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A $2.5 million geothermal training grant for Unalaska sits 3 percent spent

Unalaska abandoned its Makushin geothermal project in May 2025, but a $2.5 million federal training grant tied to it remains open and largely unspent with only $75,000 spent so far.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min readAI
Unalaska, Alaska
Cover image for article: A $2.5 million geothermal training grant for Unalaska sits 3 percent spent

A gale warning hits Bristol Bay and Aleutian waters Wednesday, with a second storm right behind

A gale warning hits Bristol Bay and Aleutian waters Wednesday, with winds topping 34 knots and seas to 11 feet, and a second storm is right behind it.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readAI
Southwest Alaska
Cover image for article: A gale warning hits Bristol Bay and Aleutian waters Wednesday, with a second storm right behind

Judge vacates 490-acre Izembek land swap, reopening the fight over the King Cove road

A judge voided the land deal behind the King Cove road, reopening a decades-old fight. Crews stage construction as the court weighs a halt by Aug. 31.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago4 min readAI
Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
Cover image for article: Judge vacates 490-acre Izembek land swap, reopening the fight over the King Cove road

NWS forecast calls for 1 to 2 more inches of rain in Southwest Alaska

A Bering Sea storm will drop 1 to 2 more inches of rain across Southwest Alaska through Tuesday, with sustained winds pushing water levels up to 1 foot above normal along the Bristol Bay coast.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Southwest Alaska
Cover image for article: NWS forecast calls for 1 to 2 more inches of rain in Southwest Alaska

Winter ferry bookings open on the system that's the only road many Alaska towns have

Winter ferry bookings are open on the Alaska Marine Highway — the federally funded "road" for the four-in-five Alaska towns with no highway — even as some communities say this winter's schedule is still too thin.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska
Cover image for article: Winter ferry bookings open on the system that's the only road many Alaska towns have

Strong escapement at one weir is driving long Alaska Peninsula openings

One weir at Orzinski counts salmon for the whole South Alaska Peninsula. It's running above average, and the openings have gotten long to match.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Cold Bay, Alaska
Cover image for article: Strong escapement at one weir is driving long Alaska Peninsula openings

Murkowski targets federal conditions on Southeast's hydropower licenses

Southeast's power comes from dams on Tongass land. Murkowski's bill would limit what the Forest Service can demand as those licenses come up for renewal.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Washington, D.C.
Cover image for article: Murkowski targets federal conditions on Southeast's hydropower licenses

Glacial outburst flood destroys 100 feet of Fish Creek bear platform near Hyder

A glacial outburst flood destroyed over 100 feet of the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site platform near Hyder, forcing the Forest Service to close the bear and salmon viewing facility.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Hyder, Alaska
Cover image for article: Glacial outburst flood destroys 100 feet of Fish Creek bear platform near Hyder

Seth Whiteman, 22, dead after going overboard near Egegik Bay

Seth Whiteman, 22, of Eagle River went overboard near Egegik Bay on June 29 and was not wearing a life jacket. His body was recovered from a nearby beach on July 11.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Egegik Bay, Alaska
Cover image for article: Seth Whiteman, 22, dead after going overboard near Egegik Bay

Five muskoxen are stuck on a 15-acre island, so Alaska is opening a hunt

Five muskoxen wandered onto a 15-acre island with no water and no way off. Alaska can't afford to move them, so it's opening a hunt instead.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Nunivak Island, Alaska
Cover image for article: Five muskoxen are stuck on a 15-acre island, so Alaska is opening a hunt

Unimak Island caribou hunt RC205 opens August 1 with three-animal limit

Unimak Island caribou hunt RC205 opens August 1 with three-animal limit per hunter, permits required and available now at King Salmon ADF&G office or online.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Unimak Island, Alaska
Cover image for article: Unimak Island caribou hunt RC205 opens August 1 with three-animal limit

State opens bids for Chenega Bay airport maintenance contract

Alaska is seeking a new maintenance contractor for Chenega Bay Rural Airport in Prince William Sound, with bids due July 16 and award expected by July 28.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Chenega Bay, Alaska
Cover image for article: State opens bids for Chenega Bay airport maintenance contract

Nelson Island residents put out tundra fire before state crews could arrive

Nelson Island residents near Toksook Bay extinguished a lightning-caused tundra fire on June 24 before state crews could arrive, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection reported.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min readAI
Nelson Island, Southwest Alaska
Cover image for article: Nelson Island residents put out tundra fire before state crews could arrive

