Anchorage news

• Oregon becomes first state to allow gender-neutral licenses

  04-07-2017 23:15
  
  SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon has become the first state in the U.S. to allow residents who don’t identify as male or female to mark their gender as “not specified” when they apply for a driver’s license, learner’s permit or identity card.
  The rule went into effect Monday. It comes after the mayor of Washington, D.C., said the district was the first jurisdiction to offer the option late last month.
  Oregon’s Driver and Motor Vehicle Services said the new rule
  
  Read more

• Late-night screen time puts teens’ sleep and mental health at risk

  04-07-2017 23:04
  
  Summer could be a good time to encourage teenagers to put down their phones and enjoy the outdoors.
  Fifty percent of teens report feeling addicted to their cellphones and a new study in the journal Child Development shows nighttime usage of a cellphone can increase anxiety and depression in teenagers and reduce self-esteem.
  This is the first study that shows a direct link between screen time and mental health.
  Researchers note that rates of anxiety and depression in young people have risen 70 pe
  
  Read more

• Joey Chestnut wins his 10th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest

  04-07-2017 22:56
  
   Joey Chestnut (L) and Matt Stonie (R) consume hot dogs as time expires to conclude the annual Fourth of July 2015 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Brooklyn, New York July 4, 2015. Stonie defeated 8-time champion Joey Chestnut 62-60, according to local media / Andrew Kell /Reuters 
  NEW YORK — Joey Chestnut won the 101st Nathan’s Annual Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Tuesday, marking his 10th victory in the event.
  Chestnut was the reigning
  
  Read more

• Father: Not putting sling on son’s gun might have saved their lives

  04-07-2017 21:59
  
  HOONAH, Alaska — Quick action from an 11-year-old boy saved a fishing party from a charging brown bear, Alaska State Troopers said.
  Elliot Clark was walking through the woods near Game Creek last week with his three family members and three dogs when the bear came out and charged them, The Juneau Empire reported.
  The bear ran through two of the men, pushing them to the side of the trail, leaving Elliot and his cousin left in its path, Elliot’s father, Lucas, said.
  “There was fo
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Photos: Scenes from 2017 Mount Maration

  04-07-2017 20:36
  
  Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon Junior's Race Mt. Marathon J
  
  Read more

• Results: 2017 Mount Marathon Race

  04-07-2017 19:52
  
  The first round of winners from the 2017 Mount Marathon Race is in — the juniors!
  Finishing first Tuesday morning in the Junior’s Race is Luke Jager, 17, of Anchorage, with a time of 28:09. This marks Luke’s third-straight Mount Marathon Junior’s Race win. He joins Rory Egelus (2002-2004) and Shawn Erchinger (1982-1985) as boy’s multiple-race winners.
  Molly Gellert, 17, of Anchorage, was the first female to finish the Junior’s Race with a time of 31:53. This i
  
  Read more

• 2017 Mount Marathon Race results: Allie O wins women’s race

  04-07-2017 19:52
  
  The winners of the 2017 Mount Marathon Race are starting to stack up!
  Alaska’s Allie Ostrander, 20, finished the women’s race in first place under 50 minutes; she becomes the second woman in the race’s 90-year history to finish in less than 50 minutes– the first was Swede Emelie Forsberg, who finished in 47:48 in 2015. Coming in second Tuesday was Morgan Arritola.
  Ostrander, a six-time Junior’s champ (2009-2014), says she fell four times in the shale on the downhill
  
  Read more

• 2017 Mount Marathon Race results: Alaskans sweep again!

  04-07-2017 19:52
  
  The winners of the 2017 Mount Marathon Race are decided– and for the second year in a row, Alaskans have swept first place in all three races.
  Scott Patterson, the Alaska native who finished fourth in 2016, won the 2017 Men’s Mount Marathon Race. In second is Seward resident Erik Johnson.
  Top Top 20 Men’s finishers:
  Scott Patterson, 25, Anchorage – 44:30
  Erik Johnson, 40, Seward – 45:22
  Kenneth Brewer, 24, Chugiak – 46:53
  Alexander Eckert, 24, Fairbanks &ndash
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Photos: Fourth of July fireworks and celebration

  04-07-2017 19:01 via ktoo.org
  
  KTOO’s Morning Edition host and reporter Matt Miller took these photos of the fireworks display last night.
  
