KTOO News Update
The day’s local and state news in about 10 minutes.
Newscast – Wednesday, May 5, 2021
In this newscast: More than 2,300 Juneau residents weighed-in on the city's COVID-19 vaccine survey; The council that manages Alaska's federal fisheries has tightened its public comment policies because of profanity; Ketchikan emergency officials are sounding the alarm about growing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the community; The Anchorage mayoral runoff election is next Tuesday and candidates are collecting last-minute campaign donations.
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Newscast – Tuesday, May 4, 2021
In this newscast: Norweigan Cruise Line Holdings announced today that it's donating $10 million across six Alaska port towns, including Juneau; The locals who want to limit cruise ship traffic in Juneau can begin collecting signatures to get their three proposals on to the next municipal election ballot; A World War II-era tug boat that had gone from a familiar landmark in Juneau's Gastineau Channel to a derelict nuisance is sitting on the ocean floor; Organizers have rescheduled a Native Youth Olympics event in Ketchikan after the initial Southern Regional Games were postponed because of a COVID-19 outbreak at the high school.
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Newscast – Monday, May 3, 2021
In this newscast: An international human rights body has agreed to hear from Southeast Alaska tribes concerned about cross-border pollution; A 12-year-old Juneau student has been crowned the Alaska State Spelling Bee champion; A national environmental justice group is joining local voices in the call for the state to halt a multi-million dollar construction project at the Gustavus airport; Former Alaska Tommy Beaudreau is on his way to becoming the second-in-command at the U.S. Interior Department.
Read More »Newscast – Friday, April 30, 2021
In this newscast: Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs a COVID-19 disaster declaration bill then ends the disaster, House lawmakers tee up the operating budget bill for floor debate and vote, the Juneau Assembly gives first round approval for budgets to keep a proactive medical service going and childcare subsidies, the Sitka Assembly votes to accept a $1 million donation from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Alaska's earthquake monitoring system is much more robust at the end of a national research project, Bartlett Regional Hospital sees its revenue bounce back after a year of pandemic losses, Juneau officials identify seven new COVID-19 cases over two days, and a Homer woman says the seized laptops and a cellphone from her looking for Nancy Pelosi's laptop taking from the Capitol in January.
Read More »Newscast – Thursday, April 29, 2021
In this newscast: The U.S. Senate blocks quick consideration of a wavier that could have salvaged some of Alaska's cruise ship season, a Juneau group opposed to ballot initiatives to limit cruise ship traffic present their case, Alaska lawmakers retroactively extend the state's COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration, a bill requiring the state recognize Alaska tribes is bound for a House vote, a new study shows cancer rates have gone up among Alaska Native people over the last half century, internet outages hit Juneau, a small sinkhole opens up on North Franklin Street, and the Forest Service plans to reopen some of its facilities at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
Read More »Newscast – Wednesday, April 28, 2021
In this newscast: A new study shows that cancer rates among Alaska Native people have gone up over the last 50 years; a variation on a national phone scam has been hitting Alaskans; Alaska's Department of Corrections is getting rid of its requirement for inmates to be vaccinated in order to receive visitors; and Juneau has 13 active COVID-19 cases and half of the population of Juneau is fully vaccinated
Read More »Newscast – Tuesday, April 27, 2021
In this newscast: The Juneau Assembly relaxes COVID-19 community restrictions and travel mandates, the CDC now recommends pregnant women get the COVID-19 vaccine, the state agrees to pay a former Arts Council employee $85,000 who lost her job for making negative comments about the governor on social media, an Alaskan wins an EPA grant to develop an idea to turn plastic ocean debris into lumber, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings offers $1 million to the City and Borough of Sitka with no strings attached, and an Alaskan wins a $2.1 million slot machine jackpot in Las Vegas.
Read More »Newscast – Monday, April 26, 2021
In this newscast: Juneau officials log three more COVID-19 cases, demand for the COVID-19 vaccine falls off in Juneau, the ferry Matanuska gets held up in Ketchikan after an engine issue and more crew test positive for COVID-19, state officials plan to use federal pandemic relief money to keep the Alaska Marine Highway System going, the U.S. Census Bureau releases the total count of Alaskans, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signs a bill banning the use of Native American names, symbols and images as school mascots, logos and team names at most public schools there.
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Newscast — Friday, April 23, 2021
In this newscast: Mayor Beth Weldon announced today that she's running for mayor for a second term; The coronavirus pandemic took a heavy toll on tourism and consequently the aviation industry; KTOO'S Jeremy Hsieh speaks to a reporter in Key West, Florida about the parallels in local activists' efforts to reduce cruise ship traffic; The Alaska House has passed a bill to prevent teachers from being laid off over the next two years.
Read More »Newscast — Thursday, April 22, 2021
In this newscast: The National Marine Fisheries Service Wednesday published a final rule designating critical habitat for three populations of humpback whales including some areas in Alaska; In the past year, as Alaskans changed their habits in response to the pandemic, social media became a lifeline for businesses seeing less foot traffic; As the summer approaches, Alaska’s travel industry is preparing for another uncertain season because of the pandemic.
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