
Former Alaska House Speaker Bradner, who helped pass permanent fund amendment, dies at 83
Bradner was a Democrat who represented a Fairbanks area district for 10 years in the House.

Southcentral Foundation opens COVID-19 vaccines to all Alaskans 40 and up, teachers and child care workers
Anchorage’s main tribal health care provider is opening up COVID-19 vaccines to all Alaskans age 40 and older, plus K-12 teachers and childcare workers.

Tribes, fishermen criticize Alaska and British Columbia decision to end transboundary monitoring
A 22-page final report released on Thursday culminates two years of data collected from water, sediment and fish tissue in three transboundary watersheds that straddle the frontier. And now, Alaska and British Columbia governments say their work is done.

Update: Another Alaska House staff member tests positive for COVID-19, Capitol now has 4 cases total
The Legislature requires that everyone who works in the Capitol — including all legislators, staff members and news reporters — undergo rapid tests for the coronavirus every four or five days.

February was Black History Month, but Unalaska teachers are sharing Black stories year-round
In Unalaska, many teachers didn’t do anything special in their classrooms last month because they are working to include Black history and perspectives in their lesson plans year-round.

Cruise ships don’t appear to be behind Ketchikan’s beach bacteria problem — so what is?
Ketchikan beaches have elevated levels of bacteria that could make people sick even without dozens of cruise ships sailing through the Inside Passage and discharging wastewater.

10,000-year-old bone from Wrangell area hints how domesticated dogs may have traveled to the Americas
A dime-sized fragment of dog bone — more than ten-thousand years old — has given researchers new clues about how domesticated dogs first made their way to the Americas.

Sitka teens some of the first in the nation to receive coronavirus vaccine
In a state that’s doing well with vaccinations, the community of Sitka is doing very well: More than half of the eligible population has been vaccinated against COVID-19, and that now includes teenagers 16 and over — making Sitka one of the first places in the nation where this has been possible. Sitka’s success is…

Juneau sets up evacuation center for residents affected by extreme avalanche danger
As of late Saturday, there have been no slides in the Behrends Avenue Area. But, the weather is about to take a turn for the worse.

Haines resident gets positive COVID-19 test result while traveling with high school basketball teams
The Haines school superintendent wouldn’t say if the individual was a student or not. State public health officials completed a contact tracing investigation and notified all close contacts.

Kaktovik Iñupiat Corp. blames feds for missed ANWR deadline, demands apology
The U.S. Interior Department said there would be no searching for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge this winter because Kaktovik Iñupiat Corp. failed to meet a key deadline. In a strongly-worded statement Thursday, KIC said the Interior provided a “blatant mischaracterization” of what happened.

State launches new COVID-19 grant program requiring officials to address barriers to health care
The money is supposed to be used to help with COVID-19 testing and administering vaccines. And, each grant comes with the requirement that at least 10% has to go toward activities that address obstacles to health, like poverty or discrimination.

No relief coming for Juneau electric customers’ damages after two power surges, AEL&P says
Debbie Driscoll from AEL&P said Juneau’s been hit by unusually bad storms and icing conditions since the fall, though she understands customers’ frustration.

Update: Juneau officials recommend residential evacuations, warning of dangerous ‘historic avalanches’
City officials recommend that residents in the avalanche zone of the Behrends neighborhood in downtown Juneau evacuate their homes.

Anchorage lawmaker apologizes after sexist remarks on House floor
Rep. Sara Rasmussen said the speech demonstrates a continued double standard where it is not acceptable to attribute a man’s success to his appearance, but it is acceptable to do so for a woman.

Scientists say Alaska has recorded 10 cases of coronavirus strain first found in California
Alaska scientists have discovered 10 cases of a new strain of the coronavirus that researchers say is more contagious and possibly better at defeating vaccines.

A second push for more solar on the Kenai Peninsula
Solarize the Kenai estimates that the average homeowner could cover half of their home’s energy needs with 12 panels and save over $10,000 in the next 15 years.

‘It’s better than nothing:’ Another year of reduced ferry service in Aleutians
Unalaska’s port director says attempts to eliminate the Aleutians from the AMHS route have been ongoing for about two years.

LISTEN: In Alaska crab boat’s deadly sinking, expert witnesses point to flawed stability calculations
Expert witnesses have described serious problems with the boat’s stability report.

‘Something pure and good’: Anchorage hospital workers step up to cuddle Alaska’s tiniest babies
A group of hospital employees has been volunteering to come in on their off time to hold some of Alaska’s tiniest and sickest babies.