https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/en-usCopyright (C) 2026 newslocker.comThu, 04 Jun 2026 03:20:00 +0200 The National Science Foundation plans to yank a long-standing ocean observation station from the sea floor far off the coast of Alaska next year. 
It’s one station in an entire ocean monitoring system slated to be dismantled as part of the Trump Administration’s rollback on federal science programs that help researchers study the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/deep-sea-observation-station-that-tracks-climate-change-set-to-be-pulled-from-gulf-of-alaska/Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:20:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/deep-sea-observation-station-that-tracks-climate-change-set-to-be-pulled-from-gulf-of-alaska/ In this newscast:Celebration officially starts with a Grand Entrance tonight,
Carvers have developed a new method to build traditional canoes without relying on old growth trees,
Some cruise ship companies in Southeast Alaska say customers are concerned about Hantavirus, but state health officials are more worried about other diseases,
Dozens and dozens of candidates officially kicked off their campaigns for governor, Con]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-june-3-2026/Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-june-3-2026/ Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/03stripcanoe.mp3
On Tuesday afternoon, canoes — or yaakw — arrived and paddlers asked permission to come ashore. Ten yaakw landed on the beach at Auke Recreation Area, the site of a former Lingít village.
One was different from the others, th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/an-evolution-in-traditional-canoe-carving-had-its-maiden-voyage-this-week/Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:29:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/an-evolution-in-traditional-canoe-carving-had-its-maiden-voyage-this-week/ Two years ago, Republican Nick Begich III defeated incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola and became Alaska’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Now, 14 people are hoping to imitate Begich’s performance.
Monday was the filing deadline for c]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/in-bid-for-re-election-alaska-us-rep-nick-begich-defends-against-14-challengers/Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:12:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/in-bid-for-re-election-alaska-us-rep-nick-begich-defends-against-14-challengers/ As you already know, KTOO lost $1.2 million this year, and every year going forward (34% of our annual operating budget). What happened next, though, was something none of us will forget.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-note-of-gratitude-one-year-after-the-loss-of-federal-funding/Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:38:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-note-of-gratitude-one-year-after-the-loss-of-federal-funding/ Dozens of candidates officially kicked off their campaigns for governor, U.S. Congress and the state Legislature on Monday.
A spokesperson for the Division of Elections, Stephen Kirch, said by email that “nearly 70” filings came in on Monday alone, which was the last day to register a campaign ahead of the August primary. Elections officials were still sifting through them on Tuesday, Kirch said.
As rece]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/nearly-70-candidates-filed-on-deadline-for-alaskas-august-primary-ballot/Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:11:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/nearly-70-candidates-filed-on-deadline-for-alaskas-august-primary-ballot/ Thirteen canoes bringing Alaska Native paddlers from across Southeast Alaska and Canada arrived in Juneau on Tuesday afternoon. The canoes landed in two separate groups — one in downtown Juneau and the other at Auke Recreation Area, the site of a former Áak’w village.
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/02celeblan]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/yaakw-paddlers-arrive-in-juneau-from-across-southeast-canada-as-celebration-begins/Wed, 03 Jun 2026 03:33:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/yaakw-paddlers-arrive-in-juneau-from-across-southeast-canada-as-celebration-begins/ In this newscast:Twelve people were infected by an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness while aboard a cruise ship traveling through Southeast Alaska last week.
A new public use cabin opened near Ward Lake this week.
Thirteen canoes bringing Alaska Native paddlers from across Southeast Alaska and Canada arrived in Juneau this afternoon.
A soon-to-be change in shipping services for Juneau’s Costco is expected to ma]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-june-2-2026/Wed, 03 Jun 2026 03:05:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-june-2-2026/ Twelve people were infected by an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness while aboard a small cruise ship traveling through Southeast Alaska last week.
That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which released a report of the outbreak aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird on Monday.
The ship began its six-day voyage in Juneau last Tuesday and traveled through several towns, including Sitka]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/12-people-infected-with-gastrointestinal-outbreak-on-cruise-ship-in-southeast-alaska/Wed, 03 Jun 2026 02:01:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/12-people-infected-with-gastrointestinal-outbreak-on-cruise-ship-in-southeast-alaska/ The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has rejected the State of Alaska’s request for a 90% federal cost reimbursement to cover millions in damages caused by the October 2025 storms in Western Alaska.
That’s according to a denial letter the agency sent to Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on May 31.
The increase would have been limited to disaster relief during the first 90 da]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/fema-denies-request-to-cover-90-percent-of-initial-halong-disaster-relief-costs/Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:46:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/fema-denies-request-to-cover-90-percent-of-initial-halong-disaster-relief-costs/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/02narrcostco.wav
Juneau’s Costco might be the smallest in the world, but it has an outsized impact on many outlying Southeast Alaska communities that rely on it for supplies. 
However, a soon-to-be change in its shipping services is expected to make it more difficult and expensive for small businesses to get products to their towns. 
For ye]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/changes-to-juneau-costcos-shipping-service-expected-to-hurt-small-businesses-in-outlying-southeast-communities/Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:29:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/changes-to-juneau-costcos-shipping-service-expected-to-hurt-small-businesses-in-outlying-southeast-communities/ Spring is one of Christine Gabriele’s favorite times of year. She spends her days in and around Glacier Bay National Park, watching as the area’s humpback whales return after wintering overseas.
“It’s like taking attendance and seeing your old friends,” said Gabriele, who has been a whale biologist in the park for nearly four deca]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/glacier-bays-humpbacks-are-recovering-slowly-from-2014-16-marine-heatwave/Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:33:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/glacier-bays-humpbacks-are-recovering-slowly-from-2014-16-marine-heatwave/ In this newscast:Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium opened a new urgent care facility in downtown Juneau over the weekend.
King salmon sport fishing opened today in Juneau’s hatchery harvest areas.
Monday was the last day to officially begin a campaign for state or federal office in Alaska, after a few shakeups late last week. As Alaska Public Media’s Eric Stone reports, there were also some twists in]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-june-1-2026/Tue, 02 Jun 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-june-1-2026/ Monday is the last day to officially begin a campaign for state or federal office in Alaska this election cycle after a few shakeups late last week. The Division of Elections is taking candidates’ registration paperwork until 5 p.m.
Sitting Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom drops bid for governor
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican who ]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/election-updates-dahlstrom-drops-out-kreiss-tomkins-picks-running-mate-myers-retires/Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:31:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/election-updates-dahlstrom-drops-out-kreiss-tomkins-picks-running-mate-myers-retires/ King salmon sport fishing opened Monday in Juneau’s hatchery harvest areas. 
Those areas include Gastineau Channel, Fritz Cove, Auke Bay and Lena Cove. Hatchery area rules are in effect through the end of August. The daily limit is four kings, or Chinook, of any size. 
Daniel Teske, the Juneau area management biologist for sport fisheries at Alaska Department of Fish and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-hatchery-king-salmon-sport-fishing-opens/Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:22:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-hatchery-king-salmon-sport-fishing-opens/ Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, or SEARHC, opened a new urgent care facility in downtown Juneau over the weekend.
The Alaska Native-run health care organization announced on Friday that the new facility is located at the back entrance of its Front Street Clinic, near Harbor Mountain Brewing Company. The clinic officially opened on Su]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/searhc-opens-new-urgent-care-clinic-in-downtown-juneau/Tue, 02 Jun 2026 01:32:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/searhc-opens-new-urgent-care-clinic-in-downtown-juneau/ Alaska and three of its municipalities could be in line for an extra $60 million in oil industry tax revenue after a new ruling in a long-running feud over the value of the trans-Alaska pipeline system.
A state appeals board this week determined the property tax value of the enormous 50-year-old pipeline system, which moves crude 800 miles from the North Slope’s oil]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/in-setback-for-oil-companies-tax-board-raises-trans-alaska-pipeline-value-by-3-billion/Tue, 02 Jun 2026 01:03:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/in-setback-for-oil-companies-tax-board-raises-trans-alaska-pipeline-value-by-3-billion/ Alaska would more than triple the funding it devotes to school construction and maintenance projects next year under a budget approved this month by the Alaska Legislature. The funding, which awai]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-deteriorating-schools-could-receive-more-than-148m-for-repairs-its-a-fraction-of-what-they-need/Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:10:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-deteriorating-schools-could-receive-more-than-148m-for-repairs-its-a-fraction-of-what-they-need/ In this newscast:Thousands of people will converge in Juneau next week to dance, sing and showcase their Indigenous culture.
More than 100 Sitkans gathered at the Starrigavan boat launch Thursday morning for a blessing and send-off of the “Ancestral Echoes” canoe heading to Celebration in Juneau. Lingít elders Ed Peele and Harvey Kitka offered a blessing accompanied by drumming and singing before the 12]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-may-29-2026/Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:58:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-may-29-2026/ A group of canoes from several different communities embarked from Petersburg on May 24 to paddle together to Juneau, camping and visiting villages along the way. It’s a tradition known as Journey.
Kéet yaakw — a hand-painted, 39-foot, Tlingit-style fiberglass canoe — is Petersburg’s first in ov]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/canoes-launch-from-petersburg-on-journey-to-celebration/Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:55:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/canoes-launch-from-petersburg-on-journey-to-celebration/ Anybody hoping to throw their hat in the ring to be Alaska’s next governor, senator, congressman or state legislator is running out of time. The deadline to file to run for office is 5 p.m. Monday.
There are already 20 candidates running for governor and dozens more seeking other state and federal offices.
Here are three things to watch as the deadline approaches.
1. Lat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/3-things-to-watch-as-alaskas-election-filing-deadline-approaches/Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/3-things-to-watch-as-alaskas-election-filing-deadline-approaches/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/appeals-court-says-alaska-has-the-right-to-make-conocophillips-oil-well-data-public/Sat, 30 May 2026 01:17:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/appeals-court-says-alaska-has-the-right-to-make-conocophillips-oil-well-data-public/ Thousands of people will converge in Juneau next week to dance, sing and showcase their Indigenous culture. 
Celebration 2026 officially kicks off on Wednesday with the theme “enduring strength.” The every-other-year gathering began more than 40 years ago to recognize the survival and persistence of Lingít, Haida an]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-prepares-to-welcome-thousands-as-celebration-2026-approaches/Sat, 30 May 2026 00:13:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-prepares-to-welcome-thousands-as-celebration-2026-approaches/ WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Nick Begich are not saying how they feel about two of President Trump’s most controversial priorities: a $1 billion security-related request for his ballroom and a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund that could pay Jan. 6 riot defendants and other Trump allies.
The Trump administration claims the fund will compensate people who have been “victimize]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskans-seeking-sen-sullivan-rep-begich-stance-on-trump-compensation-fund-get-silence/Sat, 30 May 2026 00:10:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskans-seeking-sen-sullivan-rep-begich-stance-on-trump-compensation-fund-get-silence/ Former Gov. Bill Walker is considering another run for governor. Walker, an independent and former Republican who served one term as governor from 2014 to 2018, filed a letter of intent with Alaska campaign regulators Thursday morning.
It would be Walker’s fifth consecutive run for governor. He lost the Republican]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/former-alaska-gov-bill-walker-considers-fifth-run-for-governor-as-deadline-approaches/Fri, 29 May 2026 03:07:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/former-alaska-gov-bill-walker-considers-fifth-run-for-governor-as-deadline-approaches/ More than 100 Sitkans gathered at the Starrigavan boat launch Thursday morning for a blessing and send-off of the “Ancestral Echoes” canoe, sponsored by the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, heading to Celebration in Juneau.
Paddles at the Starrigavan boat launch on May 28, 2026. (KCAW/McKenney)
Lingít elders Ed Peele and Harvey Kitka offered a blessing accompanied b]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sitkans-send-off-ancestral-echoes-canoe-headed-to-celebration/Fri, 29 May 2026 03:01:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sitkans-send-off-ancestral-echoes-canoe-headed-to-celebration/ Clarence “Butch” Laiti was Yanyeidí and T’aaḵu Ḵwáan, born and raised in Juneau. He was a Vietnam War veteran, grandfather and great grandfather. 
Laiti died at the age of 77 on April 10. 
Until his death, he served as president of the Douglas Indian Association, a tribal government based on Douglas Island.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/clarence-butch-laiti-remembered-as-lingit-leader-and-fisheries-advocate/Sat, 23 May 2026 03:21:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/clarence-butch-laiti-remembered-as-lingit-leader-and-fisheries-advocate/ In this newscast:The popular Goldbelt Tram in downtown Juneau will remain closed as it undergoes repairs and inspections,
More than 300 high school seniors are expected to graduate in Juneau this Sunday,
Alaska Airlines might add a flight from Juneau to Portland, without stopping in Seattle,
Douglas Island Pink and Chum celebrates its 50th anniversary this year,
Hundreds of people gathered in Hoonah last weekend to unveil]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-may-22-2026/Sat, 23 May 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-may-22-2026/ Juneau Afternoon featuring filmmaker Keeyées Tláa Moriah Hayes on the film “Dear Alaska,” playing June 7 in Juneau, plus Metallica cover band One Eye Open, and CBJ Pools with Terra Patterson.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/jun]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/keeyes-tla-moriah-hayes-film-dear-alaska-one-eye-open-metallica-cover-band-juneau-pools/Sat, 23 May 2026 02:35:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/keeyes-tla-moriah-hayes-film-dear-alaska-one-eye-open-metallica-cover-band-juneau-pools/ More than 300 high school seniors are expected to graduate in Juneau this Sunday.
Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School will hold its graduation for 34 seniors at the Dzantik’i Heeni gymnasium at noon. The ceremony will include remarks by interim Principal Lori Hoover and be followed by a reception i]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-class-of-2026-is-set-to-graduate-this-sunday/Sat, 23 May 2026 01:29:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-class-of-2026-is-set-to-graduate-this-sunday/ The popular Goldbelt Tram in downtown Juneau will remain closed as it undergoes repairs and inspections, according to Goldbelt Inc. President and CEO McHugh Pierre.
The tram has been closed since late April after a tram car came to an abrupt halt at its bottom terminal. The incident sent two employees to the hospital with injuries. 
The tram was scheduled to reopen on May 24, but in an interview with]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/goldbelt-tram-to-remain-closed-indefinitely-following-incident-last-month/Fri, 22 May 2026 23:43:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/goldbelt-tram-to-remain-closed-indefinitely-following-incident-last-month/ Dr. Murray Buttner from Bartlett Family Medicine, Sea Week program highlights with NOAA, UAS, and the Juneau School District, and updates from the Juneau Commission on Aging.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.Subscribe to the podcast:App]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dr-murray-buttner-joins-bartlett-family-medicine-sea-week-program-welcomes-uas-as-new-partner-older-americans-month/Fri, 22 May 2026 23:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dr-murray-buttner-joins-bartlett-family-medicine-sea-week-program-welcomes-uas-as-new-partner-older-americans-month/ The Alaska Legislature approved millions for immediate upgrades to the facilities at the state-run boarding school, Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
Mt. Edgecumbe has been the focus of public concern and legislative hearings this year, after more than 100 students disenrolled during the school year. Lawmakers called the state’s management of the school into question after witnessing deterioratin]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-approves-millions-for-facilities-upgrades-at-mt-edgecumbe-high-school/Fri, 22 May 2026 23:06:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-approves-millions-for-facilities-upgrades-at-mt-edgecumbe-high-school/ Listen to this story:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/22AlaskaPDX-WEB.mp3
Alaska Airlines might add a flight from Juneau to Portland, without stopping in Seattle. It’s one possibility among several changes the airline talked about at a Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday.
Scott Habberstad manages the airline’s Alaska market.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-might-get-an-alaska-airlines-flight-to-portland-without-stopping-in-seattle/Fri, 22 May 2026 21:39:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-might-get-an-alaska-airlines-flight-to-portland-without-stopping-in-seattle/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/how-to-get-your-soil-ready-for-spring-planting/Fri, 22 May 2026 19:45:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/how-to-get-your-soil-ready-for-spring-planting/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20hoonahvets.wav
HOONAH — More than a hundred people walked off a catamaran into Hoonah on Saturday morning. They were there to join dozens of other Hoonah residents who gathered to witness the unveiling of two memorials dedicated to veterans and their families. 
The first memorial is an archway anchored]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/this-is-how-we-heal-hoonah-honors-its-veterans-with-two-new-memorials/Fri, 22 May 2026 18:40:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/this-is-how-we-heal-hoonah-honors-its-veterans-with-two-new-memorials/ In this newscast:The Juneau Assembly may have found a path out of the red for its budget last night, but it wasn’t easy,
A U.S. Forest Service plan to revamp the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to accommodate more tourists will remain in place, with some additional paperwork,
A bill that would change the scope of an Alaska sexual assault law passed the Alaska Legislature Wednesday as part of a 10-bill package. It]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-may-21-2026/Fri, 22 May 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-may-21-2026/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/21mocutz.wav
The Juneau Assembly may have found a path out of the red for its budget at a late night finance committee meeting on Wednesday — but it wasn’t easy. 
Members spent more than five hours voting on a list of what to cut and what to keep as the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-moves-forward-with-mount-jumbo-gym-closure-museum-staff-layoffs/Fri, 22 May 2026 02:30:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-moves-forward-with-mount-jumbo-gym-closure-museum-staff-layoffs/ Alaska lawmakers approved an additional $144 million in one-time funding for K-12 schools next year, plus a batch of education policy changes that garnered bipartisan support particularly aimed at boosting teacher retention and offsetting districts’ energy costs.
The Alaska Legislature has been divided, and at odds with Gov. Mike Dunleavy, over the level of state funding for public education &mda]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-approve-one-time-funding-for-k-12-schools-plus-energy-relief/Fri, 22 May 2026 02:10:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-approve-one-time-funding-for-k-12-schools-plus-energy-relief/ A bill that would change the scope of an Alaska sexual assault law passed the Alaska Legislature Wednesday as part of a 10-bill package. It alters a law that criminalizes sexual assault by a medical provider. 
Democratic Juneau Rep. Sara Hannan’s bill come]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-closing-loophole-in-sexual-assault-law-passes-alaska-legislature/Fri, 22 May 2026 01:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-closing-loophole-in-sexual-assault-law-passes-alaska-legislature/ Juneau Afternoon featuring City & Borough of Juneau Glacial Lake Outburst Flood preparation, “Strings through Time” – an evening of Ukrainian music, and Garden Talk: Soil Preparation.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauaftern]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/glacial-lake-outburst-flood-preprations-strings-through-time-and-soil-preparation-with-darren-snyder/Thu, 21 May 2026 23:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/glacial-lake-outburst-flood-preprations-strings-through-time-and-soil-preparation-with-darren-snyder/ The Alaska Legislature kicked off a special session Thursday to continue working on a key priority of Gov. Mike Dunleavy that didn’t pass in the 121-day regular session: tax cuts for the Alaska LNG project.
“It’s like we were just here,” joked Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, as he gaveled in the specia]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-adjourn-one-session-and-begin-another-to-mull-tax-breaks-for-lng-project/Thu, 21 May 2026 23:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-adjourn-one-session-and-begin-another-to-mull-tax-breaks-for-lng-project/ Cruise ships planning to stop in Seward have had to dock in Whittier instead.
Three ships that were set to visit Seward in the last week were rerouted nearly 90 land miles north to Whittier, according to a social media post from the Seward Chamber of Commerce. A new dock in Seward was scheduled to open on May 14 but has been delayed.
The Alaska Railroad owns and operates the dock. Railroad external affairs director Me]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/snag-with-seward-cruise-dock-reroutes-ships-to-whittier/Thu, 21 May 2026 22:43:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/snag-with-seward-cruise-dock-reroutes-ships-to-whittier/ WASHINGTON — President Trump is undermining his own legislative agenda by working to oust two Republican senators, Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Tuesday.
“Maybe he doesn’t think he needs us,” she said. “But I don’t know. Last I checked, the laws don’t just appear before his desk to be signed.”
Trump’s actions to take down inc]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trump-wants-a-more-loyal-senate-murkowski-says-hes-sabotaging-that/Thu, 21 May 2026 19:45:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trump-wants-a-more-loyal-senate-murkowski-says-hes-sabotaging-that/ Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20VisitorLawsuit-WEB.mp3
A U.S. Forest Service plan to revamp the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to accommodate more tourists will remain in place, with some additional paperwork. A federal court decided this month not to scrap the improvement project after ruling last year that the agency’s planning process violated the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/federal-court-decides-not-to-scrap-mendenhall-glacier-visitor-center-improvement-plan-after-legal-violation/Thu, 21 May 2026 03:24:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/federal-court-decides-not-to-scrap-mendenhall-glacier-visitor-center-improvement-plan-after-legal-violation/ In this newscast:Juneau residents say the city’s sole electric provider’s proposal to raise bills by 20% is not affordable,
It’s National Safe Boating Week and the U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue teams in Juneau are asking residents to help prevent false alerts,
Alaska Native Vietnam War veteran, George Lindoff from Hoonah, got a proper homecoming decades after his service,
The Alaska Legislature is l]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-may-20-2026/Thu, 21 May 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-may-20-2026/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20WELCOMEHOME.mp3
When George Lindoff returned to the U.S. in 1971 after fighting for his country in Vietnam, he was not met with a warm welcome. Instead, there were anti-war protestors. 
“First time we landed in San Francisco, t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/vietnam-war-veteran-from-hoonah-gets-proper-homecoming-decades-after-his-service/Thu, 21 May 2026 02:03:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/vietnam-war-veteran-from-hoonah-gets-proper-homecoming-decades-after-his-service/ It’s National Safe Boating Week, and U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue teams in Juneau are asking residents to help prevent false alerts. 
A false alert is anytime the Coast Guard’s search and rescue systems are activated when there is no real emergency. Responders still have to treat it like it is one, said U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District Master Chief Greg Slush]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-coast-guard-advises-southeast-alaskans-to-avoid-false-alerts/Thu, 21 May 2026 01:34:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-coast-guard-advises-southeast-alaskans-to-avoid-false-alerts/ The Alaska Legislature approved a wide-ranging crime bill on Wednesday, the last day of its regular session. The bill includes measures that raise Alaska’s age of sexual consent to 18 and criminalize child sex abuse material generated by artificial intelligence.
House Bill 239 includes elements of 10 separate proposals introduced this year and last year, plus]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-passes-sweeping-crime-bill-raising-age-of-consent-to-18-on-last-day-of-session/Thu, 21 May 2026 00:28:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-passes-sweeping-crime-bill-raising-age-of-consent-to-18-on-last-day-of-session/ On a blustery morning in mid-May, some two dozen people transferred from a large boat to a smaller one and then onto a rocky island in the middle of Lynn Canal.
Left on the boat were stacks of wood meant for building bunk beds in the red-and-white lighthouse perched high above the shore.
“I don’t think we’re going to get this lumber off from Haines,” said Sue York, who]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-oldest-original-lighthouse-will-soon-open-to-the-public-for-the-first-time/Wed, 20 May 2026 23:31:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-oldest-original-lighthouse-will-soon-open-to-the-public-for-the-first-time/ After Alaska Electric Light & Power filed a rate increase case with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska last week, some Juneau residents say a 20% bill increase is too high. 
Lynda Giguere is one of a few residents who submitted a public comment on the case. She said the additional cost would hurt her wallet. 
“I mean, 20% is significant — when your utility]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-residents-say-aelampprsquos-proposal-to-raise-bills-by-20-is-not-affordable/Wed, 20 May 2026 21:05:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-residents-say-aelampprsquos-proposal-to-raise-bills-by-20-is-not-affordable/ The Alaska Legislature is headed for a special session focused on tax cuts for the Alaska LNG project immediately after lawmakers adjourn on Wednesday.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy said that’s because lawmakers look unlikely to pass a bill that would replace the 2% annual property tax with a tax on gas flowing through the pipeline.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/special-session-called-after-alaska-lawmakers-fail-to-reach-pipeline-deal-with-governor/Wed, 20 May 2026 19:54:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/special-session-called-after-alaska-lawmakers-fail-to-reach-pipeline-deal-with-governor/ In this newscast:The Juneau Assembly voted last night to divest from Eaglecrest Ski Area’s gondola project and pay back a $10 million investment from Goldbelt Incorporated.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed a bill that would reinstate pensions for public employees late last night as the Alaska House failed to advance a tax cut for the Alaska LNG project. Lawmakers had hoped to make a deal: they’d pass a gas pipeline t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-may-19-2026/Wed, 20 May 2026 03:06:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-may-19-2026/ In this interview, Read discusses the creative process behind the album, the similarities between Scottish and American folk music, and how her upbringi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/scottish-multi-instrumentalist-hannah-read-plays-live-in-the-kxll-studio-discusses-new-album/Wed, 20 May 2026 03:01:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/scottish-multi-instrumentalist-hannah-read-plays-live-in-the-kxll-studio-discusses-new-album/ New parents in Alaska would be eligible for up to 12 weeks of state-paid leave starting in 2030 under a bill approved Saturday by the Alaska House of Representatives.
If signed into law, House Bill 193 would require the state to pay certain working parents up to $524 per week for up to 12 weeks starting in 2030 after a birt]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-considers-bill-mandating-paid-leave-for-many-new-parents-starting-in-2030/Wed, 20 May 2026 02:47:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-considers-bill-mandating-paid-leave-for-many-new-parents-starting-in-2030/ A man accused of breaking into two homes in the Mendenhall Valley and assaulting three people earlier this month has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Juneau resident Seeti Maua, 24, faces six felony charges and three misdemeanor assault charges related to the alleged break-ins and sexual assault of one person.
Maua is currently in Department of Corrections custody and appeared in-person at hi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/suspect-in-violent-mendenhall-valley-break-ins-pleads-not-guilty/Wed, 20 May 2026 02:27:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/suspect-in-violent-mendenhall-valley-break-ins-pleads-not-guilty/ Douglas Island Pink and Chum celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The Juneau hatchery – commonly known as DIPAC – was founded in 1976. That was shortly after the Alaska Legislature passed a bill allowing private nonprofits to operate salmon hatcheries as a way to rehabilitate low salmon runs.
KTOO’s Mike Lake talked with Executive Director Katie Harms about highlights from the last five dec]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-dipac-celebrates-50-years-of-salmon-sustainability-in-juneau/Wed, 20 May 2026 00:58:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-dipac-celebrates-50-years-of-salmon-sustainability-in-juneau/ The Juneau Assembly voted on Monday night to divest from Eaglecrest Ski Area’s gondola project and pay back a $10 million investment from Goldbelt Incorporated. 
The vote marks a reversal of the Assembly’s controversial 2022 decision to purchase the gondola for the city-owned ski area. It comes after the Assembly learned the project’s price tag would be nearl]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-officially-backs-out-of-eaglecrest-ski-areas-gondola-project/Tue, 19 May 2026 22:47:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-officially-backs-out-of-eaglecrest-ski-areas-gondola-project/ Chilkat Valley Preschool in Haines is working to change the ages it serves. Once licensing is approved, it will open enrollment to infants. That’s the group that the Haines Early Childhood Task Force has identified as the most underserved. But it will take time and money for the transition to happen.
Haines, like many towns, is dealing with a childcare shortage. So it was a bit of a surprise when enrollment numbers at Chilkat Valley Prescho]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/haines-nonprofit-preschool-is-restructuring-to-accept-infants/Tue, 19 May 2026 22:02:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/haines-nonprofit-preschool-is-restructuring-to-accept-infants/ A high-stakes quid pro quo deal fell apart in the Alaska Capitol on Monday as legislators failed to approve a tax break for the propose]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pipeline-for-pension-deal-falls-apart-as-the-alaska-legislatures-regular-session-nears-end/Tue, 19 May 2026 21:15:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pipeline-for-pension-deal-falls-apart-as-the-alaska-legislatures-regular-session-nears-end/ The Juneau Assembly met for a regular meeting on Monday night to vote on whether to divest from the ski area’s gondola project, approve funding toward a potential federal buyout program of flood-prone homes and approve a grant for summer childcare programs in Juneau. 
Here are some of the highlights from the meeting:
• The Juneau Assembly approved two ordinances to fi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-highlights-gondola-divestment-view-drive-buyout-childcare/Tue, 19 May 2026 07:41:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-highlights-gondola-divestment-view-drive-buyout-childcare/ The Alaska House is considering a tax break for the Alaska LNG project aimed at making the long-dreamed natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska a reality. Debate was ongoing Monday afternoon]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-weighs-negotiated-compromise-cutting-taxes-for-alaska-lng-project/Tue, 19 May 2026 03:10:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-weighs-negotiated-compromise-cutting-taxes-for-alaska-lng-project/ In this newscast:The Juneau Assembly will vote tonight on whether to finalize its plan to divest from Eaglecrest Ski Area’s controversial gondola project,
As leadership of the Juneau School District undergoes a major changeover this summer, many of those positions are being filled with current employees,
A Canadian mining company wants to reopen a gold mine in British Columbia, upstream from the Taku River, Southeas]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-may-18-2026/Tue, 19 May 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-may-18-2026/ Sixth graders in Juneau’s Montessori Borealis program recently showcased their family histories with presentations they spent months working on. 
It’s the capstone project for their grade level — and the presentations parallel southeast Alaska’s history, too. ]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-students-reach-back-into-history-with-capstone-ancestry-project/Tue, 19 May 2026 01:57:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-students-reach-back-into-history-with-capstone-ancestry-project/ As leadership of the Juneau School District undergoes a major changeover this summer, most of its top administrator and principal positions are being filled with current employees. 
The district is filling six more leadership positions following several retirements and resignations. It announced the positions on Friday. 
Thunder Mountain Middle School Assistant Principal La]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-selects-current-employees-to-fill-multiple-leadership-vacancies/Tue, 19 May 2026 00:55:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-selects-current-employees-to-fill-multiple-leadership-vacancies/ Earthquakes and elevated gas emissions are causing scientists to take a closer look at Kupreanof Volcano. It’s a remote, heavily glaciated volcano about 50 miles northeast of Sand Point with very little known eruptive history.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory raised the volcano’s alert level to Advis]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/an-alaska-peninsula-volcano-is-showing-signs-of-unrest-scientists-are-learning-more-about-it-for-the-first-time/Tue, 19 May 2026 00:32:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/an-alaska-peninsula-volcano-is-showing-signs-of-unrest-scientists-are-learning-more-about-it-for-the-first-time/ Less than two years after Alaskans approved a ballot measure creating a mandatory sick leave law, the Alaska House of Representatives has voted to partially repeal it.
By a 22-18 vote on Saturday, the House approved an amendment that would cancel the law’s application for seasonal workers and for workers employed by a business with nine or fewer employees. The cancellat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-votes-to-immediately-eliminate-sick-leave-for-many-workers-in-the-state/Mon, 18 May 2026 21:56:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-votes-to-immediately-eliminate-sick-leave-for-many-workers-in-the-state/ Alaska lawmakers are racing against the clock this week with the Legislature’s regular session set to end by Wednesday night.
Over the weekend, leaders in the state House and Senate worked out a compromise on the state budget and decided on $1,200 in payments to Alaskans this fall. That’s a $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawmakers-land-on-1200-payout-as-they-negotiate-aklng-bill/Mon, 18 May 2026 21:46:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawmakers-land-on-1200-payout-as-they-negotiate-aklng-bill/ The Alaska Legislature wants the state’s development agency to finance new apartment complexes and other multifamily housing.
House Bill 184 passed the Senate in a 17-3 vote Friday after clearing the House in February. It gives the Alaska Industrial Development and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/legislature-looks-to-add-workforce-housing-to-alaska-development-agencys-priority-list/Mon, 18 May 2026 20:31:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/legislature-looks-to-add-workforce-housing-to-alaska-development-agencys-priority-list/ In this newscast:Divers are searching the murky waters of Gastineau Channel this week in hopes of locating the body of a Juneau man who has been missing for nearly a year,
The case against a former Juneau chiropractor accused of assaulting more than a dozen women under the guise of medical care may continue into another year. At a hearing Wednesday, the defense attorney said he would likely not be ready to go to trial unt]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-may-15-2026/Sat, 16 May 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-may-15-2026/ Juneau Afternoon featuring the League of Women Voters’ “Suffs” movie event, and the Yadaa.at Kalé: JDHS Drama, Debate, and Forensics team heads to nationals.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.Subscribe to the podca]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/yadaaat-kal-jdhs-drama-debate-and-forensics-heads-to-nationals-league-of-women-voters-showing-suffs/Sat, 16 May 2026 02:54:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/yadaaat-kal-jdhs-drama-debate-and-forensics-heads-to-nationals-league-of-women-voters-showing-suffs/ The Juneau Assembly will vote Monday night on whether to finalize its plan to divest from Eaglecrest Ski Area’s controversial gondola project. It would mean paying back a $10 million investment from Goldbelt Incorporated. 
The decision comes after the Assembly voted in committee last month to go in this direction. The vote on Monday night will finalize that decision.
When th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-to-vote-on-finalizing-eaglecrest-gondola-divestment-on-monday/Sat, 16 May 2026 02:23:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-to-vote-on-finalizing-eaglecrest-gondola-divestment-on-monday/ Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/15MineFish.wav
Canagold Resources, the company proposing to open the New Polaris gold mine on the Tulsequah River in British Columbia, says it’s taking steps to protect the environment. 
The Tulsequah is a tributary of the Taku River in Alaska, which is known as the most productive salmon stream in Southeast. A]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/proposed-new-polaris-mine-raises-concerns-about-taku-river-salmon-but-mining-company-assures-safegaurds/Sat, 16 May 2026 00:50:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/proposed-new-polaris-mine-raises-concerns-about-taku-river-salmon-but-mining-company-assures-safegaurds/ State regulators are breathing a sigh of relief after the federal government on Wednesday decided against listing Gulf of Alaska king salmon with Endangered Species Act protections.
The move comes more than two-and-a-half years after a Washington state environmental group first called on the agency to list kings under the Endangered Species Act.
The Wild Fish Conservancy filed the petition on the grounds that king populations have]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/noaa-rejects-petition-to-list-gulf-of-alaska-king-salmon-under-the-endangered-species-act/Sat, 16 May 2026 00:17:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/noaa-rejects-petition-to-list-gulf-of-alaska-king-salmon-under-the-endangered-species-act/ The case against a former Juneau chiropractor accused of assaulting more than a dozen women under the guise of medical care may continue into another year.At a hearing Wednesday, the defense attorney said he would likely not be ready to go to trial until 2027. 
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/14fultzupdate.mp3
Jeff]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/public-defender-for-former-chiropractor-accused-of-sexual-assault-asks-to-delay-retrial-until-2027/Fri, 15 May 2026 23:22:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/public-defender-for-former-chiropractor-accused-of-sexual-assault-asks-to-delay-retrial-until-2027/ Juneau Afternoon featuring From Juneau to Ireland with Fortenbery, Vidic, and The Heists, plus the Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run, and Juneau Community Foundation Douglas-Dornan Fund.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.Subscribe to the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/from-juneau-to-ireland-with-fortenbery-vidic-and-the-heists-law-enforcement-torch-run-douglas-dornan-grant/Fri, 15 May 2026 22:11:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/from-juneau-to-ireland-with-fortenbery-vidic-and-the-heists-law-enforcement-torch-run-douglas-dornan-grant/ WASHINGTON — Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted with Democrats Wednesday to advance a resolution to remove U.S. forces from Iran, after rejecting six similar measures. But she said her stance is not absolute, and she said she might be willing to approve nearly $30 billion to pay for the war.
First, though, she’s asking for more facts about what the war has cost, beyond the round numbers the Pentagon has]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-votes-with-dems-to-end-war-but-shes-open-to-paying-for-it/Fri, 15 May 2026 20:09:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-votes-with-dems-to-end-war-but-shes-open-to-paying-for-it/ Divers are searching the murky waters of Gastineau Channel this week in hopes of locating the body of a Juneau man who has been missing for nearly a year. 
Benjamin “Benny” Stepetin, a 42-year-old Juneau resident, disappeared last June. His brother, Martin Stepetin Sr., said his family hasn’t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/divers-search-for-missing-juneau-man-in-gastineau-channel-nearly-a-year-after-disappearance/Fri, 15 May 2026 19:31:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/divers-search-for-missing-juneau-man-in-gastineau-channel-nearly-a-year-after-disappearance/ In this newscast:Beginning next school year, elementary school students will no longer be dismissed 30 minutes early on Mondays,
Juneau’s pools are no longer on the Juneau Assembly’s chopping block, for now. The city museum still is,
National Geographic journalist Paul Salopek has been walking around the world since 2013. But now that he’s in Alaska, his main mode of transportation is about to change,
Th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-may-14-2026/Fri, 15 May 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-may-14-2026/ National Geographic journalist Paul Salopek has been walking around the world since 2013. But now that he’s in Alaska, his main mode of transportation is about to change. 
He’s following the path of Stone Age human migration out of Africa and across the globe. He started in Ethiopia, walked out o]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/journalist-walking-across-the-globe-for-last-decade-takes-to-the-sea-in-southeast-alaska/Fri, 15 May 2026 01:34:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/journalist-walking-across-the-globe-for-last-decade-takes-to-the-sea-in-southeast-alaska/ Juneau’s pools, Dimond Park Field House and reductions to social service grants are off the Juneau Assembly’s chopping block — for now. The Juneau-Douglas City Museum, Mount Jumbo Gym and Douglas Fire Station are still in limbo. 
The Assembly spent five hours Wednesday night honing in on what city services and facilities it bel]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/local-pools-and-field-house-safe-for-now-as-juneau-assembly-eyes-other-cuts-amid-budget-deficit/Fri, 15 May 2026 00:18:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/local-pools-and-field-house-safe-for-now-as-juneau-assembly-eyes-other-cuts-amid-budget-deficit/ Juneau Afternoon featuring Last Chance Mining Museum, Parents for Safe Grad, and Juneau Ghost Light Theatre Play Crawl.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.Subscribe to the podcast:Apple PodcastsNPR OneSpotifyStitcherRSS
Juneau Afternoon]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/jglt-play-crawl-last-chance-mining-museum-parent-for-safe-grad/Thu, 14 May 2026 23:47:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/jglt-play-crawl-last-chance-mining-museum-parent-for-safe-grad/ The Alaska Legislature rejected Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s pick for attorney general, Stephen Cox, on a 29-31 vote Thursday morning, an extraordinary rebuke of the governor’s appointment to head the Department of Law.
Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate said they were concerned about a range of co]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-rejects-dunleavy-ag-appointee-stephen-cox/Thu, 14 May 2026 23:29:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-rejects-dunleavy-ag-appointee-stephen-cox/ As lawmakers spar over a wide range of issues in the final days of the Alaska Legislature’s regular session, one idea is bringing Republicans, Democrats and independents together.
The state House of Representatives voted unanimously Wednesday to make the giant green cabbage Alaska’s official state vegetable.
“Let us leave partisanship b]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-famously-massive-cabbages-should-be-the-official-state-vegetable-state-house-says/Thu, 14 May 2026 21:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-famously-massive-cabbages-should-be-the-official-state-vegetable-state-house-says/ The number of cruise ship passengers in Haines could more than quadruple if the borough leases its largest dock to an international cruise port operator.
The Haines Borough is exploring a partnership with Global Ports Holding, which is interested in taking over long-term management of the Port Chilkoot Dock, the Chilkat Valley News reported last week.
The Turkish-owned company has offices in London, Barc]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/cruise-traffic-in-haines-could-skyrocket-under-potential-deal-with-major-cruise-port-operator/Thu, 14 May 2026 19:57:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/cruise-traffic-in-haines-could-skyrocket-under-potential-deal-with-major-cruise-port-operator/ A Canadian company proposing to reopen a gold mine in British Columbia plans to drive a large boat up Alaska’s Taku River this summer to see whether it can ship construction materials to the site. Some locals worry it could run aground or damage property along the banks. 
Canagold Resources plans to use a 98-foot-long, steel-hulled landing craft called the Inlet Raider. The route is up the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/canagold-plans-to-drive-98-foot-long-ship-up-taku-river-to-proposed-new-polaris-mine-in-june/Thu, 14 May 2026 03:11:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/canagold-plans-to-drive-98-foot-long-ship-up-taku-river-to-proposed-new-polaris-mine-in-june/ In this newscast:As lawmakers spar over a wide range of issues in the final days of the Alaska Legislature’s regular session, one idea is bringing them together. The state House of Representatives voted unanimously on Wednesday to make the giant green cabbage Alaska’s official state vegetable.
A Canadian company proposing to reopen a gold mine in British Columbia plans to drive a large boat up Alaska’s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-may-13-2026/Thu, 14 May 2026 03:06:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-may-13-2026/ Beginning next school year, elementary school students will no longer be dismissed 30 minutes early on Mondays. 
The Juneau School Board voted down continuing the practice during a meeting on Tuesday, with members citing concerns around impacts on families and a lack of data showing improvement]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-ends-30-minute-early-release-for-elementary-students-next-year/Thu, 14 May 2026 02:46:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-ends-30-minute-early-release-for-elementary-students-next-year/ A late amendment to a bill nearing final passage in the Alaska Capitol would exempt some Alaska Native village corporations from public financial disclosures required by state law.
On Monday afternoon, the Alaska Senate’s labor and commerce committee voted to amend House Bill 126 with a new section that reduces and caps the number of Native corporations requir]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-considers-exempting-some-native-corporations-from-public-disclosure/Thu, 14 May 2026 02:43:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-considers-exempting-some-native-corporations-from-public-disclosure/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster declaration on May 11 for two Interior Alaska communities after they were inundated by severe ice jam flooding.
The declaration covers areas near Chalkyitsik on the Black River and Hughes on the Koyukuk River,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-issues-disaster-declaration-for-flooded-interior-alaska-communities/Wed, 13 May 2026 23:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-issues-disaster-declaration-for-flooded-interior-alaska-communities/ With a week left in the legislative session, the Alaska House passed a bill Tuesday focused on how students are counted.
The bill aims to stabilize the budgeting process for school districts through a few different ways. Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, sponsored the bill and explained on the floor Tuesday that it allows school districts to use known enrollment counts to calculate f]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-aiming-to-stabilize-school-budget-process-passes-out-of-alaska-house/Wed, 13 May 2026 21:55:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-aiming-to-stabilize-school-budget-process-passes-out-of-alaska-house/ The Alaska Legislature’s regular session ends in just over a week, on May 20, and lawmakers are racing to pass a wide range of bills and resolutions before the deadline.
Alaska Public Media’s Eric Stone has been at the Capitol tracking what law]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/its-bill-passing-season-heres-what-to-expect-in-the-final-days-of-the-alaska-legislatures-session/Wed, 13 May 2026 19:55:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/its-bill-passing-season-heres-what-to-expect-in-the-final-days-of-the-alaska-legislatures-session/ Juneau residents will see higher electricity bills starting next month. 
Alaska Electric Light & Power, the city’s only electric utility, filed a rate increase case on Monday with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to recover costs from infrastructure projects and inflation.
The power company expects the average Juneau hou]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/aelampp-to-raise-juneau-electricity-rates-due-to-inflation-capital-improvements/Wed, 13 May 2026 03:11:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/aelampp-to-raise-juneau-electricity-rates-due-to-inflation-capital-improvements/ In this newscast:The Juneau School Board will consider what to add back to its budget for this fiscal year during a regular meeting Tuesday night. The district has more unspent funds than what it’s allowed under state law to carry over into the next fiscal year that begins in July.
Juneau residents will see higher electricity bills starting next month.
