President Trump signs 2-year spending pact
Delay tactics forced a short-term partial government shutdown after midnight, but Congress and the president approved the two-year deal early Friday morning.
Juneau’s concrete blocks spark tall tales about their origins
Tall tales abound in regards to the giant blocks near Lemon Creek. The stories behind the mysterious blocks are almost too good to be true: Ancient monoliths, hatches for alien space craft, White Alice — even cow graves. But nothing is really, so to speak, concrete.
Scientists discover evidence of recent, rare alpine tsunami near Juneau
A gigantic piece of rock fell Dec. 30, 2016 from a cliff at the head of Cowee Creek, north of Juneau. A 30-foot high wave rolled down the creek, downing 1500 trees and scouring the shoreline in a 300-foot wide swath down the valley.
Alaska Ocean Center loses out to state parking lot
The Alaska Mental Health Trust’s Land Office plans to create more than 100 spaces for state workers on a waterfront parcel it owns. Developers behind a proposed marina and science center say the parking lot deal kills their plans.
Budget deal in limbo amid scramble to avoid partial shutdown at midnight
Senate leaders had hoped to pass the bill early in the day but were forced to wait after Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., objected. Paul plans to force the Senate to wait until early Friday morning.
Alaska House passes early school budget bill, but leaves the funding out
The House rejected the part of the bill that would use state savings to fund it.
Walker: ‘Why is Juneau not the Switzerland of Alaska from a financial standpoint?’
Gov. Walker posed the rhetorical question at a Juneau Chamber of Commerce event. He said more of the money the state spends to manage the permanent fund should be spent inside the state.
Governor’s arts gala to recognize Sitka carver and educator, history project and others
The annual event recognizes noteworthy contributions to the arts and humanities in the state. Three state arts and humanities organizations and the governor’s office solicit nominees and select the winners.
Inupiat leaders say offshore drilling proposal ‘ignored’ local concerns
In a recent letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, VOICE wrote, “with respect to the Arctic [Outer Continental Shelf] announcement on the [Draft Proposed Program], we feel the concerns of local organizations were ignored and that deeply disturbs us.”
New science textbooks could bring students closer to science behind climate change
Studying high school science in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta comes with a whole new textbook. A textbook that’s free, open source, available in print and digital formats, and customized geographically to rural southwestern Alaska.
Seattle moves to dismiss marijuana misdemeanors
Mayor Jenny Durkan says getting the criminal convictions wiped from personal records is “a necessary step to right the wrongs of what was a failed ‘War on Drugs.'”
Alaska prosecutors make case for rebuilding amid soaring caseloads
Legislators in Juneau are hearing some hard numbers this week on how difficult things have gotten for state prosecutors. Alaska has had upward trends in recent years with violent crime, like murder and assault, and property crime, like vehicle theft and burglary.
New federal report looks at wildlife in a changing ANWR
“My attitude is science can only help us in understanding what’s likely to happen,” said Todd Atwood, a USGS wildlife biologist.
Trump says he will focus on opioid law enforcement, not treatment
Opioids are a public health emergency, the president says, but he hasn’t acted on the White House opioid commission’s recommendations to expand treatment.
Walker re-funds Ambler Road Project to EIS process
Walker said the scoping process will not change and the goal of getting the environmental impact statement completed remains the same.
Juneau shamanism retreat leader’s financial, cultural and spiritual legitimacy challenged
Sealaska Heritage Institute says the Dance of the Deer Foundation exploits shamanism.
At an Anchorage homeless shelter, an unexpected birth
The life story of a baby boy named Kahleel began one morning in January at The Salvation Army’s McKinnell House, a homeless shelter for families on the edge of downtown Anchorage.
Petersburg mayor expects loss of Coast Guard cutter in four years
Fresh off a meeting with U.S. Coast Guard officials in Washington D.C., Petersburg’s mayor is not optimistic that the Coast Guard cutter Anacapa will be stationed in Petersburg after 2022.
Juneau high school students choose Thunder Bears as new football mascot
Students from Thunder Mountain, Yaakoosge Daakahidi and Juneau-Douglas high schools voted on the new mascot for their combined football teams on Tuesday. Thunder Bears won out over the Capital City Senators and the Orcas.
Chief Justice Stowers says courts will examine sex harassment policies
Stowers quoted the Star Wars character Yoda in encouraging the Legislature to address the state’s ongoing budget crisis.