  Read more

• Photos: 2017 Fourth of July parade, fireworks and celebration

  04-07-2017 19:01 via ktoo.org
  
  Alaska’s Energy Desk reporter Rashah McChesney took these photographs while participating in the Independence Day parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska.KTOO’s Morning Edition host and reporter Matt Miller took these photos of the fireworks display last night.
  
  Read more

• Chief of police in Alaska’s capital city takes Idaho job

  04-07-2017 19:01
  
  JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The chief of police in Alaska’s capital city is leaving the post to take the same position on a police force in Idaho.
  The city of Idaho Falls, Idaho announced Friday that Bryce Johnson had been appointed to serve as that city’s police chief.
  Johnson has been chief of the Juneau Police Department for four years. He says he’s leaving to be closer to family.
  Johnson’s last day is July 28.
  Johnson told KTOO radio working in Juneau has been a caree
  
  Read more

• Dungeness crab season in Alaska shortened by 3 weeks

  04-07-2017 18:36
  
  PETERSBURG, Alaska (AP) – The summer season for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Southeast Alaska will be three weeks shorter than usual.
  KFSK.org reports the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Thursday the season will be closing July 25 after tallying the harvest from the first seven days of the season.
  The catch from that first week came in at 605,000 pounds.
  An estimated 2.25 million pounds are needed to keep the season open the full two months. The current estimate fo
  
  Read more

• Watch Live: 2017 Mount Marathon Race

  04-07-2017 15:00
  
   
  Live coverage of the Mount Marathon Race
  July 4, 2017
  Women’s Race – 11 a.m.
  Men’s Race – 2 p.m.
  ___________________________________
  Live coverage will be available in the video player above and KTVA Channel 11 & GCI Channel 907 beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
  Complete coverage of the 2017 Mount Marathon Race
  The post Watch Live: 2017 Mount Marathon Race appeared first on KTVA 11.
  
  Read more

• Matanuska River claims house

  04-07-2017 10:40
  
  A house was pulled into the Matanuska River Monday night as the river bank washed away. The home was originally about 5 miles north of Sutton but in a matter of minutes was moving downstream.
  Mat-Su Borough Emergency Manager Casey Cook said the river first started going underneath the house at about 8:45 p.m. Just 45 minutes later the entire house was in the river.
  Courtesy of Matt Mansell
  “The river claimed it all and it’s now floating down the river,” said Casey Coo
  
  Read more

• Notah Begay brings golf game to Alaska to help Native community

  04-07-2017 06:06
  
   
  Notah Begay III displayed the sweet swing that carried him to four PGA Tour wins. This time though, it took place at the Anchorage Golf Course during his first visit to Alaska.
  “Which is beyond explanation how beautiful it is up here,” Begay told KTVA Sports.
  He came to town to help the Afognak Native Corporation raise money during its recent annual youth tournament. The proceeds will help fund a culture camp on Afognak Island. Native American himself, the cause is near and d
  
  Read more

• APD finds 2 bodies at Hillside home during welfare check

  04-07-2017 05:46
  
  Death investigation scene in 11000 blck of Hillside Dr–APD crime scene van is here after 2 bodies found in welfare check @ktva pic.twitter.com/rOgLpbmsEC
  — Daniella Rivera (@RiveraDanie) July 4, 2017
  Anchorage Police say they found two bodies at a Hillside home while performing a welfare check Monday.
  Police say they received a call Sunday night, to perfom a security check at a residence located on the 11000 block of Hillside Drive. Officers performed a check, but say they found noth
  
  Read more

• Salmon remains dumped on trail remind people it’s illegal, can be dangerous

  04-07-2017 05:26
  
   
  Janell Graham found something unusual Sunday afternoon, while she walked her dog.
  “Actually it was right here,” said Graham, as she showed KTVA the spot where she found 11 salmon carcasses just off a bike trail near Fair Weather Park Loop, at Taku-Campbell Creek Park.
  “I thought someone was too lazy enough to clean up their own mess,” Graham said, as she felt more than anger, “I was honestly scared there might be a bear nearby.”
  Graham bagged the remai
  
