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Numbers are stories in the last 30 days.
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August 2026
Prince William Sound's purse seine fleet stays closed, waiting on weather
Prince William Sound's seine fleet stays closed, grounded because the weather's too poor to fly the aerial surveys Fish and Game needs before it will open.

Prince William Sound stays at one king a day through Sept. 15
Prince William Sound's king limit stays at one fish a day through Sept. 15, four harbors excepted, right as kings start showing up near Glacier Island and Pigot Bay.

Interior Alaska's spring-thaw weight limits lift Wednesday for haulers
Spring-thaw weight limits are lifting on Interior Alaska roads Wednesday — haulers can apply for overweight permits again, but full loads aren't automatic.

July 2026
Prince William Sound king salmon limit stays at one fish through Sept. 15
Prince William Sound's king limit stays at one fish through Sept. 15, right as the bite heats up near Glacier Island. Four terminal harbors still allow two.

The new Richardson Highway bridge takes shape at Mile 346
The last girders are up on the new Richardson Highway bridge at Mile 346 — a rebuild aimed at reopening a key Valdez-to-Canada freight route to heavy loads.

Alaska's stacked weekend of BIG EVENTS
Get out of your house. Like, summers gonna be done soon. What're you waiting for?

Copper River stays closed to commercial fishing as sockeye run under forecast
Copper River stays shut to commercial fishing as sockeye lag forecast; the only opening on the books is a 12-hour subsistence period Monday morning.

DNR moves to lease four acres near Valdez to adventure tourism operator Black Ops Valdez
DNR is leasing four acres near Valdez to Black Ops Valdez for heli-skiing and backcountry tours, but the deal faces a competitive bidding process if the public objects during the comment period.

More from Valdez
Northern Region roads return to full summer loads Friday
Alaska lifts spring weight limits on most Northern Region roads Friday, July 10, letting commercial haulers return to full legal loads, except Tofty Road into Tanana stays capped at 75 percent.

June 2026
The state wants this gravel pit to be permanent.
The state wants to make a Richardson Highway gravel pit permanent — and this 22-day comment window is the public's only formal say over how it's run, now and indefinitely.

North Slope, Fairbanks, Valdez sue over pipeline tax values
Three Alaska municipalities sued June 22 over how pipeline companies value their assets for local taxes, challenging assessments that affect borough and city revenue.

AI is becoming Alaska's front page. It only knows the Alaska that's online.
The first AI answer most Alaskans see now appears inside an ordinary Google search, above the links. It summarizes what the web already covers well. For much of Alaska, the web covers almost nothing.

CVEA files to renew Solomon Gulch hydro license before 2028 expiration
Copper Valley Electric Association filed to renew its Solomon Gulch hydroelectric license before it expires May 31, 2028, submitting required paperwork to federal regulators on June 12.

Kuparuk Pipeline seeks 76% capacity expansion for North Slope crude
Kuparuk Transportation Company seeks to expand its pipeline capacity 76 percent, from 360,000 to 634,000 barrels per day, to move more North Slope crude into the Trans Alaska Pipeline System.

DEC opens comment on Trans Alaska Pipeline spill plan renewal
Alaska's environmental agency opened public comment on the Trans Alaska Pipeline's spill-response plan renewal through March 5, covering the 800-mile system from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.

Alaskans' debt falls to lowest level in a decade
Alaska adults carried an average of $68,900 in household debt in 2024, down roughly $1,900 from 2023 and the lowest level in a decade, though Alaskans still owe about $7,300 more per person than the national average.

About Valdez
Valdez, also known by its Alutiiq name Suacit, is a port city in the Chugach Census Area at the northeastern end of Prince William Sound. It is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, operated by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, and it is reached by the Richardson Highway and by Alaska Marine Highway ferries.
Oil property makes up most of the city's tax base, so pipeline tax valuations and municipal tax policy recur in its affairs. The surrounding waters support commercial salmon seining and sport fishing under Prince William Sound king salmon limits, and the city hosts the Silver Salmon Derby. Heavy snow and Richardson Highway conditions shape travel to and from the city.
Valdez is one of the Prince William Sound communities, along with Cordova, Whittier, Chenega and Tatitlek. With the North Slope Borough and Fairbanks, it has challenged how pipeline companies value their assets for local taxes.
More from Valdez
May 2026
Prince William Sound king salmon limits slashed to one fish
Alaska cut king salmon limits to one fish in most Prince William Sound waters to protect stocks with low productivity. • Terminal areas near Whittier, Cordova, Valdez, and Chenega keep two-fish daily limits. • Shrimp pot limits also reduced to two per person, season runs May 1 through June 8. • Anglers must buy 2026 sport fishing license and king stamp before fishing.

Alaska DOT imposes four-tier weight limits on Northern Region roads
Alaska DOT limits truck weights on Northern Region roads starting May 21 due to spring thaw. • Restrictions range from 50 to 100 percent of legal axle load depending on road condition. • Major highways like Parks Highway stay at full weight, while rural roads drop to 50 percent. • Elliot and Dalton highways exempt from seasonal limits.
Engine Trouble Strands Columbia Ferry at Whittier Dock for Four Hours
Engine trouble stranded the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Columbia at Whittier for four hours on May 5, delaying hundreds of passengers and dozens of vehicles headed to Prince William Sound.
April 2026
Valdez Fire Department Contains Late-Night House Fire on Gulkana Street
Valdez firefighters contained a house fire on Gulkana Street late April 27 with no injuries or damage to nearby homes.
Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission Meets Tonight
Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission meets tonight at 7 PM in City Hall to review permits, variances, and subdivisions as part of an ongoing zoning code update.