More than 100 middle school students in Juneau are getting hands]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-may-12-2026/Wed, 13 May 2026 03:04:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-may-12-2026/ The City and Borough of Juneau clerk’s office has certified two proposed citizen ballot propositions for the 2026 local election. That means the groups behind them are approved to start collecting signatures of support to put the questions on the ballot this fall. 
The two propositions were filed late]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/local-ballot-initiatives-aimed-at-boosting-city-revenue-recreation-facilities-certified-for-signature-gathering/Wed, 13 May 2026 02:03:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/local-ballot-initiatives-aimed-at-boosting-city-revenue-recreation-facilities-certified-for-signature-gathering/ The U.S. Marines Corps doesn’t have a big presence in Alaska, but that presence is expanding.
The Corps announced two new initiatives Friday that will bring more Marines north to Alaska, some on a rotating basis to coordinate training exercises and others more permanently in a detachment of reservists to be based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
“This is something that the Marine Corps, Alaska, we’ve all]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-marine-corps-expands-alaska-footprint/Wed, 13 May 2026 00:24:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-marine-corps-expands-alaska-footprint/ Join KTOO for an expert panel discussion on Juneau’s annual glacial outburst flood. Panelists will talk about the latest science guiding flood planning, the temporary flood wall made of HESCO barriers, future solutions and public safety.
KTOO climate and environment reporter Alix Soliman will moderate the one-hour panel discussion, followed by a 30 minute Q&A.
Panelists:
Nathan Epps and John Rajek, U.S. Army Corps of]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/flood-prep-panel-discussion/Tue, 12 May 2026 23:11:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/flood-prep-panel-discussion/ 1st place for Best Same-Day Feature (AUDIO, VIDEO), Alix Soliman and Clarise Larson for “‘It would have been catastrophic’: Juneau’s temporary levee protects most homes from record flooding”
2nd place for Best Natural Sound Journalism (ALL M]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ktoo-wins-five-alaska-press-club-awards/Tue, 12 May 2026 22:57:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ktoo-wins-five-alaska-press-club-awards/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/12paddlez.wav
More than 100 middle school students in Juneau are getting hands-on experience to learn about traditional Lingít carving by crafting their own canoe paddles in the classroom. 
The sounds of sanding, filing and chipping, and the aroma of spruce filled a classroom in Thunder M]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-middle-school-students-learn-traditional-lingt-carving-ahead-of-celebration/Tue, 12 May 2026 21:30:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-middle-school-students-learn-traditional-lingt-carving-ahead-of-celebration/ A state judge in Anchorage has again delayed a new election misconduct trial for former state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, after state prosecutors requested the postponement.
Earlier this year, judges Catherine Easter and Thomas Matthews scheduled a new trial for June, but Judge Josie Garton agreed on May 1 to postpone the tria]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-prosecutors-ask-to-delay-new-election-misconduct-trial-for-former-alaska-legislator/Tue, 12 May 2026 20:55:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-prosecutors-ask-to-delay-new-election-misconduct-trial-for-former-alaska-legislator/ A bill that seeks to make it easier for Alaskans to repair consumer electronics cleared the state Senate on Monday and headed to the House, as the end of the legislative session approaches.
Senate Bill 111, known as the Consumer Digital Right to Repair Act, would require electronics manufacturers to provide parts, documentation and tools to Alaskans looking to fix thin]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-passed-bill-seeks-to-assert-right-to-repair-for-consumer-electronics/Tue, 12 May 2026 20:21:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-passed-bill-seeks-to-assert-right-to-repair-for-consumer-electronics/ In this newscast:Young Juneau musicians got a chance to bring down the house over the weekend at a dual fundraiser for the Juneau Soccer Club and a music program that groups kids who want to play in rock bands,
Researchers have spent months studying the Tracy Arm tsunami landslide, and they conclude it was the second largest on record,
The Alaska Legislature is asking the federal government for some flexibility when it co]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-may-11-2026/Tue, 12 May 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-may-11-2026/ Young Juneau musicians got a chance to bring down the house over the weekend at a dual fundraiser for the Juneau Soccer Club and a music program that groups kids who want to play in rock bands.
At 6 p.m. on Saturday night, a crowd full of kids and their parents jammed out to the Flaming Fjords at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. The band — made up most]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-youth-rock-out-on-stage-after-months-of-practice/Tue, 12 May 2026 01:57:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-youth-rock-out-on-stage-after-months-of-practice/ The Juneau School Board will consider what to add back to its budget for this fiscal year during a regular meeting Tuesday night. The district has more unspent funds than what it’s allowed under state law to carry over into the next fiscal year that begins July 1.
The proposed addbacks include langu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-to-consider-adding-language-arts-curriculum-technology-equipment-to-this-years-budget/Tue, 12 May 2026 01:51:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-to-consider-adding-language-arts-curriculum-technology-equipment-to-this-years-budget/ Rural Alaska has long struggled with an abundance of stray and loose dogs and high rates of dog bites, with young children]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawmakers-take-aim-at-alaskas-chronic-problems-with-abandoned-and-loose-dogs/Mon, 11 May 2026 23:40:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawmakers-take-aim-at-alaskas-chronic-problems-with-abandoned-and-loose-dogs/ The Alaska Legislature has voted to mandate a three-step disaster evacuation scale for use statewide, a move inspired in part by a miscommunication in a wildfire near Denali National Park.
The state House voted 39-1 on Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 192 and require that state and local officials use the terms “Rea]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-approves-standardized-disaster-evacuation-scale-for-statewide-use/Mon, 11 May 2026 21:49:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-approves-standardized-disaster-evacuation-scale-for-statewide-use/ The Alaska Legislature is asking the federal government for some flexibility when it comes to implementing a massive program intended to improve rural healthcare across the state.
Alaska received $272 million from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill that passed in the summer of 2025, putting it on track to receive nearly $1.4 b]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-asks-federal-government-for-more-flexibility-on-rural-health-funding/Mon, 11 May 2026 19:34:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-asks-federal-government-for-more-flexibility-on-rural-health-funding/ Bretwood Higman has spent years scouring Alaska’s mountains for signs of potential landslides. One spot he looked: Tracy Arm Fjord – a popular cruise destination between Juneau and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/we-should-be-acting-more-quickly-tracy-arm-tsunami-highlights-unseen-hazards-in-busy-alaska-fjords/Sat, 09 May 2026 03:01:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/we-should-be-acting-more-quickly-tracy-arm-tsunami-highlights-unseen-hazards-in-busy-alaska-fjords/ In this newscast:Huna Totem Corporation officials say they are full steam ahead with the plan to open downtown Juneau’s fifth cruise ship dock by 2028. That’s despite unexpected timeline delays and price hikes that may scale down the project,
In early April, two people allegedly severely beat a man in the Marine Parking Garage in downtown Juneau. He was medevaced out of town. Nearly a month later, Alfred Torre]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-may-8-2026/Sat, 09 May 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-may-8-2026/ Juneau Afternoon featuring Navy Band Northwest, Water Ways exhibit at Liaise Studios, and World Migratory Bird Day with Juneau Audubon.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.Subscribe to the podcast:Apple PodcastsNPR OneSpotifyStitcherRSS
Junea]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/navy-band-northwest-water-ways-at-liaise-studios-world-migratory-bird-day/Sat, 09 May 2026 02:33:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/navy-band-northwest-water-ways-at-liaise-studios-world-migratory-bird-day/ Huna Totem Corporation officials say they are full steam ahead with the plan to open downtown Juneau’s fifth cruise ship dock by 2028. That’s despite unexpected timeline delays and price hikes that may scale down the project. 
Susan Bell, vice president of strategic initiatives for the Alaska Native village corpora]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/huna-totems-new-cruise-dock-project-could-be-downsized-due-to-cost-hikes-tariffs/Sat, 09 May 2026 01:51:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/huna-totems-new-cruise-dock-project-could-be-downsized-due-to-cost-hikes-tariffs/ In early April, two people allegedly severely beat a man in the Marine Parking Garage in downtown Juneau. He was medevaced out of town. Nearly a month later, Alfred Torres Sr. was pronounced brain dead and taken off of life support on Monday.
Torres’s family is reeling from the loss. His daughter, Lau]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/family-mourns-death-of-juneau-man-beaten-in-downtown-parking-garage-last-month/Sat, 09 May 2026 01:39:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/family-mourns-death-of-juneau-man-beaten-in-downtown-parking-garage-last-month/ The Alaska Senate has finalized its draft of the state’s operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year, moving lawmakers closer to the end of their last regular session before the 2026 election.
In a 17-3 vote, Senators approved a $13.1 billion proposal that includes a $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend for 2026, plus a $150 “energy rebat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-approves-139-billion-draft-state-budget-and-1150-payments-to-alaskans/Fri, 08 May 2026 23:56:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-approves-139-billion-draft-state-budget-and-1150-payments-to-alaskans/ Juneau Afternoon featuring artists from the Marine View Mural Project, Mudrooms “Sip & Tell” event at Devil’s Club, and Auke Bay Elementary students on their upcoming pansy sale.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.Sub]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/marine-view-mural-project-mudrooms-ldquosip-amp-tellrdquo-auke-bay-elementary-pansy-sale/Fri, 08 May 2026 22:27:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/marine-view-mural-project-mudrooms-ldquosip-amp-tellrdquo-auke-bay-elementary-pansy-sale/ The first month of the American war against Iran caused crude oil prices to skyrocket around the world, and the price of Alaska’s oil has risen particul]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/amid-iran-war-alaskas-oil-is-selling-with-an-extra-premium-on-global-markets/Fri, 08 May 2026 20:07:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/amid-iran-war-alaskas-oil-is-selling-with-an-extra-premium-on-global-markets/ This is part three in a three-part series about Tracy Day and her family’s ongoing search for answers. Read part one here and part two here. 
Juneau woman Tracy Day has been missing for more than seven years. And while her disappearance has become a rallying cry for the families of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Juneau, her daughter, Kaelyn Schneider, also wants people to know who she was before she went missing.
Listen:
h]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-woman-vows-to-continue-searching-for-her-missing-mother/Fri, 08 May 2026 19:57:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-woman-vows-to-continue-searching-for-her-missing-mother/ In this newscast:The Juneau Police Department has arrested a man suspected of assaulting three people over the weekend in the Mendenhall Valley,
Kaelyn Schneider has a lot of questions about the police investigation into her mother’s disappearance. Tracy Day, a Lingít woman from Juneau, went missing in 2019 and police say they have no suspects,
A bill aimed at stabilizing school district budgeting process mad]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-may-7-2026/Fri, 08 May 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-may-7-2026/ A Juneau lawmaker’s bill to increase state funding for free legal aid to vulnerable Alaskans is headed to the governor. 
Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, sponsored House Bill 48. She introduced it in late January of this legislative session. The Alaska House advanced the bill in late February and the Senate approved it o]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-lawmakers-bill-to-boost-legal-aid-funding-for-vulnerable-alaskans-heads-to-the-governor/Fri, 08 May 2026 02:43:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-lawmakers-bill-to-boost-legal-aid-funding-for-vulnerable-alaskans-heads-to-the-governor/ An Alaska Superior Court judge in Anchorage has given the state of Alaska permission to shoot bears in Southwest Alaska as part of a plan to boost a local caribou herd.
In a 22-page order, Judge Adolf Zeman said a cull planned for this month may take place while attorneys proceed with arguments about the constitutionality of the state’s action.
With the order, Ze]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-legal-challenge-alaska-judge-approves-states-revised-bear-cull-in-southwest-alaska/Thu, 07 May 2026 22:47:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-legal-challenge-alaska-judge-approves-states-revised-bear-cull-in-southwest-alaska/ This is part two in a three-part series about Tracy Day and her family’s ongoing search for answers. Read part one here. 
Kaelyn Schneider has a lot of questions about the police investigation into her mother’s disappearance. Tracy Day, a Lingít woman from Juneau, went missing in 2019 and pol]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/seven-years-after-tracy-days-disappearance-juneau-police-say-they-have-no-suspects-and-no-new-leads/Thu, 07 May 2026 21:01:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/seven-years-after-tracy-days-disappearance-juneau-police-say-they-have-no-suspects-and-no-new-leads/ This is part two in a three-part series about Tracy Day and her family’s ongoing search for answers. Read part one here. 
Kaelyn Schneider has a lot of questions about the police investigation into her mother’s disappearance. Tracy Day, a Lingít woman from Juneau, went missing in 2019 and pol]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/7-years-after-tracy-days-disappearance-juneau-police-say-they-have-no-suspects-and-no-new-leads/Thu, 07 May 2026 21:01:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/7-years-after-tracy-days-disappearance-juneau-police-say-they-have-no-suspects-and-no-new-leads/ Lawmakers in the Alaska House unveiled their first draft of the state’s capital budget on Monday. It adds $99.5 million in general-purpose spending to the roughly $250 million capital budget that passed the Senate last month. The majority of the added items focus on shoring up schools and university facilities around the state.
Rep. Calvin Schrage, an Anchorage independent who co-chairs the H]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/house-panel-boosts-maintenance-pulls-west-su-and-cascade-point-projects-from-budget/Thu, 07 May 2026 19:46:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/house-panel-boosts-maintenance-pulls-west-su-and-cascade-point-projects-from-budget/ The Juneau Police Department is looking for a man suspected of assaulting three people at random in two separate attacks in the Mendenhall Valley over the weekend. 
According to Juneau Police Department Deputy Chief Krag Campbell, police believe the person is a current threat to public safety. 
“These do seem random. There’s not a person in custody at this time,” he said]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-police-on-the-lookout-for-suspect-accused-of-attacking-multiple-people-in-mendenhall-valley/Thu, 07 May 2026 05:02:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-police-on-the-lookout-for-suspect-accused-of-attacking-multiple-people-in-mendenhall-valley/ Update, 4:30 p.m. Thursday:
The Juneau Police Department has arrested a man suspected of assaulting three people over the weekend in the Mendenhall Valley. 
Police took into custody 24-year-old Juneau resident Seeti Maua on Thursday afternoon. He was arrested on three counts of fourth-degree assault, two counts of first-degree burglary and one count of second-degree sexual assault. 
Maua]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-police-arrest-suspect-accused-of-attacking-multiple-people-in-mendenhall-valley/Thu, 07 May 2026 05:02:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-police-arrest-suspect-accused-of-attacking-multiple-people-in-mendenhall-valley/ In this newscast:Tuesday was a day of remembrance, awareness and calls to action to address the crises of Alaska Native and other Indigenous people facing extreme rates of violence,
City and federal contractors originally planned to build the flood wall along the Mendenhall River much higher this summer, after it just barely protected hundreds of homes from Juneau’s largest glacial outburst flood last August. But af]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-may-6-2026/Thu, 07 May 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-may-6-2026/ Calculating school funding is complicated. It’s currently based on enrollment projections, which can create uncertainty in a school district’s budgeting process. House Bill 261 would allow districts to use known numbers instead of projections to build budgets. 
In the bill, districts could use enrollment numbers from the previous year, or a th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-aimed-at-stabilizing-school-district-budgeting-process-proceeds-through-legislature/Thu, 07 May 2026 02:46:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-aimed-at-stabilizing-school-district-budgeting-process-proceeds-through-legislature/ Juneau Maritime Festival – Saturday, May 9Alaska Robotics Mini-Con comic festival – Saturday, May 9
Juneau Dance Theatre’s “Coppélia” – Friday, Saturday, Sunday, May 8-10Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneau]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/jedc-maritime-festival-ak-robotics-mini-con-juneau-dances-copplia/Thu, 07 May 2026 02:29:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/jedc-maritime-festival-ak-robotics-mini-con-juneau-dances-copplia/ Tuesday was Missing and Murdered Indigenous People’s Day. It’s a day of remembrance, awareness, and calls to action to address the crises of Alaska Native and other Indigenous people facing extreme rates of violence.
Family members of missing and murdered people gathered off Egan Drive in downtown Juneau as the wor]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-families-of-missing-and-murdered-loved-ones-gather-to-draw-attention-to-the-crisis/Thu, 07 May 2026 01:07:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-families-of-missing-and-murdered-loved-ones-gather-to-draw-attention-to-the-crisis/ City and federal contractors originally planned to build the flood wall along the Mendenhall River much higher this summer, after it just barely protected hundreds of homes from Juneau’s largest glacial outburst flood last August. But after the project cost ballooned, leaders decided to scale it back. 
Until Monday, both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City & Bo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/now-juneaus-flood-wall-is-being-rebuilt-to-withstand-a-glacial-outburst-flood-30-larger-than-last-year-instead-of-twice-the-size/Thu, 07 May 2026 00:19:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/now-juneaus-flood-wall-is-being-rebuilt-to-withstand-a-glacial-outburst-flood-30-larger-than-last-year-instead-of-twice-the-size/ When the remnants of Typhoon Halong blew through Kwigillingok in October, Lucy Martin sheltered in her home with her boys and her father.
“Just after 2:15 a.m., I looked out the window and I saw graves rolling, graves and caskets rolling,” Martin said. “It was a real-life horror movie for me.”
Martin spoke at a roundtable in An]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskans-rocked-by-halong-plead-with-feds-for-help-relocating-our-land-is-no-longer-safe/Wed, 06 May 2026 21:16:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskans-rocked-by-halong-plead-with-feds-for-help-relocating-our-land-is-no-longer-safe/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy is pressing lawmakers to act quickly on his proposal to cut taxes for the Alaska LNG project.
With liquefied natural gas prices high and supplies uncertain because of the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran, now is the time for the project, Dunleavy told reporters at a news conference in Anchorage on Monday.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-pushes-skeptical-senators-to-move-forward-with-alaska-lng-tax-cuts/Wed, 06 May 2026 20:44:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-pushes-skeptical-senators-to-move-forward-with-alaska-lng-tax-cuts/ In this newscast:As the Juneau Assembly moves forward with ending the city’s involvement in Eaglecrest Ski Area’s controversial gondola project, they’re now trying to figure out what to do with the parts,
Last year, missing woman Tracy Day’s family requested a death declaration hearing as a way to ask police officers questions about their investigation. But the judge said their questioning wasn&r]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-may-5-2026/Wed, 06 May 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-may-5-2026/ Human-bear interactions are not necessarily uncommon in Southeast Alaska. But they can be dangerous to the bear as well as the human.
KTOO’s Mike Lane recently sat down with Area Management Biologist Carl Koch with Fish and Game Wildlife Conservation to talk about securing trash and other attractants. In part two of that interview, they r]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-the-dorsquos-and-donrsquots-of-staying-safe-in-bear-country/Wed, 06 May 2026 02:49:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-the-dorsquos-and-donrsquots-of-staying-safe-in-bear-country/ As the Juneau Assembly moves forward with ending the city’s involvement in Eaglecrest Ski Area’s controversial gondola project, they’re now trying to figure out what to do with the parts. 
At an Assembly committee of the whole meeting Monday night, the Assembly asked city staff to pursue a plan to terminate the project and sell all its parts and equ]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-moves-forward-with-plan-to-sell-gondola-parts-at-financial-loss/Wed, 06 May 2026 01:01:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-moves-forward-with-plan-to-sell-gondola-parts-at-financial-loss/ Hooligan. Berries. Natural disasters.
Those are among the focus areas of a Chilkoot Indian Association project that aims to respond to climate threats in Haines. The project will lead to a climate adaptation plan rooted in data and projections about how the global phenomenon will manifest in Haines specifically.
“It’s pretty cool. If you ever had a question of, ‘What does that mean here?’ This is the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-tribal-project-is-producing-hyper-local-climate-data-and-strategies-for-haines/Tue, 05 May 2026 22:38:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-tribal-project-is-producing-hyper-local-climate-data-and-strategies-for-haines/ Every year, state biologists predict how many salmon can be commercially harvested in relation to expected run strengths. It guides how they manage the state’s fisheries, like when and where they open and for how long.
The state Department of Fish and Game announced in April that this year’s expected overall harvest is 126 million]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/126-million-salmon-thats-the-estimated-harvest-by-alaskas-commercial-fishermen-this-year/Tue, 05 May 2026 20:06:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/126-million-salmon-thats-the-estimated-harvest-by-alaskas-commercial-fishermen-this-year/ This is part one in a three-part series about Tracy Day and her family’s ongoing search for answers.
May 5 is a day of awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. For many families, it’s a reminder of cases that are still open and may never close.
Like Tracy’s Day’s case. Day is a Lingít woman from Juneau, who went m]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-year-after-a-missing-juneau-woman-was-declared-dead-her-family-still-wants-answers/Tue, 05 May 2026 17:02:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-year-after-a-missing-juneau-woman-was-declared-dead-her-family-still-wants-answers/ “Tambayan at Kwentuhan,” features the stories, photos and belongings of Filipino elders in Juneau. The name means “a place to hang out and share stories” in Tagalog. 
The exhibit is on display at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center until May 30. It was produced by Mana, a media]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-exhibit-from-mana-documents-the-legacy-of-filipinos-in-juneau/Tue, 05 May 2026 03:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-exhibit-from-mana-documents-the-legacy-of-filipinos-in-juneau/ “Tambayan at Kwentuhan,” features the stories, photos and belongings of Filipino elders in Juneau. The name means “a place to hang out and share stories” in Tagalog. 
The exhibit is on display at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center until May 30. It was produced by Mana Alaska,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-exhibit-from-mana-alaska-documents-the-legacy-of-filipinos-in-juneau/Tue, 05 May 2026 03:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-exhibit-from-mana-alaska-documents-the-legacy-of-filipinos-in-juneau/ In this newscast:The Goldbelt Tram in downtown Juneau will remain closed for at least the next three weeks, after a tram car came to an abrupt halt at its bottom terminal last week,
Public service is nothing out of the ordinary for Scott Ciambor, a longtime employee of the City and Borough of Juneau. He’s worn different hats within CBJ, from chief housing officer to planning manager to his newest role as director]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-may-4-2026/Tue, 05 May 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-may-4-2026/ The Goldbelt Tram in downtown Juneau will remain closed for at least the next three weeks. That’s after a tram car came to an abrupt halt at its bottom terminal last week, sending two employees to the hospital for injuries. 
The tram will now be closed through May 24.
The incident happened last Thursday night at about 9 p.m. According to emergency responders and Goldbelt, five employees were ab]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/goldbelt-tram-will-remain-closed-for-weeks-following-incident-that-sent-two-employees-to-hospital/Tue, 05 May 2026 01:44:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/goldbelt-tram-will-remain-closed-for-weeks-following-incident-that-sent-two-employees-to-hospital/ Alaska lawmakers on Monday failed to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a bill offering a number of ballot access and election security reforms. Two Southeast Alaska lawmakers who had previously supported the bill voted against the override, leading it to fail 38 to 22. Lawmakers needed 40 votes to override the veto.
Proponents of Senate Bill 6]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/veto-override-vote-on-elections-bill-fails-as-two-southeast-alaska-lawmakers-flip/Tue, 05 May 2026 00:23:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/veto-override-vote-on-elections-bill-fails-as-two-southeast-alaska-lawmakers-flip/ Cheyenne Nelson pulled a pair of fur pompom earrings from a box stacked with her creations.
“These are otter,” she said. “I buy my fur from the scraps of other artists so that nothing goes to waste.”
Nelson, who is Aleut and Tlingit, owns Iliamna Arts in Anchorage. A self-taught artist, she uses fur from otters, rabbits, lynx and foxes to make jewelry, inc]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-native-artists-say-etsys-new-fur-ban-discriminates-against-indigenous-sellers/Mon, 04 May 2026 21:11:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-native-artists-say-etsys-new-fur-ban-discriminates-against-indigenous-sellers/ Blake Gettys, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general, will run for lieutenant governor alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Shelley Hughes, the duo announced Thursday in Anchorage.
Incumbent Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-republican-gubernatorial-candidate-shelley-hughes-picks-blake-gettys-as-running-mate/Mon, 04 May 2026 20:42:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-republican-gubernatorial-candidate-shelley-hughes-picks-blake-gettys-as-running-mate/ KTOO’s Mike Lane sat down with Ciambor and talked about what his goals are for leading the department.
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SCOTT-CIAMBOR-CDD-in-edit.wav
The following transc]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-juneaursquos-new-director-of-community-development-shares-his-visions-and-goals/Mon, 04 May 2026 20:36:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-juneaursquos-new-director-of-community-development-shares-his-visions-and-goals/ Legislators aimed pointed questions at Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s pick for attorney general during a series of contentious confirmation hearings Thursday and Friday. Attorney General-designee Stephen Cox appeared before two Senate committees ahead of a confirmation vote expected in the legislative session&rsquo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/senators-grill-dunleavy-ag-pick-stephen-cox-in-contentious-confirmation-hearings/Mon, 04 May 2026 20:19:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/senators-grill-dunleavy-ag-pick-stephen-cox-in-contentious-confirmation-hearings/ In this newscast:Two people were sent to Bartlett Regional Hospital for minor injuries after a Goldbelt Tram car came to an abrupt halt at its bottom terminal while making its way down Mount Roberts last night. That’s according to Capital City Fire and Rescue.
The University of Alaska system will have a new president this summer. The Board of Regents appointed Fairbanks attorney Matt Cooper to the role this morning.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-may-01-2026/Sat, 02 May 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-may-01-2026/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/jazz-amp-classics-spring-festival-spring-winds-from-juneau-community-bands-foster-care-awareness-month-with-tlingit-amp-haida/Sat, 02 May 2026 02:18:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/jazz-amp-classics-spring-festival-spring-winds-from-juneau-community-bands-foster-care-awareness-month-with-tlingit-amp-haida/ The University of Alaska system will have a new president this summer. The Board of Regents appointed Fairbanks attorney Matt Cooper to the role Friday morning. He formerly served as general counsel for the university. 
Cooper will succeed President Pat Pitney, who will retire later this month.
Pitney said during Friday’s emergency]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/university-of-alaska-board-of-regents-selects-former-general-counsel-as-next-president/Fri, 01 May 2026 23:43:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/university-of-alaska-board-of-regents-selects-former-general-counsel-as-next-president/ Decisions about Alaskan schools are almost always made by administrators, school board members and lawmakers. But students also play a role. Twice a year, student leaders from across the state gather at the Alaska Association of Student Government conference to decide on goals to improve the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/student-delegates-from-across-the-state-gather-in-juneau-to-learn-about-leadership/Fri, 01 May 2026 22:06:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/student-delegates-from-across-the-state-gather-in-juneau-to-learn-about-leadership/ WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski says it’s time for Congress to assert its authority over the war against Iran.
“I do not accept that we should engage in open-ended military action without clear direction or accountability,” she said in a speech on the Senate floor Thursday. “Congress has a role. Congress has to step up and fulfill that role, that obligati]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-asserts-congresss-role-in-war-diverging-from-her-alaska-colleague/Fri, 01 May 2026 20:34:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-asserts-congresss-role-in-war-diverging-from-her-alaska-colleague/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed a bipartisan election reform bill Thursday, setting up a contentious override vote in the coming days.
Senate Bill 64 proposed a variety of changes to Alaska’s election system, especially around absentee voting. The bill would set up a ballot tracking and curing system, which would allow Alaskans to watch their votes move through the counting process a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-vetoes-election-reform-bill-citing-concerns-over-timeline-ahead-of-2026-election/Fri, 01 May 2026 19:40:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-vetoes-election-reform-bill-citing-concerns-over-timeline-ahead-of-2026-election/ Two people were sent to Bartlett Regional Hospital for minor injuries after a Goldbelt Tram car came to an abrupt stop at its bottom terminal while making its way down Mount Roberts Thursday evening, according to Capital City Fire/Rescue. 
CCFR Chief Tom Hatley was at the scene at about 9:30 p.m. He said five people were aboard the tram when]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/two-sent-to-hospital-in-juneau-after-goldbelt-tram-car-comes-to-abrupt-stop/Fri, 01 May 2026 08:04:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/two-sent-to-hospital-in-juneau-after-goldbelt-tram-car-comes-to-abrupt-stop/ In this newscast:State House lawmakers rolled a new draft of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposal cutting taxes for the Alaska LNG project on Monday.
A lot of people – from toddlers to teens to retirees – had a lot to say to the Juneau Assembly at a special meeting Wednesday. It was the first chance for residents to testify about a list of possible city service cuts and facility closures the Assembly is consider]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-april-30-2026/Fri, 01 May 2026 03:09:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-april-30-2026/ Listen to this story:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/30letsgoHESCO.wav
The temporary flood wall along the Mendenhall River just barely protected hundreds of homes from Juneau’s largest glacial outburst flood last summer. Now, city and federal contractors are racing to repair the damage and bolster it for the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-flood-wall-is-being-rebuilt-to-withstand-glacial-outburst-floods-nearly-double-the-size-of-last-year/Fri, 01 May 2026 02:52:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-flood-wall-is-being-rebuilt-to-withstand-glacial-outburst-floods-nearly-double-the-size-of-last-year/ Juneau Afternoon featuring NAMI Juneau Mental Health Awareness Month, Alaska Robotics First Friday with artist Rob Roys and author Bridget Smith, and Made in Alaska Juneau market.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.Subscribe to the podc]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mental-health-awareness-month-rob-roys-and-bridget-smith-first-friday-at-alaska-robotics-made-in-alaska-market/Fri, 01 May 2026 02:44:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mental-health-awareness-month-rob-roys-and-bridget-smith-first-friday-at-alaska-robotics-made-in-alaska-market/ Lawmakers in the Alaska House rolled out a new draft of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposal cutting taxes for the Alaska LNG project on Monday.
The House Resources Committee’s version of House Bill 381 would raise more money for the state and local communities than Dunleavy’s proposal but far less than the draft under consideration in the state Senate.
All three]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-shrinks-governors-proposed-tax-break-for-lng-project/Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:13:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-shrinks-governors-proposed-tax-break-for-lng-project/ A lot of people – from toddlers to teens to retirees – had a lot to say to the Juneau Assembly at a special meeting Wednesday night. 
It was the first chance for residents to testify about a list of possible city service cuts and facility closures the Assembly is considering as the city grapples with a multimillion-dollar budget shortfal]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/residents-decry-proposed-city-service-reductions-and-facility-closures-at-juneau-assembly-meeting/Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:04:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/residents-decry-proposed-city-service-reductions-and-facility-closures-at-juneau-assembly-meeting/ It’s that time of year again when we’re all told to be “bear aware.” Bear encounters can happen when we’re hiking, camping or even just walking through town.
KTOO’s Mike Lane recently sat down with Area Management Biologist Carl Koch with Fish and Game Wildlife Conservation to learn what attracts the bears and how we can limit encounters.
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-now-that-theyrsquore-awake-how-can-juneau-residents-limit-encounters-with-hungry-bears/Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:58:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-now-that-theyrsquore-awake-how-can-juneau-residents-limit-encounters-with-hungry-bears/ Last year, a new pot of federal funding promised to bring more than 160 new weather stations to Alaska to make flying safer in a state that’s long seen a high rate of deadly plane crashes.
Local aviation experts and air carriers said they expect to see some of the new weather stations come online this summer or fall. But the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-is-getting-more-than-100-new-weather-stations-but-its-not-clear-yet-where-they-will-be/Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:07:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-is-getting-more-than-100-new-weather-stations-but-its-not-clear-yet-where-they-will-be/ “Where Did We Sit on the Bus?” is a one-person show pulsing with Latin rhythms, rap, hip-hop, and spoken word. During a third-grade lesson on the civil rights movement and Rosa Parks, a Latinx eight-year-old raises their hand to ask, “Where did we sit on the bus?” and the teacher can’t answer the question. The production stars Enrique Bravo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/where-did-we-sit-on-the-bus-opens-mana-exhibit-on-filipino-elders-critter-trek-at-city-museum-juneau-libraries-may-events-2/Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:58:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/where-did-we-sit-on-the-bus-opens-mana-exhibit-on-filipino-elders-critter-trek-at-city-museum-juneau-libraries-may-events-2/ “Where Did We Sit on the Bus?” is a one-person show pulsing with Latin rhythms, rap, hip-hop, and spoken word. During a third-grade lesson on the civil rights movement and Rosa Parks, a Latinx eight-year-old raises their hand to ask, “Where did we sit on the bus?” and the teacher can’t answer the question. The production stars Enrique Bravo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/where-did-we-sit-on-the-bus-opens-mana-exhibit-on-filipino-elders-critter-trek-at-city-museum-juneau-libraries-may-events/Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:58:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/where-did-we-sit-on-the-bus-opens-mana-exhibit-on-filipino-elders-critter-trek-at-city-museum-juneau-libraries-may-events/ On a clear, warm day in Haines last weekend, the trails that run through the heart of town were busier than normal. Local artists were posted up in the woods, carving, crocheting and playing music.
The sound of a button accordion rang out – courtesy of Nene Wolfe, who was perched on a sunny platform. Sky Skiles accompanied her on an electric okedo, a kind of Japanese drum.
The pair]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/it-brings-a-lot-of-joy-chilkat-valley-artists-practice-their-crafts-on-local-trails/Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:33:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/it-brings-a-lot-of-joy-chilkat-valley-artists-practice-their-crafts-on-local-trails/ In this newscast:Community members can provide feedback on the City and Borough of Juneau’s budget Wednesday during a special meeting.
Juneau student Cassie Lumba advanced to the national finals of Poetry Out Loud after competing in the semifinals in Washington D.C.
Two groups of Juneau residents filed proposed citizen propositions this week in hopes of putting questions on the 2026 local election ballot.
The U.S. F]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-april-29-2026/Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:06:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-april-29-2026/ Alaska utilities have warned of sharp price hikes when they start importing liquefied natural gas in the coming years to replace dwindling supplies of]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-energy-cliff-isnt-coming-its-already-here/Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:49:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-energy-cliff-isnt-coming-its-already-here/ The Alaska Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would once again offer state and local government employees a pension. The House was concurred with the Senate’s changes Wednesday, sending the measure to Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Despite dozens of attempts since the state closed its pension plans in 2006,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-passes-bill-offering-public-pensions-with-fate-at-dunleavys-desk-uncertain/Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:11:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-passes-bill-offering-public-pensions-with-fate-at-dunleavys-desk-uncertain/ The Alaska Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would once again offer state and local government employees a pension. The House was concurred with the Senate’s changes Wednesday, sending the measure to Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Despite dozens of attempts since the state closed its pension plans in 2006,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-passes-bill-offering-public-pensions-with-fate-at-dunleavys-desk-uncertain/Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:11:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-passes-bill-offering-public-pensions-with-fate-at-dunleavys-desk-uncertain/ Two groups of Juneau residents filed proposed citizen propositions this week aimed at undoing some of the consequences of ballot measures that voters approved last election.
Late Tuesday morning, a group of five residents walked into the City and Borough of Jun]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-voters-chose-to-cut-local-taxes-last-election-now-some-residents-want-them-back/Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:40:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-voters-chose-to-cut-local-taxes-last-election-now-some-residents-want-them-back/ More than 100 people gathered to see Petersburg’s first canoe in a century when the local tribe unveiled and blessed it after its first time on the water.
Eleven pullers paddled the canoe, or “yaakw” in Lingít, around the tip of Mitk]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/petersburg-unveils-ket-yaakw-with-traditional-canoe-blessing-at-sandy-beach/Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:08:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/petersburg-unveils-ket-yaakw-with-traditional-canoe-blessing-at-sandy-beach/ Juneau student Cassie Lumba will be advancing to the national finals of Poetry Out Loud after competing in the semifinals in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.Lumba is a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé and won Alaska’s Poetry Out Loud competition in March.
Fifty-four students from U.S. states and territories r]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-cassie-lumba-makes-it-to-finals-at-national-poetry-out-loud-competition/Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:58:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-cassie-lumba-makes-it-to-finals-at-national-poetry-out-loud-competition/ In this newscast:Four Alaskans appointed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to serve on various state boards and commissions recently resigned ahead of a legislative confirmation vote expected May 7,
The remains of a woman found in a wooded area in Spenard last week have been identified as Kelly Hunt, a 19-year-old college student from Shaktoolik who had been missing since January,
A bill that would reinstate a pension system for stat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-april-28-2026/Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-april-28-2026/ WASHINGTON — Tens of millions of dollars will likely be spent on Alaska’s U.S. Senate race, and Democratic challenger Mary Peltola took in the lion’s share of it during the first three months of the year.
Her campaign listed nearly $9 million in receipts for the quarter. Incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan raised $1.7 million over the same period.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/7-things-to-know-about-money-in-alaskas-us-senate-race/Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:14:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/7-things-to-know-about-money-in-alaskas-us-senate-race/ Remember that mysterious “golden orb” government scientists found at the bottom of the Gulf of Alaska in 2023? Was it an egg? A sponge? Remnants of a space alien?
Scientists were baffled. Two-and-a-half years later, they say they’ve figured it out.
First, though, here was the scene back in 2023: Some scientists aboard the research vessel called the Okeanos Explorer are h]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/scientists-identify-mysterious-golden-orb-discovered-off-alaskas-coast/Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:52:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/scientists-identify-mysterious-golden-orb-discovered-off-alaskas-coast/ You’ve likely seen Brian Wallace around town. And odds are: he was carrying a camera. Wallace has been taking photos of Juneau people, places and happenings since he was a kid. He worked as a photojournalist at the Juneau Empire for nearly 30 years. 
He comes from a family of artists: his father, the late Amos Wallace, was a renowned carver. 
Wallace takes pictures of]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-brian-wallace-on-preserving-time-through-photography/Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:52:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-brian-wallace-on-preserving-time-through-photography/ Four Alaskans appointed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to serve on various state boards and commissions recently resigned ahead of a legislative confirmation vote expected May 7. Dunleavy told legislators in a series of letters on Friday and Monday that the four had left their seats.
His office did not respond to questions asking whether the appointees had been asked to resign, but two were the subject of s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/four-dunleavy-appointees-to-boards-and-commissions-resign-ahead-of-confirmation-vote/Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:56:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/four-dunleavy-appointees-to-boards-and-commissions-resign-ahead-of-confirmation-vote/ In this newscast:Juneau’s first cruise ship of the year arrived this afternoon,
The Canadian company proposing to open the New Amalga gold mine in Juneau, announced this week that it plans to build an ore barge dock at Cascade Point regardless of whether the state moves forward with its controversial ferry terminal at the same location,
Petersburg’s local tribe unveiled and blessed its new killer whale canoe e]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-april-27-2026/Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-april-27-2026/ For more than three decades, Tim Bourcy’s tour company guided clients on a historic, 33-mile hike between Skagway, Alaska and Canada. Among his guests have been tourists, film crews and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Bourcy sold his company a few years back. But he’s among those who are reeling over the reality that hikers have not been able to trek the entire Chilkoot Trail for six se]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hikers-still-cant-walk-the-full-chilkoot-trail-as-us-and-canada-keep-remote-border-closed/Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hikers-still-cant-walk-the-full-chilkoot-trail-as-us-and-canada-keep-remote-border-closed/ Juneau’s first cruise ship of the year arrived Monday afternoon. 
It marks the kickoff of the 2026 cruise ship season. Juneau is expected to see about 1.69 million passengers arriving on ships between now and Oct. 6, when the season ends. 
Sarah Wong was one of the more than 2,000 passengers on the MS Eurodam who walked off the ship and onto the Juneau seawalk on Monday. Sh]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-first-cruise-ship-of-2026-kicks-off-first-year-of-daily-passenger-limits/Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:12:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-first-cruise-ship-of-2026-kicks-off-first-year-of-daily-passenger-limits/ A governor’s nominee for the Alaska Police Standards Council who served on the board for eight months has resigned following legislative confirmation hearings.
The resignation comes after legislative hearings where Veronica Lambertsen was questioned about her eligibility for a rural seat on the board and social media and defended conspiracy theories.
A spokesperson for Gov. Mike Dunleavy&]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-police-standards-council-nominee-resigns-after-lawmakers-flag-social-media-posts-eligibility/Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:51:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-police-standards-council-nominee-resigns-after-lawmakers-flag-social-media-posts-eligibility/ Alaska&rsqu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/biologists-forecast-a-reduced-alaska-commercial-salmon-harvest/Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:08:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/biologists-forecast-a-reduced-alaska-commercial-salmon-harvest/ A bill that would reinstate a pension system for state and local government employees in Alaska is on the verge of a state Senate vote, which would bring it closer than ever to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s desk.
It’s a major priority for leaders of the bipartisan coalitions controlling the House and Senate. But the Senate&]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-returning-alaska-to-pension-plan-nears-state-senate-vote-amid-concerns-over-cost/Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:38:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-returning-alaska-to-pension-plan-nears-state-senate-vote-amid-concerns-over-cost/ In this newscast:A former Juneau School District principal pleaded not guilty Thursday to an assault charge stemming from an incident involving a student.
The defense attorney for a former Juneau chiropractor accused of assaulting more than a dozen women said he wants a retrial to be moved to Anchorage instead of Juneau.
The Skagway Borough was awarded a federal grant to construct an industrial dock that will allow heavy]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-april-24-2026/Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:19:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-april-24-2026/ Six months after arriving in Anchorage, evacuees from Western Alaska have moved from hotels into temporary housing.
Hundreds of people have been unable to return to their homes since ex-Typhoon Halong devastated parts of Western Alaska. The storm hit Oct. 12, and wind and high water lifted houses in some villages, leaving dozens of them unlivable. Many]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/6-months-after-halong-evacuees-in-anchorage-move-into-temporary-housing/Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:50:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/6-months-after-halong-evacuees-in-anchorage-move-into-temporary-housing/ On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, AWARE, Inc. will host the “Denim Day” sexual assault awareness fashion show, an event marking International Denim Day in Juneau. This year’s event marks a shift in local advocacy, as AWARE explicitly calls upon men in the community to take a substantial role in the movement to end sexual violence.
Juneau Audubon Society bird walks. Saturday, April 25, the bird walk will be on the wes]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/denim-day-fashion-show-audubon-spring-walks-uas-summer-classes-walk-southeast/Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:47:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/denim-day-fashion-show-audubon-spring-walks-uas-summer-classes-walk-southeast/ Grande Portage Resources, Ltd., the Canadian company proposing to open the New Amalga gold mine in Juneau, announced this week that it plans to build an ore barge dock at Cascade Point regardless of whether the state moves forward with its controversial ferry terminal at the same location. 
The company also provided more detailed mining plans, in]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-amalga-gold-mine-plans-to-ship-ore-from-cascade-point-no-matter-what-happens-with-ferry-terminal/Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:32:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-amalga-gold-mine-plans-to-ship-ore-from-cascade-point-no-matter-what-happens-with-ferry-terminal/ A Juneau School District principal pleaded not guilty Thursday to an assault charge stemming from an incident involving a student.
John Paul is the principal of Montessori Borealis and Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School, both located at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus in Lemon Creek. He was charged with assault on April 3 after he allegedly restrained a student in March. The school district placed hi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-principal-pleads-not-guilty-to-assault-charge/Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:43:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-principal-pleads-not-guilty-to-assault-charge/ This story has been updated.A former Juneau School District principal pleaded not guilty Thursday to an assault charge stemming from an incident involving a student.
Until recently, John Paul was the principal of Montessori Borealis and Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School, both located at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus in Lemon Creek. He was charged with assault on April 3 after he allegedly restrain]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/former-juneau-school-principal-pleads-not-guilty-to-assault-charge/Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:43:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/former-juneau-school-principal-pleads-not-guilty-to-assault-charge/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/songwriters-on-songwriters-taylor-dallas-vidic-and-spencer-edgers/Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:04:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/songwriters-on-songwriters-taylor-dallas-vidic-and-spencer-edgers/ Songwriters on Songwriters featuring Taylor Dallas Vidic and Spencer EdgarsOn this episode of Songwriters on Songwriters, Spencer Edgars chats with Taylor Dallas Vidic about Taylor’s debut album “Cat & Mouse.” They discuss their collaboration on the “Cat” half of the album, infused with jazz originals and Edgars’ arrangements. They also discuss the “Mouse” half]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/songwriters-on-songwriters-taylor-dallas-vidic-and-spencer-edgars/Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:04:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/songwriters-on-songwriters-taylor-dallas-vidic-and-spencer-edgars/ Members of the Senate Judiciary committee put questions to a governor’s nominee for the Alaska Police Standards Council about her social media posts during a confirmation hearing Wednesday.
