News

Gov. Walker, Young blast drilling restrictions

JUNEAU — Alaska political leaders are blasting an Obama administration decision Tuesday designating the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas… Continue reading

NTSB releases preliminary reports on 3 deadly Alaska crashes

ANCHORAGE — Former state Rep. Mike Kelly was testing recently installed equipment on his small plane when he crashed in Alaska’s interior, killing the longtime… Continue reading

Feds plan to hasten transfer of Alaska land using GPS

ANCHORAGE — The federal government has announced plans to speed up the transfer of about 35 million acres of land to Alaska.The federal government has… Continue reading

Group looks to establish Kenai Peninsula drug detox center

KENAI — The operators of a residential drug treatment facility inside a Soldotna hospital are seeking funds from the state to become central Kenai Peninsula’s… Continue reading

Opioid group makes final suggestions Wednesday

A state task force created to recommend solutions to Alaska’s opioid drug epidemic will finalize its recommendations Wednesday.The Alaska Opioid Policy Task Force’s draft list… Continue reading

Soldotna moves forward with plans for annexation proposal

KENAI — The city of Soldotna has approved $50,000 to gather public input on the potential annexation of land surrounding the city.The Peninsula Clarion reported… Continue reading

Alaska plane crash victims identified, bodies recovered

ANCHORAGE — Alaska State Troopers said responders have recovered the bodies of two Aniak residents who were on board a small plane that crashed in… Continue reading

Man sentenced in attacks in Alaska’s Iditarod race

FAIRBANKS — A 27-year-old man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to charges connected with a snowmobile attack on two mushers competing in Alaska’s Iditarod… Continue reading

An honor guard from the U.S. Coast Guard presents the colors during the Electoral College vote casting ceremony at the Alaska State Museum on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016.

Alaska’s three Electoral College voters follow the script

Rebellion is a seller at the movie theater, but it wasn’t on the minds of Alaska’s three Electoral College voters.On Monday, all three cast votes… Continue reading

An honor guard from the U.S. Coast Guard presents the colors during the Electoral College vote casting ceremony at the Alaska State Museum on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016.

Anchorage residents take the 32-degree plunge

ANCHORAGE — More than a thousand people in Alaska on Saturday dressed up as elves or in other elaborate costumes while some stripped down to… Continue reading

In this Dec. 8 photo, Emily Mengershausen poses for photos at Ascension Rock Club in Fairbanks. Mengershausen, one of Fairbanks' premier climbing instructors, taught herself to climb and started competing after she was injured as a young gymnast.

Climbing the rock of life

FAIRBANKS — When a young gymnast named Emily Mengershausen fell from the balance beam in Kansas City, dislocating her elbow, her life’s trajectory took a… Continue reading

In this Dec. 8 photo, Emily Mengershausen poses for photos at Ascension Rock Club in Fairbanks. Mengershausen, one of Fairbanks' premier climbing instructors, taught herself to climb and started competing after she was injured as a young gymnast.

Alaska unemployment rate at 6.8 percent last month

JUNEAU — Alaska’s unemployment rate for November stood at 6.8 percent.State and federal labor statistics show the seasonally adjusted, preliminary rate compares to a revised… Continue reading

US rig count up 13 this week to 637; Texas adds 14

HOUSTON — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by 13 this week to 637.A year ago, 709… Continue reading

David Ansbach pumps gas into his van at the downtown Tersoro Alaska station on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016. As part of his new budget, Governor Bill Walker has proposed tripling the motor fuel tax from eight cents per gallon to 24 cents over the next two years to be more inline with the national average.

Walker proposes tripling gasoline tax to bite budget

Alaska’s gasoline taxes could triple by 2018 under a plan proposed by Gov. Bill Walker on Thursday.The gas tax hike was included as part of… Continue reading

David Ansbach pumps gas into his van at the downtown Tersoro Alaska station on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016. As part of his new budget, Governor Bill Walker has proposed tripling the motor fuel tax from eight cents per gallon to 24 cents over the next two years to be more inline with the national average.

Fire burns main structure at Alaska ice carving park

FAIRBANKS — A fire has burned the main building at the Fairbanks, Alaska, park that hosts the annual world ice art championships.The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner,… Continue reading

Police investigate east Anchorage shooting; man wounded

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage police are investigating an early morning shooting that left a man wounded on the city’s east side.Dispatchers just before 2:30 a.m. Friday… Continue reading

FILE - In this Friday, March 27, 2015 file photo, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson delivers remarks on the release of a report by the National Petroleum Council on oil drilling in the Arctic, in Washington. President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, he has tapped Tillerson to serve as his secretary of state. If confirmed by the Senate, where opposition is emerging, the move could have broad consequences for U.S. environmental policy and affect the role the U.S. plays in multinational discussions about climate change. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Q&A: Tillerson could affect offshore drilling in Alaska

PORTLAND, Maine — President-elect Donald Trump this week tapped ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to serve as his secretary of state. If confirmed by the Senate,… Continue reading

FILE - In this Friday, March 27, 2015 file photo, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson delivers remarks on the release of a report by the National Petroleum Council on oil drilling in the Arctic, in Washington. President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, he has tapped Tillerson to serve as his secretary of state. If confirmed by the Senate, where opposition is emerging, the move could have broad consequences for U.S. environmental policy and affect the role the U.S. plays in multinational discussions about climate change. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

School district provides scholarships to attract teachers

BETHEL — A Bethel school district struggling to retain teachers is offering to help fund college educations as a recruitment tool to get more teachers… Continue reading

FBI notes rise of gang violence in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE — The FBI says it has seen an uptick in gang activity in Anchorage, with most of the crime centered on drugs.FBI agent Mike… Continue reading

Judge in Alaska tosses lawsuit against electors

JUNEAU — A federal judge in Alaska has thrown out a lawsuit brought by a Hillary Clinton supporter seeking to prevent the state’s three electoral… Continue reading