Southcentral

Independent groups report spending more than the candidates raised in Kodiak's House race

A retired teacher and a young fisherman want Kodiak's open House seat. Groups backed by unions and national party money have spent more than the two raised.

by Alaska News1w ago3 min read

Homer draft would limit short-term rentals in 4 zones to operators' homes

Homer's draft rule would let short-term rentals in four residential zones run only where the operator lives. Planning commissioners weigh in Wednesday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Police find 9-year-old boy who was reported missing Monday in Eagle River

Anchorage police say Malik Muhammad, a 9-year-old boy reported missing Monday evening in Eagle River, has been found. Police had asked the public for help.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Palmer could lease Apron D for hangars without waiting on master plan, manager says

Palmer's airport chief says the city doesn't have to wait for its master plan to turn Apron D's open aircraft parking into a lease lot, possibly for hangars.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Anchorage planners seek delays on three hearings, including Tudor interchange

Anchorage planners asked to push three Nov. 9 hearings into December. It would be the second delay for the Seward Highway-Tudor Road interchange review.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Palmer airport plans to ask FAA to approve golf course rent of at least $114,000

Palmer's airport chief wants FAA approval to raise the city golf course's rent on airport land from about $15,000 to at least $114,000 a year.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Palmer planners pick four downtown goals from a parking study instead of adopting it

Palmer planners passed on adopting a consultant's parking study and picked four goals instead, from safer walking to a 15 to 20 mph downtown speed limit.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

State proposes new wastewater mixing zones for Pacific Seafood's Kodiak plants

State regulators propose new wastewater dilution zones for Pacific Seafood's two Kodiak plants in Near Island Channel. Public comment runs through Dec. 2.

by Alaska News1w ago2 min read

Alaska Railroad recruits Anchorage high schoolers to train as tour guides

Alaska Railroad wants Anchorage juniors and seniors for its King Tech tour guide class, applications due Dec. 3. Finishing it can lead to a paid summer job on the railroad.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Two new members join Alaska's disabilities council, leaving two seats open

Alaska's disabilities council appointed Don Clack and Dave Berube to its Special Education and Advocacy seats. Two seats, a self-advocate and an aging commission rep, stay open.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Borough presentation says Soldotna Elementary rebuild stays within voter-approved bond

Borough officials are set to tell the Kenai school board Nov. 2 that the Soldotna Elementary rebuild stays within its voter-approved bond.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Kenai Peninsula schools run 258 students short in the count used for state funding

Kenai Peninsula schools were running 258 students under projections late in the state count used for funding, in a district already projecting a shortfall.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Troopers arrest Palmer man on DUI charge after pickup hits moose in Wasilla

Troopers arrested a Palmer man for DUI after his pickup hit a moose on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway bridge Monday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Palmer planners deny downtown BBQ parking variance on two 3-3 ties

Palmer's planning commission split 3-3 and sank the parking variance Bear Naked BBQ needs downtown. The owner has until Wednesday to appeal.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom Oct 15

Hilcorp seeks renewal of its oil spill plan for 12 Cook Inlet platforms

Hilcorp wants the state to renew its oil spill plan for 12 Cook Inlet platforms and two Kenai Peninsula fields. Public comments are open through Dec. 1.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Assembly weighs using $400,000 in Girdwood reserves for Ruane Road culvert

The Anchorage Assembly votes Wednesday on using $400,000 in Girdwood reserves to match a federal grant. This money funds a $2 million project to replace aging culverts with a fish-friendly design.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Anchorage Assembly to consider $1.9 million for police unit targeting impaired drivers

Anchorage police could get about $2.6 million, mostly from the state, to go after impaired drivers, speeders, street racers and distracted drivers.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Anchorage police seek man who walked away from Parkview Center

Anchorage police got a felony escape warrant for a 36-year-old man who walked away from the downtown Parkview Center reentry facility and want help finding him.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Kansas Guard engineers raise Cordova staging pad 18 feet for a future deep-sea port

Kansas Guard engineers raised a work pad 18 feet and cut trails in Cordova this year for a planned deep-sea port, working with the Native Village of Eyak.

by Melinda Communities.News1w ago1 min readFrom Aug 7

Assembly to consider $587,000 contract to rebuild Creekside Park paths and playground

Creekside Park's worn paths and playground could get rebuilt. The Assembly takes up a $587,000 contract Wednesday, with work expected done by summer 2027.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Kodiak weighs two plans to rebuild Trident Basin seaplane base around a new dock

A Kodiak floatplane dock shows signs of sinking. The airport board reviews two plans Wednesday to rebuild the Trident Basin seaplane base around a new one.

by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Anchorage road plan keeps contested Seward Highway and downtown rebuilds

