News

Gov. Bill Walker speaks during a press conference in Juneau on Wednesday. Gov. Walker congratulated the Senate on passing SB 128, the Permanent Fund spending bill, and asked the House to do the same.

Governor urges action on Permanent Fund bill

Gov. Bill Walker urged lawmakers Wednesday to continue work on the flagship legislation of his 13-point plan to balance Alaska’s multibillion-dollar deficit, tempering his words… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks during a press conference in Juneau on Wednesday. Gov. Walker congratulated the Senate on passing SB 128, the Permanent Fund spending bill, and asked the House to do the same.

Alaska courts to close Friday afternoons in cost-saving move

ANCHORAGE — Alaska officials said all state courts will be closed every Friday at noon beginning July 1 to cut operating costs during the state’s… Continue reading

3 die in crash of passenger van on remote Alaska island

ANCHORAGE — Alaska State Troopers said a traffic crash on a remote Aleutian island killed three people in a van.Troopers said the van was carrying… Continue reading

Climber dies of unknown illness on Alaska mountain

ANCHORAGE — The National Park Service says a climber on Alaska’s Denali mountain died Tuesday of an unknown illness.The climber’s name, gender and home country… Continue reading

Mark Bouquin, a former Ketchikan resident and Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show lumberjack, poses for a portrait during the filming of the endurance challenge reality TV show, "American Grit."

Former Ketchikan lumberjack wins reality show competition

KETCHIKAN — A former Ketchikan resident and Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show lumberjack won FOX’s “American Grit,” a military-style endurance reality TV show.Mark Bouquin of Colden,… Continue reading

Mark Bouquin, a former Ketchikan resident and Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show lumberjack, poses for a portrait during the filming of the endurance challenge reality TV show, "American Grit."

Alaska Airlines CEO says he might keep Virgin brand

NEW YORK — Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden said Wednesday that he might keep the Virgin America brand, running it and Alaska as two different… Continue reading

Ketchikan authorities seize half a pound of meth, arrest three

KETCHIKAN — The Ketchikan Police Department, Alaska State Troopers and Adult Probation office searched a Ketchikan building near Ward Cove on Monday and turned up… Continue reading

Members of the House Bill 247 conference committee hold a brief discussion before opening a meeting at 8 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2016. From left are Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole; Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage; Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna; and Rep. David Talerico, R-Healy.

Lawmakers keep billion-dollar oil tax loophole

The Alaska Legislature has approved a cut to oil and gas drilling subsidies that promises millions in savings but fails to close a loophole that… Continue reading

Members of the House Bill 247 conference committee hold a brief discussion before opening a meeting at 8 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2016. From left are Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole; Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage; Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna; and Rep. David Talerico, R-Healy.

Adult smoking generally declines, still higher among Alaska Natives

Smoking rates continue to decline in Alaska, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.Between 1996 and 2013, the number of adult smokers… Continue reading

In this March 2, 2010 file photo, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco looks out from the waterfront as she speaks to fisherman in Gloucester, Massachusettes. Nearly 400 scientists are urging President Obama to eliminate the possibility of Arctic offshore drilling in the near future by taking Arctic waters out of the next federal offshore lease sale plan. The 388 scientists include Lubchenco, Obama's former administrator of NOAA. The Interior Department is collecting public comment through Thursday, June 16, 2016, on the proposed 5-year oil and gas leasing program, which would cover 2017 to 2022.

Scientists: Drop Arctic from plans for offshore drilling

ANCHORAGE — Nearly 400 scientists have signed a letter urging President Obama to eliminate the possibility of Arctic offshore drilling in the near future by… Continue reading

In this March 2, 2010 file photo, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco looks out from the waterfront as she speaks to fisherman in Gloucester, Massachusettes. Nearly 400 scientists are urging President Obama to eliminate the possibility of Arctic offshore drilling in the near future by taking Arctic waters out of the next federal offshore lease sale plan. The 388 scientists include Lubchenco, Obama's former administrator of NOAA. The Interior Department is collecting public comment through Thursday, June 16, 2016, on the proposed 5-year oil and gas leasing program, which would cover 2017 to 2022.

Alaska officials welcome new federal rule on adoption cases

JUNEAU — Alaska officials say a new federal rule that will require judges to ask whether a child is a Native American during foster-care and… Continue reading

Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, left, and Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, listen during the House Finance Committee meeting as they work on SB 128, the Permanent Fund spending bill, in the Bill Ray Center on Monday.

House hostile to Permanent Fund bill

Members of the Alaska House Finance Committee continue to express uncertainty and hostility toward a measure that would use money from the earnings of the… Continue reading

Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, left, and Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, listen during the House Finance Committee meeting as they work on SB 128, the Permanent Fund spending bill, in the Bill Ray Center on Monday.

A’s to your Q’s on the Permanent Fund bill

The Alaska Legislature is moving quickly to address a bill that would divert a portion of the Alaska Permanent Fund to pay for the state’s… Continue reading

As Legislature balks, state's credit rating continues to fall

As Legislature balks, state’s credit rating continues to fall

The last credit rating agency to give Alaska a top credit rating has changed its mind.On Tuesday, Fitch Ratings gave the state an AA+ rating… Continue reading

As Legislature balks, state's credit rating continues to fall
This screengrab from the Southeast Alaska Power Agency website shows the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Facility

Ketchikan dam project complicated by high lake level

Crews encountered some difficulties beginning the project due to a warm winter and wet spring that left water levels higher than expected at Swan Lake… Continue reading

This screengrab from the Southeast Alaska Power Agency website shows the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Facility

Ketchikan could see raise in sales tax cap

KETCHIKAN — Residents of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough could see an increase next year in the borough’s $1,000 sales tax cap that was put in… Continue reading

US says airlines are improving at on-time performance

Airlines are doing a better job of sticking to their schedules, and consumer complaints are falling.The Department of Transportation said Monday that 84.5 percent of… Continue reading

Woman dies after ATV overturns in Mat-Su creek

ANCHORAGE — An Anchorage woman died Sunday night after her all-terrain vehicle overturned in a creek that feeds into the Knik River in the Matanuska-Susitna… Continue reading

Southeast Alaska ferry service still owes money on $3M loan

KETCHIKAN — An independent ferry serving communities in southeast Alaska is struggling to come up with the funds to continue its service, and the operators… Continue reading

Truck fire leads to arrest of man suspected of burglary

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage police have arrested a man suspected of breaking into a business, stealing a truck and crashing it on the Glenn Highway.Police said… Continue reading