  Read more

• Fireworks, ways to comfort pets

  04-07-2017 05:17
  
   
  Fireworks are a big part of the Fourth of July, and Anchorage Animal Care and Control (AACC) has ways to comfort your pets if they don’t like the sound.
  AACC suggest staying home with your pets, to help keep them calm and to give it something else to focus on. For example, leaving the TV or radio on.
  If your pet decides to hide in a safe place, Animal Care and Control says to let it. Also, make sure pets can’t escape and run away.
  Laura Atwood, a spokesperson with AACC, said
  
  Read more

• Seward statue unveiled in front of Alaska Capitol

  04-07-2017 04:53 via ktoo.org
  
  
  Sibling sculptors Judith, left, and David Rubin flank their 6-foot bronze sculpture of William Seward unveiled July 3 in front of the Alaska Capitol. (Photo by Jacob Resneck/KTOO)
  A statue of the U.S. statesman behind Alaska’s 1867 purchase from Russia now stands in front of Alaska’s Capitol building.http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2017/07/170703SEWARD.mp3The plastic covering was pulled down Monday afternoon to reveal a 6-foot sculpture of Secretary of State William Seward. Th
  
  Read more

• Fireworks stands busy for 4th of July festivities

  04-07-2017 04:43
  
   
  For many people, the Fourth of July isn’t complete without fireworks.
  “I’ve got Roman candles and some sparklers,” said Kelly Mulford from Trapper Creek.
  He was at Gorilla Fireworks in Houston on Monday buying a small haul to enjoy with his relatives from Minnesota.
  “We’re going to maybe, to some golfing in the morning, then we’re going back to the cabin, grill out and maybe do a bit of firework,” said John McDonald, Mulford’s brother
  
  Read more

• Glacier visitor center burglary suspect arrested

  04-07-2017 03:50 via ktoo.org
  
  Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, Juneau, is pictured in the distance at the top of a hill. (Creative Commons photo courtesy USDA Forest Service Alaska Region)
  Juneau police have arrested a man suspected in the break-in Sunday of Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
  Officers were investigating a tripped alarm when they heard noises inside the visitor center, according to police. When they tried to setup a perimeter around the building, police said they saw the suspect, identified as Mac
  
  Read more

• President Trump, Pope Francis offer to help terminally ill baby

  04-07-2017 03:45
  
  Pope Francis, President Trump offer support to family of terminally ill child Charlie Gard / CBS News
  BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — President Trump offered to help a terminally ill British baby on Monday, saying on Twitter that “if we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so.”
  The child, 10-month-old Charlie Gard, suffers from a rare genetic condition and is unable to breathe unaided. He also can’t see, hear, move or
  
  Read more

• Some heartburn drugs linked with increased risk of death

  04-07-2017 03:39
  
  Some heartburn drugs used by millions of Americans are associated with a higher risk of death, a new study suggests, but people on the drugs should talk with their doctor first before stopping the medicines, experts say.
  The drugs, called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), reduce stomach acid and are available over-the-counter and by prescription. Other recent studies have linked PPIs to a range of potential health risks including kidney disease, stomach infections, heart disease, pneumonia, bo
  
  Read more

• Statue of Seward unveiled across from Alaska Capitol

  04-07-2017 03:35
  
  JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – A small crowd filled the plaza across from the Alaska state Capitol on Monday for the unveiling of a statue of William Seward.
  Steady rain fell as a white tarp was removed to reveal the statue commemorating the 150th anniversary of the agreement under which the U.S. bought the territory of Alaska from Russia. Seward, then the U.S. secretary of state, was instrumental in the Alaska purchase.
  U.S. Rep. Don Young, Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott and Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch were
  
  Read more

• JPD locates man involved in visitor center burglary

  04-07-2017 03:18
  
  The man Juneau Police says burglarized a visitor center over the weekend was found at his home Monday afternoon.
  JPD says they were notified of an alarm going off at the Glacier Visitor Center around 4:30 a.m. Sunday. When police arrived, they found a broken, ground-level window and a car parked outside belonging to 51-year-old Juneau resident, Mack Parker.
  While officers attempted to set up a perimeter, Parker fled from the visitor center the woods. When they tried to locate him, they were unsu
  
  Read more

• Audiogram: What environmentalists won by losing the pipeline battle

  04-07-2017 02:58 via ktoo.org
  
  National environmental groups fought hard to stop the pipeline. Ultimately they failed. But along the way they turned a new, obscure statute into the environmental process almost every large construction project must meet.
  
