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Palmer meeting set for Glenn Highway safety project feedback
Alaska DOT&PF will hold a public meeting June 3 in Palmer to gather feedback on planned safety and capacity improvements to the Glenn Highway between Arctic Avenue and Palmer-Fishhook Road.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readKenai health office closed May 7 due to plumbing problems
The Alaska Department of Health office in Kenai will close May 7 due to plumbing issues, with remote workers continuing duties and essential staff reporting as usual.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readFatal trailer fire in rural Big Lake outside fire-district boundaries
A fatal travel trailer fire on Burma Road in Big Lake on May 6, 2026 exposed gaps in rural fire protection coverage after area firefighters declined to respond to the incident outside established fire district boundaries.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago1 min readAurora Borealis Lights Up Kodiak and Interior Alaska Skies
Residents in Kodiak and Interior Alaska reported seeing a vibrant aurora borealis display on the evening of April 18, 2026, sharing photos and videos of the event that occurred during the current solar maximum period.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readRecent High School Graduate Appointed to Alaska State Medical Board
The Alaska House Health and Social Services Committee held a confirmation hearing Tuesday for Hannah Milkey, a 19-year-old who graduated high school in 2025 and was appointed to the State Medical Board one week earlier.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Engine Trouble Strands Columbia Ferry at Whittier Dock for Four Hours
The AMHS ferry Columbia experienced engine trouble that kept it docked at Whittier for over four hours on May 5, stranding passengers and vehicles bound for Prince William Sound communities.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readDunleavy says Alaska gas pipeline depends on property tax overhaul
Governor Mike Dunleavy urged the legislature to pass a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes bill within three weeks, calling it essential to financing what he described as the largest project in Alaska history, an LNG pipeline from the North Slope.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
AG nominee Cox faces criticism over grand jury access policies
Multiple citizens testified against Attorney General nominee Stephen Cox at a House Judiciary Committee hearing Monday, alleging he commissioned academic research supporting direct citizen access to investigative grand juries but then implemented policies blocking that access.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Anchorage budget crisis mirrors national school funding squeeze
The Anchorage School District's $90 million deficit and proposed cuts reflect broader national trends of flat state funding, rising costs, and structural budget pressures facing urban districts.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min read
Board restricts Cook Inlet drift gillnet fishery to protect coho salmon
The Alaska Board of Fisheries voted 4-2 to significantly restrict the Cook Inlet drift gillnet fishery through new fishing windows, area closures, and a 2-mile shoreline buffer to protect struggling northern Cook Inlet coho salmon populations.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min read
Anchorage faces mobile home park crisis as South Park Estates closes
Municipality officials presented proposals for resident-owned communities and modular cottage developments to address the closure of South Park Estates mobile home park and the broader crisis of aging parks across Anchorage.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min read
Anchorage Park Foundation opens $300,000 challenge grant program
The Anchorage Park Foundation announced its annual challenge grant program offering up to $300,000 in matching funds for community-driven park and trail projects, with applications now open and a grantee kickoff scheduled for May 15.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Assembly considers smart taxi meters, $6 fare cap for Anchorage cabs
The Anchorage Assembly reviewed proposed changes to vehicle-for-hire rules that would require all taxi dispatchers to use GPS-based smart meters and raise the maximum fare cap from $3 to $6 per mile.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min read
Anchor Point Man Arrested After Assault, Vehicle Theft
Guy Foreman, 45, of Anchor Point was arrested April 28 on charges of vehicle theft, assault and driving with a suspended license after allegedly assaulting someone and stealing their vehicle.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readBoard Chair Survives Ethics Challenge Over Village Corporation Ties
The Alaska Board of Fisheries voted 6-0 that Chair Marit Carlson-Van Dort has no conflict of interest despite her role as CEO of Far West Inc., a Chignik Bay village corporation that took a position on Area M fisheries in 2018.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Big Lake Man Arrested Twice for DUI in Three Days
Nicholas Bailey, 40, of Big Lake was arrested twice in three days for DUI and refusal to submit to chemical testing following traffic stops in Big Lake and Wasilla.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readFish and Game closes Malina Bay herring fishery for season
Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed the Malina Bay herring fishery in the North Afognak District on April 29, 2026, for the remainder of the sac roe season.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readAnchorage to transfer Nordstrom building to development authority
The Anchorage Assembly introduced a proposal to transfer the vacant former Nordstrom building to ACDA for redevelopment as mixed-use housing and commercial space, with a public hearing scheduled for March 24.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Urban Design Commission to sunset after May meeting
The Anchorage Assembly voted to eliminate the Urban Design Commission, with the final regular meeting scheduled for May 2026 and responsibilities transferring to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Platting Board Denies Shawn Street Vacation Amid Gaming Hall Concerns
The Platting Board rejected a request to vacate Shawn Street right-of-way in Birchwood, citing concerns about future residential access despite neighbors' fears of commercial traffic from an adjacent gaming hall.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Mat-Su Parks Recruiting Summer Trail Crew, Campground Workers
