News

A former employee of an Alaska nonprofit organization that helps people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS has been charged with embezzling more than $105,000 from the group over several years.

Two coalitions of environmental groups filed separate lawsuits Friday challenging the federal government’s December lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. It was the largest lease sale ever offered in the Indiana-sized reserve west of Prudhoe Bay.

Police contacted James Urbanec, 24, outside his residence on Feb. 1 to tell him that he had an outstanding warrant, according to a news release. Police said he unzipped his jacket, drew a handgun and fled into his house.

Melanie Whalen was arrested for felony first-degree assault in the alleged stabbing of a 28-year-old male victim in the 300 block of Gastineau Avenue.

About 100 supporters of the University of Alaska rallied outside the state Capitol Friday to call on legislators to fully fund the state’s university system. Legislators, university faculty and students spoke about the need to fund Alaska’s public university to strengthen the state’s workforce and economy.

The tone of a hearing in Anchorage on two draft permits for the proposed Donlin Gold mine was very different from those held in the region where the mine would be located.

Bears play a well-known role in fertilizing Alaska’s temperate forests. They catch, carry, and digest fish, spreading nutrients through the undergrowth. But two scientists using remote control cameras near Haines show that bears are making contributions on a different front.

A batch of new energy assessors, who live in Southeast villages, are being trained to spot areas that could be more efficient.

Rosalinda Ainza, 35, worked as a property manager for Coldwell Banker Race Realty and stole money intended for the firm’s property management trust account.

State lawmakers are hearing public input on whether distilleries should be allowed to serve mixed drinks Saturday morning in the State Capitol building. The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee hearing is on House Bill 269, which would clarify the law regarding serving mixed drinks in distillery tasting rooms.

Alaska state Rep. Fansler resigned today, KTOO government reporter Andrew Kitchenman says. It was announced on the House floor Friday morning.

Meteorologist intern Sharon Sullivan says the National Weather Service is expecting near 65 mph winds tonight in downtown Juneau and Douglas.

A confidential report looking into the financial sustainability and leadership of the Iditarod race’s governing body says the race is in trouble. Iditarod officials are planning to implement a series of reforms later this year, but not until after the race wraps up in March.

Ole Shangin, 32, is charged with first- and second-degree murder in the death of Joseph Peterson, who was shot and killed in Ivanof Bay.

Marijuana tax revenue in Alaska fell for the second straight month in December, though a state tax auditor says the slide may be short lived.

The Attorney General filed a friend of the court brief in support of the City and Borough of Juneau in its cruise ship lawsuit. Less than 24 hours the state withdrew, claiming the filing was an “error due to internal miscommunications.”

Most of this cost — $92 million — is from Medicaid. Legislature is funding Medicaid at a lower level than state officials projected costs would run. On top of that, those projections were too low. Officials say more people enrolled in Medicaid due to the recession.

Alaska’s gasline corporation has filed tens of thousands of pages of documents for their federal permit. Now it’s waiting for the commission to make a decision on if, and when, the state can get to work on its massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project.

Kodiak park officials have plans to discuss whether they should ban a nationwide craze of painting rocks and leaving them to be found by others.

Democrats met Tuesday in Bethel to discuss who should replace Rep. Zach Fansler if he resigns or gets expelled from his seat. About 20 of Fansler’s constituents filed into an empty classroom on Bethel’s Kuskokwim University campus in Bethel and tried to decide what to do.