  Read more

• NTSB: Cause of plane crash intentional

  04-07-2017 02:44
  
   
  The NTSB says the cause of a plane crash that killed an Aniak couple in their 60s was intentional.
  Law enforcement officials identified the bodies of Mark Matter, 62, and his wife Cecilia Matter, 63, of Aniak, in December. Troopers say the two were in a Piper PA-11 when it crashed at Marvel Dome.
  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report shows there were no mechanical issues with the plane. It was headed for an off-airport ski strip near Marvel Creek.
  KYUK Public Media in Be
  
  Read more

• Juneau Afternoon 7-5-17

  04-07-2017 02:42 via ktoo.org
  
  Capitol Steps 4th of July Radio special
  
  Read more

• What environmentalists won by losing the pipeline battle | MIDNIGHT OIL: Episode 03

  04-07-2017 02:41 via ktoo.org
  
  National environmental groups fought hard to stop the pipeline. Ultimately they failed. But along the way they turned a new, obscure statute into the environmental process almost every large construction project must meet.
  
  Read more

• July road construction, O’Malley closure

  04-07-2017 02:16
  
   
  A summer road construction project starting the first week of July will have a road in South Anchorage closed for a few weeks.
  O’Malley Road will be closed between the Seward Highway and Lake Otis Parkway starting Wednesday, July 5.
  DOT officials ask drivers to follow the detour routes at Huffman and Abbott Roads.
  The road will reopen on Wednesday, July 26.
  The post July road construction, O’Malley closure appeared first on KTVA 11.
  
  Read more

• Juneau Afternoon – 7-4-17

  04-07-2017 02:00 via ktoo.org
  
  Tuesday on A Juneau Afternoon
  Capitol Steps Radio Special
  At 4, tune in to KTOO for All Things Considered, followed at 6, it’s Alaska News Nightly, Telling Tales at 7, New Letters On the Air at 7:30, followed at 8 by Selected Shorts.
  At 9, Democracy Now; news from a Canadian perspective follows at 10 on As It Happens, and BBC News at 11. That’s Tuesday on KTOO-Juneau.
  
  Read more

• Skiing and mountain running go hand in hand for Scott Patterson

  04-07-2017 01:53
  
  Scott Patterson is from Anchorage — graduated from South High School in 2010, and earned a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Vermont. He works for Coffman Engineers in Anchorage and a skier at Alaska Pacific University (APU). He recently took first place at the 50k skate ski in Fairbanks U.S. National Championships.Last year, he decided to run Mount Marathon for the first time. He was second to the top, but his downhill was a little rough.
  “I twisted my ankle goin
  
  Read more

• Gustavus city hall hobbled by clerks’ departure

  04-07-2017 00:31 via ktoo.org
  
  
  Gustavus’ city hall is only been open for minimal functions following the abrupt departure of key city employees.http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2017/07/170703GUSTAVUS.mp3The city lost both of its clerks on the same day, and no one is saying why.
  Here’s what we know:
  Mayor Connie Edwards was elected by her fellow council members last month.
  Almost immediately she fired the city’s senior librarian, Kate Boesser, on June 12.
  Two days later, both city clerks – Lori Ew
  
  Read more

• Alaska authorities warn public about wounded bear

  04-07-2017 00:21
  
  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Authorities in Alaska are warning people about a brown bear that was shot and wounded in a camping area near a softball complex.
  Valdez police say a 39-year-old Fairbanks man, David Avery, fired two rounds at the bear with a hunting rifle at about 9 p.m. Sunday on the south side of the softball complex.
  Police say reports indicate the bear was injured, but the animal ran into the woods.
  Police say Avery was issued a $500 citation for unlawfully discharging a firear
  
  Read more

• Norton Sound beluga whale population is ‘abundant,’ new survey suggests

  04-07-2017 00:20 via ktoo.org
  
  A recent aerial survey of the eastern Bering Sea suggests the Norton Sound beluga whale population is abundant in number.
  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries has spent more than two weeks counting belugas in collaboration with the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee.
  According to their latest numbers from last week, 917 whales have been seen in the Norton Sound.
  In a NOAA Fisheries news release, The surveyors said these numbers “put us well on track to being a
  
  Read more

Follow @AnchorageNewsUS on Twitter!