Veronica Lambertsen defended conspiracy theories around the Holocaust, blood-harvesting from children and the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Lambertsen has been nominated by Gov. Mik]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/nominee-for-alaska-police-standards-council-defends-conspiracy-theories/Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:48:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/nominee-for-alaska-police-standards-council-defends-conspiracy-theories/ April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and AWARE is planning a fashion show to honor survivors of sexual assault and raise awareness. The event is happening on what’s known as Denim Day, which falls on April 29 this year.
KTOO’s Mike Lane sat down with AWARE Director of Outreach and Engagement Christina Michelle to learn more.
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/21DENIM.wav
The follow]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-what-is-denim-day-and-how-does-it-relate-to-sexual-assault-awareness-month/Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:17:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-what-is-denim-day-and-how-does-it-relate-to-sexual-assault-awareness-month/ The defense attorney for a former Juneau chiropractor accused of assaulting more than a dozen women said he wants a retrial to take place in Anchorage instead of Juneau. At least one the defendant’s accusers doesn’t think that’s a good idea. 
It’s been nearly five years since Juneau chiropractor Jeffrey Fultz was arrested]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/retrial-of-former-juneau-chiropractor-accused-of-sexual-assault-may-move-to-anchorage/Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:56:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/retrial-of-former-juneau-chiropractor-accused-of-sexual-assault-may-move-to-anchorage/ In this newscast:The Juneau Assembly discussed a list of more than 40 city services and facilities that could face reductions or closures for the first time at a finance committee meeting Wednesday night,
A week after a Ward Air plane crashed and sank into Favorite Channel near Juneau, officials are still piecing together what happened,
The U.S. Forest Service is rethinking how it defines areas of the Tongass Nationa]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-april-23-2026/Fri, 24 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-april-23-2026/ The Juneau Assembly discussed a list of more than 40 city services and facilities that could face reductions or closures for the first time at a finance committee meeting Wednesday night.
Assembly member Christine Woll chairs the finance committee. She started the meeting by acknowledging the difficult situation the Assembly is facing. 
“These are p]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-begins-to-grapple-with-list-of-dozens-of-proposed-city-service-cuts-and-closures/Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:09:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-begins-to-grapple-with-list-of-dozens-of-proposed-city-service-cuts-and-closures/ The state Senate Finance Committee released its first revision of the state’s operating budget Wednesday, including a $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend and a $150 energy relief check. It came about a week after the state House passed a budget with a $1,500 dividend.
The Se]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/senators-version-of-state-budget-includes-1000-dividend-and-150-energy-relief/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:42:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/senators-version-of-state-budget-includes-1000-dividend-and-150-energy-relief/ A week after a Ward Air plane crashed and sank into Favorite Channel near Juneau, officials are still piecing together what happened. 
Last Thursday morning, a pilot reported a loss of engine power while flying from Haines to Juneau and then crashed into Favorite Channel near Boy Scout Beach. The U.S. Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and launched a boat and helicopte]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/investigation-underway-to-determine-cause-of-recent-ward-air-plane-crash-near-juneau/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:13:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/investigation-underway-to-determine-cause-of-recent-ward-air-plane-crash-near-juneau/ Civil rights advocates are suing over Alaska’s decision last year to share confidential voter data, including home addresses, dates of birth and partial Social Security numbers, with the federal government.
The American Civil Liberties Union’s Alaska chapter, the national ACLU’s Voting Rights Project and the Washington, D.C.-based Electronic Priv]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lt-gov-faces-lawsuit-for-sharing-confidential-voter-data-with-trump-doj/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:10:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lt-gov-faces-lawsuit-for-sharing-confidential-voter-data-with-trump-doj/ The U.S. Forest Service is rethinking how it defines areas of the Tongass National Forest. One of its ideas is to designate recreation areas according to commercial use, which could guide where the Forest Service concentrates permits for tour operators. 
In a draft outline for the Tongass Forest Plan revision, the agency proposes two types of recreation areas: high commercial use and low commercial use.
Barb Miranda is the dep]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-seeks-input-on-tongass-commercial-tourism-zones/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:25:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-seeks-input-on-tongass-commercial-tourism-zones/ The Bureau of Land Management announced last week it will hold an auction in June for drilling rights in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. The lease sale is mandated in federal law but also reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to promoting energy development in the state.
The Arctic refuge’s coastal plain — a swath along the Beaufort Sea that po]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-new-oil-lease-sale-for-the-arctic-refuge-draws-mixed-reactions-from-alaska-native-communities/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:45:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-new-oil-lease-sale-for-the-arctic-refuge-draws-mixed-reactions-from-alaska-native-communities/ WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is proposing steep cuts to the National Park Service and plans to cut nearly 3,000 more positions from the payroll.
U.S. senators of both parties told Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at a hearing Wednesday that they don’t like the idea.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the budget and personnel cuts would further degrade the Park Service.
&ldquo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/senators-condemn-trump-administrations-national-park-service-cuts-and-10b-slush-fund/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:15:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/senators-condemn-trump-administrations-national-park-service-cuts-and-10b-slush-fund/ UAS Indigenous Studies presents two events on Friday, April 24: Northwest Coast Art Student Showcase from 4-7 p.m. in Egan 223 & Gathering of the Drums in celebration of the Native & Rural Student Centerʼs 30th Anniversary from 6-9:15 p.m. at the Noyes Pavilion.The Juneau Piano Series and the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council are presenting a chamber music concert on April 24, 7 p.m. at the JACC. The concert will]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gathering-of-the-drums-northwest-art-showcase-shostakovich-piano-quintet-climate-change-presentation-at-planetarium-juneau-chamber-spirits-of-alaska/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:56:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gathering-of-the-drums-northwest-art-showcase-shostakovich-piano-quintet-climate-change-presentation-at-planetarium-juneau-chamber-spirits-of-alaska/ In this newscast:The Juneau Assembly will discuss potential city service reductions at a finance committee meeting on Wednesday night,
The kickoff of the 2026 cruise ship tourism season is just around the corner in Juneau. The first ship, the MS Eurodam, arrives Monday afternoon,
A proposal to raise Alaska’s age of consent from 16 to 18 took a step forward on Friday as a key part of an omnibus package of crime legis]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-april-22-2026/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-april-22-2026/ A key Alaska Senate committee is out with a new take on the governor’s proposal to cut taxes for the Alaska LNG project — with a much smaller tax cut.
The Senate Resources Committee rolled out the new version of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s bill Monday afternoon.
The original bill introduced by Dun]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/senate-committee-eyes-smaller-tax-break-for-alaska-lng-project/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:12:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/senate-committee-eyes-smaller-tax-break-for-alaska-lng-project/ A union that represents workers for one of Skagway’s largest employers is set to grow by about 40 members after employees voted to unionize earlier this month.
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad employs 180 people, most of which are based in Skagway. They make it possible for the train to carry hundreds of thousands of passengers each year from the small, tourist town to a range of destinations along the railr]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tour-guides-and-stockers-for-skagways-largest-tourist-attraction-vote-to-unionize/Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:21:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tour-guides-and-stockers-for-skagways-largest-tourist-attraction-vote-to-unionize/ The kickoff of the 2026 cruise ship tourism season is just around the corner in Juneau. The first ship, the MS Eurodam, arrives Monday afternoon.
KTOO’s Clarise Larson sat down with the city’s Visitor Industry Director Alix Pierce to learn more about what’s in store this season and what residents should expect. 
Listen here:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/upl]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/the-first-cruise-ship-of-juneaus-2026-tourism-season-arrives-monday-heres-what-to-know/Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:38:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/the-first-cruise-ship-of-juneaus-2026-tourism-season-arrives-monday-heres-what-to-know/ WASHINGTON — U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright gave a ringing endorsement for Alaska LNG Tuesday, a mega project that he acknowledged has a mega challenge.
Wright, testifying at a Senate hearing, said the project to build a pipeline and an export terminal for North Slope natural gas is his No. 1 infrastructure priority.
“Not a week goes by that I don’t have multiple meetings or dialogue]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/energy-secretary-says-alaska-lng-is-his-no-1-infrastructure-priority/Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:19:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/energy-secretary-says-alaska-lng-is-his-no-1-infrastructure-priority/ The Juneau Assembly will discuss potential city service reductions at a finance committee meeting on Wednesday night. Ideas for reduction include possibly closing down city facilities like the Mt. Jumbo Gym or the downtown pool. 
The meeting will largely revolve around a summary created by city staff that outlines more than 40 city services that could be on the chopping block. The list also includes the number of]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-to-discuss-dozens-of-proposed-service-reductions-and-facility-closures/Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:40:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-to-discuss-dozens-of-proposed-service-reductions-and-facility-closures/ In this newscast:Leadership of the Juneau School District will undergo a major changeover this summer,
Juneau’s cold-weather warming shelter was supposed to close for the season last week, but, instead, the shelter will be open year-round, thanks to a decision by the Juneau Assembly earlier this month,
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Aware is planning a fashion show to celebrate survivors of sexual assau]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-april-21-2026/Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-april-21-2026/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/21shelterforever.wav
Juneau’s cold-weather warming shelter was supposed to close for the season last week. Instead, the shelter will now be open year-round, thanks to a decision by the Juneau Assembly earlier this month. 
Jno Diedrichson sipped a late-night cup of coffee as a movie played quietl]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/patrons-say-juneaus-year-round-warming-shelter-is-a-lifeline/Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:22:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/patrons-say-juneaus-year-round-warming-shelter-is-a-lifeline/ A proposal to raise Alaska’s age of consent from 16 to 18 took a step forward on Friday as a key part of an omnibus package of crime legislation proposed by Anchorage Democratic Sen. Matt Claman. The age of consent legislation had stalled in a Senate committee since it passed the House unanimously last year.
But the fact that it’s one of 10 bills in]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/raising-alaskas-age-of-consent-headlines-10-bill-package-of-crime-legislation/Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:48:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/raising-alaskas-age-of-consent-headlines-10-bill-package-of-crime-legislation/ WASHINGTON — Alaska normally has three people — two senators and a House member — at the U.S. Capitol arguing for federal land and natural resources policies that boost the state’s economy.
Last week, 150 Alaskans fanned out a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskans-flock-to-us-capitol-to-pitch-economic-development/Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:08:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskans-flock-to-us-capitol-to-pitch-economic-development/ The Alaska Senate advanced a resolution Monday to preserve three work visas to support Alaska’s economic security.
Alaska relies on J-1 visas to fill teacher positions, H-1B visas for highly skilled workers and the H-2B program for temporary nonagricultural workers in tourism, health care and seafood processing industries and for teachers.
Sen. Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, sai]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-advances-resolution-asking-federal-policymakers-to-protect-visa-programs/Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:10:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-advances-resolution-asking-federal-policymakers-to-protect-visa-programs/ In this newscast:A year-long investigation into Anchorage and Mat-Su massage parlors has led to seven arrests involving sex trafficking,
As part of a crime bill passed by the Legislature two years ago, the Department of Corrections contracted with the Alaska Federation of Natives to conduct a study looking at ways to reduce the overrepresentation of Alaska Native People in the state’s prison population. The study wa]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-april-20-2026/Tue, 21 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-april-20-2026/ Leadership of the Juneau School District will undergo a major changeover this summer. In addition to a new superintendent, more than half the superintendent’s six-member cabinet is turning over. The Juneau School Board also unanimously approved creating an assistant superintendent position on April]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/more-than-half-of-the-juneau-school-districts-leaders-will-change-this-summer/Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:49:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/more-than-half-of-the-juneau-school-districts-leaders-will-change-this-summer/ As protesters gathered along a main thoroughfare in Fairbanks on April 11, several carried portraits of William Rexford, a 24-year-old Alaska Native man. On New Year’s Day, two Alaska State Troo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/troopers-will-not-face-charges-in-new-years-day-shooting-of-fairbanks-man-experiencing-mental-health-crisis/Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:43:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/troopers-will-not-face-charges-in-new-years-day-shooting-of-fairbanks-man-experiencing-mental-health-crisis/ The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it is opening an Office of Seafood.
This first-of-its-kind office comes after years of advocacy from Alaska’s congressional delegation and fishermen
The Agriculture Department said in a press release that the Office of Seafood will, “prioritize customer service and ease of navigation for American seafood cultivators, producers, and processors to ac]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/usdas-new-seafood-office-labels-fishermen-as-farmers-of-the-sea/Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:02:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/usdas-new-seafood-office-labels-fishermen-as-farmers-of-the-sea/ Inside the Petersburg Indian Association’s warehouse, it smelled strongly of paint.
A white, Tlingit-style fiberglass canoe rested on a boat trailer, barely fitting the room’s length. Just short of 40 feet, it will take about a dozen pullers to paddle the ca]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/petersburgs-tribe-prepares-its-first-canoe-in-a-century-for-journey-to-celebration/Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:21:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/petersburgs-tribe-prepares-its-first-canoe-in-a-century-for-journey-to-celebration/ A program that delivers boxes of food to struggling Alaskans is set to end this summer.
A confluence of events that threatened food security in the state prompted the emergency aid starting in late 2025.
A disaster in Western Alaska brought on by ex-Typhoon Halong in October, combined with an extended federal government shutdown that caused delays to food aid around the same time, made access to]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/an-emergency-food-program-served-thousands-of-alaskans-a-gap-will-remain-when-it-ends/Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:33:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/an-emergency-food-program-served-thousands-of-alaskans-a-gap-will-remain-when-it-ends/ Juneau filmmaker Scott Burton will premiere his documentary “Earnest Drinker: A Film about Relationships with Alcohol” at the Goldtown Theater on Tuesday, April 21, followed by a statewide premiere on KTOO 360 TV. For more details on the film and its participants, visit earnestdrinker.com.The members of the Burn Thompson Writers Group are having a poetry reading at the City Museum (114 W. 4th Street) on Saturday, April]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/scott-burtons-film-earnest-drinker-world-premiere-burn-thompson-writers-group-cancer-connection-peer-training/Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:08:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/scott-burtons-film-earnest-drinker-world-premiere-burn-thompson-writers-group-cancer-connection-peer-training/ In this newscast:Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau was evacuated Thursday after a fire broke out in a utility closet.
Officials say a plane made a crash landing in Favorite Channel near Juneau Thursday morning.
Tlingit and Haida’s Generations Southeast Juneau Campus is offering free community emergency response team training beginning April 25th.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-april-17-2026/Sat, 18 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-april-17-2026/ Identity Alaska is closing its Anchorage clinic this month due to multiple logistical and financial challenges. The clinic is the only dedicated LGBTQ+ focused health care center in the state and serves around 1,500 Alaskans for primary and mental health care. Most of the clinic’s patients were in Anchorage, but health]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-only-dedicated-queer-health-care-clinic-is-closing/Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:44:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-only-dedicated-queer-health-care-clinic-is-closing/ Theater at Latitude 58 opens “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” for a two-week run April 16-26.The Juneau Symphony presents “Elegance & Energy,” which includes the premiere of the overture from the upcoming first-ever Tlingit opera composed by Ed Littlefield.
The Litter Free Juneau Community Clean-up is on Saturday, April 18.The Early Career Fair, presented by Southeast Childhood Collective, is]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-symphony-tlingit-opera-overture-charlie-brown-opens-litter-free-early-learning-fair/Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:33:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-symphony-tlingit-opera-overture-charlie-brown-opens-litter-free-early-learning-fair/ WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday that the first of its two new medium-weight icebreakers will be homeported in Alaska.
A Finnish firm is under contract to build up to four of the ships, called Arctic security cutters, and the first is projected to arrive in 2028.
Sen. Dan Sullivan celebrated the homeporting announcement with the cabinet secretary who oversees the C]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/coast-guard-says-two-new-icebreakers-will-be-homeported-somewhere-in-alaska/Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:06:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/coast-guard-says-two-new-icebreakers-will-be-homeported-somewhere-in-alaska/ KTOO’s Morning Edition Host Mike Lane sat down with Mike Lopez, a CERT program liaison in Juneau, to learn more.
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/10CERT.wav
The following transcript has been lightly edited f]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/cert-program-offers-training-at-generations-southeast-juneau-campus/Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:27:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/cert-program-offers-training-at-generations-southeast-juneau-campus/ Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau was evacuated Thursday after a fire broke out in a utility closet. A maintenance staff member accidentally cut heat tape in a closet in the surgery unit shortly before 2 p.m.
Capital City Fire/Rescue responded and put out the fire, with the help of hospital staff, according to hospital spokesperson Erin Hardin. Staff, patients and visitors were evacuated. Responders gave the all clear at 3:40]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/elective-surgeries-canceled-friday-after-fire-at-bartlett-regional-hospital/Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:52:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/elective-surgeries-canceled-friday-after-fire-at-bartlett-regional-hospital/  
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260416-NEWS-UPDATE.mp3
In this Newscast:A Lingit composer and musician from Sitka has been part of a team composing the first full opera in the Lingit language.
A Juneau school principal is on administrative leave and facing a charge of misdemeanor assault for allegedly restraining a student.
The Juneau School Board unanimously approved a long-awaited contract between the district and its teachers union.
President Trump has appoin]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-april-16-2026/Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-april-16-2026/ Like the rest of the country, Alaskans have been paying a lot more for gas in recent weeks due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It was noticeable to Bryant Fiorenzi last Sunday in Fairbanks as he filled up a 2010 Mercury Mariner.
“I can’t remember a time in my driving life where I was paying $4.50 a gallon,” he said. “It’s really good on gas compared to most cars, bu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/rising-gas-prices-squeeze-alaska-drivers-and-their-budgets/Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:22:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/rising-gas-prices-squeeze-alaska-drivers-and-their-budgets/ Officials say a plane made a crash landing in Favorite Channel near Juneau Thursday morning. The pilot, who was the plane’s sole passenger, was rescued and later transported to a hospital.
Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Shannon Shepard said the Coast Guard received reports of a downed Cessna single-engine propeller plane in the vicinity of Boy Scout Beach and north of Shelter Island in Favorite Ch]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pilot-transported-to-hospital-after-juneau-plane-goes-down-near-shelter-island/Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:17:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pilot-transported-to-hospital-after-juneau-plane-goes-down-near-shelter-island/ Coast Guard officials say a floatplane went down in Favorite Channel near Juneau Thursday morning. The pilot, who was the plane’s sole passenger, was rescued and later transported to a hospital.
Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Shannon Shepard said the Coast Guard received reports of a downed Cessna single-engine propeller plane in the vicinity of Boy Scout Beach and north of Shelter Island in Favor]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pilot-transported-to-hospital-after-juneau-floatplane-goes-down-near-shelter-island/Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:17:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pilot-transported-to-hospital-after-juneau-floatplane-goes-down-near-shelter-island/ This is Tongass Voices, a series from KTOO sharing perspectives from the homelands of the Áak’w Kwáan and beyond.
Shaakindustoow Ed Littlefield is a Lingít composer and musician from Sitka. For the past three years, he’s been a part of a team composing what will be the first full opera in the Lingit language. It’s about the Battle of Sitka in the early 1800s.
Littlefield composed the mu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-ed-littlefield-on-composing-a-lingit-opera/Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:01:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-ed-littlefield-on-composing-a-lingit-opera/ President Trump has appointed Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy to a seat on the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.
The commission promotes Arctic science and establishes priorities for funding research projects in Alaska and the international Arctic.
This is the first time a sitting governor has served on the commission, according to USARC Executive Director John Farrell, and the appointment takes effect immediately.
Dunleavy]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trump-appoints-alaska-governor-to-a-seat-on-us-arctic-research-commission/Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:11:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trump-appoints-alaska-governor-to-a-seat-on-us-arctic-research-commission/ In this newscast: The Juneau Assembly will delay the planned summer demolition of the downtown Telephone Hill neighborhood until the city receives more information from prospective developers.
President Donald Trump on Friday called on Alaska voters to repeal ranked choice voting at the November election.
Two Chilkat robes – one very old, one not yet on the loop – will soon belong to a Lingit clan as t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-april-15-2026/Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-april-15-2026/ A Juneau school principal is on administrative leave and facing a charge of misdemeanor assault for allegedly restraining a student. 
John Paul is the principal of Montessori Borealis and Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School, both of which are at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus in Lemon Creek. He’s served as principal since 2023.
According to charging documents, th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-principal-charged-with-assault-after-incident-involving-a-student/Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:16:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-principal-charged-with-assault-after-incident-involving-a-student/ A budget proposal that would provide $100 million to shore up schools and state facilities in dire need of repairs across Alaska is on its way to a full Senate vote. The Senate Finance Committee rolled out its capital budget on Monday and passed the bill out of committee Tuesday afternoon.
The Senate’s draft would require roughly $248 million in unrestricted funds, much of]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/248-million-draft-of-senate-capital-budget-would-shore-up-schools-and-state-facilities/Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:22:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/248-million-draft-of-senate-capital-budget-would-shore-up-schools-and-state-facilities/ The Juneau School Board unanimously approved a long-awaited contract between the district and its teachers union Tuesday night.
This marks the end of a more than yearlong negotiation process that escalated to the union authorizing a strike in March.
Board Vice President Elizabeth Siddon said she’s glad to reach an agreement after a difficult negotiation]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-approves-contract-with-teachers-union/Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:34:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-approves-contract-with-teachers-union/ Two Chilkat robes — one very old, one not yet on the loom — will soon belong to a Lingít clan as they work to rebuild their clan house in Sitka.
In the last year, California sculptor Bruce Beasley started to think about how he can repatriate his collection of Indigenous art to the people who made]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/repatriation-and-rematriation-come-together-in-two-new-chilkat-robes-for-sitka-clan/Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/repatriation-and-rematriation-come-together-in-two-new-chilkat-robes-for-sitka-clan/ The Alaska House rejected a state Senate effort to impose corporate income taxes on energy producer Hilcorp and other similarly structured oil and gas companies.
It was the House’s first floor vote in this two-year Legislature on a major oil and gas tax measure — and a moment t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-rejects-senate-effort-to-impose-corporate-taxes-on-hilcorp/Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:49:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-rejects-senate-effort-to-impose-corporate-taxes-on-hilcorp/ In this newscast:The U.S. Forest Service will hold an in-person public meeting in Juneau tomorrow to gather feedback for the Tongass National Forest management plan revision,
The Juneau Assembly will delay the planned summer demolition of the downtown Telephone Hill neighborhood until the city receives more information from prospective developers,
A new muni-owned treatment center in Anchorage is housing people in micro-u]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-april-14-2026/Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-april-14-2026/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/14teleupdate.wav
The Juneau Assembly will delay the planned summer demolition of the downtown Telephone Hill neighborhood until the city receives more information from prospective developers.
The Assembly is becoming increasingly divided on what to do with the city-owned property. The neighborhood is in a prime location in downtown Junea]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-delays-telephone-hill-demolition-pending-responses-from-prospective-developers/Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:29:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-delays-telephone-hill-demolition-pending-responses-from-prospective-developers/ Ben Horton, Juneau Choice and Accountability Program FacilitatorNatalie Watson, Prevention ManagerSaralyn Tabach]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/culture-rich-conversations-healthy-relationships-in-rural-communities-part-one/Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/culture-rich-conversations-healthy-relationships-in-rural-communities-part-one/ The U.S. Forest Service will hold an in-person public meeting in Juneau on Wednesday to gather feedback for the Tongass National Forest Management Plan revision. The plan will set the agency’s priorities for the forest over the next decade or more. 
The meeting will be held at the Juneau Ranger District building on Mendenhall Loop Road from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendance is in-person o]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-to-hold-tongass-forest-plan-public-meeting-in-juneau-wednesday/Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:35:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-to-hold-tongass-forest-plan-public-meeting-in-juneau-wednesday/ Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola, who is mounting a high-profile challenge to Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, announced on Monday that her campaign raised $8.9 million in]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/peltola-announces-big-fundraising-haul-signaling-an-expensive-senate-race-in-alaska/Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:21:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/peltola-announces-big-fundraising-haul-signaling-an-expensive-senate-race-in-alaska/ Last Saturday afternoon in Haines, people were ordering food like normal at Alpenglow Woodfired Pizza, the town’s only pizza joint.
But things weren’t normal: it was the restaurant’s last day in business. The owner announced on Facebook early last week that the restaurant was shutting down with just five days’ notice, leaving the small town with e]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/haines-only-pizza-shop-closes-its-doors/Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:57:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/haines-only-pizza-shop-closes-its-doors/ The Alaska House approved its version of the state operating budget Monday afternoon. The budget passed along caucus lines, with all 21 members of the Democrat-heavy bipartisan majority voting in favor and all 19 minority Republicans opposed.
The bill underwent a few majo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-passes-budget-with-1500-permanent-fund-dividend-and-boosts-to-education-funding/Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-passes-budget-with-1500-permanent-fund-dividend-and-boosts-to-education-funding/ In this newscast:Bartlett Regional Hospital has temporarily moved its emergency room entrance as the department undergoes a major multimillion-dollar renovation in the coming weeks,
The Juneau School Board will decide on ratifying a contract with the district’s teachers union at its meeting Tuesday,
At least three cruise lines have changed their itineraries this year to avoid the Tracy Arm Fjord south of Juneau, cit]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-april-13-2026/Tue, 14 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-april-13-2026/ Bartlett Regional Hospital has temporarily moved its emergency room entrance as the department undergoes a major multimillion-dollar renovation in the coming weeks.  
Kim McDowell is the chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of the city-owned hospital. She said the upcoming renovations will improve both safety and quality of care for patients. It’s been nearly two decades since the emergency]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-city-owned-hospital-prepares-for-multimillion-dollar-renovation-project/Tue, 14 Apr 2026 01:14:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-city-owned-hospital-prepares-for-multimillion-dollar-renovation-project/ The Juneau School Board will decide on ratifying a contract with the district’s teachers union at its meeting on Tuesday night.
The Juneau Education Association spent more than a year negotiating a new contract with the district, which escalated to a union vote authorizing a strike. Both parties came to a ten]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-to-decide-on-contract-with-teachers-union/Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-to-decide-on-contract-with-teachers-union/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/folk-fest-the-red-hots-guest-dance-band-for-2026-and-juneaus-own-queens-live-in-studio-1a/Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:36:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/folk-fest-the-red-hots-guest-dance-band-for-2026-and-juneaus-own-queens-live-in-studio-1a/ President Donald Trump on Friday called on Alaska voters to repeal ranked choice voting at the November election.
“The Wonderful People of Alaska desperately want to restore Free, Fair, and Honest Elections in their Great State, and get rid of their disastrous, and very fraudulent, “Ranked-Choice Voting,” Trump said on]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/president-donald-trump-calls-for-repeal-of-ranked-choice-voting-in-alaska/Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:10:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/president-donald-trump-calls-for-repeal-of-ranked-choice-voting-in-alaska/ One morning last month, Olena Dubchenko packed two suitcases for her and her four-year-old son, Maksim. Aside from clothes and toys, she included a few keepsakes: a swaddle, baby blanket and a worn-out fairytale book she brought from her war-torn hometown in Ukraine.
Dubchenko was preparing to move out of her Anchorage apartment and fly to Seattle wi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lengthening-bureaucratic-delays-are-leaving-ukrainians-in-alaska-without-income-or-certainty-about-what-comes-next/Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:48:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lengthening-bureaucratic-delays-are-leaving-ukrainians-in-alaska-without-income-or-certainty-about-what-comes-next/ At least three cruise lines have tweaked their 2026 itineraries to avoid the Tracy Arm Fjord south of Juneau, citing safety concerns after a major tsunami struck the area last August.
Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises have all notified customers that their ships this summer will not be visiting the area, which offers sweeping views of the Sa]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-last-years-historic-tsunami-some-cruise-lines-say-theyll-avoid-tracy-arm-this-year/Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:48:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-last-years-historic-tsunami-some-cruise-lines-say-theyll-avoid-tracy-arm-this-year/ In this newscast:Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a $450 million fast-track budget bill Thursday afternoon, according to his spokesman.
Alaska Airlines increased checked bag fees for most customers duet to volatile fuel prices and global uncertainty.
Juneau’s three Democratic state lawmakers met with constituents downtown on Wednesday for a mid-session town hall event.
Starting today, Alaska Seaplanes can use new, propriet]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-april-10-2026/Sat, 11 Apr 2026 03:14:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-april-10-2026/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy told lawmakers on Thursday he’d signed a $450 million fast-track budget bill. The closely watched bill provides $70 million dollars for construction projects, $75 million for disaster relief and nearly $100 million for wildfire suppression. Lawmakers passed it late last mont]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-signs-closely-watched-450-million-fast-track-budget-bill/Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:09:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-signs-closely-watched-450-million-fast-track-budget-bill/ A Juneau boy with a rare genetic disease has now undergone a potentially life-saving treatment after years of fundraising. 
Cade Jobsis just turned 5 years old, and with that birthday, received gene therapy treatment in Dallas, Texas – a treatment that could save his life. 
Cade’s mother, Emma Jobsis, has been raising money since]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-boy-undergoes-gene-therapy-after-millions-raised-to-restart-clinical-trials/Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:32:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-boy-undergoes-gene-therapy-after-millions-raised-to-restart-clinical-trials/ Juneau’s three Democratic state lawmakers met with constituents downtown on Wednesday for a mid-session town hall event at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé.
The Alaska Legislature’s 2026 regular session is more than halfway done. Sen. Jesse Kiehl said so far, it’s been an interesting one amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. 
&ld]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-delegates-talk-oil-education-funding-at-mid-session-town-hall/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-delegates-talk-oil-education-funding-at-mid-session-town-hall/ Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/09FogFlight-.wav
On Thursday morning, Patrick Ford descended through clouds shrouding Juneau in a brand new Cessna 208 Caravan. The plane emerged from whiteout conditions at around 1600 feet above the Mendenhall Wetlands and glided gently onto the runway at Juneau International Airport.
Ford is a pilot and the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-seaplanes-gets-approval-for-new-departure-landing-paths-to-reduce-flight-disruptions/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:18:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-seaplanes-gets-approval-for-new-departure-landing-paths-to-reduce-flight-disruptions/ Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/09FogFlight-.wav
On Thursday morning, Patrick Ford descended through clouds shrouding Juneau in a brand new Cessna 208 Caravan. The plane emerged from whiteout conditions at around 1600 feet above the Mendenhall Wetlands and glided gently onto the runway at Juneau International Airport.
Ford is a pilot and the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-seaplanes-gets-approval-for-new-departure-and-landing-paths-to-reduce-cancellations-disruptions/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:18:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-seaplanes-gets-approval-for-new-departure-and-landing-paths-to-reduce-cancellations-disruptions/ The chief of staff for a member of the Alaska House of Representatives was arrested early Sunday morning in Juneau and accused of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Kathryn “Katy” Giorgio, 45, is an aide to Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, and pleaded not guilty to a class A misdemeanor in an initial hearing on Monday.
Her arrest came less than a week after Fo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-legislators-aide-arrested-for-dui-in-juneau/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:06:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-legislators-aide-arrested-for-dui-in-juneau/ Gubernatorial candidate Click Bishop, a former Republican state senator, on Wednesday announced he had chosen Greta Schuerch, an Alaska Native corporation board member, as his running mate.
Bishop is one of 18 candidates for Alaska governor. Incumbent Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, is constitutionally prevented from serving a third consecutive term.
Schuerch, 46, is from Kiana, a village in Northwest Alaska. She work]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-gop-governor-candidate-click-bishop-picks-iupiaq-leader-greta-schuerch-as-running-mate/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-gop-governor-candidate-click-bishop-picks-iupiaq-leader-greta-schuerch-as-running-mate/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/folk-fest-live-music-with-hannah-read-amp-2026-guest-artist-willi-carlisle/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 03:03:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/folk-fest-live-music-with-hannah-read-amp-2026-guest-artist-willi-carlisle/ In this newscast:A 17-year-old boy who was reported missing for nearly three weeks in Juneau was located earlier this week and returned home,
Earlier this week, Huna Totem and the City and Borough of Juneau finalized the tidelands lease agreement for a fifth cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau, which gives the final stamp for its development,
The City and Borough of Juneau stopped accepting septic waste from Gustavus last]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-april-9-2026/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-april-9-2026/ While not much has changed on Juneau’s waterfront since the Juneau Assembly approved a tidelands lease for the development of a fifth cruise ship dock downtown last year, work has been progressing in the background.
That’s according to Susan Bell with Huna Totem Corp., the Alaska Native village corporation behind t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/huna-totem-says-new-juneau-cruise-dock-construction-will-begin-next-summer/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:32:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/huna-totem-says-new-juneau-cruise-dock-construction-will-begin-next-summer/ It’s Alaska Folk Festival week in Juneau, which means hundreds of musicians are showcasing their skills on the Main Stage at Centennial Hall and at other venues around town.
On the first night of Folk Fest on Monday, volunteers scrambled to get ready and shared what it takes to make the festival run. 
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/up]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/behind-the-scenes-at-alaska-folk-festival-volunteers-keep-the-show-moving/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:29:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/behind-the-scenes-at-alaska-folk-festival-volunteers-keep-the-show-moving/ Signs of the prolonged shutdown are cropping up at the largest Coast Guard base in the country.
There’s a hiring freeze on all but a few specific positions on Base Kodiak. The local Coast Guard Exchange has partially cut its store hours short. Websites are going unmanaged.
And the last time the base’s Facebook feed was updated was Feb. 26. It says, “Due t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/third-shutdown-of-fiscal-year-has-severe-impacts-for-coast-guard/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:09:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/third-shutdown-of-fiscal-year-has-severe-impacts-for-coast-guard/ Leaders of the state Senate are throwing cold water on hopes for a super-sized Permanent Fund dividend.
In the state House, the Finance Committee added a roughly $3,800 dividend to the latest draft of the budget April 1 before sending it on to the floor for a final debate. It would require drawing down nearly half of the state’s $3 bill]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-leaders-still-aiming-for-1000-dividend-despite-high-oil-prices/Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:35:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-leaders-still-aiming-for-1000-dividend-despite-high-oil-prices/ Listen to this story:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08PoopFAS.wav
Most households and businesses in the rural community of Gustavus rely on septic systems. For years, a private company from Juneau ferried over to pump them out. 
But the City an]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/officials-are-still-looking-for-a-solution-after-juneau-rejected-pfas-contaminated-poop-from-gustavus/Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:59:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/officials-are-still-looking-for-a-solution-after-juneau-rejected-pfas-contaminated-poop-from-gustavus/ In this newscast:Juneau’s teachers union voted earlier this week in favor of approving a tentative contract agreement with the Juneau School District,
After months of public pushback, the Juneau Assembly will revisit the current redevelopment plan for the Telephone Hill neighborhood in downtown Juneau,
The 2026 Traditional Games begin in the capital city Friday,
A behind-the-scenes look at the 51st Alaska Folk Festi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-april-8-2026/Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-april-8-2026/ Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen onl]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/folk-fest-carey-seward-amp-the-sizz-air-jazz-new-music-and-talk-at-sealaska/Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:58:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/folk-fest-carey-seward-amp-the-sizz-air-jazz-new-music-and-talk-at-sealaska/ The 2026 Traditional Games begin in the capital city on Friday. Around 200 participants from around the state and at least three other countries will compete through Sunday at Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé.The free event is co-hosted by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and Sea]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-ninth-traditional-games-welcomes-international-competitors/Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:46:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-ninth-traditional-games-welcomes-international-competitors/ Juneau’s teachers union voted earlier this week in favor of approving a tentative contract agreement with the Juneau School District. Now, it’s the school board’s turn to decide whether to approve the contract before it’s implemented.
The majority vote comes after more than a year of strained contract negotiations between the district]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-teachers-union-approves-contract-with-school-district/Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:32:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-teachers-union-approves-contract-with-school-district/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/roe-seized-from-factory-trawler-accused-of-fishing-violations-in-alaskas-bering-sea/Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:15:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/roe-seized-from-factory-trawler-accused-of-fishing-violations-in-alaskas-bering-sea/ This is Tongass Voices, a series from KTOO sharing perspectives from the homelands of the Áak’w Kwáan and beyond.
This week is the Alaska Folk Festival, an annual music festival in Juneau that started in 1975.
Folk Fest is completely free to attend, thanks to the work of dozens and dozens of volunteers. With about 12]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-hiram-henry-on-the-volunteers-that-drive-folk-fest/Wed, 08 Apr 2026 22:04:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-hiram-henry-on-the-volunteers-that-drive-folk-fest/ This is Tongass Voices, a series from KTOO sharing perspectives from the homelands of the Áak’w Kwáan and beyond.
This week is the Alaska Folk Festival, an annual music festival in Juneau that started in 1975.
Folk Fest is completely free to attend, thanks to the work of dozens and dozens of volunteers. With about 12]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-hiram-henry-on-the-volunteers-that-drive-alaska-folk-fest/Wed, 08 Apr 2026 22:04:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-hiram-henry-on-the-volunteers-that-drive-alaska-folk-fest/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/folk-fest-live-music-with-quinton-woolman-morgan-and-big-sissy-pink-martini-on-their-upcoming-juneau-concert/Wed, 08 Apr 2026 03:04:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/folk-fest-live-music-with-quinton-woolman-morgan-and-big-sissy-pink-martini-on-their-upcoming-juneau-concert/ In this newscast:The Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab is set to close and the future of the Pacific Northwest Research Station lab in Juneau is uncertain since the U.S. Forest Service began a national restructuring last week,
The city’s cold weather emergency shelter, which was set to close for the season next week, is turning into a year-round operation,
Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed a federal class-action lawsuit]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-april-7-2026/Wed, 08 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-april-7-2026/ After months of public pushback, the Juneau Assembly will revisit the current redevelopment plan for the Telephone Hill neighborhood in downtown Juneau. 
The neighborhood is currently scheduled to be demolished this summer following approval from the Assembly last year. But at a meeting Monday night, Assembly members voted to reexamine that timeline and the redevelopment]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-agrees-to-reexamine-telephone-hill-demolition-plan-and-timeline/Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:49:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-agrees-to-reexamine-telephone-hill-demolition-plan-and-timeline/ Juneau’s cold weather emergency shelter, which was set to close for the season next week, is turning into a year-round operation. The Juneau Assembly unanimously approved an ordinance on Monday to make that change.
The aim is that opening the shelter year-round would help address Juneau’s current lack of shelter space and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-approves-opening-winter-warming-shelter-year-round/Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:47:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-approves-opening-winter-warming-shelter-year-round/ Fishermen in Southeast Alaska will be able to harvest about 70,000 more king salmon this season than last year.
The state Department of Fish and Game announced the harvest goal for all gear groups on March 31.
“It’s not, you know, a great catch limit, but it’s a decent catch limit,” said fish biologist Dani Evenson, with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/southeast-alaska-back-to-average-harvest-goal-for-king-salmon-after-2025-low/Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:04:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/southeast-alaska-back-to-average-harvest-goal-for-king-salmon-after-2025-low/ Ahead of the Easter weekend, an Alaska House committee inserted a massive Permanent Fund dividend into its latest draft of the state budget. It’d be in line with the formula used to calculate the dividend until the mid-2010s, what’s called a statutory dividend, a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/house-committee-oks-3800-dividend-that-would-spend-half-of-state-savings/Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:48:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/house-committee-oks-3800-dividend-that-would-spend-half-of-state-savings/ The Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab is set to close and the future of the Pacific Northwest Research Station lab in Juneau is uncertain since the U.S. Forest Service began a national restructuring last week.
The agency announced last Tuesday that its headquarters will move to Utah, the existing regional structure will be switched to a state structure and dozens of forest research labs will close. But there are still many unknowns that the age]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/future-of-juneaus-forest-service-lab-in-limbo-after-agency-announces-restructuring-closes-anchorage-forestry-lab/Tue, 07 Apr 2026 03:25:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/future-of-juneaus-forest-service-lab-in-limbo-after-agency-announces-restructuring-closes-anchorage-forestry-lab/ Metals mining has a prominent place in Alaska history. Today, it remains a prominent economic driver in the state.
Over the past decade, the metals mining sector has made up 3% to 4% of Alaska’s gross domestic]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/metals-mining-in-alaska-still-a-big-source-of-jobs-money-and-exports-report-says/Tue, 07 Apr 2026 03:09:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/metals-mining-in-alaska-still-a-big-source-of-jobs-money-and-exports-report-says/ In this newscast:The city is now asking residents to weigh in on potential projects that could be funded by the fees paid by cruise ship passengers this year,
The Juneau Assembly will vote tonight during a regular meeting on whether to turn the city’s cold weather emergency shelter into a year-round operation,
A labor union representing Ketchikan shipyard workers has filed three charges against the yard’s new]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-april-6-2026/Tue, 07 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-april-6-2026/ The city is asking residents to weigh in on potential projects that could be funded by the fees paid by cruise ship passengers this year. 
Funding an extension of the seawalk, adding more downtown public restrooms and offsetting Juneau Mountain Rescue operation costs are some of the proposed projects. Residents have until May 3 to submit comments. 
Each cruise ship passenger who]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/cruise-ship-passenger-free-proposals-include-seawalk-extension-more-downtown-public-restrooms/Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:54:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/cruise-ship-passenger-free-proposals-include-seawalk-extension-more-downtown-public-restrooms/ The city is asking residents to weigh in on potential projects that could be funded by the fees paid by cruise ship passengers this year. 
Funding an extension of the seawalk, adding more downtown public restrooms and offsetting Juneau Mountain Rescue operation costs are some of the proposed projects. Residents have until May 3 to submit comments. 
Each cruise ship passenger who]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/cruise-ship-passenger-fee-proposals-include-seawalk-extension-more-downtown-public-restrooms/Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:54:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/cruise-ship-passenger-fee-proposals-include-seawalk-extension-more-downtown-public-restrooms/ A group of Juneau organizations and the regional tribal government are working together on an event that will provide direct services to unhoused people in Juneau. 
The Juneau Coalition on Housing and Homelessness and the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Community Advocacy Program are partnering to host Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday.
The event]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-organizations-will-host-an-event-to-help-unhoused-people-connect-with-services/Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:33:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-organizations-will-host-an-event-to-help-unhoused-people-connect-with-services/ From laid-back jam sessions to unique late-night sets, KXLL has got you covered to help you plan your after-hours Folk Fest experience. We’ll be updating it throughout the week with any]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/2026-kxll-nightlife-guide/Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:33:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/2026-kxll-nightlife-guide/ Two Alaska inmates died in one week at the end of March according to the state department of corrections.
Johnny Allen Nashookpuk was 63 years old and Jeffery Mulifai was 66. They were both most recently housed at Goose Creek Correctional Center in Wasilla.
They are the first two deaths reported in state custody in 2026. A spokesperson for the department, Betsy Holley, did not respond to questio]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-department-of-corrections-reports-two-inmate-deaths-in-one-week/Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:56:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-department-of-corrections-reports-two-inmate-deaths-in-one-week/ Linguists across the state say Alaska’s primary research institute for Alaska Native languages is being starved of funding, and that its mission is at risk. But administrators at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which houses the Alaska Native Language Center, say that’s not true — and that it’s actually growing.
