Latest Alaska News

Alaska governor issues disaster declaration for areas affected by flooding from breakup of river ice

May. 10, 2024 20:29 PM EDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Mike Dunleavy has issued a state disaster declaration for southwest Alaska communities that have experienced flooding due to the spring breakup of river ice and snowmelt. Water surrounded some homes in low-lying areas of the regional hub of Bethel,...

Cruise ship worker accused of stabbing 3 people with scissors on board vessel bound for Alaska

May. 07, 2024 21:42 PM EDT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A cruise ship worker from South Africa was arrested Tuesday in Alaska's capital city, accused of attacking a woman and two security guards with scissors on board the vessel, according to authorities. The U.S. attorney's office says the man is charged with...

Alaska judge grants limited stay in correspondence school allotments decision

May. 03, 2024 21:03 PM EDT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A state court judge has paused through June his decision striking down laws that allowed some Alaska students to use public funds at private and religious schools, rejecting a request from the state for a longer stay. Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman also said...

Witness says Alaska plane that crashed had smoke coming from engine after takeoff, NTSB finds

May. 02, 2024 17:07 PM EDT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A witness saw smoke coming from one of the engines of an old military plane that crashed last week shortly after taking off on a flight to deliver fuel to a remote Alaska village, according to a preliminary crash report released Thursday. The witness said that...

Alaska Senate passes budget differing from House version with roughly $1,580 payments to residents

May. 01, 2024 21:29 PM EDT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska residents would receive checks of around $1,580 this year under the version of the state operating budget passed by the Senate on Wednesday. The check size — a combination of the yearly dividend paid to residents plus an energy relief payment — is...

US House votes to remove wolves from endangered list in 48 states

Apr. 30, 2024 19:02 PM EDT

The U.S. House voted Tuesday to end federal protection for gray wolves, approving a bill that would remove them from the endangered species list across the lower 48 states. A handful of Democrats joined with Republicans in passing the bill. The measure now goes to the Senate, but it...

Iditarod says new burled arch will be in place for '25 race after current finish line arch collapses

Apr. 30, 2024 17:22 PM EDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — There will be a new burled arch over the finish line to welcome mushers in next year’s Iditarod, a race official said days after the current arch crumbled into a wood pile. That arch, which has been used since the 2000 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race,...

These cities raised taxes — for child care. Parents say the free day care 'changed my life'

Apr. 30, 2024 03:17 AM EDT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Last summer, Derrika Richard felt stuck. She didn’t have enough money to afford child care for her three youngest children, ages 1, 2 and 3. Yet the demands of caring for them on a daily basis made it impossible for Richard, a hairstylist, to work. One child care assistance...

Iconic arch that served as Iditarod finish line collapses in Alaska. Wood rot is likely the culprit

Apr. 29, 2024 18:21 PM EDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The famed burled arch finish line for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has collapsed into a wood pile in Alaska, officials said. Nome Mayor John Handeland told Anchorage television station KTUU that wood rot was the likely cause. He found out about the...

Insider Q&A: Avelo Airlines CEO Andrew Levy describes the challenges of starting a new carrier

Apr. 29, 2024 07:30 AM EDT

It's not easy to break into the U.S. airline industry, which is dominated by four big carriers and a sprinkling of other niche players, but that didn't scare away Andrew Levy. Neither did a pandemic that briefly caused air travel to plummet more than 90%. In April...