Smokejumpers were called to a fire near a Kuskokwim homestead — then couldn't jump

A fire near a Kuskokwim homestead hit 50 acres, so Alaska scrambled its smokejumpers — who found the terrain too dangerous to jump. Back to plan B.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Southwest Alaska
Cover image for article: Smokejumpers were called to a fire near a Kuskokwim homestead — then couldn't jump

Federal fishery disaster relief of $99M headed to Alaska after years of waiting

Alaska took four of every five dollars in the nation's fishery-disaster aid — and none of it has reached anyone yet, with 13 more disasters still in line.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska
Cover image for article: Federal fishery disaster relief of $99M headed to Alaska after years of waiting

ADF&G opens youth-only fishing events across Southcentral, Southwest Alaska

ADF&G is reserving specific Southcentral and Southwest salmon waters for youth anglers this summer. • Kids 15 and under can fish without a license during these designated event windows. • Events run from June through August at locations like Ship Creek and Homer Spit.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska
Cover image for article: ADF&G opens youth-only fishing events across Southcentral, Southwest Alaska

Judge allows state to resume helicopter bear kills during lawsuit

Judge Adolf Zeman denied a request to stop Alaska's helicopter bear control program across 40,000 square miles of southwest Alaska, allowing the state to resume spring killings while a lawsuit challenging the program's legality continues in court.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min readAI
Southwest Alaska
Cover image for article: Judge allows state to resume helicopter bear kills during lawsuit

ADF&G to issue 10 mountain goat permits in Seldovia on June 10

ADF&G will 10 mountain goat hunting permits for Seldovia, first-come first-served to Alaska residents only.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min readAI
Seldovia
Cover image for article: ADF&G to issue 10 mountain goat permits in Seldovia on June 10

Craig, Klawock Anglers Face New Ban on Filleting Fish at Sea

Alaska Department of Fish and Game has banned marine anglers from filleting or de-heading lingcod, nonpelagic rockfish, and king or coho salmon at sea when returning to Craig and Klawock ports, requiring fish to remain whole for creel sampling.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min readAI
Prince of Wales Island

Alaska News Roundup: Gas pipeline tax fight, Point Thomson trade-off, and McNeil River access debate

This episode covers the week's major Alaska stories: a gas pipeline tax bill that added oil tax increases, the Point Thomson condensate trade-off for pipeline gas, Mount Edgecumbe enrollment crisis, and McNeil River bear sanctuary access proposals.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska
Cover image for article: Alaska News Roundup: Gas pipeline tax fight, Point Thomson trade-off, and McNeil River access debate

Mount Kupreanof shows signs of magma intrusion 50 miles from Sand Point

Mount Kupreanof volcano on the Alaska Peninsula has been raised to YELLOW alert status after showing signs of magmatic intrusion for the first time in over 10,000 years, with potential impacts to Sand Point 50 miles away.

Alaska Newsby Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago2 min readAI
Mount Kupreanof

McNeil River bear viewing access dispute revealed in survey results

Alaska Department of Fish and Game posted results from a McNeil River stakeholder survey that drew 741 responses, revealing access disputes that will keep operations status quo while the agency reviews feedback on transportation methods and bear viewing access.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News3mo ago2 min readAI
McNeil River State Game Sanctuary

Chignik King Salmon Meets Escapement Goal After Six-Year Drought

Chignik River king salmon reached the biological escapement goal in 2025 for the first time since 2019, raising questions about whether aggressive conservation measures should continue.

Alaska Newsby Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago6 min readAI
Alaska
Cover image for article: Chignik King Salmon Meets Escapement Goal After Six-Year Drought

Alaska Fishery Debates Reflect Broader Tensions Over Mixed-Stock Management

Alaska Peninsula fishery discussions mirror national struggles to balance commercial harvest with conservation in mixed-stock corridors where multiple salmon populations overlap.

Alaska Newsby Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago6 min readAI
Alaska Peninsula / Aleutian Island / Chignik
Cover image for article: Alaska Fishery Debates Reflect Broader Tensions Over Mixed-Stock Management

Board Restricts Fishing Gear to Protect Chinook in Chignik, Area M

The Alaska Board of Fisheries approved multiple gear restrictions to conserve Chinook salmon stocks in the Chignik Management Area and South Alaska Peninsula, including reduced seine net depth and area closures.

Alaska Newsby Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska Peninsula / Aleutian Island / Chignik
Cover image for article: Board Restricts Fishing Gear to Protect Chinook in Chignik, Area M