The stat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/at-hearing-linguists-tell-lawmakers-that-the-alaska-native-language-centers-mission-is-at-risk/Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:52:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/at-hearing-linguists-tell-lawmakers-that-the-alaska-native-language-centers-mission-is-at-risk/ Three of Alaska’s key shipping companies are set to hike rates as fuel prices skyrocket amid the war with Iran.
Alaska Marine Lines, Matson and Tote Maritime are all increasing their fuel-related surcharges, starting this month.
Alaska Marine Lines ships freight to communities in Southeast Alaska, including Haines, Skagway an]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-freight-shipping-costs-set-to-spike-amid-war-in-iran/Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:32:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-freight-shipping-costs-set-to-spike-amid-war-in-iran/ In this newscast:Staff at the University of Alaska have successfully voted to form a union,
The City and Borough of Juneau’s budget-making process officially kicked off Wednesday,
The state of Alaska is collecting input from Juneau residents hit by glacial outburst flooding in 2024 to help decide how a federal grant for $6 million will be spent,
A group of Juneau organizations and the regional tribal government are]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-april-3-2026/Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-april-3-2026/ Theater Alaska is offering two youth programs in April:Knight at Dawn KIDS — Theater Alaska on April 3 & 4Retention: An Academic Pentathlon — Theater Alaska on April 17, 18, 19KXLL is sponsoring Hip-Hop Night at The Crystal Saloon, and the annual KTOO Nightlife Guide has coverage of all non-Folk Fest Mainstage events happening during the week of April 6-12.
UAS Folk Fest brings together student bands and local and n]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/uas-folk-fest-theater-alaska-youth-programs-kxll-hip-hop-day/Sat, 04 Apr 2026 02:58:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/uas-folk-fest-theater-alaska-youth-programs-kxll-hip-hop-day/ The state of Alaska is collecting input from Juneau residents hit by glacial outburst flooding in 2024 to help decide how a $6,051,588 federal grant will be spent.  
That flood, which occurred before the city put up a temporary levee along the river, inundated nearly 300 homes in the Mendenhall Valley overnight, forcing people to evacuate through the ice cold wate]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-seeks-community-input-on-2024-glacial-outburst-flood-federal-grant-priorities/Sat, 04 Apr 2026 02:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-seeks-community-input-on-2024-glacial-outburst-flood-federal-grant-priorities/ The Juneau Assembly will vote Monday night during a regular meeting on whether to turn the city’s cold weather emergency shelter into a year-round operation. Right now, it’s only open from mid-October through mid-April. 
City officials say it would help address Juneau’s current lack of shelter space and housing units, and would reduce the number of unhoused people camping in t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-will-decide-whether-to-offer-winter-warming-shelter-year-round/Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:53:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-will-decide-whether-to-offer-winter-warming-shelter-year-round/ As the Alaska Folk Festival approaches, so does a big spike in activity at downtown bars.With that comes concerns about drink safety. Two people in Juneau who work to prevent sexual assault in different ways say it’s everyone’s responsibility to look out for each other.
Tawney Letterman has served drinks at bars for 16 years. She said there’s a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/advocates-remind-bar-patrons-to-stay-vigilant-about-drink-safety-as-folk-festival-approaches/Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:26:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/advocates-remind-bar-patrons-to-stay-vigilant-about-drink-safety-as-folk-festival-approaches/ Large majorities of Alaskans tell pollsters they’re sick of changing their clocks twice a year. And for years, lawmakers have introduced bills that would stop us from springing forward and falling back.
This year is no exception. But the thornier question is, what time should it be?
In some sense, it’s principle versus pragmatism. Nature versus industry. Early birds versus night owls.
The one]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskans-want-to-stop-changing-their-clocks-but-what-time-should-it-be/Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:17:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskans-want-to-stop-changing-their-clocks-but-what-time-should-it-be/ The Univeristy of Alaska Southeast Dual Enrollment Progam offers high school students an opportunity to get a jump start on their college career. UAS welcomes registration of high school and homeschool students who are prepared for college-level work. Jessica Dean from UAS, and Nate Dutton from Juneau Schools detail the program options, and how to get registered.
Upates from the Juneau Commission on Aging with Deborah Craig and L]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/uas-dual-enrollment-offers-registered-high-school-and-homeschool-students-college-credit/Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:17:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/uas-dual-enrollment-offers-registered-high-school-and-homeschool-students-college-credit/ Staff at the University of Alaska have successfully voted to form a union. 
The group calls itself the Coalition of Alaska University Employees for Equity, or CAUSE-UAW. It’s organizing as part of the United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, one of the largest unions in the nation.
The union covers permanent staff, including people]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/university-of-alaska-staff-successfully-vote-to-form-a-union/Fri, 03 Apr 2026 03:53:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/university-of-alaska-staff-successfully-vote-to-form-a-union/ In this newscast:Three young mountain goats with a highly contagious viral skin infection have been found this winter on popular Juneau hiking trails,
The Juneau Assembly voted last night to end the city’s involvement in Eaglecrest Ski Area’s controversial gondola project and pay back a $10 million investment from Goldbelt Incorporated,
Alaska school districts consistently build budgets based on many uncertain]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-april-2-2026/Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:58:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-april-2-2026/ The Alaska Senate on Wednesday advanced a constitutional amendment that would establish a dedicated fund for public education.
If passed, lawmakers could design a new source of state revenue to go toward the fund that would be used specifically for schools. The resolution states that the Legislature could only appropriate money from the fund for public ed]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-advances-constitutional-amendment-to-establish-education-fund/Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:17:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-advances-constitutional-amendment-to-establish-education-fund/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/02budgetbuster.wav
The City and Borough of Juneau’s budget-making process officially kicked off on Wednesday. Over the next few months, the Juneau Assembly will face tough decisions about how to balance a budget that faces a multimillion-dollar hole. 
Throughout the next few mont]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-begins-budget-process-that-likely-could-see-significant-cuts-to-services/Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-begins-budget-process-that-likely-could-see-significant-cuts-to-services/ Three young mountain goats with a highly contagious viral skin infection have been found this winter on popular Juneau hiking trails. 
The infection, which can transfer to humans and pets, is called contagious ecthyma. Skin lesions form around the mouth, eyes and nose. It’s usually mild in humans and dogs, but it’s typically more severe and fatal in lambs and goat kids. 
Carl K]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-third-mountain-goat-dies-from-contagious-skin-infection-signage-goes-up-on-popular-juneau-hiking-trails/Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:43:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-third-mountain-goat-dies-from-contagious-skin-infection-signage-goes-up-on-popular-juneau-hiking-trails/ The Alaska House narrowly passed a bill Wednesday that would update the state’s corporate income tax to capture more revenue from companies that sell to Alaskans over the internet.
The heart of House Bill 280 is a change to what’s known as market-based sourcing. That’s a method of calculating corporate income taxes that’s based on the location of the customer, rather tha]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-passes-new-version-of-vetoed-corporate-tax-change/Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:28:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-passes-new-version-of-vetoed-corporate-tax-change/ The Juneau Assembly voted on Wednesday night to end the city’s involvement in Eaglecrest Ski Area’s controversial gondola project and pay back a $10 million investment from Goldbelt Incorporated.
The Assembly’s vote came during a finance committee meeting, which means it isn’t final. Procedurally, the Assembly still needs to introduce an ordinance, take public t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-votes-to-end-the-citys-involvement-in-eaglecrest-ski-areas-gondola/Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:54:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-votes-to-end-the-citys-involvement-in-eaglecrest-ski-areas-gondola/ Alaska school districts consistently build budgets based on many uncertainties, but a bill that aims to stabilize the budgeting process moved out of the House Education Committee Wednesday. 
House Bill 261 would change how students and certain schools are counted under the state’s education funding formula. This would allow school districts to budget with more certa]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-that-aims-to-stabilize-school-district-budgeting-advances-out-of-house-education-committee/Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:12:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-that-aims-to-stabilize-school-district-budgeting-advances-out-of-house-education-committee/ In this newscast:Wild king salmon sport fishing regulations for 2026 took effect across Southeast today. In most inside waters of the northern panhandle, the season opens June 15,
Around 25,000 Alaskans lost all or part of their health insurance subsidies in 2026 due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,
Pink Martini, a band from Portland, Oregon, will play in Sitka and Juneau in a couple of weeks to benefit the rebuilding o]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-april-1-2026/Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-april-1-2026/ Wild king salmon sport fishing regulations for 2026 took effect across Southeast on Wednesday. In most inside waters of the northern panhandle, including Juneau, the season opens June 15. 
Daniel Teske is a Juneau area management biologist for sport fisheries at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He said the regulations for kings, also called Chinook salmon, haven’t change]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/wild-king-salmon-sport-regulations-take-effect-in-juneau-area/Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:57:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/wild-king-salmon-sport-regulations-take-effect-in-juneau-area/ The Alaska Folk Festival kicks off next Monday, April 6, for a full week of music, guest artists, and workshops. In addition, the festival is premiering “50 Years of Folk Fest,” a documentary that chronicles its history and impact. Full details and schedule available at akfolkfest.org.The Marie Darlin Prize is a $5,000 award that celebrates an outstanding Juneau artist, writer, or performer whose recent work expresse]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-folk-festival-premieres-50-years-of-folk-fest-documentary/Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:43:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-folk-festival-premieres-50-years-of-folk-fest-documentary/ Guest host Christina Love, a recent recipient of AWARE’s Women of Distinction honor for her work in advocacy and as U.S Commissioner on Civil Rights, navigates the conversation with a panel of experts in the field.
Guests include:Natasha Jackson, Community Advocacy Manager, Tlingit & HaidaNatalie Watso]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sexual-assault-and-prevention-with-aware-child-adocacy-center-and-tlingit-amp-haida-with-guest-host-christina-love/Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sexual-assault-and-prevention-with-aware-child-adocacy-center-and-tlingit-amp-haida-with-guest-host-christina-love/ Phoenix Johnson works in political advocacy and education now, but around two decades ago, fresh out of the Unit]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-sitka-doctor-is-convicted-of-assaulting-patients-a-former-ketchikan-colleague-comes-forward/Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:51:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-sitka-doctor-is-convicted-of-assaulting-patients-a-former-ketchikan-colleague-comes-forward/ A legislative resolution urging a continued and better-enforced ban on Russian seafood in the United States is headed to Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Part of a series of actions by Alaska lawmakers to try to shore up the state&rsq]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-push-for-continued-ban-on-russian-seafood-imports/Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:11:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-push-for-continued-ban-on-russian-seafood-imports/ U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she didn’t want to be “lecture-y,” but she told state lawmakers that they needed to step up their game in a few areas.
“And one of those areas – I’m just going to offer it up here – is matching funds,” she said in her annual address to the Alaska Legislature Tuesday. “Wh]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-asks-alaska-legislature-to-up-its-game/Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:19:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-asks-alaska-legislature-to-up-its-game/ Mayors of the five boroughs that would host elements of the Alaska gasline project say they’re not on board with a bill from Gov. Mike Dunleavy offering tax breaks for the project. At least, not yet.
The governor’s bill would replace a statewide 20-mill property tax on oil and gas infrastructure, split between the state and local governments, with a volu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/borough-mayors-urge-changes-to-dunleavys-alaska-lng-tax-break-bill/Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:36:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/borough-mayors-urge-changes-to-dunleavys-alaska-lng-tax-break-bill/ In this newscast:Today is the last day for Alaskans to apply for a 2026 Permanent Fund Dividend,
Juneau’s beloved city-owned Eaglecrest Ski Area is embroiled in controversy over a gondola project and its price tag,
A theater in a historic building in downtown Juneau is being brought back to life after sitting empty for years,
Mayors of the five boroughs that would host elements of the Alaska gasline project say tha]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-march-31-2026/Wed, 01 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-march-31-2026/ Inside an 86-year-old movie theater in downtown Juneau, a group of film lovers sifted through decades of debris in a dusty room behind the big screen. 
There were a couple of generations of theater seats in various states of deconstruction and decay. Red rolls of tickets and an ancient cash register sat on shelves. A]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-20th-century-theater-is-seeing-new-life-and-a-new-name-as-aurora-grand/Wed, 01 Apr 2026 01:29:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-20th-century-theater-is-seeing-new-life-and-a-new-name-as-aurora-grand/ Guest host Christina Love, a recent recipient of AWARE’s Women of Distinction honor for her work in advocacy and as U.S Commissioner on Civil Rights, navigates the conversation with a panel of experts in the field.
Guests include:Natasha Jackson, Community Advocacy Manager, Tlingit & HaidaNatalie Watso]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sexual-assault-and-prevention-with-aware-child-advocacy-center-and-tlingit-amp-haida-with-guest-host-christina-love/Wed, 01 Apr 2026 01:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sexual-assault-and-prevention-with-aware-child-advocacy-center-and-tlingit-amp-haida-with-guest-host-christina-love/ Annie Goodenough spends her summers traveling the Alaska coast on cruise ships.
But she’s not there for glacier views or whale sightings. She’s a state inspector, tasked with ensuring the ships aren’t endangering Alaska’s natural]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/for-months-carnival-corp-has-withheld-water-pollution-data-from-alaska-regulators/Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:41:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/for-months-carnival-corp-has-withheld-water-pollution-data-from-alaska-regulators/ Juneau’s beloved city-owned Eaglecrest Ski Area is embroiled in controversy over a gondola project and its price tag, which has ballooned to a potential cost of as much as $37 million.
That has left city leaders and the ski area’s board scrambling to find ways to make the millions of dollars in unexpected costs pencil out. Now some are worried the situation could threaten the ex]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-city-owned-ski-area-faces-uncertain-future-as-gondola-project-cost-balloons/Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:33:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-city-owned-ski-area-faces-uncertain-future-as-gondola-project-cost-balloons/ Matthew “Bronco” Williams, an Anchorage-based private school teacher, has announced that he is running as an independent for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Williams, 28, has not held public office. He ran as a Democrat for the Mississippi state House in 2019 at the age of 21, and the U.S. House representing Mississippi in 2024. He recently moved to Anchorage]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/anchorage-teacher-announces-run-for-us-house-as-an-independent/Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:33:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/anchorage-teacher-announces-run-for-us-house-as-an-independent/ In the mid-90s, there was a campaign to a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pink-martini-to-perform-point-house-benefit-concerts-in-sitka-juneau-next-month/Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:44:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pink-martini-to-perform-point-house-benefit-concerts-in-sitka-juneau-next-month/ The Alaska Legislature has a tradition of inviting the congressional delegation to deliver an address while it’s in session. Murkowski was first appointed to the Senate in 2002 and won her latest reelection in 2022.
Gavel Alaska coverage of legislative addresses is broadcast live on KTOO 360TV or on KTOO 104.3 FM.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-sen-lisa-murkowski-addresses-alaska-legislature-at-11-am/Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:34:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-sen-lisa-murkowski-addresses-alaska-legislature-at-11-am/ The Alaska Legislature has a tradition of inviting the congressional delegation to deliver an address while it’s in session. Murkowski was first appointed to the Senate in 2002 and won her latest reelection in 2022.
Gavel Alaska coverage of legislative addresses is broadcast live on KTOO 360TV or on KTOO 104.3 FM.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-sen-lisa-murkowski-addresses-alaska-legislature/Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:34:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-sen-lisa-murkowski-addresses-alaska-legislature/ The National Republican Senatorial Committee filed a complaint alleging that candidate Mary Peltola spent campaign money as a “slush fund,” on personal expenses.
The NRSC is working to defend U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan’s seat and is asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate Peltola, his Democratic challenger.
The Republican complaint hinges on a legal question that sounds like a philosophical]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gop-group-complains-peltola-spent-campaign-money-while-mum-about-running-for-office/Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:48:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gop-group-complains-peltola-spent-campaign-money-while-mum-about-running-for-office/ In this newscast:Tribal citizens in and outside Alaska recently voted to elect new delegates and community council members to represent them in the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska,
More than 1000 people gathered at Juneau’s Overstreet Park on Saturday to participate in the third ‘No Kings’ protest held nationwide to push back against President Donald Trump’s policie]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-march-30-2026/Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-march-30-2026/ Tribal citizens in and outside Alaska recently voted to elect new delegates and community council members to represent them in the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. 
Following the online election that ended March 19, Juneau welcomed nine new delegates and 11 returning delegates, who will each serve]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tlingit-and-haida-tribal-citizens-elect-new-delegates-following-election-rule-change/Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:57:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tlingit-and-haida-tribal-citizens-elect-new-delegates-following-election-rule-change/ Alaskans are a small step closer to having a system that can send alerts to their phones seconds before an earthquake hits. Those alerts would come from a U. S. Geological Survey early warning system called ShakeAlert — which some states and countries have had for years.
In late February, Congress allocated $34.9 million to USGS to ex]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/federal-funds-boost-longstanding-effort-to-build-an-earthquake-early-warning-system-for-alaska/Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:51:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/federal-funds-boost-longstanding-effort-to-build-an-earthquake-early-warning-system-for-alaska/ An aide to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Forrest Wolfe, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence Thursday evening in Juneau. Wolfe is Dunleavy’s deputy legislative director, according to a state personnel database.
In a charging document, a Juneau police officer said he stopped Wolfe in Downtown Juneau at roughly 10:30 Thursday night after Wolfe’s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-governors-aide-arrested-and-charged-with-drunk-driving-in-juneau/Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:09:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-governors-aide-arrested-and-charged-with-drunk-driving-in-juneau/ An eighteenth candidate joined the race to be Alaska’s next governor on Tuesday. Anchorage attorney Gregg Brelsford threw his hat in the ring as an independent.
Brelsford, 75, spent time as an Anchorage prosecutor, a municipal manager for two communities in Bristol Bay and the CEO of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, he said in an interview. Brelsford also ran unsuccessfully for U.S. House following]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/independent-attorney-gregg-brelsford-is-18th-candidate-in-alaska-governors-race/Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:28:00 +0200https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/independent-attorney-gregg-brelsford-is-18th-candidate-in-alaska-governors-race/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/28nokingsJUN.wav
It was a chilly Saturday afternoon in downtown Juneau, but that didn’t stop protesters like Kathleen Jorgensen from gathering. She said she refuses to accept the cold and wore a bright, flowery hat. 
“It’s spring, and I don’t care what Mother Nature says &mdas]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/over-a-thousand-people-gather-in-juneau-for-latest-nationwide-no-kings-protest/Sat, 28 Mar 2026 23:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/over-a-thousand-people-gather-in-juneau-for-latest-nationwide-no-kings-protest/ It was a chilly Saturday afternoon in downtown Juneau, but that didn’t stop protesters like Kathleen Jorgensen from gathering. She said she refuses to accept the cold and wore a bright, flowery hat. 
“It’s spring, and I don’t care what Mother Nature says — it is spring,” she said, laughing. 
Jorgensen was one]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/over-1500-people-gather-in-juneau-for-latest-nationwide-no-kings-protest/Sat, 28 Mar 2026 23:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/over-1500-people-gather-in-juneau-for-latest-nationwide-no-kings-protest/ In this newscast:Organizers and lawmakers gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol yesterday morning to rally in support of bills and funding to address climate change in Alaska,
A highly unusual — and four-legged — suspect was apprehended yesterday in Juneau,
The University of Alaska Southeast and the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska are working together to create a Sc]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-march-27-2026/Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-march-27-2026/ Listen here:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/27UASTH.wav
The University of Alaska Southeast and the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska are working together to create a Schoo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/uas-and-tlingit-amp-haida-partner-to-create-school-of-indigenous-studies-in-lsquohistoric-momentrsquo/Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/uas-and-tlingit-amp-haida-partner-to-create-school-of-indigenous-studies-in-lsquohistoric-momentrsquo/ Juneau-ite Megan McMillan is working on her MFA in New Zealand. She is in Juneau for six weeks, collecting data for her thesis: “Resident Perspectives of the Cruise Industry in Juneau, Alaska.” She is accepting survey responses and also looking for subjects to interview in a longer format.Survey link: https://lincoln.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b4uEUer7MYPJ72SA new singing group, Singing for Our Lives, started this M]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/megan-mcmillans-mfa-thesis-seeks-survey-takers-on-juneau-tourism-new-singing-group-singing-for-our-lives-and-jensen-olsen-arboretum-set-to-expand-hours-on-april-1/Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:47:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/megan-mcmillans-mfa-thesis-seeks-survey-takers-on-juneau-tourism-new-singing-group-singing-for-our-lives-and-jensen-olsen-arboretum-set-to-expand-hours-on-april-1/ Organizers and lawmakers gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday morning to rally in support of bills and funding to address climate change in Alaska. 
At the gathering of about 25 people, Rep. Donna Mears, an Anchorage Democrat, said climate disasters are expensive for the state. 
“The additional cost to government for responding to climate disasters like int]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/small-group-of-alaskans-rally-for-climate-action-at-capitol/Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:23:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/small-group-of-alaskans-rally-for-climate-action-at-capitol/ A highly unusual — and four-legged — suspect was apprehended on Thursday in Juneau. 
Tim Travis works at N C Machinery near the airport. Late Thursday morning, while headed out for their lunch break, he and his coworkers discovered an opossum roaming about outside their shop.  
“I was]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-very-briefly-had-an-opossum-on-the-lam/Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-very-briefly-had-an-opossum-on-the-lam/ The 51st Alaska Folk Festival will feature about 125 acts on the main stage – and that’s just one piece of a much larger production. Beyond Centennial Hall, performances fill the dance hall at the JACC and a full schedule of workshops adds to the mix.So how does it all come together? KTOO’s Mike Lane spoke with Folk Fest Board President Josh Fortenbery about the logisti]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/folk-fest-received-200-applications-for-125-main-stage-slots-qampa-with-board-president-josh-fortenbery-on-who-makes-the-cut/Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/folk-fest-received-200-applications-for-125-main-stage-slots-qampa-with-board-president-josh-fortenbery-on-who-makes-the-cut/ The Ted Stevens Legislative Intern Program offers students the opportunity to work in the Alaska Legislature during session. Intern EJ Richards and Professor Glenn Wright share details.
Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts, is hosting the Scouting for Food drive to benefit the Southeast Alaska Foodbank this April.The annual literary journal published by UAS, Tidal Echoes, is set to launch with a public event on Thursday, Ap]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ted-stevens-legislative-intern-program-scouting-america-food-drive-literary-journal-tidal-echoes/Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:32:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ted-stevens-legislative-intern-program-scouting-america-food-drive-literary-journal-tidal-echoes/ The Alaska Legislature on Wednesday approved a stopgap budget bill amid an ongoing debate among lawmakers around war-driven oil revenues and whether to draw from state savings.
The stopgap budget bill contains $449.6 million in state spending including for disaster relief, construction, education, correctional officer o]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-passes-stopgap-budget-amid-uncertainty-around-war-driven-oil-revenues/Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislature-passes-stopgap-budget-amid-uncertainty-around-war-driven-oil-revenues/ Developers of the Alaska LNG project are pressing lawmakers to pass a tax bill proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday.
The Alaska Gasline Development Corp. and its private-sector partner Glenfarne told the House Resources Committee on Wednesday that Dunleavy’s proposal to replace property taxes with a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gasline-developers-say-dunleavy-bill-would-cut-costs-key-to-competing-in-global-market/Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gasline-developers-say-dunleavy-bill-would-cut-costs-key-to-competing-in-global-market/ In this newscast:A privately-run child care program is set to offer all-day care for school-aged children in several Juneau schools this summer,
Since Juneau broke its official winter snowfall record on Monday, some residents have asked whether the melting snowpack will influence the next glacial outburst flood expected in the Mendenhall Valley this summer. The short answer is no,
One person died over the weekend in a maj]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-march-26-2026/Fri, 27 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-march-26-2026/ At the Gold Medal Basketball tournament on Tuesday, as the squeaks of players’ shoes on the gym floor faded, the Eagle Raven Dance Group filed out onto the court.Through the mostly red, black and blue regalia, flashes of rainbow peaked through. 
Group leader Jackie Pata announced the Weaving Our Pride]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ravenstail-robe-made-by-juneau-youth-has-its-coming-out-party/Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ravenstail-robe-made-by-juneau-youth-has-its-coming-out-party/ A privately-run child care program is set to offer all-day care for school-aged children in several Juneau schools this summer. 
Auke Lake Preschool runs Auke Lake RALLY as an after-school child care program at Auke Bay Elementary School, Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary and Harborview Elementary School. Once the school year ends, Auke Lake RALLY will continu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/auke-lake-rally-to-offer-summer-child-care-in-juneau/Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/auke-lake-rally-to-offer-summer-child-care-in-juneau/ Since Juneau broke its official winter snowfall record on Monday, some residents have asked whether the melting snowpack will influence the next glacial outburst flood expected in the Mendenhall Valley this summer.  
The short answer is no. Local scientists who study the flood say this winter’s snowfall won’t have much, if any, inf]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-record-winter-snowfall-wont-influence-glacial-outburst-flood-size-this-summer/Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-record-winter-snowfall-wont-influence-glacial-outburst-flood-size-this-summer/ The Alaska Senate approved a measure to boost state taxes on oil and gas production on Wednesday. Lawmakers tacked it on to what would have been a routine renewal of a state oil royalty agreement.
Sen. Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage, sponsored the amendment to House Bill 194, saying it would close a corporate income tax loophole and potentially]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-pushes-for-increase-in-oil-tax-revenue-amid-war-driven-oil-boom/Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-pushes-for-increase-in-oil-tax-revenue-amid-war-driven-oil-boom/ City and Borough of Juneau RecycleWorks and Solid Waste Processing departments:https://juneau.org/engineering-public-works/recycleworkshttps://juneau.org/engineering-public-works/solid-wasteJuneau Chamber’s upcoming Spirits of Alaska eventJuneau School District’s Tlingit Culture, Language, and Literacy ProgramAudio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. o]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/recycleworkscbj-solid-waste-juneau-chamber-spirits-of-alaska-student-learning-from-the-juneau-school-district-tlingit-culture-language-and-literacy-program/Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/recycleworkscbj-solid-waste-juneau-chamber-spirits-of-alaska-student-learning-from-the-juneau-school-district-tlingit-culture-language-and-literacy-program/ One person died over the weekend in a major avalanche near Haines Pass, just across the border in British Columbia.
Late March is typically prime time for recreation in the backcountry hot spot. But experts are now warning about unstable snow conditions in the area that likely won’t improve any time soon.
The victim was traveling with a group of five skiers on Sunday in the Rainy Hol]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/avalanche-death-near-haines-sparks-warnings-about-unstable-snowpack/Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:20:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/avalanche-death-near-haines-sparks-warnings-about-unstable-snowpack/ In this newscast:Juneau’s Thane Road remains closed until further notice since high winds have raised the risk of avalanches,
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is prioritizing short and medium-term solutions to glacial outburst flooding in the Mendenhall Valley,
The second iteration of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Visitor Industry Task Force has been meeting since mid-December,
The Alaska Legislature is on]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-march-25-2026/Thu, 26 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-march-25-2026/ Update: 8:20 p.m.
Thane Road reopened at 5:00 p.m. and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities plans to conduct avalanche hazard reduction when conditions allow in the coming days. 
Original Story
Juneau’s Thane Road remains closed until further notice amid high winds that have raised the risk of avalanches. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/thane-road-reopens-after-gale-winds-raise-avalanche-risk/Wed, 25 Mar 2026 23:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/thane-road-reopens-after-gale-winds-raise-avalanche-risk/ Juneau’s Thane Road remains closed until further notice amid high winds that have raised the risk of avalanches. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities observed eight natural avalanches Tuesday between Thane and Mount Juneau. 
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory, in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday.
DOT’s Sonny Mauricio said the wind has stopped the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/thane-road-closed-as-gale-winds-raise-avalanche-risk/Wed, 25 Mar 2026 23:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/thane-road-closed-as-gale-winds-raise-avalanche-risk/ This is Tongass Voices, a series from KTOO sharing perspectives from the homelands of the Áak’w Kwáan and beyond.
Earlier this year, Robin DeAlva made a Facebook group that she says addresses a specific issue in Juneau — the challenge of finding and offloading arts and craft supplies in the wake of Juneau’s Joann store closing l]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-robin-dealva-on-making-an-online-exchange-for-arts-supplies/Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-robin-dealva-on-making-an-online-exchange-for-arts-supplies/ The Alaska House of Representatives passed an elections bill aimed at streamlining the state’s voting process and updating the voter rolls with a bipartisan vote on Monday. If signed into law, the bill would implement a new ballot tracking system, provide paid postage for all absentee mail-in ballots and implement provisions for faster election results, among other changes.
The H]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-passes-elections-overhaul-bill-amid-national-debate-around-voter-access/Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-passes-elections-overhaul-bill-amid-national-debate-around-voter-access/ The second iteration of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Visitor Industry Task Force has been meeting since mid-December. The group is tasked with looking at whether the city’s current approach to managing tourism is working and recommending big-picture changes to the Juneau Assembly.
KTOO’s Clarise Larson sat down with its vice chair, Kirby Day, to learn mo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-task-force-wants-public-feedback-to-inform-tourism-policy-in-juneau/Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-task-force-wants-public-feedback-to-inform-tourism-policy-in-juneau/ In this newscast:Juneau has officially broken its snowfall record.
The City and Borough of Juneau began mailing out annual property tax assessment values to homes and businesses late last week.
Three finalists have been chosen in a mural contest to decorate new bear-resistant trash infrastructure in downtown Juneau this summer.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska came to Juneau last week to give training sessions]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-march-24-2026/Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-march-24-2026/ The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska came to Juneau last week to give training sessions on what to do if residents encounter immigration enforcement actions in town – whether you’re a bystander, an employer or someone getting detained. 
In a “Know Your Rights” session at the University of Alaska Southeast, ACLU Alaska Execu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/aclu-of-alaska-holds-bystander-training-in-juneau-amid-uptick-in-immigration-enforcement-nationwide/Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/aclu-of-alaska-holds-bystander-training-in-juneau-amid-uptick-in-immigration-enforcement-nationwide/ The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is prioritizing short and medium-term solutions to glacial outburst flooding in the Mendenhall Valley, but that doesn’t mean the agency has lost sight of the lake tap they chose as their preferred long-term solution late last year. ]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/army-corps-says-its-working-on-multiple-glacial-outburst-flood-solutions-for-juneau-at-once/Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/army-corps-says-its-working-on-multiple-glacial-outburst-flood-solutions-for-juneau-at-once/ The state of Alaska is looking for someone to take the Matanuska, one of the first three ships built as part of the Alaska Marine Highway System after statehood.
In a public notice published Friday afternoon, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities said it is now looking for “interested parties regarding th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-prepares-to-get-rid-of-historic-ferry-matanuska-one-of-states-oldest/Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:22:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-prepares-to-get-rid-of-historic-ferry-matanuska-one-of-states-oldest/ Three finalists have been chosen in a mural contest to decorate new bear-resistant trash infrastructure in downtown Juneau this summer.
The winning design will be printed on an enclosure of]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/voting-is-open-for-bear-resistant-trash-can-art-destined-for-downtown-juneau/Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/voting-is-open-for-bear-resistant-trash-can-art-destined-for-downtown-juneau/ The City and Borough of Juneau began mailing out annual property tax assessment values to homes and businesses late last week. And for most, the change from this year to last shouldn’t be too jarring.
According to new data shared by the city, the median assessed value for residential properties increased by just over half a percent. The median assessed value of a single-family home increased by even less — abo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-residential-assessments-remain-stable-with-less-than-1-increase-from-last-year/Tue, 24 Mar 2026 23:28:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-residential-assessments-remain-stable-with-less-than-1-increase-from-last-year/ WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to rule in favor of the Republican National Committee that all ballots must be received on Election Day to be counted.
In a case argued Monday, the RNC challenges a Mississipi law that allows ballots postmarked on or before Election Day to arrive up to five days later.
Alaska accepts postmarked ballots that arrive up to 10 days after Electio]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-accepts-ballots-that-arrive-after-election-day-this-case-could-end-that/Tue, 24 Mar 2026 22:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-accepts-ballots-that-arrive-after-election-day-this-case-could-end-that/ The filing deadline for this year’s Alaska Permanent Fund dividend is March 31, and if Rep. Nick Begich III has his way, this year’s dividend will be tax free.
On March 3, Alaska’s lone member of the U.S. House introduced a bill that would exempt the dividend from federal taxes.
When Begich mentioned it during his address to state law]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-rep-nick-begich-proposes-federal-tax-exemption-for-permanent-fund-dividends/Tue, 24 Mar 2026 19:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-rep-nick-begich-proposes-federal-tax-exemption-for-permanent-fund-dividends/ In this newscast:Juneau broke its local record for snowiest March on Sunday with almost 64 inches, and now the capital city is just over an inch away from beating its winter snowfall record,
The Juneau School District has reached a tentative agreement on a contract with its teachers union, after more than a year of negotiations that escalated to a successful vote authorizing the union to strike last week,
The U.S. Forest]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-march-23-2026/Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-march-23-2026/ Update, Tuesday 9 a.m. 
Juneau has officially broken its snowfall record.The city reached 201.2 inches at the Juneau International Airport at midnight, surpassing the previous record of 197.9 inches set in the winter of 2006-07. Snowfall has been recorded at the airport since 1943.
Original story:
Juneau broke its local record for snowiest March on Sunday with 63.8 inches, and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-officially-breaks-snowfall-record-after-brief-setback/Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-officially-breaks-snowfall-record-after-brief-setback/ Update, Tuesday 9 a.m. 
Juneau has officially broken its snowfall record.The city reached 201.2 inches at the Juneau International Airport at midnight, surpassing the previous record of 197.9 inches set in the winter of 2006-07. Snowfall has been recorded at the airport since 1943.
Original story:
Juneau broke its local record for snowiest March on Sunday with 63.8 inches, and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-has-officially-broken-its-snowfall-record/Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-has-officially-broken-its-snowfall-record/ Juneau broke its local record for snowiest March on Sunday with 63.8 inches, and now, the capital city is just 1.2 inches away from beating its winter snowfall record. 
This March broke the previous record of 62.7 inches set in 2007. 
But Juneau has not yet broken its winter snowfall record after a data correction lag in a national database moved the goalpost. Juneau]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-breaks-march-snowfall-record-but-not-the-winter-record-yet/Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-breaks-march-snowfall-record-but-not-the-winter-record-yet/ The U.S. Forest Service plans to hold a virtual meeting this week for residents across Southeast to share feedback on a revised Tongass National Forest management plan. The plan will set the agency’s priorities for the forest over the next decade or so. 
The virtual town hall is on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
The online opportunity is in addition to in-person public meetings the agency announced earlier this month. Those opportunities t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-plans-to-hold-virtual-meeting-on-tongass-forest-plan-revision-wednesday/Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:31:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-plans-to-hold-virtual-meeting-on-tongass-forest-plan-revision-wednesday/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed a bill Friday offering tax breaks for a planned natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska.
The bill would exempt the Alaska LNG project from local taxes, including a 2% annual statewide property tax and local sales and use taxes. They’d be replaced by a tax on the volume of gas flowing through the pipeline once it comes online.
In an]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-proposes-property-tax-breaks-for-alaska-lng-pipeline/Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:49:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-proposes-property-tax-breaks-for-alaska-lng-pipeline/ Tribal members of Kipnuk have overwhelmingly voted to relocate their community after devastation caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong, according to results released by the tribe on March 20.
More than 92% of adult tribal members that the tribe was able to contact by phone in recent weeks voted to relocate. Nearly a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/kipnuk-votes-to-relocate-following-devastation-from-halong/Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/kipnuk-votes-to-relocate-following-devastation-from-halong/ Ten Juneau high school students gained real-world home-building experience — and some much-needed Vitamin D — earlier this month during a school district trip to Maui, Hawaii. 
Students spent several days rebuilding homes destroyed by the wildfires that devastated the town of Lahaina in 2023. The Juneau School District’s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-high-schoolers-travel-to-hawaii-to-help-rebuild-homes-destroyed-by-lahaina-wildfires/Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-high-schoolers-travel-to-hawaii-to-help-rebuild-homes-destroyed-by-lahaina-wildfires/ The Alaska State Board of Education moved to establish a special committee to review ongoing issues and make recommendations to improve operations at the state-run boarding school, Mt. Edgecumbe High School.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-education-board-takes-steps-to-assess-boarding-school-conditions-after-outcry/Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:40:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-education-board-takes-steps-to-assess-boarding-school-conditions-after-outcry/ Lawmakers in Juneau set up a conference committee this week to hammer out a final draft of a budget bill that would fund hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of construction projects across the state. The bill also includes tens of millions for disaster relief and wildfire suppression and would refill a scholarship fund lawmakers used to bridge a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-look-to-resolve-standoff-over-fast-track-budget-bill/Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:27:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-look-to-resolve-standoff-over-fast-track-budget-bill/ The Juneau School District has reached a tentative agreement on a contract with its teachers union. This comes after more than a year of negotiations that escalated to a successful vote authorizing the union to strike earlier this week.
The two-year agreement covers this school year and the next. In a joint press releas]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-reaches-tentative-agreement-with-teachers-union/Sat, 21 Mar 2026 03:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-reaches-tentative-agreement-with-teachers-union/ In this newscast:The Juneau Police Department is seeking assistance in locating a 17-year-old boy who has been reportedly missing for two days.
Juneau’s legendary Gold Medal Basketball Tournament kicks off this weekend for the 77th time.
Juneau Police commander Matt DuBois speaks with KTOO’s Mike Lane about a regional task force that investigates illegal drugs being distributed in Southeast Alaska.
The Kodiak]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-march-20-2026/Sat, 21 Mar 2026 02:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-march-20-2026/ The state of Alaska is delaying construction on the first phase of the controversial Cascade Point ferry terminal, proposed to connect Juneau and Haines, due to a permitting issue.
The work was originally planned to begin this summer. That would have entailed building an access road, a new bridge, a gate and an upland staging area, but not the terminal itself.
But the state Department of Transportation]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-puts-off-cascade-point-construction-until-next-year/Sat, 21 Mar 2026 01:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-puts-off-cascade-point-construction-until-next-year/ The U.S. Coast Guard has identified two people who died Sunday while working in a confined space on a freight barge near Ketchikan.
The two deceased have been identified as Ben Fowler and Sidney Mohorovich. One body was recovered on Sunday and the other was recovered on Tuesday. The other two crewmembers working in the confined space have be]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/crewmembers-in-fatal-barge-incident-near-ketchikan-identified/Sat, 21 Mar 2026 01:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/crewmembers-in-fatal-barge-incident-near-ketchikan-identified/ Last month, the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs task force arrested a Juneau man and found nearly $160,000-worth of controlled substances at his residence – most of which was fentanyl.
Elsewhere in the region, SEACAD has seized pounds of methamphetamine in Ketchikan, Haines and Wrangell in the past few months.
Juneau Police comm]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/how-do-southeast-communities-coordinate-on-drug-busts-a-qampa-with-one-of-the-leaders-of-seacad/Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/how-do-southeast-communities-coordinate-on-drug-busts-a-qampa-with-one-of-the-leaders-of-seacad/ University of Alaska President Pat Pitney, who’s set to retire at the end of May, delivered her final State of the University address Thursday at the Westmark Hotel during a luncheon for the Rotary Club of Fairbanks. The roughly 30-minute speech emphasized overcoming challenges and entering what sh]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ua-president-pitney-gives-final-state-of-the-university-address-ahead-of-retirement/Fri, 20 Mar 2026 23:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ua-president-pitney-gives-final-state-of-the-university-address-ahead-of-retirement/ The Juneau Police Department is seeking assistance in locating a 17-year-old boy who has been reportedly missing for two days. 
According to police, Michael Northern Miller did not return home from school on Wednesday. Police say he was reportedly seen on Thursday evening at about 11 p.m. in the Mendenhall Valley near Jerry Drive. “The best help is to kee]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/police-seek-help-locating-missing-17-year-old-boy-in-juneau/Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/police-seek-help-locating-missing-17-year-old-boy-in-juneau/ School districts around Alaska are bracing for another year of deep cuts, a year after state lawmakers overcame two vetoes to increase funding for public schools.
Last year’s $700 boost to the base student allocation followed years of pleas from families, teachers and local officials who said the state’s public school system was at a breaking point.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/why-alaska-school-districts-are-still-facing-deep-cuts-after-last-years-funding-increase/Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:33:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/why-alaska-school-districts-are-still-facing-deep-cuts-after-last-years-funding-increase/ In this newscast:The state of Alaska is delaying construction on the first phase of a controversial ferry terminal proposed to connect Juneau and Haines, due to a permitting issue.
Alaska youth and advocates are calling on lawmakers to create a statewide fund for suicide prevention by charging a small fee on Alaskans’ monthly phone bills.
The Juneau School District’s teachers union voted to authorize a strike]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-march-19-2026/Fri, 20 Mar 2026 02:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-march-19-2026/ The Juneau School District’s teachers union voted to authorize a strike earlier this week amid ongoing contract negotiations. According to a press release from Juneau Education Association, 92% of the union’s 265-person bargaining unit voted to authorize a strike.
Kelley Harvey is a reading interventionist at Auke Bay Elemen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-teachers-union-votes-to-authorize-strike-as-contract-negotiations-drag-on/Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:27:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-teachers-union-votes-to-authorize-strike-as-contract-negotiations-drag-on/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/19capitol988.mp3
Alaska youth and advocates are calling on lawmakers to create a statewide fund for suicide prevention by charging a small fee on Alaskans’ monthly phone bills. 
The nation’s Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 988. It’s the easy-to-remember number to call that was l]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/advocates-and-youth-call-on-alaska-lawmakers-to-support-bills-to-fund-suicide-prevention/Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:23:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/advocates-and-youth-call-on-alaska-lawmakers-to-support-bills-to-fund-suicide-prevention/ The Alaska Board of Fisheries is meeting Tuesday through Saturday in Anchorage at the Egan Civic and Convention Center to consider changes to statewide finfish fisheries. Board members are appointed by the governor. They consider changes to the state’s fish regulations after listening to opinions from Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game and the public.
Three proposals are seeking to limit hatche]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/board-of-fish-to-consider-limiting-pink-and-chum-hatchery-production-and-changes-to-trawl-gear/Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/board-of-fish-to-consider-limiting-pink-and-chum-hatchery-production-and-changes-to-trawl-gear/ Juneau’s legendary Gold Medal Basketball Tournament kicks off this weekend for the 77th time. 
Beginning on Sunday, hundreds of people from across Southeast Alaska will attend throughout the week to watch nearly 30 regional adult teams play dozens of games and compete for titles in five brackets.
Tim Wilson, a Lions Club co-chair for this]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-iconic-gold-medal-basketball-tournament-returns-this-weekend/Thu, 19 Mar 2026 21:52:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-iconic-gold-medal-basketball-tournament-returns-this-weekend/ The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council has had new leadership for a few months now, and that has come with some changes.
Maggie McMillan joined the arts agency as executive director in December. The JAHC’s operations manager retired shortly before that, so McMillan took over finances as well. She stepped into both roles at a time when arts organ]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-juneau-arts-and-humanities-council-director-navigates-financial-challenges/Thu, 19 Mar 2026 21:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-juneau-arts-and-humanities-council-director-navigates-financial-challenges/ An auction of drilling rights in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska broke records Wednesday, suggesting that the oil and gas industry is keenly interested in expanding in the U.S. Arctic.
Kevin Pendergast, Alaska director of the Bureau of Land Management, announced that the winning bids totaled nearly $164 mi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/164m-auction-for-drilling-rights-in-alaskas-arctic-sets-new-records/Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:20:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/164m-auction-for-drilling-rights-in-alaskas-arctic-sets-new-records/ Voting begins Wednesday for University of Alaska staff across the state to decide on forming a union. The group is called the Coalition of Alaska University Employees for Equity.
