Petersburg close to passing new cruise ship fee
Petersburg is close to passing a new fee for passengers on cruise ships visiting the borough. It’s based on a similar charge for cruise passengers in Juneau, which has prompted a lawsuit from the industry.
Invasive species haven’t made the Bering Sea their home…yet
The Bering Sea has kept invasives at bay for now, but warming waters look to make it a more welcoming environment in the future.
25-year-old Bethel man picked to lead replacement of state Rep. Fansler
House District 38 Democrats selected Ben Anderson-Agimuk, 25, from Tununak and Bethel and Fansler’s former aide, to chair their local party. It’s the caucus’ first step toward replacing Rep. Zach Fansler, who resigned last week amidst assault allegations.
U.S. Senators reach two-year budget deal
Senate leaders have reached a budget pact to increase spending for the Pentagon and domestic programs, offering a reprieve from fiscal fights that have been a cloud over Capitol Hill.
Anchorage robbery suspect buries coat, gets caught cold
A Wasilla man in a black hooded jacket with a black towel covering his face walked into the Taco Bell on East Tudor Road on Tuesday, said he had a gun and asked for money, Anchorage police say.
Hydaburg man faces felony assault charge in stabbing
Justice Raven Peele stabbed the adult victim with a knife multiple times, troopers said. Peele is facing a charge of felony first-degree assault.
USCG Maple’s ‘tense’ voyage through icy Northwest Passage
The Cutter Maple became the sixth Coast Guard vessel ever to transit the famed Northwest Passage last summer, when it completed the 8,000-mile trip from Sitka to Baltimore, Maryland. Despite almost a year of planning, the trip was no cakewalk.
Alaska Permanent Fund reports strong returns, value of $64B
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. has reported strong returns and a total value of $64 billion in the first half of the 2018 fiscal year.
China seeks bigger role in Arctic
At its most northern point, China is hundreds of miles from the Arctic Circle, but its leaders want a say in how the region is governed. Recently, the country issued its first national policy on the Arctic, and it reveals its expansive ambitions in the far North.
Watch Chief Justice Craig Stowers’ State of the Judiciary address live
Alaska Chief Justice Craig Stowers delivers the annual State of the Judiciary Address at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7. Come back to this post at 11 a.m. for a live stream of Gavel Alaska coverage. Or watch on 360 North television, which is available in Juneau over the air on channel 3.3, or on cable and satellite.
As one Washington wolf poaching case comes to a close, others remain a mystery
Last month, a Washington state resident was fined more than $8,000 for poaching three wolves in 2016. DNA evidence linked him to three separate kills, but other poaching cases remain unsolved.
Legislators hope to fix uncertainty plaguing school budgets this session
This session, some state legislators hope to put an end to the uncertainty school districts across the state face when it comes to their budgets. House Bill 287 and Senate Bill 131 both address K-12 school funding, but in different ways.
NTSB looks at disabled signals, locked switch in latest deadly Amtrak crash
Safety advocates and federal investigators have railed against a “lax safety culture” within Amtrak in recent years, but investigators warn against attributing four recent crashes to a systemic issue.
Alaska Sen. Dennis Egan won’t seek re-election
Alaska Sen. Dennis Egan won’t seek re-election this year due to poor health. Early contenders to seek his seat include Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association CEO Larry Cotter and possibly Juneau Assemblyman Jesse Kiehl.
Lt. Gov. Mallot and Sen. Sullivan talk transboundary mining with Canadian officials
Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallot and U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan met with Canadian officials to press for more U.S. input on transboundary mines.
False tsunami warning issued across the East Coast and Caribbean
The National Weather Service says a private sector company released a routine test message as an official warning, resulting in “widespread” phone alerts.
In Alaska stop, vice president gets refuel and military briefing
During his refueling stop at Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Pence toured the Alaskan Command Center. He also had a closed-door meeting with Gov. Bill Walker and top military officials, including Gen. Lori Robinson, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves and Maj. Gen. Laurie Hummel.
Washington state terminates lease for Atlantic salmon farm in Puget Sound
Over the weekend, Washington state tightened the screws again on an Atlantic salmon farming operation. On Saturday, the state Department of Natural Resources terminated the lease for Cooke Aquaculture’s Cypress Island fish farm near Anacortes.
Juneau Assembly to intervene over AEL&P purchase
The City and Borough of Juneau will petition state regulators for a seat at the table as it reviews Alaska Electric Light & Power’s acquisition by Hydro One of Canada. The Juneau Assembly unanimously approved $75,000 in legal fees to make its case to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
Humans are main source of bacteria in tested Ketchikan water, report says
A final report from last summer’s coastal bacteria monitoring program was released last week, showing that human waste was the biggest source of high bacteria levels along Ketchikan’s coastlines.