Congress passes federal bill that renews funding for rural communities near national forests
Alaska’s congressional delegation announced they were able to include a two-year extension for Secure Rural Schools payments in final appropriations bills for this year.
Longstanding tensions underlie Arctic Slope Regional Corporation’s withdrawal from AFN
Long before it announced its withdrawal from AFN, there were signs of a schism between ASRC and the most influential Native advocacy group.
Goldman Sachs becomes first major US bank to rule out funding for Arctic oil
The investment bank Goldman Sachs says it won’t finance ventures to explore or develop oil prospects in the refuge, or elsewhere in the Arctic.
Legislative Council supports new Capitol cameras for TV, streaming
Gavel Alaska and the Legislature’s website currently have separate cameras. Under the plan, they would share.
Dunleavy’s ferry budget ‘will provide significantly less service’
Senior state transportation officials warn that long gaps will be the new normal.
Sand Point’s fish plant closed for the winter because there’s not enough cod
This year is the first that the plant, now owned by Trident Seafoods, won’t be processing cod — and that’s because of climate change.
Anchorage to formalize government-to-government relations with Eklutna tribe
It’s a modest step toward establishing a more formal relationship, complicated by a push to tie the measure to ongoing litigation about gambling.
ACLU demands Gov. Dunleavy rehire former State Council on the Arts worker who criticized him
The ACLU sent a letter to the governor on Thursday saying Dunleavy should rehire former worker Keren Lowell, or she’ll sue him.
Ketchikan’s school board agrees to give tribal leaders input on hiring
The plan aims to reduce the dropout rate among Alaska Natives, who make up more than a third of the district’s students.
Donlin Gold enjoyed years of support from neighboring communities, but as the project becomes more real, that’s changing
Tribes, organizations, and communities have begun opposing the mine development and organizing.
Dunleavy’s budget proposal funds more state troopers for rural Alaska
The Dunleavy administration acknowledges in its budget proposal that many rural Alaska areas depend on troopers for law enforcement and that current trooper staffing levels delay responses to violent crimes, including sexual assault and murder.
Underwater rock blasting gets underway near Ketchikan’s cruise ship berths
Crews are working to remove an underwater rock pinnacle that makes it difficult for massive cruise ships to get in and out of port.
Denali Park road could be closed due to sloughing roadway
The extent of next summer’s road closures will be unclear until crews begin work at Pretty Rocks.
A star and exoplanet will be named ‘Nushagak’ and ‘Mulchatna’
Around 900 names were submitted for the contest and a little over 2,600 votes were cast. Nushagak and Mulchatna received a little more than 25% of the votes, just edging out Yellowstone and Old Faithful.
Former adviser to Gov. Bill Walker buys Cook Inlet gas producer for $15 million
It’s not John Hendrix’s first foray into Cook Inlet energy, he was general manager of Apache Corp.’s operations there.
Wrangell’s Fish and Game office due to close under governor’s budget proposal
Wrangell officials say they weren’t consulted about the local ADF&G office being on the governor’s chopping block. A budget document says it’ll save around $70,000 in general fund spending.
Ocean Beauty accepts offer on seafood plant for sale in Petersburg
The company would not say who the buyer is or reveal the timeline for completing the sale of their former cannery and seafood plant.
A relic from a century-old barge sinking has found a new resting place in Petersburg
The wooden planks come from the Colorado which sank in the Wrangell Narrows in 1901.
Sitka settles police whistleblower lawsuit for $325,000
Former Sitka police detective Ryan Silva filed suit claiming he was harassed and demoted after calling out irregularities.
Budget scenarios include ‘balanced approach’ that draws interest
The scenario draws on a combination of fixes. And it’s catching the attention of people who shape and analyze the budget — even as they remain skeptical.