The nascent union is organizing as part of the United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, one of the largest unions in the nation.
Mike DeLue is on the organizing comm]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/voting-to-form-university-of-alaska-staff-union-begins/Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:09:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/voting-to-form-university-of-alaska-staff-union-begins/ In this newscast:Alaska Seaplanes announced this week that it would be implementing a 6% temporary fuel surcharge on fares beginning Friday. The company cites a nearly 40% increase in fuel costs due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The City and Borough of Juneau plans to move into a new City Hall by the end of this year. That means the current building could be up for sale in the coming months.
Voting begins We]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-march-18-2026/Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-march-18-2026/ Climate change has caused winter in Alaska’s largest cities to warm more dramatically than in other major cities across the U.S. over the long term. But this winter in Juneau doesn’t match the overall trend. 
Nicole Ferrin, the warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Juneau, said that’s the difference between climate and we]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-wild-winter-bucks-the-climate-trend/Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-wild-winter-bucks-the-climate-trend/ Alaska Seaplanes announced this week that it would be implementing a 6% temporary fuel surcharge on fares beginning Friday. The company cites a nearly 40% increase in fuel costs due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. 
Andy Kline, a spokesperson for the company, said — as far as he knows — Alaska Seaplanes has never implemented a short-term charge of this kind before. But he called the cur]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-seaplanes-announces-temporary-fuel-surcharge-citing-iran-war/Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-seaplanes-announces-temporary-fuel-surcharge-citing-iran-war/ The City and Borough of Juneau plans to move into a new City Hall by the end of this year. That means the current building could be up for sale in the coming months. 
At a committee meeting Monday night, the Juneau Assembly moved forward with an ordinance that – if approved – would make the property located on Heritage Way in downtown Juneau available for purchase. The minimum bid would be $2.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-city-hall-could-be-up-for-sale-in-the-coming-months/Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-city-hall-could-be-up-for-sale-in-the-coming-months/ WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Tuesday narrowly agreed to take up a voting bill that President Trump says is essential for the survival of the country, and opponents argue will disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican who voted not to open debate on the Save America Act. It would require voters to show photo ID at the polls and provide proof of citizenship]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-is-sole-republican-to-vote-to-block-the-save-act/Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:46:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-is-sole-republican-to-vote-to-block-the-save-act/ NOME – Defending Iditarod champion Jessie Holmes and his perky team of sled dogs made a brisk run down Front Street about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to deliver the 44-year-old musher his second title in as many years.
From Brushkana Creek off the Denali Highway, Holmes is the first repeat champion the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog R]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/iditarods-new-champ-same-as-the-old-champ-jessie-holmes-notches-rare-repeat-win/Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:33:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/iditarods-new-champ-same-as-the-old-champ-jessie-holmes-notches-rare-repeat-win/ Juneau School District’s student services director is resigning at the end of June.
Jason DeCamillis said in an email to KTOO that he is leaving the district to “pursue other professional opportunities.”He submitted his resignation to the district last week.
The student services director oversees the district’s special education program. It is also in charge of multiple services and s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-districts-student-services-director-to-resign-in-june/Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:37:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-districts-student-services-director-to-resign-in-june/ In this newscast:The Alaska Board of Fisheries is meeting today through Saturday in Anchorage to consider changes to statewide finfish fisheries.
Juneau’s city-owned cold weather emergency shelter may soon start accepting patrons year-round instead of closing its doors in mid-April.
The Juneau School District’s student services director is resigning at the end of June.
For Tongass Voices, Juneau-Douglas High S]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-march-17-2026/Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-march-17-2026/ The head of a powerful state Senate committee is calling for stronger legislative oversight and changes to state oil and gas taxes as the developer of the Alaska LNG project approaches a final investment decision.
Backers say it’s an effort to ensure the state gets a fair deal if a North Slope gas pipeline moves forward, but others worry it could have a chilling effect on the project.
Anchorage Republican Sen. Cat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/senate-bill-seeks-transparency-and-accountability-for-alaska-lng-project/Tue, 17 Mar 2026 23:32:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/senate-bill-seeks-transparency-and-accountability-for-alaska-lng-project/ The Juneau Assembly is considering an ordinance that would turn the city’s cold weather emergency shelter into a year-round operation, instead of just opening from mid-October through mid-April. 
At an Assembly committee of the whole meeting on Monday night, Juneau’s Deputy City Manager Robert Barr said it would give the city’s most vulnerable residents a place to sleep ever]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-considers-offering-city-winter-warming-shelter-year-round/Tue, 17 Mar 2026 23:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-considers-offering-city-winter-warming-shelter-year-round/ Lawmakers are considering new legislation to increase state funding for Alaska schools, and heard public comment on Wednesday evening that showed overwhelming support for more fu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/support-for-education-funding-bill-comes-as-alaska-districts-grapple-with-ongoing-deficits/Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/support-for-education-funding-bill-comes-as-alaska-districts-grapple-with-ongoing-deficits/ This is Tongass Voices, a series from KTOO sharing perspectives from the homelands of the Áak’w Kwáan and beyond.
Cassie Lumba is a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé and earlier this month, she won Alaskaʼs Poetry Out Loud competition.
S]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-alaskas-poetry-out-loud-state-champion-shares-her-favorite-poem/Tue, 17 Mar 2026 20:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-alaskas-poetry-out-loud-state-champion-shares-her-favorite-poem/ A bill meant to protect Alaskans from drinking water contaminated with PFAS – which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – had its first committee hearing in the Alaska Legislature on Thursday. PFAS, often called ‘forever chemicals’ since they don’t break down naturally, are toxic and known to]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-pfas-exposure-some-alaskans-testify-for-stronger-drinking-water-protections/Tue, 17 Mar 2026 02:16:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-pfas-exposure-some-alaskans-testify-for-stronger-drinking-water-protections/ In this newscast:Juneau residents will have multiple opportunities this week to provide feedback about how and where they’d like to see changes to better the capital city’s roadways for all users,
After months of on-an-off closures and limited services, the city’s recycling center will be back to operating at full capacity and regular hours starting tomorrow,
A bill meant to protect Alaskans from drinkin]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-march-16-2026/Tue, 17 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-march-16-2026/ Frontrunning teams in the 2026 Iditarod raced across the sea ice of Norton Sound early Monday, as defending champion Jessie Holmes held onto a solid lead and the hopes of joining a handful of mushers with consecutive wins.
Only five others have repeated as cha]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/iditarod-mushes-onto-sea-ice-and-final-stretches-with-defending-champ-holmes-still-in-front/Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/iditarod-mushes-onto-sea-ice-and-final-stretches-with-defending-champ-holmes-still-in-front/ After months of on-and-off closures and limited services, the city’s recycling center will be back to operating at full capacity and regular hours starting Tuesday.
Stuart Ashton, the city’s recycling manager, thanked the public for its patience while the center was often closed for repairs.
“This recycling center being a cornerstone of waste]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-recycling-center-will-finally-be-back-at-full-capacity-after-months-of-issues/Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-recycling-center-will-finally-be-back-at-full-capacity-after-months-of-issues/ After months of on-and-off closures and limited services, the city’s recycling center will be back to operating at full capacity and regular hours starting Tuesday.
Stuart Ashton, the city’s recycling manager, thanked the public for its patience while the center was often closed for repairs.
“This recycling center being a cornerstone of waste]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-recycling-center-will-finally-back-at-full-capacity-after-months-of-issues/Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-recycling-center-will-finally-back-at-full-capacity-after-months-of-issues/ Juneau residents will have multiple opportunities this week to provide feedback about how and where they’d like to see changes to better the capital city’s roadways for all users. 
The city is hosting three open house events to invite the public to learn more about its Safe Streets For All plan. In 2024, the city rece]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-seeks-public-feedback-for-plan-to-improve-juneaus-road-safety/Sun, 15 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-seeks-public-feedback-for-plan-to-improve-juneaus-road-safety/ The fate of a closely watched budget bill in the Alaska Legislature is back up in the air after House Republicans declined to back a supermajority vote on Thursday that would have funded the bill from savings.
Republicans argued higher-than-expected oil prices — due largely to the war in Iran — would negate the need for a savings draw. And that’s true, if new state reve]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/supplemental-budget-bill-stalls-as-alaska-house-mulls-war-fueled-oil-price-forecast/Sat, 14 Mar 2026 19:42:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/supplemental-budget-bill-stalls-as-alaska-house-mulls-war-fueled-oil-price-forecast/ In this newscast:This upcoming cruise ship tourism season will be the first time Juneau has a daily passenger cap — numbers that came through negotiations between the city and the cruise lines,
It has now been more than a month since a Juneau man who had been staying at a local shelter for unhoused people was last seen by staff,
Negotiations between the City and Borough of Juneau and the local chapter of the Interna]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-march-13-2026/Sat, 14 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-march-13-2026/ The live debut of Mike Maas’s Blue Nagoon project. The concert is on March 14 at The Crystal Saloon. It will feature original songs from his albums “Here Be Dragons,” “Love in the Time Of…,” and a forthcoming rock album, and covers of some favorite songs from the 80s to today. The band is Maas on keys/guitar, Nick Fishman on drums, and Simon Taylor on bass, and five Juneau singers: Alyssa Fisch]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/blue-nagoon-debuts-live-concert-at-crystal-saloon-jump-short-film-festival-at-goldtown-nick/Sat, 14 Mar 2026 01:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/blue-nagoon-debuts-live-concert-at-crystal-saloon-jump-short-film-festival-at-goldtown-nick/ Negotiations between the City and Borough of Juneau and the local chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters have stalled out after more than a year of contract negotiations. The union has been operating without one since last summer. 
In its proposal for a three-year contract, the city says it is offering Juneau’s loca]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-firefighters-union-and-the-city-still-at-an-impasse-after-more-than-a-year/Sat, 14 Mar 2026 01:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-firefighters-union-and-the-city-still-at-an-impasse-after-more-than-a-year/ Listen to this story:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/13YouthFilms.wav
Youth from across the state presented films they made highlighting the impacts of climate change and other environmental issues where they live. 
White water rushing through boulders in downtown Juneau’s Gold Creek and other scenes from Cope Park flashed across a large screen at the Juneau Arts and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-youth-present-climate-and-environment-films-at-juneau-screening/Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:49:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-youth-present-climate-and-environment-films-at-juneau-screening/ A new collective of doulas, the SE AK Birth Collective, is offering two community events during World Doula Week beginning March 22.
“Plants Out of Place” Fireside Lecture features representatives from Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition and Tlingit & Haida discussing invasive plant species in Southeast and how they impact the lands and waters around us. The talk is at Mendenhall Glaciers on Friday, March 27, at]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-doula-collective-to-hold-events-during-world-doula-week-plants-out-of-place-fireside-chat-and-juneau-schools-optional-programs-preview/Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:37:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-doula-collective-to-hold-events-during-world-doula-week-plants-out-of-place-fireside-chat-and-juneau-schools-optional-programs-preview/ The Alaska Legislature on Friday extended Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s disaster declaration related to the storms that wrought havoc in Western Alaska last fall. The 30-day extension allows state agencies to continue responding to ongoing needs associated with the storm through early April.
The]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-contentious-debate-legislature-again-extends-halong-disaster-declaration/Fri, 13 Mar 2026 21:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-contentious-debate-legislature-again-extends-halong-disaster-declaration/ It has now been more than a month since a Juneau man who had been staying at a local shelter for unhoused people was last seen by staff. 
Junior Lama Siufanua was reported missing on Feb. 25. 
Police say there are no updates, and the case has been assigned to their investigations unit. 
Siufanua]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/man-previously-staying-at-glory-hall-hasnt-been-seen-in-more-than-a-month/Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:42:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/man-previously-staying-at-glory-hall-hasnt-been-seen-in-more-than-a-month/ This upcoming cruise ship tourism season will be the first time Juneau has a daily passenger cap thanks to negotiations between the city and cruise lines. Still, more than half the respondents in a local survey say they don’t believe the city is doing enough to mitigate tourism impacts on residents.  
On Thursday, Juneau’s Visitor Industry Director Alix Pierce shared data from an a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-survey-shows-majority-of-juneau-residents-still-think-city-isnt-doing-enough-to-manage-tourism/Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:33:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-survey-shows-majority-of-juneau-residents-still-think-city-isnt-doing-enough-to-manage-tourism/ The head of the U.S. Department of the Interior visited Alaska on Thursday and spoke about Alaska’s role in national and international energy security.
Sec. Doug Burgum and his team were traveling to the U.S.-sponsored Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum in Tokyo, Japan. They had a stopover at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and were joined]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/at-anchorage-stopover-interior-secretary-touts-alaskas-role-in-energy-dominance/Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/at-anchorage-stopover-interior-secretary-touts-alaskas-role-in-energy-dominance/ In this newscast:The Juneau School Board approved its budget for next year on Tuesday. The district will be able to maintain services but there are still funding uncertainties,
A former Juneau school board member submitted what current board members called “disparaging comments” to be engraved on fundraising bricks for a new school playground in Lemon Creek,
Alaska Congressman Nick Begich urged the state Legis]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-march12-202/Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-march12-202/ Aaron Davidman talks about his new film “American Solitaire,” which will have a special pre-release screening and Q&A around Southeast Alaska, including Juneau, on March 23 at the Goldtown. The film explores veterans’ stories and gun violence prevention.Con Brio presents “Art Songs” with Sara Radke Brown, soprano, Candace LiVolsi, harp, and friends. Music of Debussy, Delibes, Hahn, Strauss, Schu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-film-american-solitaire-pre-release-screenings-in-southeast-con-brio-presents-art-songs-and-juneau-steam-coalitions-curiosity-unleashed/Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-film-american-solitaire-pre-release-screenings-in-southeast-con-brio-presents-art-songs-and-juneau-steam-coalitions-curiosity-unleashed/ A former Juneau School Board member submitted what current board members called “disparaging comments” to be engraved on fundraising bricks for a new school playground in Lemon Creek.
Emil Mackey paid for the bricks and submitted the comments. He served on the Juneau Board of Education for nine]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/former-juneau-school-board-member-writes-disparaging-comments-on-bricks-for-new-playground/Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:35:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/former-juneau-school-board-member-writes-disparaging-comments-on-bricks-for-new-playground/ Officials with the Alaska National Guard said plans to deploy a trained rapid response force this month to support federal authorities in Washington D.C. has been pushed back to May.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy in Novembe]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-national-guard-says-planned-deployment-to-washington-dc-pushed-to-may/Thu, 12 Mar 2026 20:41:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-national-guard-says-planned-deployment-to-washington-dc-pushed-to-may/ A high-profile budget bill that would enable hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of government-funded construction projects across Alaska took a substantial step forward in the state Legislature on Wednesday. The Alaska Senate unanimously passed what’s known as the supplemental budget and approved a $373.5]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-deal-sends-high-stakes-budget-bill-to-house-for-final-vote/Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:36:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-deal-sends-high-stakes-budget-bill-to-house-for-final-vote/ Listen here:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/11BudgetBoogaloo.wav
The Juneau School Board on Tuesday approved its budget for next year. The district will be able to maintain its services, but there are still funding uncertainties. For instance, teachers don’t have a new contract, and they’v]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-approves-budget-amid-unresolved-teachers-union-contract/Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:16:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-approves-budget-amid-unresolved-teachers-union-contract/ In this newscast:The Juneau School Board selected Shawn Arnold to be the district’s next superintendent. He was one of three finalists for the position and the only current district employee,
The Juneau Assembly has decided to postpone a vote on whether to disempower Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors for at least six months,
A bill that would change the scope of an Alaska sexual assault law had its firs]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-march-11-2026/Thu, 12 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-march-11-2026/ A bill that would change the scope of an Alaska sexual assault law had its first committee hearing yesterday. Democratic Juneau Rep. Sara Hannan’s bill, introduced this year, would alter a law that specifically criminalizes sexual assault by a medical provider.
As it stands now, a key part of the legal definition of sexual assault by a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawmakers-consider-bill-to-close-gap-in-alaska-sexual-assault-law/Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:37:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawmakers-consider-bill-to-close-gap-in-alaska-sexual-assault-law/ The Juneau Assembly has decided to postpone a vote on whether to disempower Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors for at least six months.
That’s after recent news that a preliminary cost estimate for the installation of the city-owned ski area’s controversial gondola puts the project’s total cost at $37 million. When th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-areas-board-will-remain-an-empowered-board-for-now/Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-areas-board-will-remain-an-empowered-board-for-now/ The Iditarod is known for its toughness, but this year three teams on the 1,000-mile trail to Nome are in the race’s first-ever noncompetitive Expedition Class.
Two are wealthy businessmen who’ve contributed money to the race. One is a former champ.
Despite their financial contributions, some mushers are question]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/relaxed-rules-have-iditarod-mushers-wary-of-new-expedition-class/Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/relaxed-rules-have-iditarod-mushers-wary-of-new-expedition-class/ The Juneau School Board selected Shawn Arnold to be the district’s next superintendent. He was one of three finalists for the position and the only current district employee.
Arnold has worked in the district since 2021. He’s the principal at Thunder Mountain Middle School after previously serving as principal of Thunder Mo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-selects-shawn-arnold-to-be-next-superintendent/Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:49:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-selects-shawn-arnold-to-be-next-superintendent/ Alaska Congressman Nick Begich urged the state Legislature to be bold with policies to encourage resource development, just as a previous generation did to build the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.
Begich said the state needs to mat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/rep-begich-tells-legislators-to-seize-the-moment-on-resource-extraction-and-gas-line/Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:46:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/rep-begich-tells-legislators-to-seize-the-moment-on-resource-extraction-and-gas-line/ The Juneau Assembly decided Monday to sign an agreement with the federal government for a buyout of View Drive, the street hit hardest by annual glacial outburst flooding.The decision comes after some city leaders met with residents and found more interest than an informal city poll indicated last month. 
Assembly Member Paul Kelly said he attended the meeting with]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-moves-to-begin-buyout-process-for-flood-ravaged-street-but-could-still-back-out/Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:30:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-moves-to-begin-buyout-process-for-flood-ravaged-street-but-could-still-back-out/ In this newscast:Social service providers in Juneau say they’re worried about fallout if the Juneau Assembly decides to cut city funding to some of Juneau’s most critical social services.
The Juneau Assembly decided Monday to sign an agreement with the federal government for a buyout of View Drive, the street hit hardest by annual glacial outburst funding.
A trial date for a lawsuit between the Juneau School D]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-march-10-2026/Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-march-10-2026/ A trial date for a lawsuit between the Juneau School District and its support staff union won’t be decided on for another six months. 
Juneau Education Support Staff, or JESS, sued the district last September, arguing the district didn’t follow its contract with the union when it ended RALLY, the district’s after-school and summer child care program. The district ended RALLY l]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-and-support-staff-union-delay-plans-to-go-to-trial/Tue, 10 Mar 2026 23:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-and-support-staff-union-delay-plans-to-go-to-trial/ Social service providers in Juneau say they’re worried about fallout if the Juneau Assembly decides to cut city funding to some of Juneau’s most critical social services.
On Monday night, multiple providers testified during the Assembly’s regular meeting to advocate for the city’s continued funding of social service grants. 
Kaia Quinto is the ex]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-social-service-providers-advocate-for-funding-amid-looming-city-budget-cuts/Tue, 10 Mar 2026 23:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-social-service-providers-advocate-for-funding-amid-looming-city-budget-cuts/ U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III delivers his address to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature Tuesday at 11 a.m.
This is the Republican Congressman’s second address to the Legislature since winning Alaska’s only seat in the U.S. Hous]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-us-rep-nick-begich-addresses-alaska-legislature/Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:41:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-us-rep-nick-begich-addresses-alaska-legislature/ Alaska students could have a new graduation requirement in the not-too-distant-future. The Alaska Senate unanimously passed a bill Monday that would mandate a new civics course or exam for students who start ninth grade in 2027.
The bill is a longtime priority for Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican.
“What it really is all about is creating citizens,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-passes-bill-requiring-civics-education-for-high-school-students/Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:37:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-passes-bill-requiring-civics-education-for-high-school-students/ The Juneau School Board has a regular meeting Tuesday to discuss next year’s budget and a contract with its support staff union. The public has an opportunity to comment in person or over Zoom. 
The district reached a tentative agreement with Juneau Education Support Staff, or JESS, last week. The school]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-to-discuss-proposed-budgets-union-contract-for-support-staff/Tue, 10 Mar 2026 02:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-to-discuss-proposed-budgets-union-contract-for-support-staff/ In this newscast:The Juneau Assembly will vote tonight on whether to appropriate nearly $500,000 to Dzantik’i Heeni Playground Capital Improvement Project,
A team of specialists from the Alaska Volcano Observatory stopped by Sitka to do some station maintenance work on Mt. Edgecumbe, a volcano on nearby Kruzof Island,
British Columbia is proposing to limit U.S.-based Tribes from government consultations related to e]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-march-9-2026/Tue, 10 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-march-9-2026/ Juneau musician Taylor Dallas Vidic has joined a lot of acts over the years. She sings with big bands, motown groups and other singer-songwriters.Now, after working on it for years, she’s releasing her first album, “Cat and Mouse,” in April. Her first single, “Trash Birds,” is available now on music streaming platforms. She’s also hosting an album release party on April 3 and 4.
As Vidic tells KTOO’s Yvonne Krumrey, one h]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-singer-songwriter-taylor-dallas-vidics-first-album-delves-into-relationships-through-jazz-folk-mashup/Tue, 10 Mar 2026 01:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-singer-songwriter-taylor-dallas-vidics-first-album-delves-into-relationships-through-jazz-folk-mashup/ The Trump administration is seeking to open national preserves in Alaska to bear baiting by sport hunters.
The U.S. Department of the Interior on Friday announced that it will propose a ne]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trump-administration-plans-to-end-ban-on-bear-baiting-in-alaska-national-preserves/Mon, 09 Mar 2026 23:23:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trump-administration-plans-to-end-ban-on-bear-baiting-in-alaska-national-preserves/ The snow is back for the 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
A little over a half-foot of snow blanketed Anchorage for the Iditarod’s ceremonial kickoff Saturday, creating a very different scene from the previous year, which saw an abbreviated run through the city, on mere ribbons of snow, and a move]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/the-snow-is-back-2026-iditarod-kicks-off-with-anchorage-ceremonial-start/Mon, 09 Mar 2026 22:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/the-snow-is-back-2026-iditarod-kicks-off-with-anchorage-ceremonial-start/ On a bluebird day in early March, helicopters buzzed overhead. They were shuttling skiers from nearby peaks to Alaska Heliskiing, a local operator based about 30 miles north of Haines. The conditions lately have been excellent.
“Just blower cold powder, plenty deep. You can’t feel the bottom,” said Sean Brownell, who owns the local company. “It’s perfect, cold w]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/in-haines-a-small-army-of-locals-is-gearing-up-to-host-a-global-ski-competition/Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/in-haines-a-small-army-of-locals-is-gearing-up-to-host-a-global-ski-competition/ The Juneau Assembly will vote Monday on whether to appropriate $493,000 to the Dzantik’i Heeni Playground Capital Improvement Project. 
The money comes from the Juneau School District’s fund balance and would pay for playground equipment and its installation at the campus, where students have been playing on a dirt field. This round of fundin]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-to-vote-on-dzantiki-heeni-playground-funds-st-vincents-maintenance/Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-to-vote-on-dzantiki-heeni-playground-funds-st-vincents-maintenance/ In this newscast:The U.S. Forest Service has announced its public meetings schedule for residents across Southeast to share feedback on a revised Tongass National Forest management plan. The plan will set the agency’s priorities for the forest over the next decade or so,
Community members had the opportunity to meet and ask questions to the three Juneau schools superintendent finalists during a forum Wednesday]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-march-6-2026/Sat, 07 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-march-6-2026/ Taku Winds, the winds ensemble from Juneau Community Bands, will perform their concert “Rhapsody in Blue” Saturday night, March 7. Conductor Alan Young and the president of the board, Sarah McNair-Grove, discuss the program.The Juneau Public Library is presenting a conversation with two authors, Naomi Klouda and Marybeth Holleman, on Sunday, March 8. “Touchstones of Glaciers and Bears: Navigating a Changing Climate&rdq]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/taku-winds-spring-concert-touchstones-of-glaciers-and-bears-library-presentation-and-mudrooms-storytelling-event-season-finale/Sat, 07 Mar 2026 02:38:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/taku-winds-spring-concert-touchstones-of-glaciers-and-bears-library-presentation-and-mudrooms-storytelling-event-season-finale/ The head of the Alaska Division of Elections will not share legal advice that led to the state’s decision to send an extended voter list to the U.S. Department of Justice.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-officials-stonewall-state-legislators-on-justification-for-handing-voter-data-to-feds/Sat, 07 Mar 2026 01:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-officials-stonewall-state-legislators-on-justification-for-handing-voter-data-to-feds/ The U.S. Forest Service has announced its public meetings schedule for residents across Southeast to share feedback on a revised Tongass National Forest management plan. The plan will set the agency’s priorities for the forest over the next decade or so. 
The Tongass is the largest national forest in the U.S., with more than 16 million acres covering 80% of Southeast Alaska.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-schedules-in-person-meetings-across-southeast-on-tongass-plan-revision/Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-schedules-in-person-meetings-across-southeast-on-tongass-plan-revision/ Tribal members spoke out against the state’s proposed Cascade Point Ferry Terminal in Juneau at a panel hosted by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council on Wednesday.
The state’s plan for the first phase of the ferry terminal includes developing an access road and a construction staging area at the end of Glacier Highway on the south side of Berners Bay. It would be roughly 30 miles f]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tribal-members-speak-out-against-proposed-cascade-point-ferry-terminal/Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tribal-members-speak-out-against-proposed-cascade-point-ferry-terminal/ Tribal citizens spoke out against the state’s proposed Cascade Point Ferry Terminal in Juneau at a panel hosted by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council on Wednesday.
The state’s plan for the first phase of the ferry terminal includes developing an access road and a construction staging area at the end of Glacier Highway on the south side of Berners Bay. It would be roughly 30 miles]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tribal-citizens-speak-out-against-proposed-cascade-point-ferry-terminal/Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tribal-citizens-speak-out-against-proposed-cascade-point-ferry-terminal/ Three Southeast Alaska fishers have been charged with deliberately sinking their vessels and creating marine obstructions, the U.S.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/southeast-alaska-fishers-accused-of-intentionally-sinking-their-vessels/Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/southeast-alaska-fishers-accused-of-intentionally-sinking-their-vessels/ The federal government received no bids Wednesday in what it called the “Big Beautiful Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Lease Sale.”
It was the first of six auctions for offshore Cook Inlet drilling rights that Congress mandated in President Trump’s reconciliation bill last summer, called the One Big Beautiful Bil]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/big-beautiful-auction-for-drilling-rights-in-cook-inlet-is-a-bust/Fri, 06 Mar 2026 19:47:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/big-beautiful-auction-for-drilling-rights-in-cook-inlet-is-a-bust/ Listen here:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/05SupeForum.wav
Juneau community members had the opportunity to meet and ask questions to the three superintendent finalists during a community forum on Wednesday. Each finalist had 30 minutes where they introduced themselves and answered audi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-superintendent-finalists-focus-on-building-trust-relationships-during-community-forum/Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-superintendent-finalists-focus-on-building-trust-relationships-during-community-forum/ In this newscast:Tribal members spoke out against the state’s proposed Cascade Point Ferry Terminal in Juneau at a panel hosted by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council,
A new preliminary cost estimate to install the controversial gondola project at Eaglecrest Ski Area is a staggering $27 million,
Skijoring is an exhilarating way to spend time with your dog. Here are 4 tips to get started,
Alaska lawmakers are c]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-march-5-2026/Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-march-5-2026/ Edward K. Thomas, President Emeritus of the Tlingit and Haida Central Council. His autobiography is titled “My Moment in Time: Tempering Tribal Leadership with Life’s Experiences.” He will be at Hearthside Books on First Friday, March 6, for a book signing.Rylee Jensen chats about her event happening at Kindred Post. Rylee is a wildlife photographer working toward giving back via conservation efforts through her work]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/edward-k-thomas-president-emeritus-of-tlingit-amp-haida-on-his-autobiography-lsquomy-moment-in-timersquo-plus-wildlife-photographer-rylee-jensen/Fri, 06 Mar 2026 02:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/edward-k-thomas-president-emeritus-of-tlingit-amp-haida-on-his-autobiography-lsquomy-moment-in-timersquo-plus-wildlife-photographer-rylee-jensen/ A new preliminary cost estimate to install the controversial gondola project at Eaglecrest Ski Area is $27 million, which is more than three times higher than originally expected and far more than the city has to pay for the project. 
Eaglecrest board member Jim Calvin broke the news of the installation cost estimate for the project at a joint board meeting with the Juneau Ass]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-areas-preliminary-gondola-installation-cost-comes-in-at-estimated-27m/Thu, 05 Mar 2026 23:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-areas-preliminary-gondola-installation-cost-comes-in-at-estimated-27m/ We meet the Women of Distinction who will be honored by AWARE at the 28th annual Women of Distinction Gala being held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Centennial Hall. The honorees are Maria Gladziszewski, Seikoonie Fran Houston, Christina Love, and Dr. Alice Taff.
We speak to two local Juneau high school contestants participating in this year’s Poetry Out Loud event on Monday, March 9, 2026.And First Friday previews with the Jun]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/awares-2026-women-of-distinction-local-students-prepare-for-poetry-out-loud-and-first-friday-previews/Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/awares-2026-women-of-distinction-local-students-prepare-for-poetry-out-loud-and-first-friday-previews/ Alaska lawmakers are considering another boost to per-student funding for public schools. The co-chairs of the House Education Committee, Sitka independent Rep. Rebecca Himschoot and Juneau Democratic Rep. Andi Story, introduced a bill Wednesday that would boost the so-called base student allocation by $630 at an estimated cost of $159 million.
House Bill 347 comes after lawmakers boosted s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-consider-another-increase-to-per-student-public-school-funding/Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-consider-another-increase-to-per-student-public-school-funding/ Republicans in the U.S. Senate rejected a resolution that would have limited President Trump’s power to continue the war on Iran.
Nearly all Republicans voted against it, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
She said “there’s no question” Trump should ha]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-despite-misgivings-votes-against-withdrawing-trumps-power-to-conduct-iran-war/Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-despite-misgivings-votes-against-withdrawing-trumps-power-to-conduct-iran-war/ In this newscast:The federal government is suing a former chair of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors board for nearly $1 million spent to raise his sunken tugboat from Gastineau Channel in 2023,
The Juneau School District and its support staff union reached a tentative agreement yesterday, almost one year after both parties initially exchanged proposed contracts,
Juneau students have missed four days this school year due t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-march-4-2026/Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-march-4-2026/ The Juneau School District and its support staff union reached a tentative agreement Tuesday, almost one year after both parties initially exchanged proposed contracts.
The tentative agreement is a three-year contract for an estimated 286 members of Juneau Education Support Staff, or JESS, according to an announcement from the district. That includes employees who wo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-reaches-tentative-agreement-with-support-staff-union/Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-reaches-tentative-agreement-with-support-staff-union/ How many snow days is too many before Juneau’s school year extends into the summer? 
The Juneau School District hasn’t reached that point, according to Chief of Staff Kristin Bartlett. That’s partially because the district was able to get some of the lost days waived by the state, due to extraordinary weather. It also has four extra days built into its calen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-students-have-missed-four-days-this-school-year-due-to-snow-they-wont-have-to-make-them-up/Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-students-have-missed-four-days-this-school-year-due-to-snow-they-wont-have-to-make-them-up/ How many snow days is too many before Juneau’s school year extends into the summer? 
The Juneau School District hasn’t reached that point, according to Chief of Staff Kristin Bartlett. That’s partially because the district was able to get some of the lost days waived by the state, due to extraordinary weather. It also has four extra days built into its calen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-students-have-missed-four-days-this-school-year-due-to-snow-so-far-they-wont-have-to-make-them-up/Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-students-have-missed-four-days-this-school-year-due-to-snow-so-far-they-wont-have-to-make-them-up/ The federal government is suing a former chair of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors board for nearly $1 million spent to raise his sunken tugboat from Gastineau Channel in 2023. 
The Justice Department filed suit in late February against longtime Juneau resident Don Etheridge and his wife, Teresa, in Alaska’s U.S. Dist]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/feds-sue-juneaus-former-docks-and-harbors-board-chair-over-900k-sunken-tugboat-cleanup/Thu, 05 Mar 2026 01:18:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/feds-sue-juneaus-former-docks-and-harbors-board-chair-over-900k-sunken-tugboat-cleanup/ My dog, Bloon, is a six-year-old giant, fluffy husky rescue who has the eyes of an angel but the energy of a rabid raccoon.
She. Never. Stops. And, especially during the winter when it’s dark and cold, it can get tough to find ways to keep her tame and me sane. But over the years, I discovered one way to truly tire her out (and also have fun in the process) is skijori]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/skijoring-is-an-exhilarating-way-to-spend-time-with-your-dog-here-are-4-tips-to-get-started/Wed, 04 Mar 2026 23:40:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/skijoring-is-an-exhilarating-way-to-spend-time-with-your-dog-here-are-4-tips-to-get-started/ Listen here:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/03HuntersEd-1.wav
The Juneau School District has one of the oldest school-based hunter education programs in Alaska. Its current teacher recently won the state’s Hunter Educator of the Year award after bringing hunter education back into Juneau’s classrooms. 
James White wen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-hunter-educator-of-the-year-award-goes-to-juneau-middle-school-teacher/Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-hunter-educator-of-the-year-award-goes-to-juneau-middle-school-teacher/ Alaska lawmakers are preaching caution as war in Iran and across much of the Middle East pushes oil prices higher.
Strikes by the U.S. and Israel, described by President Donald Trump as an effort to degrade Iran’s military and bring about regime change, have killed the country’s supreme leader and prompted furious r]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislators-view-iran-war-induced-oil-price-spike-with-caution/Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislators-view-iran-war-induced-oil-price-spike-with-caution/ In this newscast:The City and Borough of Juneau announced early facilities closures today, since a snowstorm has affected road conditions,
The Arctic Winter Games begin Sunday in Whitehorse, and half of Alaska’s snowshoe team has been practicing in Juneau,
The state has expanded a fishing closure for shrimp in Southeast Alaska to protect the species. Shrimping in Southeast is now closed to all harvesters through the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-march-3-2026/Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-march-3-2026/ This is a developing story.
Update, Wednesday 10 a.m.:
Thane Road reopened at 9 a.m. Avalanche risk remains elevated in slide zones amid warming temperatures. A winter storm warning remains in effect until noon.Update, Tuesday at 6:45 p.m.
The city issued an advisory at around 6:30 p.m. saying the risk of urban avalanches will continue to elevate overnight due to heavy snowfall and wind. The city encourages residen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/update-snowstorm-causes-avalanche-risk-to-rise-thane-road-reopens/Wed, 04 Mar 2026 01:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/update-snowstorm-causes-avalanche-risk-to-rise-thane-road-reopens/ Update: March 3 at 6:45 p.m.
The city issued an advisory at around 6:30 p.m. saying the risk of urban avalanches will continue to elevate overnight due to heavy snowfall and wind. The city encourages residents in avalanche paths to be prepared by packing a go bag and clearing snow off of cars in the event of an evacuation advisory. John Bressette, Juneau’s avalanche advisor, wrote on the avalanche webpage that Gol]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/update-snowstorm-causes-avalanche-risk-to-rise-city-facilities-and-thane-road-closed/Wed, 04 Mar 2026 01:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/update-snowstorm-causes-avalanche-risk-to-rise-city-facilities-and-thane-road-closed/ This is a developing story.
The City & Borough of Juneau announced early facility closures Tuesday as a snowstorm affected road conditions and the state will close Thane Road at 6 p.m.The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, which is expected to end Wednesday at noon.
Early city facility closures include the pools, public libraries, the Treadwell Arena, Zach Gordon Youth Center, Dimond Park Fieldho]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/snowstorm-causes-juneau-city-facilities-thane-road-to-close/Wed, 04 Mar 2026 01:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/snowstorm-causes-juneau-city-facilities-thane-road-to-close/ Some Alaska school districts say they can’t afford to hire and retain international teachers after the Trump administration hiked fees for highly skilled worker visas.
Alaska school districts have increasingly hired international teachers through the H-1B program amid an ongoing teacher shortage. Until last September, the annual fee for such visas was $5,000 per]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-push-trump-administration-to-waive-100k-visa-fee-for-international-teachers/Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-push-trump-administration-to-waive-100k-visa-fee-for-international-teachers/ State lawmakers had some sharp questions on Monday for Alaska’s Division of Elections about its decision to share the state’s full, unredacted voter list with the Department of Justice.
The state turned over the voter list to th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawmakers-question-alaskas-decision-to-turn-over-confidential-voter-data-to-doj/Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawmakers-question-alaskas-decision-to-turn-over-confidential-voter-data-to-doj/ State prosecutors are no longer pursuing charges against a University of Alaska Fairbanks student who, in an act of protest, ate AI-generated art displayed on campus.
Graham Granger, 20, had faced one count of misdemeanor fifth-degree criminal mischief after his Jan. 13 arrest. Prosecutors dismissed the single count on Feb. 19, an outcome bot]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/prosecutors-drop-case-against-uaf-student-about-5-weeks-after-he-ate-ai-generated-art/Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:30:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/prosecutors-drop-case-against-uaf-student-about-5-weeks-after-he-ate-ai-generated-art/ In this newscast:Members of the Juneau community have an opportunity to watch recorded interviews with finalists for Juneau schools superintendent and give feedback to the school board by Thursday,
Since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pulled back its decision to design a lake tap that would put a stop to annual glacial outburst flooding in Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley, local and congressional leaders have pressed th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-march-2-2026/Tue, 03 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-march-2-2026/ Members of the community have an opportunity to watch recorded interviews with the three finalists for Juneau superintendent and give feedback to the school board by Thursday. 
Finalists for the Juneau School District’s superintendent position did a round of interviews last week with Steve Lowder, a consultant with national search]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/community-can-weigh-in-on-juneau-school-district-superintendent-finalists-this-week/Tue, 03 Mar 2026 02:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/community-can-weigh-in-on-juneau-school-district-superintendent-finalists-this-week/ Since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pulled back its decision to design a lake tap that would put a stop to annual glacial outburst flooding in Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley, local and congressional leaders have pressed the agency to explain why. 
Until recently, the Army Corps was pursuing the lake tap solution, which would involve digging a tunnel through]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-leaders-ask-army-corps-why-its-going-back-to-the-drawing-board-on-long-term-glacial-flood-solution/Tue, 03 Mar 2026 02:39:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-leaders-ask-army-corps-why-its-going-back-to-the-drawing-board-on-long-term-glacial-flood-solution/ Since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pulled back its decision to design a lake tap that would put a stop to annual glacial outburst flooding in Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley, local and congressional leaders have pressed the agency to explain why. 
Until recently, the Army Corps was pursuing the lake tap solution, which would involve digging a tunnel through]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-leaders-ask-army-corps-why-it-reversed-on-long-term-glacial-outburst-flood-solution/Tue, 03 Mar 2026 02:39:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-leaders-ask-army-corps-why-it-reversed-on-long-term-glacial-outburst-flood-solution/ Two state lawmakers introduced legislation this month that aims to crack down on a major source of water pollution from cruise ships in Alaska waters.
Sen. Jesse Kiehl and Rep. Sara Hannan, both Democrats from Juneau, each introduced bills that revolve around the type of fuel ships use. The bills vary slightly, but they do essentially the same thing: require ships to use fuel with lower levels of contaminants, inclu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-lawmakers-introduce-bills-to-fight-water-pollution-from-cruise-ships/Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-lawmakers-introduce-bills-to-fight-water-pollution-from-cruise-ships/ Folk singer-songwriter Willi Carlisle is the guest artist for the 51st annual Alaska Folk Festival in April. 
Carlisle is from Kansas, and has spent his career in and around the Ozark mountains learning folk traditions and reimagining them. He previously performed at Juneau’s festival in 2019.KTOO’s Yvonne Krumrey spoke with Carlisle about what make]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-folk-festival-guest-artist-willi-carlisle-on-whats-bringing-him-back-to-juneau/Mon, 02 Mar 2026 23:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-folk-festival-guest-artist-willi-carlisle-on-whats-bringing-him-back-to-juneau/ The Alaska House on Friday advanced legislation intended to increase construction of workforce housing.
Alaska has long had a severe and persistent housing shortage. House Bill 184 attempts to address that by allowing the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, the state’s economic development agency, to finance construction of commercial h]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-advances-bill-intended-to-boost-workforce-housing/Mon, 02 Mar 2026 23:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-advances-bill-intended-to-boost-workforce-housing/ The Alaska House unanimously passed a prohibition on AI-generated child sexual abuse material on Friday, a longtime priority for a conservative Homer lawmaker. Lawmakers greatly expanded the scope of the bill just before passing it, including by adding provisions that would severely limit children’s access to social media.
House Bill 47 started with a simple concept: to]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-passes-bill-limiting-ai-sexual-imagery-and-child-social-media-use/Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:12:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-passes-bill-limiting-ai-sexual-imagery-and-child-social-media-use/ U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said he supports the U.S. attack on Iran because, he said, the Trump administration’s attempts at diplomacy failed to stop Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons.
“I’m not someone that, in general, would support kind of taking out world leaders. But I think these guys, … my belief is that they’re less world leaders than terrorists, right?”
Sullivan sp]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sen-sullivan-says-he-supports-attack-on-iran/Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:27:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sen-sullivan-says-he-supports-attack-on-iran/ The Arctic Winter Games begin March 8 in Whitehorse, Yukon, where middle and high school athletes from most circumpolar regions of the world will compete in a wide variety of sports. 
At the start of Pioneer Road in North Douglas, half of Team Alaska’s snowshoers gathered for practice Thursday evening to run on the hard-packed snow. 
S]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-athletes-head-to-canada-to-compete-in-arctic-winter-games/Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:22:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-athletes-head-to-canada-to-compete-in-arctic-winter-games/ A Canadian mining company is hoping to be the first to export ore from Skagway since 2023, renewing local concerns about decades of contamination from past mineral shipping.
Selkirk Copper is a newly formed mining company based in Canada’s Yukon territory. The company recently acquired a project known as the Minto Mine, which exported ore out of Skagway until it shut down amid inso]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-new-mining-company-wants-to-restart-ore-exports-in-skagway/Sat, 28 Feb 2026 03:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-new-mining-company-wants-to-restart-ore-exports-in-skagway/ With support from the Friends of the State Library, Archives and Museum, Con Brio Chamber Series, now in its 10th season, brings trumpeter Jeff Karlson of Ketchikan to Juneau for a full-length recital Saturday, February 28, at 2:00 pm.The Juneau Douglas Ice Association at Treadwell Arena is hosting the state hockey tournament for 17 & 18-year-olds on March 6-8.Zach Gordon Youth Center shares upcoming events]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trumpeter-jeff-karlson-leads-con-brio-chamber-series-concert-juneau-douglas-ice-association-hosts-youth-tournament-and-zach-gordon-youth-center-upcomnig-events/Sat, 28 Feb 2026 03:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trumpeter-jeff-karlson-leads-con-brio-chamber-series-concert-juneau-douglas-ice-association-hosts-youth-tournament-and-zach-gordon-youth-center-upcomnig-events/ In this newscast:Downtown Juneau’s popular Marine Park will become a construction site for more than a year, starting next week,
Two state lawmakers introduced legislation this month that aims to crack down on water pollution from major ships, including cruises,
The Alaska Permanent Fund beat its performance benchmark last year and is approaching $90 billion. That’s according to the investment consulting firm]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-feb-27-2026/Sat, 28 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-feb-27-2026/ Para leer en español.