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Parks Department is hiring seasonal workers for summer 2026 trail maintenance and campground operations, offering hands-on training in outdoor recreation management.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Urban Design Commission votes to recommend its own dissolution
The Anchorage Urban Design Commission voted 5-1 to recommend the Assembly dissolve the commission and transfer its duties to the Planning and Zoning Commission, citing efficiency concerns and a thin caseload.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Wasilla Man Arrested on Domestic Violence Assault Charge
Alaska State Troopers arrested Ross Turner, 33, on domestic violence assault charges after a late-night disturbance at a Wasilla residence where a child was present.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readMat-Su Emergency Services Certifies 25 Responders in Trench Rescue
Twenty-five emergency responders from across the Matanuska-Susitna Borough are completing week-long trench rescue technician certification training to address the common hazard of trench collapses in the region.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Oil industry opposes tax provisions in Alaska gas pipeline bill
Alaska Oil and Gas Association testified against multiple tax provisions in SB 280, warning that sections decoupling oil and gas lease expenditures and imposing new S-corp taxes could harm current operations and chill investment.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Kodiak Borough Lands Committee develops framework to streamline land disposal
The Kodiak Island Borough Lands Committee is creating standardized principles and screening criteria to make land disposal decisions more transparent and efficient, addressing workforce housing needs while protecting public interests.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Planning Commission accepts DOT concept for Tudor Road interchange redesign
The Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission accepted a concept report for the Alaska Department of Transportation's plan to rebuild the Seward Highway and Tudor Road interchange with improved pedestrian safety features and a tight diamond design.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Fish and Game sets cleanup rules for herring pound structures
Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued rules for removing herring pound structures in Prince William Sound after spawn-on-kelp harvest to prevent disease and ensure orderly fishery closure.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Borough proposes $580K budget with new staff, building upgrades
The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly reviewed the FY 2027 budget proposal, which includes adding a construction management position, transitioning to electric heating, and planning ADA accessibility improvements to the borough building entrance.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
School Board Reverses Course on Calendar After Community Backlash
The Anchorage School Board voted 7-0 to restore the original August 19 start date for the 2026-27 school year after community outcry over an earlier proposal that moved the first day of school to mid-August, conflicting with subsistence activities and family traditions.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Commission Approves Explosives Storage Site for Avalanche Control
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing the Alaska Department of Transportation to build an explosives storage facility and heliport near Girdwood for avalanche mitigation operations along the Seward Highway.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Assembly postpones developer's land deadline amid mobile home park dispute
The Anchorage Assembly voted 7-3 to postpone a decision on extending a developer's land deadline until May 12 after emotional testimony from South Park Estates residents facing displacement.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Willow Woman Charged After 25 Sled Dogs Found Dead on Property
A Willow woman faces 26 felony animal cruelty charges after 25 sled dogs were found starved to death on her property following months of ignored complaints to Mat-Su Animal Control.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readValdez Fire Department Contains Late-Night House Fire on Gulkana Street
The Valdez Fire Department contained a late-night structure fire on Gulkana Street on April 27 with no reported injuries, though details on property damage and cause remain limited.
by Alaska News5mo ago1 min readHomer Council to Vote on HART Sales Tax Renewal for November Ballot
Homer City Council votes tonight on placing a 20-year renewal of the 0.75 percent HART sales tax before voters in November to fund road and trail maintenance.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readSenate Finance Advances Agricultural Leasing Reform After Farmer Cites $9,000 Annual Fee
The Senate Finance Committee moved forward with legislation to make state agricultural land more accessible through below-market leases and merit-based selection after hearing testimony about prohibitive appraisal costs.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Senate panel hears workforce plan for Alaska LNG pipeline
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee received a presentation on workforce needs for the Alaska LNG pipeline project, with consultants warning the state must act immediately to prepare workers for construction that could begin as soon as 2027.
by Alaska News5mo ago5 min read
Kodiak Trooper Uses Surfboard to Rescue Teen from Island Lake Ice
Alaska State Trooper Anthony Will used a surfboard to rescue a hypothermic teenager who fell through thin ice on Kodiak's Island Lake on April 25, with Sergeant Nathan Walsh towing them to shore where fire department personnel provided medical care.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readWild ice skating grows from isolated hobby to organized Alaska community
A legislative lunch-and-learn session highlighted the rapid growth of wild ice skating in Alaska, from isolated individual experiences to an organized community activity attracting international media attention and supporting local manufacturing.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Governor's appointee questioned on Holocaust views, residency qualifications
The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded Veronica Lambertson's appointment to the Alaska Police Standards Council to a joint session despite concerns about her residency qualifications and social media posts questioning the Holocaust.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read