence moose hunt at five bulls again. Hunters haven't come close: eight moose in 10 years, never over two a season.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min readFrom Nov 6

First National Bank Alaska's quarterly profit rises 18%, and shareholders get $8 a share

First National Bank Alaska earned $25.2 million last quarter, up 18% from a year ago. Shareholders get $8 a share in December, half of it a special dividend.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min readFrom Nov 4

Operator of two Cook Inlet crude tankers asks the state to renew their spill plan

Two tankers haul North Slope crude up Cook Inlet to Nikiski about once a month. Their operator wants the state to renew their spill plan. Comments close Dec. 9.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read

Federal judge throws out most of a defamation lawsuit, including a racketeering claim

A federal judge tossed most of Holly Sheldon-Lee's lawsuit against two people she says defamed her, racketeering claim included. Each was one sentence long.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read

Mat-Su's 2027 asks include school debt money, Talkeetna flood help and a stalled railroad

Mat-Su's 2027 wish list: school debt payments from the state, $20 million to protect Talkeetna from the Susitna and $300 million for a stalled railroad.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read

Seward plan for no city sales tax in winter, 6% in summer gets its first public hearing

Seward's proposed budget would let summer carry winter: no city sales tax October through March, 6% April through September. First hearing was Monday.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago3 min read

Follows: Seward council members question proposed property tax cut, float exemptions instead

Mat-Su Borough would spend $850,000 in fire reserves on Big Lake station water supply

Big Lake's fire station refills fire trucks too slowly, so the Mat-Su Borough wants to spend $850,000 upgrading the station's water supply system.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago1 min read

Wasilla council will let Seat F applicants interview by video, with phone as backup

Wasilla council voted 4-1 to let Seat F applicants interview by video or phone instead of in person. The change follows one applicant saying he'd be out of state for the Nov. 30 interview meeting.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read

Man pleads guilty in child sexual abuse case, admits abusing seven children

A 49-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday and admitted sexually abusing seven children in Fairbanks and Anchorage. The state says he'll get 35 years to serve.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read

Federal council adds a December look at proposed 2027 Cook Inlet salmon limits

The federal council gets a first look at 2027 Cook Inlet salmon limits in December. This year, the drift fleet caught more than twice its coho limit.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3d ago3 min read

Kodiak ordinance would narrow borough contract ban for mayor and Assembly members

Kodiak Assembly members propose narrowing the mayor and Assembly contract ban to professional services only. It follows a dispute over seating Jeremy Williamson, whose company holds borough contracts.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read

Cordova moves Wednesday trash pickup to Thursday for Veterans Day

Cordova shifts Wednesday trash pickup to Thursday, Nov. 12, and closes City Hall Nov. 11 for Veterans Day. Regular bagging and can limit rules still apply.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago1 min read

Driver kills pedestrian at Airport Heights Drive and Debarr Road in Anchorage, flees

A driver hit and killed a pedestrian at Airport Heights Drive and Debarr Road early Monday and drove away. Police haven't described the vehicle or driver.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read

Anchorage Assembly sets Dec. 15 hearing on Chugach Electric heavy-industrial rezone

The Anchorage Assembly will hear Chugach Electric's request Dec. 15 to zone its Third Avenue utility yard heavy industrial, matching decades of utility use.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago1 min read

Sullivan campaign asks to join Peltola's ballot-records suit before Tuesday hearing

Sullivan's campaign moved to join Peltola's lawsuit over absentee-ballot records, a day before a judge hears her emergency request. The motion isn't public yet.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read

Weather makes state's last block grant workshop Zoom-only; applications still due Dec. 4

Bad weather in Anchorage made the state's last block grant workshop online-only. Towns still have until Dec. 4 to apply for up to $850,000 each.

by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago1 min readFrom Nov 3

Weather service trims Hillside snow forecast but still expects gusts up to 60 mph overnight

The weather service cut its Hillside and Eagle River snow forecast to 1 to 5 inches but still expects gusts up to 60 mph overnight. Then it all turns to rain.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min read

MEA warns of power outages with freezing rain and wind forecast for the Mat Valley