Alex Sanchez-Ramos’ life looks a lot different than it did a week ago. That’s when a group of masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents swarmed his family’s home in Soldotna, arrested his wife, Sonia Espinoza Arriaga, and two of her sons. Sanchez-Ramos, a lifelong Alaskan and U.S. citizen, described a chaotic scene as the agents gave Sonia’s oldest son orders.
&ldqu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ice-took-this-mom-and-her-kids-from-soldotna-shock-outrage-and-sadness-came-next/Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ice-took-this-mom-and-her-kids-from-soldotna-shock-outrage-and-sadness-came-next/ Downtown Juneau’s popular Marine Park will become a construction site for more than a year starting next week.
The park will undergo a major multimillion-dollar rebuild meant to make the area less congested during the summer tourism season and provide more community gathering spaces.
Lauren Verrelli, the deputy director of Juneau’s Parks and Recreation department,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/marine-park-in-downtown-juneau-to-undergo-major-10m-rebuild-starting-next-week/Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/marine-park-in-downtown-juneau-to-undergo-major-10m-rebuild-starting-next-week/ Alaska foster youth could see their ties to siblings legally protected through the adoption process, under legislation proposed last year in the Alaska House of Representatives.
House Bill 157 would maintain the legal relationship between siblings through the process of adoption]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/anchorage-lawmaker-pushes-legislation-to-protect-sibling-ties-for-alaska-foster-youth/Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:28:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/anchorage-lawmaker-pushes-legislation-to-protect-sibling-ties-for-alaska-foster-youth/ In this newscast:The City and Borough of Juneau has reached a collective bargaining agreement with the union that represents Juneau police,
Most of the residents of the Juneau neighborhood hit hardest by annual glacial outburst flooding don’t want to pay for a portion of a buyout program that would allow them to leave the flood zone,
Juneau’s city-owned airport was briefly at risk of an emergency closure as i]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-feb-26-2026/Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-feb-26-2026/ Staffing shortages, heavy workloads and burnout have stretched Juneau’s fire department thin. Now, a new chief is at the helm, and he wants to rebuild morale and reshape the culture inside Capital City Fire/Rescue.
KTOO’s Mike Lane sat down with the new chief, Tom Hatley, to learn how he plans to accomplish that.
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/26CCFRnewCHIEF.wav
The following transcript has been li]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-with-capital-city-firerescuersquos-new-chief-on-staff-retention-and-resources/Fri, 27 Feb 2026 02:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-with-capital-city-firerescuersquos-new-chief-on-staff-retention-and-resources/ Juneau’s city-owned airport was briefly at risk of an emergency closure as its fleet of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting trucks faced maintenance issues that could have shut down air traffic if all vehicles broke down.
That’s according to Juneau International Airport’s new manager, Andres Delgado, who spoke to the Juneau Assembly about the situat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-airport-seeks-new-emergency-fire-trucks-following-brief-shutdown-scare/Fri, 27 Feb 2026 01:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-airport-seeks-new-emergency-fire-trucks-following-brief-shutdown-scare/ The City and Borough of Juneau has reached a collective bargaining agreement with the union that represents Juneau police – eight months after the last contract expired and a year after negotiations began.
The Public Safety Employees Association and the city reached a tentative agreement earlier this month. On Wednesday the Assembly passed]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-police-union-reaches-agreement-with-the-city/Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:37:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-police-union-reaches-agreement-with-the-city/ The Alaska Permanent Fund beat its performance benchmarks last year and compares favorably to its peers, according to the investment consulting firm Callan, which has advised the state on the Permanent Fund’s performance for decades.
In testimony to the House and Senate Finance Committees on Tuesday and Wednesday, Callan CEO Greg Allen had high praise for the Permanent Fund’s manager]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-permanent-funds-performance-compares-favorably-to-peers-evaluators-tell-lawmakers/Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:42:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-permanent-funds-performance-compares-favorably-to-peers-evaluators-tell-lawmakers/ At least 10 high school students from around the globe are in Alaska right now as exchange students, and several of them recently gathered in Juneau for orientation. 
The exchange stude]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/international-exchange-students-visiting-juneau-reflect-on-life-in-alaska/Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/international-exchange-students-visiting-juneau-reflect-on-life-in-alaska/ Most of the residents of the Juneau neighborhood hit hardest by annual glacial outburst flooding, don’t want to pay for a portion of a buyout program that would allow them to leave the flood zone. 
Eighteen homes on View Drive are located beyond the temporary levee the city built to protect most other n]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/proposed-buyout-for-juneau-residents-hit-hardest-by-glacial-outburst-flooding-might-be-dead-in-the-water/Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:25:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/proposed-buyout-for-juneau-residents-hit-hardest-by-glacial-outburst-flooding-might-be-dead-in-the-water/ In this newscast:A Juneau man who had been staying at a local shelter for unhoused people has not been seen by staff in more than two weeks and has been reported missing,
Winter maintenance of streets, supporting schools and public safety are the top budget priorities of more than 4,000 Juneau residents who took a city budget survey earlier this year,
The Juneau planning commission unanimously approved a conditional use p]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-feb-25-2026/Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-feb-25-2026/ Juneau String Ensembles: Chamber Music Night is Saturday, February 28, at Thunder Mountain Middle School. Students Ysabel Wilson and Maya Breedlove chat and share a short preview of the music.Theatre in the Rough’s “Weekend of Revolution,” featuring a cabaret and a staged reading, takes place Saturday, February 28, and Sunday, March 1. Donnie Gott and Timothy Sislo outline the weekend’s activities.
The new execu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/theatre-in-the-roughs-weekend-of-revolution-juneau-string-ensembles-chamber-music-night-and-becca-parks-from-the-juneau-chamber/Thu, 26 Feb 2026 02:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/theatre-in-the-roughs-weekend-of-revolution-juneau-string-ensembles-chamber-music-night-and-becca-parks-from-the-juneau-chamber/ A Juneau man who had been staying at a local shelter for unhoused people has not been seen by staff in more than two weeks and has been reported missing. 
Junior Lama Siufanua is 38 years old and was last seen at the Glory Hall in the Mendenhall Valley on February 9. 
Deputy Chief Krag Campbell said the Juneau Police Department is seeking any information from]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/man-previously-staying-at-glory-hall-shelter-reported-missing/Thu, 26 Feb 2026 02:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/man-previously-staying-at-glory-hall-shelter-reported-missing/ A Juneau man who had been staying at a local shelter for unhoused people has not been seen by staff in more than two weeks and has been reported missing. 
Junior Lama Siufanua is 38 years old and was last seen at the Glory Hall in the Mendenhall Valley on February 9. 
Deputy Chief Krag Campbell said the Juneau Police Department is seeking any information from]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-man-staying-at-juneau-shelter-has-been-reported-missing/Thu, 26 Feb 2026 02:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-man-staying-at-juneau-shelter-has-been-reported-missing/ The Juneau planning commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit on Tuesday for a two-story retail and entertainment building called “Alaska Fly & Dive” in the heart of downtown Juneau’s tourism corridor.
The project would sit on a 1-acre empty lot next to the downtown library and Marine Parking Garage. It’s just steps from the seawalk, where 1.7 million]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-planning-commission-approves-permit-for-60m-theater-project-in-downtown-tourism-corridor/Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-planning-commission-approves-permit-for-60m-theater-project-in-downtown-tourism-corridor/ Language educators in Juneau are working to create a Master’s in teaching program for Indigenous languages at the University of Alaska Southeast. It would be the first of its kind in Alaska. 
Lingít language professor X̱’unei Lance Twitchell talked about the possible future degree program on KTOO’s Juneau Afternoon last week. 
“My colleague É]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/indigenous-language-educators-work-to-establish-masters-teaching-program-at-university-of-alaska-southeast/Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/indigenous-language-educators-work-to-establish-masters-teaching-program-at-university-of-alaska-southeast/ The arrest of a Soldotna family by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including two teens and a 5-year-old, has prompted a wave of concern and lawmakers to hold an investigatory hearing on Monday on the arrest and detention of minors in Alaska.
“As far as I am aware, the detention of children by ICE in Alaska is unprecedented,” said Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-probe-state-detention-policies-following-ice-arrest-of-soldotna-family/Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:46:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-probe-state-detention-policies-following-ice-arrest-of-soldotna-family/ Alaska senators moved forward a new version of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s tax bill last week. The newest draft of Senate Bill 227 bears little resemblance to the bill the governor proposed earlier this year as part of his broader fiscal plan.
Most significantly, the new version advanced b]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/major-oil-tax-rewrite-headlines-new-alaska-senate-draft-of-dunleavy-tax-bill/Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/major-oil-tax-rewrite-headlines-new-alaska-senate-draft-of-dunleavy-tax-bill/ Winter maintenance of streets, supporting schools and public safety are the top budget priorities of more than 4,000 Juneau residents who took a city budget survey earlier this year. 
The data will help inform the Juneau Assembly as it decides what city services to fund — or potentially cut — to mend a multimillion-dollar budget hole. 
Juneau residents had a lot to say about how they’d like to se]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/survey-says-streets-schools-and-safety-among-juneaus-top-priorities-ahead-of-looming-city-cuts/Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/survey-says-streets-schools-and-safety-among-juneaus-top-priorities-ahead-of-looming-city-cuts/ The Juneau School Board has selected three finalists to be the district’s next superintendent. Two candidates are currently based in Juneau, and all three have experience with education in Alaska.
This follows national search firm McPherson & Jacobson recruiting applicants and gathering community input earlier this year.
Board member David Noon chairs the superintendent search committee. He said ha]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-selects-three-finalists-for-new-superintendent/Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-selects-three-finalists-for-new-superintendent/ In this newscast:The Juneau School Board has selected three finalists to be the district’s next superintendent,
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has backed out of studying a lake tap solution to glacial outburst floods that have ravaged Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley neighborhoods in recent years,
The Haines Assembly voted in January to change how it collects sales tax. Now, cruise ships docked in Haines will be r]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-feb-24-2026/Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-feb-24-2026/ The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on Friday that it’s getting ready to offer 2.1 million acres of federally managed land to the state of Alaska.
State and federal officials say that will clear a path for energy and mineral production. But some residents are worried that the move could strip rural communities of longstanding subsistence rights.
The area of Burea]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/department-of-the-interior-set-to-cede-millions-of-acres-of-public-land-to-the-state-of-alaska/Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:49:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/department-of-the-interior-set-to-cede-millions-of-acres-of-public-land-to-the-state-of-alaska/ The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has backed out of studying a solution to the glacial outburst floods that have ravaged Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley neighborhoods in recent years. 
City officials say the corp’s abrupt change in pos]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/army-corps-backs-out-of-plan-to-study-lake-tap-as-long-term-mendenhall-valley-flood-solution/Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:16:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/army-corps-backs-out-of-plan-to-study-lake-tap-as-long-term-mendenhall-valley-flood-solution/ The Alaska House on Monday approved a fast-tracked spending bill totaling nearly half a billion dollars intended to cover higher-than-expected costs in the ongoing fiscal year. But for now, after the failure of a supermajority vote that would allow lawmakers to access state savings, the bill is unfunded.
House Bill 289 combines sever]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-approves-490m-fast-track-budget-bill-but-savings-draw-in-question/Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-approves-490m-fast-track-budget-bill-but-savings-draw-in-question/ A measure to repeal Alaska’s nonpartisan primaries and ranked choice general elections will be on the ballot this year, but exactly how it’s worded remains a hot dispute.
Both sides of the repeal — pro- and anti — have now sued the Division of Elections to try to change the language, because how voters interpret what they see on the ballot can affect the outcome.
Repeal Now file]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskans-trying-to-repeal-ranked-choice-voting-sue-over-ballot-wording/Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskans-trying-to-repeal-ranked-choice-voting-sue-over-ballot-wording/ Ten boats sank in Juneau harbors during the intense winter storms that struck at the beginning of the year. The city is still dealing with the aftermath. 
KTOO’s Mike Lane sat down with Juneau Harbormaster Matt Creswell to learn about the cleanup efforts, and what boat owners and community members can do to prevent other vessels from sinking.
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-conte]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-with-juneaursquos-harbormaster-as-cleanup-continues-from-intense-winter-storms/Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-with-juneaursquos-harbormaster-as-cleanup-continues-from-intense-winter-storms/ In this newscast:The Alaska House approved a fast-tracked spending bill totaling nearly half a billion dollars this afternoon. It’s intended to cover higher-than-expected costs in the ongoing fiscal year, and it’s a combination of several requests from Gov. Mike Dunleavy,
Several Juneau boats sank in city harbors during the intense winter storms that started in late December. The city is still dealing with t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-feb-23-2026/Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-feb-23-2026/ Dr. X̱’unei Lance Twitchell discusses an upcoming MA in Teaching Indigenous Languages at UAS, as well as the other ongoing language classes available to the community.The creative team for the upcoming production of “Pueblo Revolt” previews the show, opening at Perseverance Theatre in Douglas on Friday, February 27.Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pueblo-revolt-opens-at-perseverance-and-dr-xunei-lance-twitchell-on-new-ma-in-teaching-indigenous-languages-at-uas/Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pueblo-revolt-opens-at-perseverance-and-dr-xunei-lance-twitchell-on-new-ma-in-teaching-indigenous-languages-at-uas/ (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The University of Alaska Board of Regents says the university will continue the policy to ban references to “DEI,” or “diversity, equity and inclusion,” enacted last year, despite a federal court ruling that struck down the policy and the U.S. Department of Education agreeing to drop an appeal.
Jonathon Taylor, a spokesperson for the university, said]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ua-board-of-regents-to-continue-anti-dei-policy-despite-federal-court-ruling/Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ua-board-of-regents-to-continue-anti-dei-policy-despite-federal-court-ruling/ On Feb. 20, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it has extended the deadline for people affected by the October 2025 west coast storms to apply for individual assistance to April 3.
The deadline applies to individual assistance applications through FEMA, the state, and for federal Small Business Administration loans.
This is the second extension of a deadline initially set for December 2025 that would have expired on Feb. 20.
FEMA said that i]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/deadline-to-apply-for-october-2025-storm-relief-extended-to-april-3/Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/deadline-to-apply-for-october-2025-storm-relief-extended-to-april-3/ In this newscast:Juneau choreographer Hali Duran explores the six stages of a queen bumblebee’s life cycle in Acoustic Turbulence — a new production of Orpheus Project, showing this weekend.
A large gravel lot in the hear of downtown Juneau’s tourism corridor has sat empty for years. But that might soon change.
In a recent budget meeting, the Juneau School Board discussed adding rather than cutting posit]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-feb-20-2026/Sat, 21 Feb 2026 03:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-feb-20-2026/ Alaska saw its eighth hottest year on record in 2025 according to a new report, with temperatures coming in at 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the last three decades on average.
“This last year was a confirmation that, unfortunately, we are warming our planet faster than we hope,” said State Climatologist Martin Stuefer, who authored the 2025 annual report by the Alaska Cli]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/2025-was-alaskas-8th-hottest-year-on-record/Sat, 21 Feb 2026 03:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/2025-was-alaskas-8th-hottest-year-on-record/ Juneau choreographer Hali Duran explores the six stages of a queen bumblebee’s life cycle in Acoustic Turbulence, a new production showing this weekend. 
But Duran said the project was also a way to reflect on the soul and journey of someone close to her. 
“I was researching ancient Egyptian mythology, and they believed that bees represented the journey of the soul, and that really spoke to me,” Duran said earlier thi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/acoustic-turbulence-explores-the-journey-of-the-soul-through-a-bees-life-cycle/Sat, 21 Feb 2026 02:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/acoustic-turbulence-explores-the-journey-of-the-soul-through-a-bees-life-cycle/ Listen here:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20JSDMoney.wav
During Thursday’s meeting, the Juneau School Board discussed adding rather than cutting positions next school year. But unsettled union contracts continue to bring uncertainty to the budget process. 
The board added new positions to next year’s proposed bud]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-adds-nursing-homeschool-positions-to-proposed-budget/Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-adds-nursing-homeschool-positions-to-proposed-budget/ A large gravel lot in the heart of downtown Juneau’s tourism corridor has sat empty for years. But that might soon change. 
On Tuesday, the city’s planning commission will consider whether to approve a conditional use permit for the construction of a two-story retail and entertainment building called “Alaska Fly & Dive.”
According to the permit applic]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/is-this-empty-gravel-lot-about-to-become-downtown-juneaus-newest-tourist-attraction/Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:22:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/is-this-empty-gravel-lot-about-to-become-downtown-juneaus-newest-tourist-attraction/ A state legislator’s chief of staff faces charges of child sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking. Federal agents arrested Craig Scott Valdez, 36, early Friday in Juneau, according to court documents.
Valdez is an Anchorage resident listed as having served as Republican Wasilla stat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislators-chief-of-staff-arrested-on-child-sex-crime-charges/Fri, 20 Feb 2026 23:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislators-chief-of-staff-arrested-on-child-sex-crime-charges/ The Alaska Department of Corrections spent over $24 million more than the budget approved by the Legislature last year, with a large portion for staff overtime, raising alarm from lawmakers.
DOC officials submitted their additional budget request to the Legislature earlier this month, part of a routine budget process to account for state spending over the past year — bu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-department-of-corrections-spent-24m-over-budget-last-year-mostly-on-staff-overtime/Fri, 20 Feb 2026 23:09:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-department-of-corrections-spent-24m-over-budget-last-year-mostly-on-staff-overtime/ Juneau Community Foundation highlights upcoming scholarship and deadlines for continuing education opportunitiesWildlife biologist Tania Lewis is giving a talk on bears in connection with the Juneau Reads program at the Juneau Public LibraryUAS Career Services invites all UAS students, alumni, and the Juneau Community to a full day of career connections on Wednesday, February 25
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conve]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-community-foundation-tania-lewis-talks-bears-and-uas-spring-career-fair/Fri, 20 Feb 2026 22:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-community-foundation-tania-lewis-talks-bears-and-uas-spring-career-fair/ In this newscast:After multiple weeks of being closed, Juneau’s recycling center is back up and running at a limited capacity.
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan bristled at the suggestion that he only defends the Trump administration. In his annual address to the Alaska Legislature Wednesday he also slammed national Democrats as bent on ruining Alaska.
Immigration enforcement agents swarmed a Soldotna home Tuesday morning and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-feb-19-2026/Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-feb-19-2026/ After multiple weeks of closure, Juneau’s recycling center is back up and running at limited capacity. 
The partial reopening comes after the center has been closed on and off since late December, after Juneau was hit with back-to-back record-breaking snowstorms, which inundated it with a backlog of materials to process. 
Denise Koch, the c]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-recycling-center-to-open-at-limited-capacity-after-weekslong-closure/Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-recycling-center-to-open-at-limited-capacity-after-weekslong-closure/ The smell of buttered popcorn wafted through the Skagway School as dozens of people streamed inside. They were there to watch a new documentary — one about their own community during one of its darkest periods in recent history.
The film depicts life in Skagway between 2020 and 2022, when the cruise industry shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It&rsqu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/can-you-survive-another-crisis-new-documentary-chronicles-pandemic-in-skagway/Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:20:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/can-you-survive-another-crisis-new-documentary-chronicles-pandemic-in-skagway/ The Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Indigenous Science Building is a hub for SHI’s education programs and hands-on learning grounded in Indigenous knowledge, languages, and values. It features a traditional foods kitchen, three cutting-edge labs, including a digital media lab and an Indigenous science lab. Guests: Kellie Patricia Lynch, STEAM Program Manager, Joe Zuboff, Cultural Specialist for the Cultural Warriors progra]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sealaska-heritage-indigenous-science-building-offers-resources-and-educational-opportunities-sails-learn-to-adapt-day-at-eaglecrest-and-barbara-craver-shares-her-gouachewatercolor-process/Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:52:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sealaska-heritage-indigenous-science-building-offers-resources-and-educational-opportunities-sails-learn-to-adapt-day-at-eaglecrest-and-barbara-craver-shares-her-gouachewatercolor-process/ Lawmakers held a series of hearings with officials from Mt. Edgecumbe High School, the largest state-run boarding school in Alaska, following a tumultuous year of budget and staff cuts, administration changes and a wave of student disenrollments.
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, opened his remarks at a Feb. 12 Senate Finance Committee hearing saying lawmakers need]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislators-press-mt-edgecumbe-officials-after-more-than-100-students-disenrolled-this-year/Thu, 19 Feb 2026 22:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislators-press-mt-edgecumbe-officials-after-more-than-100-students-disenrolled-this-year/ U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, in his annual address to the Alaska Legislature, slammed national Democrats as bent on ruining Alaska.
“Now, I’m not being partisan here. These are just the facts,” he said at one point during his speech Wednesday. “And Alaskans should know who wants to help us and who wants to hurt us.”
As in past years, he blamed the Biden administration fo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sullivan-laces-annual-address-to-legislature-with-partisan-complaint/Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sullivan-laces-annual-address-to-legislature-with-partisan-complaint/ The first round of fundraising reports in the 2026 governor’s race were released Tuesday, shedding some light on a crowded field.
Altogether, candidates raised more than $4.3 million by the beginning of February, according to the first batch of campaign finance reports in the race.
Anchorage podiatrist and Republican Matt He]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/10-candidates-report-six-figure-hauls-from-early-fundraising-in-alaska-governors-race/Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/10-candidates-report-six-figure-hauls-from-early-fundraising-in-alaska-governors-race/ In this newscast:The City of Hoonah has a new chief of police, and his hiring comes after the last chief was fired while trying to resign last spring.
The Juneau School Board will hold its first reading of the school district’s budget tomorrow.
Nearly all who testified at a public hearing yesterday afternoon at the state capitol were in favor of a Juneau representative’s bill that seeks to ban law enforcement]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-feb-18-2026/Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-feb-18-2026/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/18maskshearing.wav
Nearly everyone who testified at a public hearing Tuesday afternoon at the state capitol was in favor of a Juneau representative’s bill that seeks to ban law enforcement officers from wearing face masks on duty in Alaska.
But one person who spoke against the bill happened to be]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/law-enforcement-mask-ban-gets-support-in-public-hearing-opposition-from-anchorage-police-chief/Thu, 19 Feb 2026 02:20:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/law-enforcement-mask-ban-gets-support-in-public-hearing-opposition-from-anchorage-police-chief/ The Juneau School Board will hold its first reading of the school district’s budget on Thursday. 
In a work session on Saturday, the board directed district administrators to create a list of items that they can discuss adding to the budget. That includes things like additional positions for the district’s nursing staff, special education and homeschool program.
Student services director Jas]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-to-consider-adding-positions-in-next-years-budget/Thu, 19 Feb 2026 02:09:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-to-consider-adding-positions-in-next-years-budget/ The U.S. Forest Service officially kicked off its public process for the Tongass National Forest Plan Revision on Wednesday, with an initial 30-day public comment period intended to guide a draft plan and environmental review. 
The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the U.S., with more than 16 million acres covering 80% of Southeast Alaska, including more than a thousand isl]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-opens-public-comment-for-tongass-national-forest-plan-revision/Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-opens-public-comment-for-tongass-national-forest-plan-revision/ Immigration enforcement agents swarmed a Soldotna home Tuesday morning and took a family of four, including a kindergartner, into custody.
Sonia Arriaga, from Jalisco, Mexico, has lived in Alaska since 2023. Her husband, Alexander Sanchez-Ramos, said agents arrived in about five vehicles and pulled her from her car when she returned from driving her mi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ice-detains-soldotna-kindergartner-and-family/Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:09:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ice-detains-soldotna-kindergartner-and-family/ The City of Hoonah has a new chief of police to replace the last chief who was fired while trying to resign last spring. 
James Beck of Oklahoma began his role as Hoonah’s new chief of police and director of public safety in January. Hoonah, a community of less than a thousand people, is located on the northeastern side of Chichagof Island, west of Juneau. 
Beck has served in multiple law enforcemen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hoonahs-new-police-chief-wants-to-focus-on-trust-and-transparency/Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hoonahs-new-police-chief-wants-to-focus-on-trust-and-transparency/ Anchorage cross-country skier Gus Schumacher won a silver medal Wednesday at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic games, after racing a near-perfect anchor leg in the team sprint event.
Paired with teammate Ben Ogden from Vermont, Schumacher challenged Norwegian superstar Johannes Klæbo on the last climb of the six-lap race and finished]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/anchorages-schumacher-earns-silver-in-cross-country-team-sprint/Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:16:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/anchorages-schumacher-earns-silver-in-cross-country-team-sprint/ Travelers can now schedule ferry rides with the Alaska Marine Highway System for May through September. That’s after the summer schedule opened for booking Feb. 12.
The schedule looks a lot like recent years, with six of the state’s nine vessels sailing. There is not enough funding or staffing to run them all, said Shannon McCarthy, spokesperson for the state D]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-summer-ferry-schedule-is-open-for-booking/Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-summer-ferry-schedule-is-open-for-booking/ In this newscast:State transportation officials will hold a virtual public forum tomorrow evening on proposed safety improvements at one of Juneau’s most dangerous intersections.
For the first time, Juneau police confirm immigration enforcement activity in Alaska’s capital during President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration push.
A proposed mining road in Juneau is up for public comment.
Mariculture exp]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-feb-17-2026/Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-feb-17-2026/ At the end of a dock in Auke Bay, an oyster farmer lifted a creaky hatch door on an unassuming floating platform. Inside were bins holding thousands of young oysters, called spat.
The platform is called a floating upweller system, or FLUPSY, and it’s one way oyster farms can keep more stock.  
“This is just a cheaper way to buy spat in a smaller size,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mariculture-workshop-in-juneau-highlights-growth-potential-for-alaska-oyster-farms/Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mariculture-workshop-in-juneau-highlights-growth-potential-for-alaska-oyster-farms/ State transportation officials will hold a virtual public forum on Wednesday evening on proposed safety improvements at one of Juneau’s most dangerous intersections.
The intersection at Yandukin Drive and Egan Drive is near the Fred Meyer grocery store and has long been one of Juneau’s most accident-prone areas. Dozens of crashes, some deadly, have]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-to-host-virtual-meeting-on-plan-to-improve-safety-at-dangerous-juneau-intersection/Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-to-host-virtual-meeting-on-plan-to-improve-safety-at-dangerous-juneau-intersection/ A Canadian company with plans to mine for gold near the face of Herbert Glacier applied to punch an access road through state land in December. The state opened a public comment period for the road last week. 
Grande Portage Resources wants to build a 15 foot-wide and 1.3 mile-long unpaved road with helicopter pads connected to Glacier Highway around mile 27. The road between Herbert River]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-amalga-mining-road-proposal-opens-for-public-comment/Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-amalga-mining-road-proposal-opens-for-public-comment/ A 17th candidate has announced she’s running for governor.
Meda DeWitt, 45, is a traditional healer, drawing on her Tlingit heritage. She teaches at the University of Alaska.
She’s running as a nonpartisan.
“I care about our future,” she said. “I care about the way that we steward our lands and want to see a state that has a thriving ecosystem and healthy communities that can live in perpetuity]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/meda-dewitt-traditional-healer-announces-run-for-governor/Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:32:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/meda-dewitt-traditional-healer-announces-run-for-governor/ In July, a state inspector boarded a cruise ship in Juneau for a routine review. The inspector’s report includes a photo that shows a metal drum full of chunky, black sludge — a mixture laden with sulfur and heavy metals.
That particular drum was slated to be offloaded on land, in British Columbia. But on many ships, systems known as scrubbers ensure the toxic sludge never materializes on board. That&r]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/some-countries-are-cutting-this-source-of-marine-pollution-will-alaska-do-the-same/Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:09:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/some-countries-are-cutting-this-source-of-marine-pollution-will-alaska-do-the-same/ Federa]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/with-western-alaska-salmon-runs-weak-managers-set-limits-on-the-pollock-fleets-chum-bycatch/Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/with-western-alaska-salmon-runs-weak-managers-set-limits-on-the-pollock-fleets-chum-bycatch/ Alaska lawmakers are going for round two on a bill Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed last year. The bill would change the way corporate income taxes are calculated, bringing in tens of millions of dollars in new revenue.
Lawmakers failed to override Dunleavy’s veto of the bill at the beginning of this year’s session.
Backers of the bill say it’s necessary with a ti]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-go-for-a-redo-on-vetoed-corporate-income-tax-bill/Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:28:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-go-for-a-redo-on-vetoed-corporate-income-tax-bill/ The Alaska House Finance Committee adopted its first draft of the state’s budget. It makes a variety of smallish changes from the governor’s proposal, and one really big one: it removes the Permanent Fund dividend.
The change has attracted a lot of a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/the-alaska-houses-draft-budget-has-no-pfd-heres-what-that-means/Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/the-alaska-houses-draft-budget-has-no-pfd-heres-what-that-means/ Monday is Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, an Alaska State holiday honoring a Lingit activist, who testified before Alaska’s territorial legislature in Juneau to demand civil rights for Alaska Native people.  
In the 1940s, the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood began petitioning Alaska’s territorial governor for civil rights protection. That included]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/author-ernestine-hayes-says-elizabeth-peratrovichs-advocacy-work-isnt-over/Sun, 15 Feb 2026 18:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/author-ernestine-hayes-says-elizabeth-peratrovichs-advocacy-work-isnt-over/ In this newscast:Hundreds of thousands of people attended the Seahawks Super Bowl 2026 parade in Seattle on Wednesday. Juneau resident and Seahawks superfan Donna James was one of them,
Juneau residents will have a chance to weigh in on what they’d like the city to prioritize during its upcoming budget process as it faces a multimillion dollar budget hole,
The Juneau School District released a budget simulation tool]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-feb-13-2026/Sat, 14 Feb 2026 03:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-feb-13-2026/ The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche is currently docked in the capital city at the downtown cruise ship dock as it prepares to venture to the Bering Sea to conduct maritime security operations and fisheries enforcement.
The 418-foot-long national security cutter and its roughly 150 crew arrived in Juneau on Thursday morning. It’s homeported in Alameda, California.
Petty Officer]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-coast-guard-cutter-waesche-makes-logistics-stop-in-juneau/Sat, 14 Feb 2026 03:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-coast-guard-cutter-waesche-makes-logistics-stop-in-juneau/ Kin Support Program’s Positive Indigenous Parenting series is designed to help people connect with positive indigenous parenting practices, and is adaptable to the culture of the region through the inclusion of local knowledge bearers and elders. The series begins Friday, February 20, at the Mendenhall Library. To gain more information or register, email vanessa@southeastkin.org with the subject PIP Monthly.
Theater at Latitud]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/kin-support-programs-positive-indigenous-parenting-series-theater-at-latitude-58s-camelot-and-planet-ski-offers-a-journey-through-the-solar-system/Sat, 14 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/kin-support-programs-positive-indigenous-parenting-series-theater-at-latitude-58s-camelot-and-planet-ski-offers-a-journey-through-the-solar-system/ The Juneau School District released a budget simulation tool on Wednesday that allows people to build and submit what they think the district’s budget should look like.
Balancing Act focuses on building the district’s operating budget. That includes funding for student instruction, including teachers, administrators and school supplies.
The district originally planned to al]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-releases-budgeting-tool-for-community-feedback-on-budget-priorities/Sat, 14 Feb 2026 02:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-releases-budgeting-tool-for-community-feedback-on-budget-priorities/ Hundreds of thousands of people attended the Seahawks Super Bowl 2026 parade in Seattle on Wednesday, and Juneau resident and Seahawks superfan Donna James was one of them. 
Juneau residents Donna James and Ken Willard attended the Super Bowl parade in Seattle on February 11, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Donna James)
James went to the parade with her partner, Ken]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-seahawks-superfan-travels-to-super-bowl-parade-in-seattle/Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-seahawks-superfan-travels-to-super-bowl-parade-in-seattle/ Juneau residents will have a chance to weigh in on what they’d like the city to prioritize during its upcoming budget process as it faces a multimillion-dollar budget hole. 
The city will host the first of three public workshops on the topic on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Filipino Community Hall downtown. The workshop is filled up – the city capped participation at 25 people]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/residents-can-weigh-in-on-juneaus-multimillion-dollar-budget-hole-at-upcoming-workshops/Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:25:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/residents-can-weigh-in-on-juneaus-multimillion-dollar-budget-hole-at-upcoming-workshops/ The Alaska Legislature on Wednesday approved a 30-day extension for the state of disaster covering the fall 2025 storms that battered the state’s west coast.
The extension allows the state to continue spending money from its disaster response fund as it continues cleanup and repair efforts from two storms in October. Hundreds of Alaskans were displaced by the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/procedural-objections-almost-stop-alaska-legislature-from-extending-disaster-declaration/Fri, 13 Feb 2026 22:19:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/procedural-objections-almost-stop-alaska-legislature-from-extending-disaster-declaration/ WASHINGTON — Alaska Congressman Nick Begich said it’s just common sense to require a photo ID to vote and to make sure that only citizens can register.
“For years, there have been questions levied, on both sides of the aisle, about the integrity of elections,” he said in an interview Tuesday. “We can’t have that. That’s not healthy for our democratic republ]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-delegation-split-on-bill-requiring-voters-to-prove-citizenship-at-registration/Fri, 13 Feb 2026 20:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-delegation-split-on-bill-requiring-voters-to-prove-citizenship-at-registration/ The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is less than a month away and set to run on its normal northern route this year.
Race officials said that’s a relief, after low snow conditions last year forced the race to start in Fairbanks, over 200 miles north, for the fourth time in history.
Snow conditions are generally much better than they were last year, s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-superbowl-of-dog-mushing-the-iditarod-set-to-run-its-normal-northern-route/Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-superbowl-of-dog-mushing-the-iditarod-set-to-run-its-normal-northern-route/ Tlingit & Haida’s Cultural Ambassador Program prepares for summer 2026 with training available in March.
Spice Juneau partners to offer Five Hearts on Franklin for Valentine’s weekend, plus preparation is underway for the 5th annual Holi Festival in Juneau on Monday, March 29.The Juneau Arts & Humanities Council‘s full slate of February events includes: All Ages Metal Concert on Friday, February 13, Wearable A]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tlingit-amp-haida-seeks-cultural-ambassadors-for-summer-2026-wearable-art-goes-lsquocamprsquo-and-spice-juneau-preps-to-celebrate-holi/Fri, 13 Feb 2026 06:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tlingit-amp-haida-seeks-cultural-ambassadors-for-summer-2026-wearable-art-goes-lsquocamprsquo-and-spice-juneau-preps-to-celebrate-holi/ Federal officers detained three Juneau men for immigration enforcement and removed them from the community last year.The Juneau Police Department says its knowledge of these incidents and its involvement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Juneau is very limited. 
Alaska De]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/three-men-were-detained-and-removed-from-juneau-by-immigration-enforcement-last-year/Fri, 13 Feb 2026 03:41:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/three-men-were-detained-and-removed-from-juneau-by-immigration-enforcement-last-year/ Staff from Alaska Marine Lines and the Alaska Marine Highway System discussed EV shipping safety during a panel held by Renewable Juneau, an advocacy nonprofit, on Wednesday. 
Electric vehicles have grown in popularity in Juneau over the years, but shipping safety concerns have now made it more difficult for people to bring them to Alaska or send them out for maintenance.
AML stopped shipping electri]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-marine-lines-ferry-system-staff-discuss-options-for-safely-transporting-electric-vehicles-to-southeast-alaska/Fri, 13 Feb 2026 03:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-marine-lines-ferry-system-staff-discuss-options-for-safely-transporting-electric-vehicles-to-southeast-alaska/ In this newscast:The state Senate will consider a bill meant to increase educational options for Alaska students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Staff from Alaska Marine Lines and the Alaska Marine Highway System discussed EV shipping safety during a panel held by Renewable Juneau, an advocacy nonprofit, yesterday.
KTOO’s Mike Lane sat down with Akanksha Basil to learn about her efforts to strengthen and streamline]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-feb-12-2026/Fri, 13 Feb 2026 03:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-feb-12-2026/ As Alaska lawmakers reckon with a tight state budget and rising costs in the Department of Corrections, some are floating an uncomfortable idea: once again sending Alaska inmates out of state.
Over the last ten years, lawmakers have boosted the Department of Corrections’ budget by 70%, and even that hasn’t been enough.
Each of the past five years, the department has had to ask lawmakers for millions]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-float-sending-inmates-out-of-state-as-prison-costs-mount/Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-float-sending-inmates-out-of-state-as-prison-costs-mount/ Members of the House Transportation Committee slammed state transportation officials on Tuesday over a controversial ferry project that lawmakers said stands to benefit private interests but not ferry users themselves.
“The Alaska Marine Highway System was created for Alaska]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-grill-transportation-officials-over-controversial-ferry-project/Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-grill-transportation-officials-over-controversial-ferry-project/ The Alaska Fellows Program cultivates Alaska’s next generation of leaders. It places young professionals in communities across the state, where they work alongside nonprofit and public sector organizations while receiving mentorship, housing and a modest living stipend.In Juneau, Akanksha Basil is tasked with improving the community’s disaster response.
KTOO’s Mike La]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-with-juneaursquos-alaska-fellows-program-voad-coordinator-on-improving-local-disaster-response/Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/qampa-with-juneaursquos-alaska-fellows-program-voad-coordinator-on-improving-local-disaster-response/ “Acoustic Turbulence” is a bold fusion of music, dance, visual art, and poetry that celebrates the bumblebee’s poetic journey and the soul it symbolizes. With original music, poetry, and choreography, this performance follows a spirit’s transformative path from challenge and uncertainty to truth, peace, and unity with the divine. It will play only two shows on Saturday, February 21, and Sunday, February 22, at the Th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/acoustic-turbulence-from-orpheus-project-combines-music-poetry-and-movement-to-explore-lifes-journey/Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:38:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/acoustic-turbulence-from-orpheus-project-combines-music-poetry-and-movement-to-explore-lifes-journey/ Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Carney highlighted efforts to reduce case backlogs and asked lawmakers to fund new judges and long-delayed courthouse maintenance during the annual State of the Judiciary address on Wednesday.
Carney pointed to a pair of December reports from the Anchorage Daily News, ProPublica and Bethel]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-chief-justice-highlights-progress-on-court-delays-in-speech-to-legislature/Thu, 12 Feb 2026 19:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-chief-justice-highlights-progress-on-court-delays-in-speech-to-legislature/ In this newscast:The Juneau School District is returning over $1 million earmarked for child care back to the city,
The Alaska Department of Transportation has faced intense scrutiny in recent months over its plan to build a new ferry terminal between Juneau and Haines. Now, the agency is drawing fire from a panel of lawmakers charged with overseeing it,
For the Alaska Survival Kit series, Alaska Public Media’s Wesl]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-feb-11-2026/Thu, 12 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-feb-11-2026/ A Juneau representative’s proposal to ban law enforcement officers from wearing face masks on duty got a chilly reception from some state lawmakers during its first hearing on Tuesday.
Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, prefiled House Bill 250 in early January ahead of the legislative session. In a presentation to the House State Affairs Committee, Hannan called her bill “pro-law enforcement.&rd]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-legislators-bill-banning-masked-law-enforcement-faces-skepticism-from-some-lawmakers/Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-legislators-bill-banning-masked-law-enforcement-faces-skepticism-from-some-lawmakers/ The Juneau School District is returning $1.05 million earmarked for child care back to the city.
The school board unanimously approved returning the funds following multiple delays since November as board members mulled over the future of after-school child care in the district. The decision was made during a regular board meeting Tuesday night. 
Board member Melissa Cullum said she supports re]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-returns-105-million-in-child-care-funding-to-city/Thu, 12 Feb 2026 01:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-returns-105-million-in-child-care-funding-to-city/ The families of three more victims of last year’s fatal Bering Air plane crash have sued the regional airline.
The pilot and all nine passengers died when Bering Air Flight 445 crashed on sea ice on its way from Unalakleet to Nome.
A prel]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/3-more-families-sue-bering-air-a-year-after-a-deadly-crash-near-nome/Thu, 12 Feb 2026 01:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/3-more-families-sue-bering-air-a-year-after-a-deadly-crash-near-nome/ Students and school officials from across Alaska visited the Legislature — from the North Slope, to the Yukon Flats, to Yakutat and Hoonah — to make what has become an annual plea to lawmakers to inv]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-school-maintenance-backlog-has-reached-a-crisis-students-and-school-boards-tell-lawmakers/Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-school-maintenance-backlog-has-reached-a-crisis-students-and-school-boards-tell-lawmakers/ Fifteen Democratic-led states have dropped a six-year-old lawsuit challenging the legality of a federal plan that allowed oil and gas drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
The states announced their plans in a notice filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, where the lawsuit was filed in February 2020.
The state of Washington was the lead plaintiff. Mike Faulk, deputy communica]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/washington-and-other-democratic-led-states-drop-lawsuit-against-arctic-refuge-oil-drilling-in-alaska/Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/washington-and-other-democratic-led-states-drop-lawsuit-against-arctic-refuge-oil-drilling-in-alaska/ Sitting in the Legislative Information Office in Bethel, full of hardbound volumes and photos of the state’s political history, Sen. Lyman Hoffman said he’s ready to close the book on his own four-decade career in politics.
“I think it’s, it’s time … the next closest person behind me is]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hoffman-says-its-time-as-he-prepares-to-wrap-up-40-year-career-in-state-politics/Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hoffman-says-its-time-as-he-prepares-to-wrap-up-40-year-career-in-state-politics/ The head of Alaska’s court system is set to deliver the annual State of the Judiciary Address from the Capitol in Juneau at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The Alaska Legislature has a tradition of inviting the Alaska Supreme Court’s chief justice to deliver an address each year during session. Chief Justice Susan Carney was appointed to the court in 2016]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-live-2026-state-of-the-judiciary-address/Wed, 11 Feb 2026 20:09:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-live-2026-state-of-the-judiciary-address/ In this newscast:The Juneau Assembly approved more than $2 million worth of city funding to support four proposed affordable housing projects last night,
As breweries in Alaska adjust to a legal ruling that allows them to have unlimited live shows, a different sort of industry is also celebrating: musicians,
Tribal leaders from across the country spoke out today at a U.S. Senate hearing against possible changes withi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-feb-10-2026/Wed, 11 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-feb-10-2026/ The money comes from the city’s Affordable Housing Fund. The fund was created five years ago to help combat the city’s housing shortage. It offers grants or loans to projects that aim to build more low]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-oks-more-than-2m-toward-affordable-housing-projects/Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:20:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-oks-more-than-2m-toward-affordable-housing-projects/ As breweries in Alaska adjust to a legal ruling that could allow them to have unlimited live shows, a different sort of industry is also celebrating: musicians. 
Until last month, breweries were limited to hosting four live shows a year. Before 2024, they were banned from having them completely. Now, breweries can host un]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-musicians-welcome-ruling-granting-breweries-unlimited-live-music/Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:27:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-musicians-welcome-ruling-granting-breweries-unlimited-live-music/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s fiscal plan is taking a beating as lawmakers and the public take a closer look at the proposal. Last week, dozens of Alaskans called into a hearing to voice their particular displeasure with the governor’s proposal to institute a statewide sales tax.
Now, the governor is changing course a bit. In an interview with Alaska Public Media on Friday, Dunlea]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/facing-opposition-dunleavy-says-lawmakers-should-take-more-time-on-his-tax-bill/Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:42:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/facing-opposition-dunleavy-says-lawmakers-should-take-more-time-on-his-tax-bill/ Rayna Paul sat in an Anchorage office on Monday, scrolling through a spreadsheet filled with hundreds of names and phone numbers of Kipnuk tribal members.
