Palmer skier wins first gold ever for an Alaskan at Winter Paralympic Games
Previously, Andrew Kurka had qualified for the Sochi Paralympics in 2014 — but re-broke his back in his first training run.
Japanese tsunami litters North American shores with 10 times the trash
Scientists estimate following the 2011 tsunami in Japan there was at least 10 times as much debris washing ashore than ever measured.
Early week warm-up will give way to cooler weekend temps
The high Tuesday will be near the low 50s. Meteorologist Buddy Martin said the warm-up won’t last long.
Double homicide trial scheduled for February 2019
Laron Carlton Graham faces two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the 2015 deaths of Robert Meireis and Elizabeth Tonsmeire.
Weather hampers ongoing search for missing climbers
The search continues for two missing climbers who did not return from their ascent of the Mendenhall Towers last week. Winter weather has made it difficult for rescuers to search for Ryan Johnson of Juneau and Marc-Andre Leclerc of British Columbia on the Mendenhall Ice Field.
As Iditarod has changed, so has its relationship with its Native roots, mushers say
Before the ceremonial start Saturday of the 2018 Iditarod, veteran musher Ketil Reitan of Kaktovik remarked on how fewer Inupiaq people are dog mushing nowadays. Fewer than 10 mushers out of the 67 competing in this year’s Iditarod are Alaska Native.
Fishing boats ‘going dark’ raise suspicion of illegal catches, report says
A new report by the international conservation group Oceana highlights several incidents of fishing vessels switching off their Automatic Identification System beacons in no-take fishing areas.
The opioid crisis is surging in black, urban communities
Opioid overdose deaths among middle-aged black men have increased 245 percent in the past three years in Washington, D.C.
Trump administration moves to ban bump stocks
The Justice Department took a first step in banning the sale, manufacture or possession of devices used to make a gun fire like an automatic weapon. But advocates say it’ll take legislative action.
Concerned by potential slur, students oust Thunder Bears as district mascot
Local students decided that Thunder Bears, the mascot students across the district chose last month, would need to be reevaluated after an alternative meaning was discovered online.
State regulators OK city as party in AEL&P purchase negotiations
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska ruled that Juneau will be allowed to intervene as a party to the negotiations between Hydro One and Alaska Electric Light and Power’s parent company, Avista.
Wrangell pizza shop owner gets $25,000 grant for aeroponic farming
Dixie Booker hopes to eventually build a 2,000-square-foot greenhouse with more than 100 aeroponic towers to grow year-round produce for the community.
For this expat mom, raising healthy girls means going to prison
A Sitka woman is in prison, pending extradition to the United Kingdom to face charges that she abducted her children to the United States. She says she left an abusive situation for her and her children.
Villages of Napaskiak and Marshall call for emergency declarations over alcohol-related crime and deaths
Tribal Administrator Sharon Williams said that five Napaskiak residents have died in alcohol-related incidents since Bethel legalized alcohol sales in 2016. That’s a little over 1 percent of the village’s total population.
NOAA rule sets dates for 2018 halibut season
The 2018 halibut season will open March 24 and close Nov. 7. Quotas from 2017 remain in place, but that that’s likely to change.
Ax-wielding musher from Whitehorse chases bison off Iditarod trail
Marcelle Fressineau said she and her dog team were caught off guard by three bison in the middle of the trail. She grabbed the only tool she had.
Zulkosky takes seat as House District 38 representative
Zulkosky is one of 19 women in the current Legislature, the highest number in the history of Alaska.
Thunder Bears are out?
Juneau students and school administrators will meet with local legislators to discuss concerns about the new Thunder Bears mascot. “Thunderbear” has an Urban Dictionary definition associated with alcohol and race.
Petersburg assembly joins call for increased sea otter harvest
Petersburg Borough Assembly joined the call this month for measures to slow a growing population of sea otters in Southeast, as the marine mammals are impacting shellfish stocks.
Pilot Station man dies after exchanging gunfire with troopers
A Pilot Station man fleeing from the law died after a daylong standoff ended in a shootout with Alaska State Troopers.