MEA warns of outages with freezing rain and gusts to 50 mph forecast for parts of the Mat Valley overnight. Eagle River's hillsides could see 1 to 5 inches.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min read

Winter storm watch warns of possible 70 mph gusts in Turnagain Arm and Whittier

A wet, windy storm is moving into Southcentral Alaska, with snow turning to freezing rain and rain. Turnagain Pass could see up to 10 inches.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min read

Kenai Peninsula voters back school board term limits that won't bite until 2032

Kenai Peninsula voters backed school board term limits with about 89% of the vote. The Assembly certifies Tuesday, and the limit won't bite until 2032.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago1 min readFrom Nov 3

State takes comment on North Slope seismic survey and three airport lease extensions

The state is taking comments on a 205-square-mile North Slope seismic survey and on no-bid lease extensions at the Birchwood, Dillingham and Girdwood airports.

by Maggie AlaskaNews4d ago2 min readFrom Nov 4

Alaska Supreme Court will weigh state search warrants for Metlakatla tribal property

A Ketchikan judge ruled state courts can't issue search warrants for Metlakatla tribal property. The Alaska Supreme Court hears the state's challenge Jan. 6.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago4 min read

Tanner crab fishing stays closed around Kodiak, Chignik and South Peninsula in 2027

No Tanner crab season off Kodiak, Chignik or the South Peninsula this winter, the second in a row. Surveys found crab, just not enough to make a fishery.

by Bill AlaskaNews3d ago2 min readFrom Nov 2

Kodiak weighs selling a vacant city lot for a building with six apartments over six shops

A Kodiak company wants six apartments over six shops on an empty city lot by the airport. The council takes its first vote on the $200,000 sale Thursday.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min read

Troopers arrest Chugiak 16-year-old after 122 mph pursuit in Wasilla

Troopers say a 16-year-old Chugiak driver raced another car on Knik Goose Bay Road, then fled at up to 122 mph before being stopped. No injuries were reported.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Anchorage Assembly chair proposes conditional protest of Midtown hotel's liquor license

Anchorage Assembly Chair Anna Brawley proposes a conditional protest of a liquor license for Courtyard by Marriott Midtown. Assembly takes public testimony Nov. 17.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago1 min read

Homer councilmember wants to put the city's health insurance broker back on a flat fee

Homer's health insurance broker earns more when the city's premiums go up. A councilmember wants to go back to the flat fee the city paid until 2021.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago3 min read

Outgoing Homer mayor proposes a new rule for how much money the city keeps in reserve

Homer's outgoing mayor wants the city to save three months of spending, not four months of revenue. She's bringing it the night her successor is sworn in.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Follows: Homer mayor proposes changing the rules for how the city writes its budget

Valdez schools superintendent warns health insurance could rise 40% in April

Valdez schools' health insurance could jump as much as 40% in April, the superintendent warned, adding about $1.5 million if claims stay high.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Northern lights possible in much of Alaska through Sunday night, if the clouds cooperate

A minor geomagnetic storm has northern lights possible across much of Alaska through Sunday night. The catch, as usual: clouds forecast over most of the state.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Prince William Sound salmon value falls 45% below average as pink harvest hits a 1970s low

Prince William Sound's salmon were worth just over half the usual this year. Seiners averaged $74,100, down from $223,000 last year, as pinks hit a 1970s low.

by Bill AlaskaNews4d ago2 min read

Anchorage Assembly chair would cut crime victim grants to shift pre-K to alcohol tax

Anchorage's Assembly chair wants to move half of pre-K back onto the alcohol tax, paying for it by cutting crime victim grants. Vote is Nov. 17.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago3 min read

Anchorage man gets 60 years for 2023 murder of John Martin III near Dimond credit union

Ryan Dummler got 60 years for murdering John Martin III, who was asleep outside a credit union when Dummler walked up. Ten minutes later, he reported for work.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

Homer canvass board takes up 1,000-plus ballots with a council race 75 votes apart

Homer's canvass board took up more than 1,000 absentee and other ballots Friday, nearly matching Election Day turnout. One council race is just 75 votes apart.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read