“We are just on As,” she said with a chuckle.
Paul is Kipnuk’s environmental director who is in charge of the village’s voting process. Ov]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/one-phone-call-at-a-time-kipnuk-residents-vote-on-whether-to-rebuild-or-relocate/Tue, 10 Feb 2026 19:49:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/one-phone-call-at-a-time-kipnuk-residents-vote-on-whether-to-rebuild-or-relocate/ Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in Greenland Monday that she feels terrible for the anxiety her country inflicted on the Danish territory.
“In just a few sentences and words, trust that has bee]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-tries-to-reassure-greenlanders-still-shaken-by-trumps-threats/Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:25:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-tries-to-reassure-greenlanders-still-shaken-by-trumps-threats/ Support for grant-funded positions and teacher contracts became the main issue during the Juneau School Board’s budget public forum on Thursday. 
Most of the 28 parents, elders, teachers, students and community members at the forum testified in support of funding positions in the Tlin]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/community-testifies-in-support-of-tcll-staff-union-contracts-at-juneau-school-board-forum/Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/community-testifies-in-support-of-tcll-staff-union-contracts-at-juneau-school-board-forum/ In this newscast:The Juneau Assembly will vote Monday night on whether to approve $2.3 million worth of city funding to support five proposed affordable housing projects.
Support for grant-funded positions and teacher contracts became the main issue during the Juneau School Board’s budget public forum last week.
Alaska’s state government remains in search of a solution to its long-running budget problems.
Kipn]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-feb-9-2026/Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-feb-9-2026/ The Juneau Assembly will vote Monday night on whether to approve $2.3 million worth of city funding to support five proposed affordable housing projects. 
The money comes from the city’s Affordable Housing Fund. The city created the fund five years ago to address its housing shortage — specifically, the lack of low- and middle-income rentals. Since then, the city has awarded nearly $13]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-to-vote-on-23m-worth-of-affordable-housing-funding/Mon, 09 Feb 2026 21:44:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-to-vote-on-23m-worth-of-affordable-housing-funding/ Leading members of the Alaska House of Representatives said Friday that Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s ambitious long-term state fiscal plan has almost no support among legislators and is almost certainly dead on arrival.
House leaders spoke with reporters Friday morning]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislators-say-governors-fiscal-plan-is-likely-dead-after-first-week-of-hearings/Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-legislators-say-governors-fiscal-plan-is-likely-dead-after-first-week-of-hearings/ The family of one of the victims who died in a Bering Air plane crash last year is suing the regional airline. The news came a day before the anniversary of the crash, which killed all 10 people on board and shook communities in Northwest Alask]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-year-after-fatal-plane-crash-family-sues-bering-air/Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-year-after-fatal-plane-crash-family-sues-bering-air/ The number of out-of-state workers in Alaska is continuing to rise and is near an all-time high, according to a new report published this week by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
In 2024, almost 23% of non-federal jobs in Alaska were held by so]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/almost-1-in-4-alaska-workers-doesnt-live-in-the-state-new-report-concludes/Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/almost-1-in-4-alaska-workers-doesnt-live-in-the-state-new-report-concludes/ In this newscast:Nineteen people have applied to be the Juneau school district’s next superintendent, according to search firm McPherson & Jacobson.
Alaska’s largest professional theater indefinitely postponed a run of its show in Anchorage this spring due to financial concerns.
The Juneau Assembly will vote Monday night on whether to approve $2.3 million worth of city funding to support five proposed affo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-feb-6-2026/Sat, 07 Feb 2026 03:38:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-feb-6-2026/ A group of local Juneau women has worked together to bring the PBS documentary film “The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause” to Juneau. It will play the Goldtown Theater on Sunday, February 8, and Monday, February 9. Erin Harrington and Stephanie Yates discuss the project and its formation.
Juneau Jazz Fest is taking place this week in Juneau. A wide variety of educational and public performances make up the schedule. Michael]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/local-women-bring-the-m-factor-menopause-movie-to-juneau-plus-juneau-jazz-fest-mudrooms-and-jahmi-lookback-film-project-hits-the-big-screen/Sat, 07 Feb 2026 02:49:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/local-women-bring-the-m-factor-menopause-movie-to-juneau-plus-juneau-jazz-fest-mudrooms-and-jahmi-lookback-film-project-hits-the-big-screen/ After proposing to build a new cabin near Juneau’s Herbert Glacier, the U.S. Forest Service released a draft decision last month abandoning it. 
The cabin site was initially selected due to public interest. It would have been built within a mining claim block across the river from the proposed New Amalga gold mine owned by Grande Portage Resources, Ltd. The Forest Service approved exploratory drilling at New Amalga in Apri]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-forest-service-cancels-plan-to-build-herbert-glacier-cabin-in-juneau/Sat, 07 Feb 2026 02:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-forest-service-cancels-plan-to-build-herbert-glacier-cabin-in-juneau/ Nineteen people have applied to be Juneau School District’s next superintendent, according to search firm McPherson & Jacobson.
The job posting to replace outgoing Superintendent Frank Hauser was open for more than three weeks before closing Thursday. The search firm will use data from surveys and stakeholder meetings to narrow down the candidates.
Meanwhile, the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-continues-to-seek-public-input-after-superintendent-application-period-closes/Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-continues-to-seek-public-input-after-superintendent-application-period-closes/ Dr. Jes Young is the new gynecologist at Bartlett Family Medicine (formerly known as Family Practice Physicians). She works as a general practitioner, but with specialties in menopause and sexual medicine. D]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trina-lynch-jacksons-the-briefcase-new-bartlett-family-medicine-gynecologist-dr-jes-young-commission-on-aging-updates-and-bees-in-juneau-photo-exhibit/Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trina-lynch-jacksons-the-briefcase-new-bartlett-family-medicine-gynecologist-dr-jes-young-commission-on-aging-updates-and-bees-in-juneau-photo-exhibit/ A Sitka-based cruise line is closing its doors. Alaskan Dream Cruises announced Wednesday that it has ceased operations and cancelled all future sailings.
In a post on its website, the cruise company said since 2011, it’s had the “privilege of sharing the wonders of Alaska and the richness of our Alaska Native heritage with incredible guests from across the globe.”
The company is owned by Allen Marine, a local maritime business that’s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/allen-marine-shutters-overnight-cruise-company-alaskan-dream-cruises/Fri, 06 Feb 2026 23:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/allen-marine-shutters-overnight-cruise-company-alaskan-dream-cruises/ Alaska’s largest professional theater indefinitely postponed a run of its show in Anchorage this spring due to financial concerns. 
Perseverance Theatre had originally planned to bring its newest production, opening in Juneau later this month, to Anchorage. For the past decade, the theater has regula]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/perseverance-theatre-postpones-anchorage-run-of-spring-show-amid-funding-woes/Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:42:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/perseverance-theatre-postpones-anchorage-run-of-spring-show-amid-funding-woes/ Lawrence Fenumiai, the 34-year-old Juneau man charged with killing his Anchorage jail cellmate in a December 2024 assault, will return to the criminal justice system after being found mentally competent to stand trial.
Both Fenumiai and his cellmate, 36-year-old William Farmer, were dia]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-man-accused-of-killing-anchorage-cellmate-found-competent-to-stand-trial-on-murder-charges/Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-man-accused-of-killing-anchorage-cellmate-found-competent-to-stand-trial-on-murder-charges/ Juneau’s Crimson Bears high school football team is slated to be featured in the most-watched sporting event in the United States this weekend — the Super Bowl. 
In September, a team of five reporters and cameramen from NBC Sports visited Juneau and filmed their game against Anchorage’s Dimond High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-crimson-bears-football-will-be-featured-on-super-bowl-sunday/Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-crimson-bears-football-will-be-featured-on-super-bowl-sunday/ The 2026 Winter Olympics kick off in Italy on Friday at 10 a.m. Alaska time with an opening ceremony.
The Games run through Feb. 22 and will feature about a dozen athletes with ties to Alaska.
Here’s what to know about how (and when) to watch them.
But first: Who’s competing?
The athletes with Alaska connections include eight skiers with Alaska Pacific University N]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/how-and-when-to-watch-alaska-athletes-in-the-winter-olympics/Fri, 06 Feb 2026 19:49:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/how-and-when-to-watch-alaska-athletes-in-the-winter-olympics/ In this newscast:On Monday, a Juneau jazz musician canceled a show that was meant to be a part of a festival in town this week.  The show was advertised as a fundraiser for the ACLU of Alaska but the organization who planned the festival said they didn’t agree to that.
The Alaska Department of Fish & Game recently euthanized a sick mountain goat that had a highly contagious viral skin infection that can tra]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-feb-2-2025/Fri, 06 Feb 2026 03:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-feb-2-2025/ A Juneau resident took home a sick mountain goat kid with crusty skin lesions after hiking Perseverance Trail last weekend and contacted the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. Officials say the goat had a highly contagious viral skin infection that can transfer to humans and pets.
“It’s very important that people — if they see a sick or a dead wild anim]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/adfampg-euthanizes-mountain-goat-kid-with-contagious-skin-infection-found-on-perseverance-trail/Fri, 06 Feb 2026 02:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/adfampg-euthanizes-mountain-goat-kid-with-contagious-skin-infection-found-on-perseverance-trail/ If you ask Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a lot of the state’s problems come back to the budget process.
Every year, lawmakers gather in Juneau for four months and spend much of that time debating how the state should spread around its limited funds: how much for education, how much for public]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/would-gov-dunleavys-fiscal-plan-solve-alaskas-long-running-budget-issues/Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/would-gov-dunleavys-fiscal-plan-solve-alaskas-long-running-budget-issues/ The Juneau Assembly has some big financial decisions to make in the coming months. That’s because the city faces a multimillion-dollar budget hole that could result in cutting some city services in order to stay afloat. 
Along with figuring out how to balance the city’s budget, the Juneau Assembly will need to decide in the coming months whether a temporary tax and two bond d]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-considers-school-and-wastewater-bonds-temporary-tax-for-next-election/Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-considers-school-and-wastewater-bonds-temporary-tax-for-next-election/ “Capitol Crude” author Lisa WeisslerAlaska State Museum solo artist Myesha Callahan FreetUnseen Ocean Collective art show at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.Subscribe to the podcast:Ap]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/february-first-friday-features-capitol-crude-solo-artist-myesha-callahan-freet-at-state-museum-and-unseen-ocean-collective-at-the-jacc/Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/february-first-friday-features-capitol-crude-solo-artist-myesha-callahan-freet-at-state-museum-and-unseen-ocean-collective-at-the-jacc/ A Juneau jazz musician canceled a show that was meant to be a part of a festival in town this week. The show was advertised as a fundraiser for the ACLU of Alaska, but the organization who planned the festival said it didn’t agree to that.
Spencer Edgers plays the saxophone with other local musicians in the Dream Band. Local nonprofit Juneau Jazz]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-juneau-jazz-band-wanted-to-make-its-show-a-fundraiser-festival-organizers-say-they-didnt-agree-to-that/Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-juneau-jazz-band-wanted-to-make-its-show-a-fundraiser-festival-organizers-say-they-didnt-agree-to-that/ Two of Alaska’s largest news organizations and two top reporters did not commit defamation when they described a former state employee’s statements about rape, a state judge ruled on Tuesday in Anchorage.
Jeremy Cubas, a former aide to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, sued Alaska Public Media, the Anchorage Daily News, Nat Herz and Curtis Gilbert last year. American Public Me]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/anchorage-judge-dismisses-defamation-lawsuit-against-anchorage-daily-news-alaska-public-media/Thu, 05 Feb 2026 20:38:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/anchorage-judge-dismisses-defamation-lawsuit-against-anchorage-daily-news-alaska-public-media/ Representatives from the mining industry gathered in Vancouver, British Columbia last week for an annual conference.
But opponents of a mineral exploration project outside Haines seized on the opportunity for their own purpose. They wanted to send the industry one key message: “Leave our valley.”
In 2024, the Chilkat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/opponents-of-mining-site-near-haines-target-new-owner-at-industry-conference/Thu, 05 Feb 2026 20:19:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/opponents-of-mining-site-near-haines-target-new-owner-at-industry-conference/ WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Aaron C. Peterson of Anchorage to be a federal District Court judge in Alaska.
The vote was 58 to 39, with seven Democrats voting yes.
Peterson is in his mid-40s and was born in Anchorage. He’s an Air Force veteran and has worked at the state Department of Law since 2012. Earlier, he clerked in the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-senate-confirms-a-new-judge-for-alaska/Thu, 05 Feb 2026 20:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-senate-confirms-a-new-judge-for-alaska/ Those who knew and loved Marlene Johnson say she was in constant motion — either behind the scenes, or on the forefront of the major issues that have shaped life for Alaska Natives for more than 60 years.
The Lingít leader died on Jan. 25 at the age of 90.
Early family photo of Marlene Johnson. (Courtesy of Vera Starba]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-voice-for-change-remembering-marlene-johnson-a-pioneer-in-the-fight-for-native-rights/Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-voice-for-change-remembering-marlene-johnson-a-pioneer-in-the-fight-for-native-rights/ More than 90% of the comments submitted to the state reject the Cascade Point ferry terminal proposed in Juneau. Many of the comments opposing the project suggest the purported benefits to ferry passengers are disingenuous, and the project looks instead like a fast-tracked subsidy for mining companies.
Dozens of commenters said that the public process to approve thi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/southeast-ferry-riders-call-proposed-cascade-point-terminal-a-boondoggle-in-public-comments/Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/southeast-ferry-riders-call-proposed-cascade-point-terminal-a-boondoggle-in-public-comments/ In this newscast:The Juneau School Board will take public testimony tomorrow as it works on building out a budget,
American Cruise Lines plans to expand in Alaska in the years to come. But that plan requires prized mooring space in harbors that are tight to begin with. In Haines, the company said it would pitch in to rebuild a public dock to solve that problem. Then, it backed out amid community pushback,
Former Sitka sta]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-feb-4-2026/Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-feb-4-2026/ The Juneau School Board will take public testimony Thursday as it works on building out a budget. This comes as a preliminary budget projects a $5.37 million dollar deficit. 
Nicole Herbert is the CFO for the district. She said during a board retreat last month that the deficit could be covered in a couple of ways. One method is taking from savings.
“We&rsqu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-budget-projects-53-million-deficit-as-district-begins-collecting-public-feedback/Thu, 05 Feb 2026 02:47:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-budget-projects-53-million-deficit-as-district-begins-collecting-public-feedback/ Kipnuk resident Rayna Paul fought back tears as she talked about how the remnants of Typhoon Halong ravaged her village — and why relocating is so important for the next generation.
“We want t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/kipnuk-confronts-hard-choice-on-relocation-after-last-years-devastating-storm/Thu, 05 Feb 2026 02:46:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/kipnuk-confronts-hard-choice-on-relocation-after-last-years-devastating-storm/ A round of vetoes by Gov. Mike Dunleavy last summer have Alaska’s construction industry on edge. Industry groups are pushing state lawmakers to quickly pass an appropriations bill that they say would unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in federal matching funds.
The problem started last year, when lawmakers searched for funds to plug holes in the state budget. To fund the state&r]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-vetoes-have-alaskas-construction-industry-urging-lawmakers-to-pass-quick-fix/Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:37:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-vetoes-have-alaskas-construction-industry-urging-lawmakers-to-pass-quick-fix/ Former state legislator Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a Democrat from Sitka, is running for governor, he said Tuesday.
Kreiss-Tomkins, frequently known as “JKT,” served in the Alaska House of Representatives between 2013 and 2023. He becomes the 16th candidate and third Democrat to enter this year’s gubernatorial election.
Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleav]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-race-for-governor-picks-up-16th-candidate-a-former-state-legislator-from-sitka/Wed, 04 Feb 2026 19:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-race-for-governor-picks-up-16th-candidate-a-former-state-legislator-from-sitka/ A new play, “These Birds: A play inspired by death, flowers, and Farkle,” opened in Juneau Jan. 29. The show was born from interviews and conversations with local residents about death and dying.
The Theater Alaska play is written by Juneau playwright Merry Ellefson. But the seed for the project started with hospice chaplain Claire Richardson. 
Richardson wanted to find a way to inspire people to talk about death. She said creating a play from]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/these-birds-relies-on-real-life-juneau-stories-of-death-and-dying/Wed, 04 Feb 2026 03:46:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/these-birds-relies-on-real-life-juneau-stories-of-death-and-dying/ In this newscast:A new play “These Birds: A play inspired by death, flowers, and Farkle” opened in Juneau last week,
The Ketchikan Indian Community purchased a former resort north of town with the goal of converting it into an addiction healing center, but a handful of residents in the neighborhood expressed opposition for the project at a recent borough planning commission meeting,
Marlene Johnson, a Lingit c]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-feb-3-2026/Wed, 04 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-feb-3-2026/ A national storytelling nonprofit is launching its winter and spring season in Anchorage this week, with Alaska voices helping to kick off a series centered on the idea of the American Dream.
The Moth is an organization that promotes the art of storytelling through education, performance and other efforts. The Moth’s Mainstage show comes to the Atwood Concert Hall in Anchorage on February fourth. The Anchorage performance is]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/two-alaska-storytellers-will-speak-to-the-american-dream-as-the-moths-mainstage-tour-kicks-off-in-anchorage/Tue, 03 Feb 2026 20:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/two-alaska-storytellers-will-speak-to-the-american-dream-as-the-moths-mainstage-tour-kicks-off-in-anchorage/ Alaska’s state ferry system is at risk of a partial or total shutdown this summer due to the failure of the federal government to issue a key annual grant.
“Currently right now, we have a shortfall in our budget,” said Dom Pannone, director of program administration and management for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, to members]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-ferry-system-could-run-out-of-funding-this-summer-due-to-federal-chaos-problem/Tue, 03 Feb 2026 20:25:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-ferry-system-could-run-out-of-funding-this-summer-due-to-federal-chaos-problem/ WASHINGTON — We’re only one month into election year 2026 and it’s already clear that the incumbents in Alaska’s federal races have a lot of money to defend their seats.
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan raised nearly $7.5 million last year, according to his latest campaign finance report.
“We’re feeling incredibly strong about where our campaign is,” campaign spokesperson Nate Adams said. “Our fundraising]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/race-for-cash-is-well-underway-for-alaskas-us-senate-and-house-campaigns/Tue, 03 Feb 2026 20:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/race-for-cash-is-well-underway-for-alaskas-us-senate-and-house-campaigns/ In this newscast:The North Douglas boat launch will soon reopen to the public after being closed for more than two weeks due to damage to its parking lot.
As the city’s Emergency Programs Manager, Ryan O’Shaughnessy leads emergency planning, response and recovery for the City and Borough of Juneau. KTOO’s Mike Lane recently caught up with O’Shaughnessy to talk about lessons learned from the majo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-feb-2-2026/Tue, 03 Feb 2026 03:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-feb-2-2026/ A $300 million project to build a new Coast Guard base in Juneau for the icebreaker Storis likely will not be complete until at least 2029, the service’s top admiral said in a U.S. Senate hearing last week.
The Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/coast-guards-new-juneau-base-may-not-be-complete-until-2029-commandant-says/Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:33:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/coast-guards-new-juneau-base-may-not-be-complete-until-2029-commandant-says/ The North Douglas boat launch will soon reopen to the public after being closed for more than two weeks due to damage to its parking lot. 
In mid-January, Juneau Docks and Harbors staff closed off a portion of the launch’s parking lot on North Douglas Highway that provides access to the boat ramp. That’s after they discovered a large sinkhole that developed]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/north-douglas-boat-launch-to-reopen-later-this-week-following-sinkhole-closure/Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/north-douglas-boat-launch-to-reopen-later-this-week-following-sinkhole-closure/ The U.S. Forest Service is moving forward with a plan to harvest over 5,000 acres of trees in the Tongass National Forest, just east of Ketchikan. A majority of that will be old-growth tr]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-moves-forward-with-logging-project-near-ketchikan/Mon, 02 Feb 2026 23:32:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/forest-service-moves-forward-with-logging-project-near-ketchikan/ As the city’s Emergency Programs Manager, Ryan O’Shaughnessy leads emergency planning, response and recovery for the City and Borough of Juneau.
KTOO’s Mike Lane recently caught up with O’Shaughnessy to talk about lessons learned from the major storm events in December and January and how the de]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-emergency-manager-talks-planning-response-and-recovery-in-wake-of-local-disaster/Mon, 02 Feb 2026 23:20:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-emergency-manager-talks-planning-response-and-recovery-in-wake-of-local-disaster/ The Trump administration has denied Alaska’s request for full reimbursement for disaster relief efforts immediately following last October’s devastating Western Alaska storms, despite the Dunleavy administration’s claim that the federal disaster declaration meant the state would be fu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trump-administration-denies-full-disaster-funding-for-western-alaska-storms-state-files-appeal/Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trump-administration-denies-full-disaster-funding-for-western-alaska-storms-state-files-appeal/ WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Friday passed a bill funding the departments of Defense, Health, Labor and Transportation, among others, with both Alaska senators voting yes.
Still, hours later, at 8 p.m. Alaska time, funding will lapse for those departments, comprising much of the government. The U.S. House still has to pass the bill, and House members don’t return to the Capitol until Monday.
The shutdown, or laps]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/yes-its-another-government-shutdown-but-alaska-impacts-might-be-minimal/Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/yes-its-another-government-shutdown-but-alaska-impacts-might-be-minimal/ The Alaska House of Representatives passed a bill Friday that would tighten residency requirements for Alaskans buying hunting or fishing licenses.
House Bill 93 aims to ensure that only people who spend enough time each year in Alaska to qualify for a Permanent Fund dividend can buy resident hunting and fishing licenses, which tend to cost less and of]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-passes-bill-tightening-residency-requirements-for-hunting-and-fishing-licenses/Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-house-passes-bill-tightening-residency-requirements-for-hunting-and-fishing-licenses/ The Juneau School Board is quickly moving through the search process for a new superintendent. And it’s working with a search firm to collect feedback from the community before it makes a hiring decision.
Board Member David Noon said at a super site council meeting last week that the board plans to hire a superintendent in March.
“]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-seeks-feedback-for-superintendent-search/Sat, 31 Jan 2026 03:25:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-seeks-feedback-for-superintendent-search/ Some storefront owners in Juneau spoke out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or shuttered their doors Friday as part of the nationwide general strike following recent killings in Minneapolis. 
Downtown, small businesses including Drip Drop Wonder Shop, Liaise Studio and Alaska Robotics Gallery closed, joining businesses across the country protesting ICE. 
A]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/some-small-businesses-in-juneau-speak-out-against-ice-amid-nationwide-strike/Sat, 31 Jan 2026 03:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/some-small-businesses-in-juneau-speak-out-against-ice-amid-nationwide-strike/ In this newscast:Sitka will receive $10 million dollars for a new wastewater disinfection system.
Juneau residents might have to pay sales tax again on food and utilities despite voters approving a local exemption for them during last fall’s municipal election.
The Juneau School Board is quickly moving through the search process for a new superintendent.
Some storefront owners in Juneau are speaking out against U.S]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-30-2026/Sat, 31 Jan 2026 03:12:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-30-2026/ The Heists, Taylor Dallas Vidic, and Josh Fortenbery will play The Alaskan on Saturday, January 31. Taylor, Andrew, and Erin stop in to play a couple of tunes and talk about recent and upcoming travels, and progress on imminent album releases.
Juneau Ghost Light Theatre presents a new live radio play, “The Case of the Aspiring Actress: A Detective Seau N. Sew Mystery,” on Friday, February 6 at the KTOO Studios. Playwrigh]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/live-music-with-fortenbery-vidic-the-heists-jglt-on-the-air-presents-new-seau-n-sew-mystery-the-case-of-the-aspiring-actress-and-juneau-public-libraries-offers-new-juneau-reads/Sat, 31 Jan 2026 02:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/live-music-with-fortenbery-vidic-the-heists-jglt-on-the-air-presents-new-seau-n-sew-mystery-the-case-of-the-aspiring-actress-and-juneau-public-libraries-offers-new-juneau-reads/ (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska’s population rose slightly between 2024 and 2025 and is now at its highest level since 2017, the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced Wednesday.
Alaska had an estimated 738,737 people as of July 1, 2025, the department said in its annual state population estimate. That’s up 1,649 people from the department’s July 2024 population estimate of 737,0]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-population-rises-slightly-but-more-people-continue-to-move-out-than-move-in/Sat, 31 Jan 2026 02:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-population-rises-slightly-but-more-people-continue-to-move-out-than-move-in/ Juneau residents might have to pay sales tax again on food and utilities, despite approving a local exemption during last fall’s municipal election. 
That’s because Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently proposed a statewide sales tax as part of his fiscal plan meant to stabilize the state’s finances. 
At a community town hall event Thursday evening,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/under-dunleavy-proposal-juneau-residents-might-pay-sales-tax-on-food-and-utilities-again/Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:35:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/under-dunleavy-proposal-juneau-residents-might-pay-sales-tax-on-food-and-utilities-again/ WorldQuest 2026 from the Juneau World Affairs Council is happening on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Dave Wetzel opens “Atmospheric Landscapes” exhibition at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum on Friday, February 6, 2026Pete Griffin reflects on his 37-year career with the U.S. Forest Service at the next Fireside Lecture on Friday, January 30, at 7:00 p.m.
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Junea]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/worldquest-2026-trivia-event-dave-wetzels-atmostpheric-landscapes-at-the-city-museum-and-pete-griffins-diary-of-a-forest-ranger-fireside-lecture/Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:09:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/worldquest-2026-trivia-event-dave-wetzels-atmostpheric-landscapes-at-the-city-museum-and-pete-griffins-diary-of-a-forest-ranger-fireside-lecture/ A new nonpartisan report by the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage has concluded that raising oil and corporate taxes to balance Alaska’s b]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/raising-oil-corporate-taxes-is-least-painful-option-for-reducing-alaska-deficits-iser-concludes/Fri, 30 Jan 2026 22:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/raising-oil-corporate-taxes-is-least-painful-option-for-reducing-alaska-deficits-iser-concludes/ The Alaska state House’s ethics committee has launched an investigation into whether Homer Republican Rep. Sarah Vance illegally used state resources when she successfully pushed the local newspaper to remove and revise a story.
Vance objected to a Homer News article about a vigil she helped organize after the assassination of conservative activist C]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/homer-rep-vance-faces-ethics-probe-over-official-letter-pressuring-newspaper/Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:42:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/homer-rep-vance-faces-ethics-probe-over-official-letter-pressuring-newspaper/ The City & Borough of Juneau tip-toed toward a federal buyout program for homeowners on View Drive this week, a street that’s been hit the hardest by annual glacial outburst flooding. The city’s asking those residents if they’ll help pay for it.
Eighteen homes line the forested cul-de-sac on View Drive, which extends into the Mendenhall River]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-asks-view-drive-residents-to-help-pay-for-their-own-buyout-after-years-of-outburst-flooding/Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:44:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-asks-view-drive-residents-to-help-pay-for-their-own-buyout-after-years-of-outburst-flooding/ More than 200 people gathered in the capital city Thursday to speak out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, following recent killings of two citizens in Minneapolis. 
Juneau resident Denali Marin organized the noon rally outside the courthouse, where protestors brought salt and chanted, “Melt ICE.” 
Marin listed some of the people who have lost their lives]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-residents-call-to-defund-ice-at-rally-downtown-following-killings-in-minnesota/Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:22:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-residents-call-to-defund-ice-at-rally-downtown-following-killings-in-minnesota/ In this newscast:Juneau’s recycling center is closed again in order to repair damaged critical equipment. And it could be quite a while before the center opens back up again.
New public art is coming to downtown Juneau this spring. Murals will soon adorn the Marine View building parking garage near the cruise ship docks. It’s part of a project years in the making that teaches artists about the legal and creati]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-jan-29-2026/Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-jan-29-2026/ Listen here:
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Murals will soon adorn the Marine View building parking garage near Juneau’s cruise ship docks. 
It’s part of a project years in the making that teaches local artists about the legal and creative sides of murals.
Maddox Rasmussen washed paintbrushes in between sections of a mural]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/budding-juneau-muralists-learn-the-ins-and-outs-of-public-art-through-new-workshop/Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/budding-juneau-muralists-learn-the-ins-and-outs-of-public-art-through-new-workshop/ While Alaska school districts are seeing improvements in kindergarten to third grade students’ reading proficiency, which officials credit to the Alaska Reads Act, some districts are struggling to access state managed funds for a federal grant program aimed at supporting literacy programs, teacher development, and student learning.
Lawm]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-50m-literacy-grant-is-helping-alaska-schools-but-some-districts-say-its-tough-to-access-funds/Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-50m-literacy-grant-is-helping-alaska-schools-but-some-districts-say-its-tough-to-access-funds/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-music-summit-con-brios-winds-in-winter-and-cooperative-extension-february-class-preview/Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-music-summit-con-brios-winds-in-winter-and-cooperative-extension-february-class-preview/ Juneau’s recycling center is closed again in order to repair damaged critical equipment. 
It could be quite a while before the center opens back up again, according to Denise Koch, the city’s director of Engineering and Public Works.
“Recycling is a really important service, and we recognize that the people of Juneau really value thi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/it-could-be-weeks-before-juneau-residents-can-recycle-again/Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/it-could-be-weeks-before-juneau-residents-can-recycle-again/ After years of delays, the build contract to replace the Alaska Marine Highway System’s ferry Tustumena is out to bid. The state’s project notice calls for the new mainliner ferry to be completed by the beginning of 2029 with an estimated price tag of more than $300 million.
The new ferry will be a more]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tustumena-replacement-project-out-to-bid-new-ferry-to-sail-in-2029/Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tustumena-replacement-project-out-to-bid-new-ferry-to-sail-in-2029/ In this newscast:Scientists have confirmed that destructive landslides are happening more frequently across Alaska — especially in Southeast — using news articles dating back more than a century. It’s because climate change is making atmospheric rivers more extreme,
John Bressette is the city’s avalanche advisor, tracking weather and avalanche risk in Juneau’s urban paths. He joined CBJ]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-jan-28-2026/Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-jan-28-2026/ The state of Alaska’s case against a Haines man charged with animal cruelty is stuck in a holding pattern, seven months after officials first removed dozens of animals from his wildlife facility.
In September, the Office of Special Prosecutions filed three felony and two misdemeanor charges against Chilkat Valley resident Steve Kroschel, the longtime owner of the Kroschel Films Wildlife Center.
After a years-long back and forth over conditi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/haines-animal-cruelty-case-at-a-standstill-as-defendant-says-hes-in-russia-and-plans-to-stay-there/Thu, 29 Jan 2026 02:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/haines-animal-cruelty-case-at-a-standstill-as-defendant-says-hes-in-russia-and-plans-to-stay-there/ John Bressette is Juneau’s new avalanche advisor, tracking weather and avalanche risk in the capital’s urban paths. He joined the city just before record snowfall, followed by rain and flooding, pushed the community to declare a disaster and issue evacuation advisories downtown.
KTOO’s Mike Lake spoke with Bressette about navigati]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-new-avalanche-advisor-started-right-before-recent-evacuations/Thu, 29 Jan 2026 02:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-new-avalanche-advisor-started-right-before-recent-evacuations/ Landslides have killed at least a dozen people in Southeast in recent years. 
That prompted Aaron Jacobs, a hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Juneau, and his colleague to answer a maj]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/scientists-confirm-climate-change-is-making-destructive-landslides-more-frequent-across-alaska-especially-in-southeast/Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/scientists-confirm-climate-change-is-making-destructive-landslides-more-frequent-across-alaska-especially-in-southeast/ WASHINGTON — Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem should be held accountable over a fierce immigration crackdown that has killed two citizens in Minneapolis and that she should resign.
“She has — through her words, and I think in her actions — she’s taken a direction that has not been helpful to the situation, and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/republican-sens-murkowski-and-tillis-call-for-noem-to-resign/Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:27:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/republican-sens-murkowski-and-tillis-call-for-noem-to-resign/ Listen here:
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Juneau high school students are speaking out about how unresolved contract negotiations are affecting them in the classroom. 
It’s been nearly a year since contract negotiations officially began between the Juneau School District and its teachers’ union]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/union-contract-negotiations-spark-student-outrage-in-support-of-juneau-teachers/Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:28:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/union-contract-negotiations-spark-student-outrage-in-support-of-juneau-teachers/ In this newscast:The Juneau Assembly has stalled on deciding whether to disempower the Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors until March.
Students are speaking out about how unresolved union negotiations are affecting them in the classroom.
Students in Skagway are calling on their school district to adopt a policy that would let them take part in subsistence activities without it potentially counting against them]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-jan-27-2026/Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-jan-27-2026/ The federal government says 98% of rural Alaskans catch, hunt or gather at least some of their food. And much of that happens during the school year.
Now, students in Skagway are calling on their school district to adopt a policy that would let them take part in those activities — without it potentially counting against them.
The push originated with Ryder Calver, who is the treasurer of the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/skagway-students-are-asking-for-time-off-school-to-participate-in-subsistence-activities/Wed, 28 Jan 2026 02:23:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/skagway-students-are-asking-for-time-off-school-to-participate-in-subsistence-activities/ The Juneau Assembly has stalled on deciding whether to disempower the Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors until a joint meeting in March. 
Earlier this month, Mayor Beth Weldon proposed an ordinance to reduce the status of the city-owned ski area’s board from an empowered board to an advisory board. She ci]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-stalls-on-whether-to-disempower-eaglecrest-ski-areas-board/Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-stalls-on-whether-to-disempower-eaglecrest-ski-areas-board/ A University of Alaska Fairbanks student is out on bail after ripping almost 60 images off the walls of a university art gallery and eating some of them earlier this month.
The incident has since gone viral — prompting countless social media posts and even reaching national outlets. Lizzy Hahn, an undergraduate journalism student at UAF, broke the story in The Sun Star, the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-university-of-alaska-fairbanks-student-is-out-on-bail-after-tearing-up-and-eating-another-students-ai-generated-art/Tue, 27 Jan 2026 23:12:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-university-of-alaska-fairbanks-student-is-out-on-bail-after-tearing-up-and-eating-another-students-ai-generated-art/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced a series of bills on Friday and Monday that he says would stabilize the state’s finances. The most prominent pieces of Dunleavy’s plan are a statewide sales tax and a new formula for Permanent Fund dividends.
“I want to stop our fights over the PFD and the Permanent Fund, and I want to minimize arguments over how much we’re going]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-introduces-sales-tax-new-dividend-formula-and-other-pieces-of-fiscal-plan/Tue, 27 Jan 2026 19:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-introduces-sales-tax-new-dividend-formula-and-other-pieces-of-fiscal-plan/ The oil rig that crashed into the frozen ground on the North Slope near Nuiqsut Friday remains too unstable for responders to access the scene, state officials said. While no serious injuries were reported, days after the incident, there were still many unknowns for the companies involved and the nearby community.
Doyon Rig 26 was commissioned in 2016 by Conoco]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/investigation-continues-over-massive-oil-rig-toppling-on-north-slope-as-nuiqsut-residents-raise-concerns/Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/investigation-continues-over-massive-oil-rig-toppling-on-north-slope-as-nuiqsut-residents-raise-concerns/ With almost 700 participants, Juneau’s annual board game convention sold out for a second time this year. Some people traveled from as far as Indiana and Massachusetts to play at Platypus Con. And the weekend-long event stayed open late — until the early morning hours. 
A lot of players were deep in their games late-night on Saturday. In Centennial Hall, a room]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/rolling-dice-after-midnight-late-night-leveling-up-at-juneaus-platypus-con/Tue, 27 Jan 2026 07:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/rolling-dice-after-midnight-late-night-leveling-up-at-juneaus-platypus-con/ Juneau teens and residents are calling on the Alaska Legislature and Governor Mike Dunleavy to call off the state’s longtime push for a n]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-jan-26-2026/Tue, 27 Jan 2026 03:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-jan-26-2026/ Juneau teens and residents are calling on the Alaska Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy to call off the state’s longtime push for a natural gas pipeline in Alaska. 
On Saturday, more than 40 people gathered at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol in downtown Juneau to protest the long-sought Alaska LNG p]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-teens-call-on-state-lawmakers-to-halt-alaska-lng-project/Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-teens-call-on-state-lawmakers-to-halt-alaska-lng-project/ The State Board of Education and Early Development unanimously approved a school psychology masters program at the University of Alaska Anchorage aimed to address the state’s shortage of school psychologists. The approval took place during the board’s special virtual meeting on Thursday.
This comes after the board voted it down last October after some mem]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-education-board-oks-uaa-program-aimed-at-tackling-school-psychologist-shortage/Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-education-board-oks-uaa-program-aimed-at-tackling-school-psychologist-shortage/ More than 200 Juneau residents gathered downtown at Overstreet Park Sunday evening for a candlelight vigil. They were there to honor a man who was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during protests against ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. 
“There’s a lot of grief, there’s a lot of anger — a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/candlelit-vigil-lights-downtown-juneau-following-alex-pretti-shooting-in-minneapolis/Mon, 26 Jan 2026 22:47:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/candlelit-vigil-lights-downtown-juneau-following-alex-pretti-shooting-in-minneapolis/ Before juvenile salmon make their way to the sea, they grow and feed in freshwater, including wetlands, for anywhere between a few months and several years.
But new research finds that as air temperatures rise with climate change, the water that flows through coastal Alaska’s ponds and marshes is warming rapidly, too. That could spell trouble for Pacif]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/wetlands-are-warming-as-fast-as-the-atmosphere-thats-bad-news-for-salmon/Mon, 26 Jan 2026 07:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/wetlands-are-warming-as-fast-as-the-atmosphere-thats-bad-news-for-salmon/ The federal government is reviewing a business program that brings contracting opportunities to Alaska Native corporations and tribes.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a video posted on X last week that his department will review the 8(a) Business Development Program. The program falls under the federal Small Business Administration a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/the-pentagon-is-reviewing-a-program-that-helps-alaska-native-corporations-get-federal-contracts/Mon, 26 Jan 2026 07:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/the-pentagon-is-reviewing-a-program-that-helps-alaska-native-corporations-get-federal-contracts/ Former Alaska Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum deviated from state policy and failed to perform the necessary due diligence before committing millions in state savings to a private equity fund, according to an outside review ordered by Gov. Mike Dunleavy after Crum’s decision came to light last summer.
In its repor]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/crum-deviated-from-state-law-and-policy-when-investing-alaskas-savings-review-finds/Sun, 25 Jan 2026 20:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/crum-deviated-from-state-law-and-policy-when-investing-alaskas-savings-review-finds/ Alaska had fewer overdose deaths i]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-drug-overdose-deaths-drop-though-less-dramatically-than-national-plunge/Sun, 25 Jan 2026 20:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-drug-overdose-deaths-drop-though-less-dramatically-than-national-plunge/ Eight cross-country skiers from Alaska are going to the 2026 Olympics in Italy next month. U.S. Ski and Snowboard announced the team Thursday morning.
Alaskans make up one half of the 16-skier U.S. cross-country ski team. All eight of the athletes ski with Alaska Pacific University’s team in Anchorage. APU]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/exciting-and-daunting-eight-alaska-nordic-skiers-will-compete-in-italy-olympics/Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:18:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/exciting-and-daunting-eight-alaska-nordic-skiers-will-compete-in-italy-olympics/ With the second regular session of the 34th Alaska Legislature under way, it’s a good time to check in with members of Juneau’s delegation.Morning Host Mike Lane recently sat down with Representative Andi Story to learn what’s on her agenda for this session.https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21RepAndiStory.wav
The following transcript has]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-rep-andi-story-prioritizes-education-and-housing-this-legislative-session/Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-rep-andi-story-prioritizes-education-and-housing-this-legislative-session/ Yéil Ya-Tseen (Nicholas Galanin) guides the musical project Ya Tseen. The band just dropped a new album, “Stand On My Shoulders,” and will play an album release party at The Crystal Saloon on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Galanin is also one of the collaborators on the new exhibit “Gestures of Our Rebel Bodies,” opening at Aan Hít (Village House) Gallery on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.Th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ya-tseen-new-album-release-party-theater-alaska-premieres-new-interview-based-play-these-birds-and-updates-with-cbj-pools/Sat, 24 Jan 2026 06:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ya-tseen-new-album-release-party-theater-alaska-premieres-new-interview-based-play-these-birds-and-updates-with-cbj-pools/ In this newscast:Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors is pushing back against the mayor’s proposal to remove most of the board’s decision-making authority,
Former Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola will be in Juneau today at the Crystal Saloon bar downtown to celebrate her campaign launch for U.S. Senate,
A new bill aims to bring stability to Alaska school districts’ budgeting process,
Gov. Mike]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-23-2026/Sat, 24 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-23-2026/ Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors is pushing back against the mayor’s proposal to remove most of the board’s decision-making authority. This comes after recent leadership turnover at the mountain and ongoing financial challenges.
Last week, Mayor Beth Weldon told the Juneau Assembly she asked the city’s attorney to draft an ordinance to reduce the status of]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-board-pushes-back-against-juneau-mayors-plan-to-diminish-its-power/Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:52:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-board-pushes-back-against-juneau-mayors-plan-to-diminish-its-power/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy reviewed his seven years in office and outlined his agenda for his final year during his annual State of the State address on Thursday.
“I believe the people in this room can accomplish big things, whether it’s in public education, public safety or stabilizing our fiscal situation,” Dunleavy said. “W]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-reviews-his-record-and-touts-final-year-agenda-in-state-of-the-state-speech/Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:31:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-reviews-his-record-and-touts-final-year-agenda-in-state-of-the-state-speech/ Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:0]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/comedian-billy-wayne-davis-juneau-symphony-features-alexander-tutunov-and-uas-outdoor-studies-program/Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:31:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/comedian-billy-wayne-davis-juneau-symphony-features-alexander-tutunov-and-uas-outdoor-studies-program/ Alaska U.S. House Rep. Nick Begich III has a new challenger.
Bill Hill, a Bristol Bay fisherman and retired teacher and school administrator, filed to run for the congressional seat as an independent candidate.
He cites the late Alaska Congressman Don Young as an inspiration.
“That’s kind of who I hope to, in some respect, mold myself after,” he said. “What’s good for Alaskans first and, you know, we need to start putting distance be]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bristol-bay-fisherman-and-retired-educator-bill-hill-enters-us-house-race/Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:20:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bristol-bay-fisherman-and-retired-educator-bill-hill-enters-us-house-race/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/22EdMoneyRevamp.wav
Alaska’s state education funding formula is really complicated. It’s based on data, collected during the school year, that takes months to process. That can leave districts building budgets based on projections that might be inaccurate. Juneau D]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-bill-aims-to-bring-stability-to-alaska-school-districts-budgeting-process/Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-bill-aims-to-bring-stability-to-alaska-school-districts-budgeting-process/ Former Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola will be in Juneau Friday evening at the Crystal Saloon bar downtown to celebrate her campaign launch for U.S. Senate. 
Last week, she announced she’s running for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan. 
Peltola, a Democrat, served both a partial and full term in the U.S. House until the 2024 elect]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mary-peltola-to-make-stop-in-juneau-for-us-senate-campaign-launch/Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mary-peltola-to-make-stop-in-juneau-for-us-senate-campaign-launch/ Alaska lawmakers failed Thursday to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a bill that backers said would have modernized Alaska’s corporate income tax system.
The override failed 35-25. It would have required a 45-vote majority to become law.