Anchorage's draft road plan keeps a $1.6 billion Seward Highway rebuild and a lane-cutting 5th and 6th redo, counting on federal money above the usual share.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Kodiak borough manager asks Assembly to reject landfill bear hazing contract

Kodiak's borough manager wants the Assembly to reject a $250,000 overnight bear-hazing contract at the landfill, saying the state no longer requires it.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Kodiak Assembly to vote on trash deal raising some business rates up to 43%

Kodiak's only bidder for trash service would charge some businesses up to 43% more and raise bulk pickup from $20 to $50. The Assembly votes Thursday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Homer planners approve cabins and commercial buildings with stormwater plans required

Homer planners OK'd eight Lake Street cabins and two Ocean Drive buildings, with stormwater plans required. A neighbor says a planned ditch was never built.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Troopers arrest man, 24, accused of attempted sexual assault, gunfire at Wasilla party

Troopers arrested a 24 year old man accused of trying to sexually assault a juvenile at a Wasilla Halloween party, then firing a gun inside the home.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

LaFrance appoints retired municipal lawyer to Anchorage Equal Rights Commission

Mayor Suzanne LaFrance appointed retired attorney Linda Johnson to the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission. The Assembly votes on her confirmation Wednesday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Kenai Peninsula school board votes Monday on 10-year renewal of Fireweed Academy charter

Kenai school board votes Monday on a 10 year charter renewal for Homer's Fireweed Academy, through 2037. • Same meeting, district leaders recommend denying a proposed Soldotna Elementary charter over budget and compliance issues.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Kenai Peninsula district leaders urge school board to reject Soldotna Elementary charter

District leaders urge the school board to reject turning Soldotna Elementary into a charter school. They cite a $1.1 million budget gap and no secured building. Board votes Monday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: Soldotna Elementary parents and staff propose a charter that keeps neighborhood enrollment

Appeals send both Woodland Subdivision short-term rental permits to Kenai City Council

Both Woodland Subdivision short-term rental permits, approved by Kenai planners Oct. 14, face appeals heading to City Council.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: Kenai planners approve two Woodland Subdivision short-term rentals, one 3-2

Assembly to vote Wednesday on McDonald Center contract after audit's 11 findings

Eagle River's rink operator could get 10 more years at the McDonald Center, 10 months after a city audit listed 11 findings. The Assembly takes it up Wednesday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

LaFrance names business executive to Anchorage salary commission, reappoints another

LaFrance appointed John Gregoire Jr. and reappointed Karen Norsworthy to Anchorage's salary commission, pending Assembly confirmation Nov. 4.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: LaFrance names 11 to Anchorage boards and asks the Assembly to confirm them Nov. 4

Citizen board that advises on Kachemak Bay State Park meets Nov. 10 in Homer

The citizen board advising on Kachemak Bay State Park meets Nov. 10 in Homer. In March it backed a bill rewriting state habitat laws, Kachemak Bay's included.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Cook Inlet Tribal Council seeks a bigger K'teya center for the same $36.5 million

Cook Inlet Tribal Council restarted its builder search for the K'teya center with a bigger building, the same $36.5 million and more for that money to cover.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Citizen board that advises the state on the Kenai River meets Nov. 12 in Soldotna

The citizen board that advises the state on the Kenai River, on everything but who gets the fish, meets Nov. 12 in Soldotna and online and takes comments.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Northrim still expects its Oregon bank purchase to close around Jan. 1

Northrim told the SEC it still expects to own an Oregon bank around New Year's, its first step outside Alaska. Deal costs ran about $1 million last quarter.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Anchorage Assembly weighs just under $300,000 to help price a trash-burning power plant

The Anchorage Assembly may pay its only bidder just under $300,000 to help price a trash-burning power plant, on top of up to $700,000 it approved to design it.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Follows: Anchorage Assembly to consider $700,000 to start designing trash-burning power plant

Assembly to weigh a helipad for military helicopters at the Port of Alaska

Anchorage's port could get its own helipad so Army and Air Force helicopters can deploy through it. The Assembly votes Wednesday on a deal worth up to $3.9M.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Windstorm cut power to at least 11,800 Chugach Electric members in Anchorage

Friday's windstorm drove trees into power lines, cutting power to at least 11,800 Chugach Electric members. A few hundred were still out early Saturday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: Windstorm gusts hit 70 mph south of Eagle River, cutting power to over 13,500 MEA members

Kodiak sea cucumber divers get a 13-day opening after forecasts show no gale warnings

No gale warnings in the forecast, so Kodiak's sea cucumber divers get 13 days. Fifty divers fished it in 1993; eight permits did in the 2023/24 season.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read