Se]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-fail-to-override-dunleavys-veto-of-corporate-income-tax-bill/Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-fail-to-override-dunleavys-veto-of-corporate-income-tax-bill/ Starting at 6:30 p.m., KTOO Managing Editor Lisa Phu will host a discussion with Alaska Legislative Digest Publisher Tim Bradner, KNBA News Producer Rhonda McBride, and Alaska Public Media State Government Reporter Eric Stone to provide some context for the speech.
Watch live Gavel Alaska coverage of the discussion and Dunleavy’s speech on KTOO 360TV or li]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-gov-dunleavy-delivers-2026-state-of-the-state-address/Fri, 23 Jan 2026 03:30:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-gov-dunleavy-delivers-2026-state-of-the-state-address/ In this newscast:19-year-old Kake resident Jade Williams was killed at a party in 2017. On Wednesday, more than eight years later, the main suspect in the case was sentenced for causing her death,
The City and Borough of Juneau is seeking feedback about how the community wants the Assembly to prioritize city funds as it faces a recurring multi-million-dollar budget deficit beginning July 1st,
Young commercial fishermen fr]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-jan-22-2026/Fri, 23 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-jan-22-2026/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/22budgetsurvey.wav
The Juneau Assembly is bracing for a tough budget season in the coming months. 
That’s because during last fall’s municipal election, Juneau voters approved municipal tax cuts that created a multimillion-dollar recurring hole in the city’s budget.
The city’s next fiscal year begins on July 1 of t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-city-survey-seeks-public-feedback-as-juneau-faces-multimillion-dollar-budget-hole/Fri, 23 Jan 2026 02:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-city-survey-seeks-public-feedback-as-juneau-faces-multimillion-dollar-budget-hole/ Seventeen-year-old Quinn Branch was among the young fishermen socializing at the Hangar on the Wharf ballroom in downtown Juneau on Tuesday evening as part of the Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit.Branch traveled to the summit from Kodiak because she said her dream is to spend the rest of her life setnetting on the Island. 
“So my grandpa, who I’ve been fi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/from-taxes-to-policy-young-commercial-fishermen-gather-in-juneau-to-gain-industry-knowledge/Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:37:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/from-taxes-to-policy-young-commercial-fishermen-gather-in-juneau-to-gain-industry-knowledge/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/11th-annual-board-game-convention-platypus-con-plus-new-website-from-the-city-and-borough-of-juneau-seeks-feedback-on-commuity-budget-values/Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/11th-annual-board-game-convention-platypus-con-plus-new-website-from-the-city-and-borough-of-juneau-seeks-feedback-on-commuity-budget-values/ Two Alaska school districts filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Anchorage Superior Court against the state, its governor and its education commissioner over what they say is a long-running failure to adequately fund public education.
In the complaint, the Kus]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/in-lawsuit-2-school-districts-say-alaska-fails-to-meet-its-constitutional-obligation-on-public-education/Thu, 22 Jan 2026 22:49:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/in-lawsuit-2-school-districts-say-alaska-fails-to-meet-its-constitutional-obligation-on-public-education/ As the deadline for public comment approaches, the Alaska Federation of Natives is pulling out all the stops to block a national sport hunting and fishing group’s push to reform the federal subsistence board.
This comes after Safari Club International successfully petitioned the U.S. Interior and Agriculture Departments to review federal subsistence management policies.
Last month, the Interior D]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/afn-rallies-against-safari-club-international-federal-subsistence-management-proposals/Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/afn-rallies-against-safari-club-international-federal-subsistence-management-proposals/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he’ll soon propose a statewide sales tax as part of his larger plan to stabilize the state’s finances.
“There will be a temporary, seasonal sales tax concept put forth for discussion with the Legislature,” Dunleavy said during a cabinet meeting livestreamed on his Facebook page]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-says-his-fiscal-plan-will-include-a-temporary-seasonal-sales-tax/Thu, 22 Jan 2026 08:12:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-says-his-fiscal-plan-will-include-a-temporary-seasonal-sales-tax/ In this newscast:An Alaska foster youth advocacy organization is suing the state Office of Children’s Services for allegedly failing to provide food and necessities for older youth in their care.
Governor Mike Dunleavy says he’ll soon propose a statewide sales tax as part of his larger plan to stabilize the state’s finances.
KTOO’s Alix Soliman speaks with Alaska’s acting regional forester Je]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-jan-21-2026/Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-jan-21-2026/ More than eight years after 19-year-old Kake resident Jade Williams was killed at a party, a man has been sentenced for causing her death. 
On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Marianna Carpeneti sentenced 33-year-old Isaac Friday to 20 years in prison for manslaughter. Friday has already spent several years in prison since his 2019 arrest. The judge suspended the remaining years of the sentence. 
Instead of serving more time in prison, Friday]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/man-sentenced-for-2017-death-of-kake-woman/Thu, 22 Jan 2026 02:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/man-sentenced-for-2017-death-of-kake-woman/ An Alaska foster youth advocacy organization is suing the state Office of Children’s Services for allegedly failing to provide food and necessities for older youth in their care.
The lawsuit by Facing Foster Care in Alaska claims foster youth placed in shelters or college dormitories don’t receive enough money for food or basic needs like they would if they were in]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/foster-youth-organization-sues-ocs-for-alleged-lack-of-food-and-necessities/Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/foster-youth-organization-sues-ocs-for-alleged-lack-of-food-and-necessities/ With the second regular session of the 34th Alaska Legislature just kicking off, it’s a good time to check in with members of Juneau’s delegation to talk priorities and plans for the session. Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau) spoke with KTOO’s Mike Lane last week just before the session started. 
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20RepHannan.wav
The]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-rep-sara-hannan-talks-about-what-a-successful-session-looks-like/Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:52:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-rep-sara-hannan-talks-about-what-a-successful-session-looks-like/ The Alaska Legislature is back in session. Lawmakers in the House and Senate gaveled in this afternoon.
At the Capitol Tuesday, the atmosphere was a bit like the first day of school — lots of smiles and hugs, some what-did-you-do-this-summers. Blue delphinium]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawmakers-return-to-juneau-with-four-months-to-address-a-packed-agenda/Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:46:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawmakers-return-to-juneau-with-four-months-to-address-a-packed-agenda/ In this newscast:After more than a year of negotiations, the Anchorage School District and the local teachers’ union have come to a tentative contract agreement.
The Alaska Legislature is back in session.
With the second regular session of the 34th Alaska Legislature underway, KTOO is checking in with members of Juneau’s delegation to talk priorities and plans for the session.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-jan-20-2026/Wed, 21 Jan 2026 03:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-jan-20-2026/ In this newscast:After more than a year of negotiations, the Anchorage School District and the local teachers’ union have come to a tentative contract agreement.
The Alaska Legislature is back in session.
With the second regular session of the 34th Alaska Legislature underway, KTOO is checking in with members of Juneau’s delegation to talk priorities and plans for the session.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-jan-20-2026/Wed, 21 Jan 2026 03:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-jan-20-2026/ Alaska lost about a third of its U.S. Forest Service employees in the past year due to federal staffing cuts led by the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Before that, the agency had around 700 Alaska-based staff. This month, the agency told KTOO that 467 remain. 
Leading this workforce in flux is Jerry Ingersoll, the U.S. Forest Service’s acting regional for]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-period-of-change-at-the-forest-service-a-conversation-with-alaskas-acting-regional-forester/Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-period-of-change-at-the-forest-service-a-conversation-with-alaskas-acting-regional-forester/ After the dissolution of the state’s third-largest political party, the Alaska Division of Elections is sending out notices to the 19,117 members of the former Alaskan Independence Party, warning them to update their voter information.
“In the coming weeks, the DOE will inform the voters registered as a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-party-breaks-up-alaskan-independence-members-will-get-official-notice-from-state/Tue, 20 Jan 2026 23:33:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-party-breaks-up-alaskan-independence-members-will-get-official-notice-from-state/ WASHINGTON — National Democrats cheered when former Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola announced on Monday that she’s challenging U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Peltola, they said, gives Democrats a shot at winning a majority in the Senate.
But much more often than not, Alaska votes Republican in statewide races. Is it just wishful Democratic thinking that]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/democrats-say-peltola-can-win-alaskas-us-senate-seat-really-though/Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/democrats-say-peltola-can-win-alaskas-us-senate-seat-really-though/ Lawmakers return to the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday and, as always, they’ve got a long agenda to tackle, from health care and energy to the state’s persistent budget struggles.
Alaska Public Media’s state government reporter, Eric Stone, will be tracking the session in Juneau. He joined Wesley Early on Alaska News Ni]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-return-to-juneau-on-tuesday-heres-what-to-expect/Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-lawmakers-return-to-juneau-on-tuesday-heres-what-to-expect/ Stomping through stubborn, crunchy January snow, Dr. Jennifer Pierce made her way recently to a new Anchorage Fire Department vehicle. It might look like a simple SUV, but it’s equipped as a new mobile unit that – for the first time – will allow emergency resp]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-first-on-site-addiction-treatment-for-those-who-overdose-launches-with-pilot-programs/Mon, 19 Jan 2026 19:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-first-on-site-addiction-treatment-for-those-who-overdose-launches-with-pilot-programs/ Landslides, storm-driven floods, infrastruct]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/proposed-surcharge-on-oil-would-help-pay-for-responses-to-climate-related-disasters-in-alaska/Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/proposed-surcharge-on-oil-would-help-pay-for-responses-to-climate-related-disasters-in-alaska/ In this newscast:The Juneau School Board held off returning about $1 million in funding earmarked for childcare to the City and Borough of Juneau amid questions about the current privately-run program,
Alaska’s capital city will soon have a new fire chief,
A local master Chilkat and Ravenstail weaver has been awarded a national fellowship that bolsters culture and tradition across the United States,
Martin Luther Ki]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-16-2026/Sat, 17 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-16-2026/ In this newscast:The Juneau School Board held off returning about $1 million in funding earmarked for childcare to the City and Borough of Juneau amid questions about the current privately-run program,
Alaska’s capital city will soon have a new fire chief,
A local master Chilkat and Ravenstail weaver has been awarded a national fellowship that bolsters culture and tradition across the United States,
Martin Luther Ki]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-16-2025/Sat, 17 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-16-2025/ “Gestures of Our Rebel Bodies” exhibition opening at Aan Hít on Saturday, February 24. A panel presentation is set for Thursday, February 22. Co-curators Ursala Hudson and Kimberly Fulton Orozco prev]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gestures-of-our-rebel-bodies-exhibition-curators-explore-tradition-in-motion-with-indigenous-artists-from-across-the-northwest-coast/Sat, 17 Jan 2026 02:44:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gestures-of-our-rebel-bodies-exhibition-curators-explore-tradition-in-motion-with-indigenous-artists-from-across-the-northwest-coast/ Alaska’s capital city will soon have a new fire chief. 
The City and Borough of Juneau named Thomas Hatley as Capital City Fire/Rescue’s new fire chief on Friday afternoon. His first day will be Feb. 9. 
He was one of the two finalists for the position to replace longtime fire chief Rich Etheridge, who retired at th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-and-borough-of-juneau-announces-new-fire-chief/Sat, 17 Jan 2026 02:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-and-borough-of-juneau-announces-new-fire-chief/ The Juneau School Board held off on returning $1.05 million in funding earmarked for child care to the City and Borough of Juneau this week amid questions about the current privately-run program and the possibility of an additional operator in the future.
Board Vice President Elizabeth Siddon said at a meeting Tuesday she still has questions around how things are going with Auke Lake Preschool, like the statu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-delays-returning-1-million-to-the-city-due-to-questions-about-after-school-child-care/Sat, 17 Jan 2026 02:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-delays-returning-1-million-to-the-city-due-to-questions-about-after-school-child-care/ Hundreds of health care workers and government officials descended on Anchorage this week for the kickoff of a five-year, $1.3 billion program aimed at reimagining medical care across Alaska.
The money comes from the Rural Health Transformation Program created by President Trump’s signature tax- and spending-cut legislat]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-kicks-off-billion-dollar-effort-to-transform-rural-health-care/Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:19:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-kicks-off-billion-dollar-effort-to-transform-rural-health-care/ Martin Luther King Jr. Day is coming up on Monday.It’s a day to remember the legacy of the famous civil rights leader and a national day of service, and local organizations and volunteers will]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mlk-day-events-in-juneau-celebrate-kings-legacy-of-activism/Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mlk-day-events-in-juneau-celebrate-kings-legacy-of-activism/ The Gastineau Channel Historical Society, which manages the Sentinel Island Lighthouse, has teamed up with Alaska Brewing Company for an event on Thursday, January 22, called “Hops & History.” Gary Gillette, Renee Hughes, and Amanda Breslow preview the event and the history and mystique of lighthouses.The 3rd Annual ChoiceFest, featuring films and a guest speaker/filmmaker, Asha Dahya, is scheduled for Friday, January 16, at Cen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/choicefest-welcomes-guest-filmmaker-asha-dahya-sentinal-lighthouse-event-lsquohops-amp-historyrsquo/Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/choicefest-welcomes-guest-filmmaker-asha-dahya-sentinal-lighthouse-event-lsquohops-amp-historyrsquo/ An Alaska Superior Court judge has ruled that a state law limiting live shows at breweries, distilleries and wineries in Alaska is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment and the Alaska Constitution’s protections for free speech.
Judge Adolf Zeman issued his decision Wednesday in a two-year-o]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/anchorage-judge-overturns-state-law-limiting-live-music-at-breweries-and-distilleries/Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/anchorage-judge-overturns-state-law-limiting-live-music-at-breweries-and-distilleries/ The Alaska Court of Appeals took up the case of a Whittier woman Thursday who was indicted in 2023 on felony charges of voter misconduct.
Like others born in American Samoa, Tupe Smith is a U.S. national but not a U.S. citizen. Smith says she thoug]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-appeals-court-takes-up-american-samoa-born-womans-voter-misconduct-case/Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-appeals-court-takes-up-american-samoa-born-womans-voter-misconduct-case/ In this newscast:The Juneau School District Board of Education agreed to approve the $180,000 in funding to help pay for a new playground at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus in Lemon Creek,
Southeast Alaska’s largest tribe has earned nearly $40 million from U.S. Navy contracts in Guantanamo Bay,
KTOO is checking in with members of Juneau’s legislative delegation to talk priorities, predictions, and plans for t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-jan-15-2026/Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-jan-15-2026/ The Juneau School District Board of Education agreed to approve up to $180,000 dollars in funding to help pay for a new playground at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus in Lemon Creek.
During a special meeting Thursday, board members agreed to pull the money from an afterschool child care fund to match a foundation’s grant toward the project. The child ca]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dzantiki-heeni-playground-inches-toward-reality-following-school-board-funding-approval/Fri, 16 Jan 2026 02:40:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dzantiki-heeni-playground-inches-toward-reality-following-school-board-funding-approval/ Local master Chilkat and Ravenstail weaver Lily Hope has been awarded a national fellowship that bolsters culture and tradition across the United States.She is one of the United States Artists awardees for 2026, which means she gets $50,000 toward her work with no strings attached. 
“It’s a wild gift to have somebody just hand you some money and say, ‘Do what you will,’” she said. “There is absolutely zero]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-weaver-receives-national-fellowship-with-50000-attached/Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-weaver-receives-national-fellowship-with-50000-attached/ The Juneau Bar Association, in conjunction with the Alaska Bar Association, is hosting its annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Legal Aid Clinic at two locations in Juneau. Check the Alaska Bar Association website for details.AWARE is offering a 10-week relationship course specifically designed for partners to strengthen their bond before challenges arise. The course begins January 22. Information and sign-up are available at the AWARE website.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/local-bar-association-offering-free-legal-help-sessions-on-mlk-holiday-aware-looking-for-couples-for-10-week-relationship-course-mudrooms-2nd-annual-adult-only-event/Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/local-bar-association-offering-free-legal-help-sessions-on-mlk-holiday-aware-looking-for-couples-for-10-week-relationship-course-mudrooms-2nd-annual-adult-only-event/ With the second regular session of the 34th Alaska Legislature beginning on Tuesday, it’s a good time to check in with members of Juneau’s delegation to talk priorities, predictions and plans for the session.
Sen. Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) spoke with KTOO’s Mike Lane about what he expects to see this year.
https://media.k]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/priorities-predictions-and-plans-going-into-the-legislative-session-with-juneaus-sen-jesse-kiehl/Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/priorities-predictions-and-plans-going-into-the-legislative-session-with-juneaus-sen-jesse-kiehl/ With the second regular session of the 34th Alaska Legislature beginning on Tuesday, it’s a good time to check in with members of Juneau’s delegation to talk priorities, predictions and plans for the session.
Sen. Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) spoke with KTOO’s Mike Lane about what he expects to see this year.
https://media.k]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/priorities-predictions-and-plans-going-into-the-legislative-session-with-juneau-sen-jesse-kiehl/Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/priorities-predictions-and-plans-going-into-the-legislative-session-with-juneau-sen-jesse-kiehl/ The state Department of Natural Resources is moving forward with its effort to overhaul the longstanding plan that dictates how it manages one of Alaska’s three state forests.
Agency staff are in Haines this week to meet with a range of local groups to solicit input for the new roadmap, which would open the entire Haines State Forest to loggin]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-seeks-input-for-plan-to-boost-logging-in-haines/Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:30:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-seeks-input-for-plan-to-boost-logging-in-haines/ WASHINGTON — Sen. Lisa Murkowski was among a group of senators who met with the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland Wednesday, trying to provide an assurance that they couldn’t get from the White House: That Greenland is safe from a U.S. military incursion.
“I think it’s important to]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-wants-to-reassure-denmark-but-its-not-clear-congress-is-with-her/Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-wants-to-reassure-denmark-but-its-not-clear-congress-is-with-her/ Southeast Alaska’s largest tribe has earned nearly $40 million from U.S. Navy contracts in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba – money some tribal members are concerned comes from supporting immigrant detention. 
While tribal corporation leadership says their operations are separate from the detention center on the mil]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tlingit-and-haida-tribal-members-concerned-by-tribal-government-corporation-presence-in-guantanamo-bay/Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tlingit-and-haida-tribal-members-concerned-by-tribal-government-corporation-presence-in-guantanamo-bay/ Residents living in avalanche-prone downtown neighborhoods got the all-clear to return home Wednesday after the city lifted its last remaining evacuation advisory this morning. 
Mary Amor was finally preparing to leave Juneau’s emergency shelter at Centennial Hall. She’s been staying there with her brother since last Friday, when the city issued an evacuation advisory for resident]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/residents-in-avalanche-zones-return-home-after-juneau-clears-last-evacuation-advisory/Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/residents-in-avalanche-zones-return-home-after-juneau-clears-last-evacuation-advisory/ Alaska’s congressional delegation introduced legislation Wednesday that aims to reduce bycatch in parts of southwest Alaska using better marine data, technology and gear.
The Bycatch Reduction and Research Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. Dan Sullivan, Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Nick Begich, would address research gaps in en]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newly-proposed-legislation-aims-to-curb-alaska-bycatch/Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newly-proposed-legislation-aims-to-curb-alaska-bycatch/ In this newscast:Residents living in avalanche-prone downtown neighborhoods got the all-clear to return home today after the city lifted its last remaining evacuation advisory this morning,
Avalanche risk rose over the weekend, as more snow and then rain pounded Juneau. Meanwhile, staff at the city’s emergency warming shelter for unhoused residents relocated operations three times in two days,
A Juneau-born athlete]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-jan-14-2026/Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-jan-14-2026/ The Alaska House of Representatives will have two new faces when lawmakers return next week for the start of the legislative session. Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed Mat-Su Republicans Steve St. Clair and Garret Nelson to fill two open seats in the state House.
So, who are these two new lawmakers, and what do they hope to accomplish]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/the-freshmen-two-new-mat-su-republicans-prepare-for-their-first-session/Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/the-freshmen-two-new-mat-su-republicans-prepare-for-their-first-session/ A Juneau-born athlete is headed to Italy next month to represent Team USA’s biathlon team in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. 
Last month, 24-year-old Maxime Germain made the team for the event that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. 
This week, Germain spoke to KTOO from Germany, where he’s racing in the Biathlon World Cup. He said he&rs]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-juneau-born-athlete-is-headed-to-the-2026-olympic-winter-games/Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:23:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-juneau-born-athlete-is-headed-to-the-2026-olympic-winter-games/ Avalanche risk rose over the weekend as more snow and then rain pounded Juneau. Meanwhile, staff at the city’s emergency warming shelter for unhoused residents relocated operations three times in two days.
When the city issued evacuation advisories for high risk areas of town on Friday, it said the shelter along Thane Road was too close to historic avalanche paths to stay put, said St. Vincent de Pau]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/why-juneaus-warming-shelter-moved-multiple-times-during-the-avalanche-advisory/Wed, 14 Jan 2026 03:39:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/why-juneaus-warming-shelter-moved-multiple-times-during-the-avalanche-advisory/ In this newscast:An evacuation advisory remains in effect for Juneau’s Behrends avalanche path downtown for a fifth day, but now the City & Borough of Juneau’s evacuation alert is using more urgent language,
The cost to move Juneau’s City Hall is coming in millions of dollars higher than expected,
A 10-year-old Bethel cold case murder spotlights faults in Alaska justice system,
The United States Supr]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-jan-13-2026/Wed, 14 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-jan-13-2026/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/afro-mermaids-healing-our-relationship-with-water/Wed, 14 Jan 2026 02:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/afro-mermaids-healing-our-relationship-with-water/ Some of Alaska’s largest pollock processors are abandoning a foreign worker visa program that once supplied up to half their workforce, citing rising costs and uncertainty under stricter immigration policies.
Tom Enlow is the president and CEO of UniSea Seafoods, Unalaska’s largest seafood processor. He said the company is moving away from the H-2B visas to save money on an inconsistent system.
“The H-2B]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-pollock-processors-drop-foreign-worker-program-citing-uncertainty/Wed, 14 Jan 2026 02:23:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-pollock-processors-drop-foreign-worker-program-citing-uncertainty/ The cost to move Juneau’s City Hall is coming in millions of dollars higher than expected.
According to the city administration, it’s expected to cost $20.5 million to purchase, renovate and move into two floors of the Michael J. Burns building, which houses the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation downtown. The floors are slated to become Junea]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-city-hall-move-will-cost-millions-more-than-expected/Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-city-hall-move-will-cost-millions-more-than-expected/ The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the state of Alaska’s latest attempt to alter Alaska’s decades-old system of subsistence fishing management.
In a one-sentence order Monday, the court said it will not review a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled in August that Alaska cannot manage fishing on a st]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-supreme-court-declines-to-hear-case-that-could-have-upended-alaska-subsistence-fishing/Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-supreme-court-declines-to-hear-case-that-could-have-upended-alaska-subsistence-fishing/ An avalanche evacuation advisory remains in effect for one neighborhood that sits beneath Mount Juneau in Alaska’s capital city. And now, for the first time, the city is using a radar detection system to track avalanches that rumble down the mountain, thanks to state money freed up by the city and tribe’s disaster declaration last week. 
Severin Staehly]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mount-juneau-gets-new-radar-avalanche-detection-system-as-behrends-path-remains-under-evacuation-advisory/Tue, 13 Jan 2026 03:23:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mount-juneau-gets-new-radar-avalanche-detection-system-as-behrends-path-remains-under-evacuation-advisory/ In this newscast:An atmospheric river struck Juneau over the weekend, after previous back-to-back storms buried the city in several feet of snow,
The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently launched a new foundation,
For the first time, Juneau is using a radar detection system to track avalanches that rumble down the mountain, thanks to state money freed up by the city and tribe’s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-jan-12-2026/Tue, 13 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-jan-12-2026/ The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently launched a new foundation. Its main goal right now is to fundraise for a new education campus in Juneau. 
The tribe announced the formation of the Tlingit & Haida Foundation last month. Jamie Gomez is the executive director of the nonprofit.&nb]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tlingit-and-haida-launches-nonprofit-to-fund-new-90m-tribal-education-campus-in-juneau/Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tlingit-and-haida-launches-nonprofit-to-fund-new-90m-tribal-education-campus-in-juneau/ The state of Alaska is preparing to give away millions of dollars worth of gravel to public corporations, a move that would amount to millions of dollars in assistance to some of the state’s biggest construction projects.
According to a Q&A posted by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the beneficiaries could include the proposed Ambler Access Pro]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-offers-free-rocks-and-dirt-helping-big-state-backed-construction-projects/Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-offers-free-rocks-and-dirt-helping-big-state-backed-construction-projects/ WASHINGTON — Democrat Mary Peltola announced Monday that she’s running for U.S. Senate, taking on Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Peltola served one partial and one full term in the U.S. House, becoming the first Alaska Native person elected to Congress. She then narrowly lost her seat in 2024.
Her announcement Monday c]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mary-peltola-enters-alaska-us-senate-race/Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mary-peltola-enters-alaska-us-senate-race/ The start of Alaska’s annual legislative session is just over a week away. And there’s plenty on the agenda for lawmakers this year, from a possible gas pipeline to a plan to stabilize the state’s finances. But lawmakers have some other ideas they’d like to discuss in the next four months, too. Alaskans got their first look at a set of pre-filed bills ahead of this year&]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ahead-of-legislative-session-alaska-lawmakers-propose-big-changes-and-small-tweaks/Sat, 10 Jan 2026 03:20:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ahead-of-legislative-session-alaska-lawmakers-propose-big-changes-and-small-tweaks/ In this newscast:The City and Borough of Juneau issued an avalanche evacuation advisory for all residents in slide zones this morning. The advisory comes as an atmospheric river slams Juneau, after previous storms dumped several feet of snow,
As snow turned to rain in Juneau today, the city is warning residents that roads are beginning to flood, and the snow on roofs is getting heavier,
The City and Borough of Juneau has]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-9-2026/Sat, 10 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-9-2026/ Two small avalanches released on a slide path of Mount Juneau, above the Behrends neighborhood, as Ezra Strong was on a walk this morning in the pouring rain. 
The city issued an evacuation advisory about an hour earlier for Juneau residents in all known slide paths downtown and along Thane Road. Strong and his wife live on Gruening Avenue with their dog. He said he’s not heeding the]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/multiple-small-avalanches-release-in-juneau-after-city-issues-evacuation-advisory/Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:22:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/multiple-small-avalanches-release-in-juneau-after-city-issues-evacuation-advisory/ The City and Borough of Juneau has largely wrapped up shoveling on Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx — Glacier Valley Elementary School and began work on Mendenhall River Community School on Friday. 
This comes after record snowfall caused the district to close schools multiple times this week, including all scho]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/snow-removal-roof-monitoring-at-juneau-schools-continues-through-weekend/Fri, 09 Jan 2026 23:52:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/snow-removal-roof-monitoring-at-juneau-schools-continues-through-weekend/ The general manager of Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski Area has resigned and the chair of its board of directors has stepped down. Both departures were announced Thursday night during the ski area’s board of directors meeting.
Hannah Shively served as the board chair for less than six months. At the meeting, she said she was leaving the ro]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-areas-general-manager-resigns-board-chair-steps-down/Fri, 09 Jan 2026 22:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-areas-general-manager-resigns-board-chair-steps-down/ The U.S. House of Representatives voted 230-196 on Thursday to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years and reverse massive cost increases that went into effect with the new year.
The reversal must still be approved by the U.S. Senate and President Donald Trump before becoming effective.
Alaska’s lon]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-rep-nick-begich-votes-against-3-year-extension-of-federal-health-care-subsidies/Fri, 09 Jan 2026 20:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-rep-nick-begich-votes-against-3-year-extension-of-federal-health-care-subsidies/ A portion of a residential roof collapsed Thursday in Juneau under the weight of several feet of snow that fell over the past few weeks. 
Tracey Muir was born and raised in Juneau and bought the house in Mendenhall Valley a little over a year ago. He was inside when the roof gave way.
“This morning, I heard crackling, came and took a peek, and it was]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/part-of-residential-roof-collapses-under-snow-in-mendenhall-valley/Fri, 09 Jan 2026 03:30:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/part-of-residential-roof-collapses-under-snow-in-mendenhall-valley/ In this newscast:The City of Hoonah declared a local emergency earlier this week following heavy snowstorms in the region.
As the state of Alaska responds to Juneau’s disaster declaration, the capital city is bracing for heavy rain and potential flooding from an atmospheric river expected to hit Southeast late Thursday night.
Students and staff at Mendenhall River Community School were evacuated from the elemen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-jan-8-2026/Fri, 09 Jan 2026 03:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-jan-8-2026/ Juneau Animal Rescue‘s animal control officers, Director Jordan Bales and Officer Jacob Miller, share details and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/spruce-root-offering-master-class-for-entrepreneurs-juneau-animal-rescue-on-licensing-and-vaccination-and-death-with-dessert-death-on-a-ranch-from-true-crime-alaska/Fri, 09 Jan 2026 02:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/spruce-root-offering-master-class-for-entrepreneurs-juneau-animal-rescue-on-licensing-and-vaccination-and-death-with-dessert-death-on-a-ranch-from-true-crime-alaska/ The public comment period for phase 1 of the controversial Cascade Point Ferry Terminal in Juneau closes tomorrow, Jan. 9. 
The state’s proposed ferry terminal would be located about 30 miles north of the Auke Bay ferry terminal, on land owned by Goldbelt Incorporated, an Alaska Native Corporation. The project is slated to cost tens of millions of dollars]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/public-comment-period-for-proposed-cascade-point-ferry-terminal-closes-friday/Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:40:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/public-comment-period-for-proposed-cascade-point-ferry-terminal-closes-friday/ The City of Hoonah declared a local emergency this week following heavy snowstorms in the region. 
On Tuesday night, the Hoonah City Council unanimously approved a disaster declaration, which opens the door for the Southeast community to request aid from the state. Gov. Mike Dunleavy approved the declaration Thursday morning. 
Hoonah’s City Administrator, Dennis Gray Jr., says the small community on C]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hoonah-declares-local-disaster-following-back-to-back-storms-in-southeast-alaska/Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hoonah-declares-local-disaster-following-back-to-back-storms-in-southeast-alaska/ The “Simple Loving Kindness – Art Inspired by Meditation” exhibit will be happening at the JAHC Gallery in March 2026. The group is looking for artists to be a part of the exhibit and participate in optional mediation group sessions. Nancy Caracand and Darcy Lockhart share more about the process. Find out more at the website: slkart.org.Juneau Audubon Society‘s planned January 8th lecture is canceled, but Brenda Wrigh]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/upcoming-simple-loving-kindness-art-show-seeks-artists-inspired-by-meditation/Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/upcoming-simple-loving-kindness-art-show-seeks-artists-inspired-by-meditation/ Update, Thursday 5 p.m.:
As of Thursday afternoon, Juneau School District Chief of Staff Kristen Bartlett said the district hasn’t received information that more schools need to be closed for snow removal. She said the city’s engineering team is monitoring schools daily, and that decisions are made on a day-to-day basis.
“It’s a balancing act of making sure that we&rsqu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mendenhall-river-community-school-evacuated-due-to-concerns-over-gym-roof-closed-friday/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:18:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mendenhall-river-community-school-evacuated-due-to-concerns-over-gym-roof-closed-friday/ Students and staff at Mendenhall River Community School were evacuated from the elementary school Thursday morning due to growing concern about the snow load on the gym roof. 
In a news release, the Juneau School District said everyone inside the school is being relocated to Thunder Mountain Middle School “out of an abundance of caution” and that &ldq]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mendenhall-river-community-school-evacuated-due-to-concerns-over-gym-roof/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:18:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mendenhall-river-community-school-evacuated-due-to-concerns-over-gym-roof/ Avalanche professionals are warning backcountry adventurers to stay out of risky terrain after snow slammed the Upper Lynn Canal in late December.
National Weather Service data shows the storm dumped at least 44 inches of snow in Haines, making it the sixth snowiest five-day period in more than two decades. Other reports documented closer to six or seven feet.
“It was d]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ticking-time-bomb-extreme-snowfall-fuels-avalanche-danger-around-haines/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 22:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ticking-time-bomb-extreme-snowfall-fuels-avalanche-danger-around-haines/ A national support line for Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault has begun work to launch an Alaska-specific service.
Strong Hearts Native Helpline is a Native-led nonprofit that offers 24-hour, seven-day-a-week support for anonymous and confidential calls from people who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.
The line is staffed by Native advoca]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/national-native-helpline-for-domestic-violence-and-sexual-assault-to-open-alaska-specific-service/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 20:38:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/national-native-helpline-for-domestic-violence-and-sexual-assault-to-open-alaska-specific-service/ The City and Borough of Juneau will hold another briefing at 10:30 a.m. today about avalanche risk and ongoing storm response. City, state and tribal staff will share information and the National Weather Service will provide an update. Tune in live on the radio 104.3 FM or 91.7 FM or watch here.
Thane Road currently remains closed at the avalanche gates.
The Juneau Arts and Culture Center will be closed today in order to serve as a supplemental emergency shelter if n]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-live-updates-on-juneaus-avalanche-evacuation-alert-for-downtown-slide-paths/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-live-updates-on-juneaus-avalanche-evacuation-alert-for-downtown-slide-paths/ The City and Borough of Juneau will hold another briefing at 10:30 a.m. today about avalanche risk and ongoing storm response. City, state and tribal staff will share information and the National Weather Service will provide an update. Tune in live on the radio 104.3 FM or 91.7 FM or watch here.
Thane Road currently remains closed at the avalanche gates.
The Juneau Arts and Culture Center will be closed today in order to serve as a supplemental emergency shelter if n]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-live-updates-on-juneaus-avalanche-evacuation-alert/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-live-updates-on-juneaus-avalanche-evacuation-alert/ An avalanche evacuation alert has been issued for all downtown Juneau residents in slide zones. An emergency shelter is being set up at Centennial Hall in downtown Juneau.
“This evacuation advisory is made with the safety of Juneau residents in mind,” the alert from the City and Borough of Juneau reads. “This decision is not made lightly and CBJ realizes that evacuating under extreme weather conditions may be difficult. Again, the safety of Juneau resid]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-live-officials-provide-updates-as-juneau-issues-avalanche-evacuation-alert-for-downtown-slide-paths/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-live-officials-provide-updates-as-juneau-issues-avalanche-evacuation-alert-for-downtown-slide-paths/ The City and Borough of Juneau will hold another briefing at 10:30 a.m. today about avalanche risk and ongoing storm response. City, state and tribal staff will share information and the National Weather Service will provide an update. Tune in live on the radio 104.3 FM or 91.7 FM or watch here.
Thane Road currently remains closed at the avalanche gates.
The Juneau Arts and Culture Center will be closed today in order to serve as a supplemental emergency shelter if n]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/updates-on-juneaus-avalanche-evacuation-alert-and-storm-response/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/updates-on-juneaus-avalanche-evacuation-alert-and-storm-response/ Update, Saturday 1:15 p.m.
Juneau continues to face flooding and avalanches, with more rain expected Saturday.
Aaron Jacobs, senior service hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Juneau, said the weather pattern the city has seen — with record-breaking early-season snowfall followed by warmer temperatures and rain — is uncommon for Juneau.
“These are]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/updates-as-unprecedented-weather-causes-flooding-avalanches-in-juneau/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/updates-as-unprecedented-weather-causes-flooding-avalanches-in-juneau/ Capital Transit has suspended service along Glacier Highway in areas in the avalanche zone.
Update, 11 a.m.:
An avalanche evacuation alert has been issued for all downtown Juneau residents in slide zones. An emergency shelter is being set up at Centennial Hall in downtown Juneau.
“This evacuation advisory is made with the safety of Juneau residents in mind,” the alert from the City and Borough of Juneau reads. “This decision is not made lightly and CBJ real]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/live-updates-as-juneau-issues-avalanche-evacuation-alert-for-downtown-slide-paths/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/live-updates-as-juneau-issues-avalanche-evacuation-alert-for-downtown-slide-paths/ Update, Friday 10 a.m.:
The City and Borough of Juneau will hold a presentation at 11:30 a.m. about avalanche risk and ongoing storm response.
City, state and tribal staff will share information and the National Weather Service will provide an update. Tune in live on the radio 104.3 FM or 91.7 FM or watch here.
Update, Thursday 6:45 p.m.:
All Juneau schools are closed Frida]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/live-updates-as-juneau-braces-for-another-storm-amid-disaster-declaration/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/live-updates-as-juneau-braces-for-another-storm-amid-disaster-declaration/ As the state of Alaska responds to Juneau’s disaster declaration, the capital city is bracing for heavy rain and potential flooding from an atmospheric river expected to hit Southeast late Thursday night. 
This comes after back-to-back snowstorms dumped more than four feet of snow on Juneau. The city and tribal governments issued a joint disaster declaration Tues]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-braces-for-another-storm-as-state-coordinates-disaster-assistance/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-braces-for-another-storm-as-state-coordinates-disaster-assistance/ The Juneau School District plans to close at least two schools to remove snow on the buildings’ roofs following recent record-breaking snowstorms. 
The district closed Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary first and reopened the rest of its schools Wednesday, following district-wide]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-closes-elementary-school-for-snow-removal-as-precaution-for-additional-snow-and-rain/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-closes-elementary-school-for-snow-removal-as-precaution-for-additional-snow-and-rain/ Juneau’s Fred Meyer store closed yet again on Wednesday amid concerns about the heavy snow load on the roof following recent record-breaking snowstorms and cold temperatures. 
The closure began Tuesday evening when shoppers reported on social media that they were evacuated from the building. 
Tiffany Sanders, a spokesperson for Fred Meyer, said the clos]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/fred-meyer-other-juneau-businesses-close-doors-amid-snow-load-concerns/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/fred-meyer-other-juneau-businesses-close-doors-amid-snow-load-concerns/ City, state and tribal staff shared information about the ongoing snowstorm response and the National Weather Service provided an update on the heavy rain expected to arrive later this week.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-local-officials-share-information-on-juneau-disaster-response/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-local-officials-share-information-on-juneau-disaster-response/ City and tribal staff will share information about the ongoing snowstorm response and the National Weather Service will provide an update on the heavy rain expected to arrive later this week.
Tune in live here on the radio or watch live at ktoo.org starting at 4 p.m.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-city-tribe-share-information-on-local-disaster-response-during-4-pm-briefing/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/watch-city-tribe-share-information-on-local-disaster-response-during-4-pm-briefing/ City and tribal staff will share information about the ongoing snowstorm response and the National Weather Service will provide an update on the heavy rain expected to arrive later this week.
Tune in live on the radio or watch here starting at 4 p.m.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/live-now-local-officials-share-information-on-juneau-disaster-response-during-4-pm-briefing/Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/live-now-local-officials-share-information-on-juneau-disaster-response-during-4-pm-briefing/ A drop in new and existing jobs is forecast in Southeast Alaska this year due to federal layoffs, funding cuts and steady population decline in the region, according to a recent report released by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Economist Dan Robinson heads the state’s labor research department. He said the region is ex]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/report-shows-negative-job-growth-in-southeast-due-to-federal-layoffs-population-decline/Wed, 07 Jan 2026 23:09:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/report-shows-negative-job-growth-in-southeast-due-to-federal-layoffs-population-decline/ On Jan. 4, Bethel resident Shane Iverson said that he was shocked when he stepped up to the Alaska Airlines counter at the Anchorage airport to check in for his flight home.
“I had two kids. We each had three items to check in, so nine items. I was sitting there with a ton of boxes and luggage when they told me they were gonna have to charge me for most of it,” Iverson said.
It was a surprising bill that Iverson and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-airlines-works-to-fix-issue-that-left-club-49-members-with-hefty-baggage-fees/Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:27:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-airlines-works-to-fix-issue-that-left-club-49-members-with-hefty-baggage-fees/ Future assessments of U.S. landslide hazards could include the study of risks posed by atmospheric rivers, which caused extreme precipitation]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/landslide-bill-puts-new-focus-on-atmospheric-rivers-like-those-that-triggered-deadly-alaska-events/Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:47:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/landslide-bill-puts-new-focus-on-atmospheric-rivers-like-those-that-triggered-deadly-alaska-events/ City and tribal leaders in Juneau announced a disaster declaration last night.  
The declaration opens the doors for the city to request aid from the state. The mayor said that Gov. Mike Dunleavy has verbally approved the request and will send a state emergency management specialist Thursday.
Last week, the capital city was inundated with more than four feet of snow after prolon]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-approves-assistance-to-juneau-after-city-tribe-declare-disaster-following-record-snow/Wed, 07 Jan 2026 04:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-approves-assistance-to-juneau-after-city-tribe-declare-disaster-following-record-snow/ The City and Borough of Juneau and the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska announced a joint disaster declaration Tuesday evening following record-breaking snowstorms and cold temperatures. 
The declaration opens the doors for the city to request aid from the state. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has not announced whether he will approve the request. 
In a joint]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-tribal-leaders-in-juneau-declare-local-emergency-following-record-breaking-snowfall/Wed, 07 Jan 2026 04:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-tribal-leaders-in-juneau-declare-local-emergency-following-record-breaking-snowfall/ The roof of the Bill Ray Center, an empty building on F Street in downtown Juneau, collapsed Tuesday following back-to-back snowstorms and rain.
Although Tuesday’s rain has melted some of the several feet of snow that’s accumulated over more than a week, dripping roofs can still hold a lot of weight.  
The warm-up has also caused roadways to pool with]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-ray-center-roof-collapses-downtown-as-roof-shoveling-conditions-grow-more-dangerous/Wed, 07 Jan 2026 03:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bill-ray-center-roof-collapses-downtown-as-roof-shoveling-conditions-grow-more-dangerous/ In this newscast:Schools in Juneau were closed again today (TUES) as the capital city continues to dig out from successive snowstorms,
The roof of the Bill Ray Center, an empty building on F Street in downtown Juneau, collapsed today after back-to-back snowstorms,
Boxes of food, mail and late Christmas presents arrived by plane to the small Southeast Alaska fishing town of Pelican on New Year’s Day. The goods came a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-jan-6-2026/Wed, 07 Jan 2026 03:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-jan-6-2026/ Boxes of food, mail and late Christmas presents arrived by plane to the small Southeast Alaska fishing town of Pelican on New Year’s Day. The goods came after the isolated town went more than a month without access to outside services. 
From late November till New Year’s Day, the Chichigof Island town of Pelican relied completely on itself. Extreme weather this winter prevented any seaplanes and or]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pelican-finally-gets-supplies-after-going-a-month-without-ferries-or-seaplanes/Tue, 06 Jan 2026 23:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pelican-finally-gets-supplies-after-going-a-month-without-ferries-or-seaplanes/ Haines and Skagway have suffered through weeks of bitterly cold temperatures and several feet of snow.
Snowfall in Haines has been so heavy that residents are worried about roof loads. Community members are caring for each other in these extreme conditions with shovels and the Internet.
When the National Weather Service reported snow depth of 36 inches over the weekend, Haines resident Sheri Loomis started making a lis]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sustained-snow-and-cold-stretch-resources-of-northern-lynn-canal-residents-community-spirit-and-a-list-are-helping/Tue, 06 Jan 2026 22:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sustained-snow-and-cold-stretch-resources-of-northern-lynn-canal-residents-community-spirit-and-a-list-are-helping/ The commissioner of Alaska’s Department of Family and Community Services has departed that position to take a job with the Trump administration.
Kim Kovol has accepted a job with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced last week. Her last day working for the state was on Friday, and Tracy Dompeling, the department’s deputy comm]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-family-and-community-services-commissioner-leaves-state-post-for-trump-administration-job/Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:28:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-family-and-community-services-commissioner-leaves-state-post-for-trump-administration-job/ Dozens of Thunder Mountain Mobile Park residents weren’t able to use their showers or do laundry over the holidays and during recent snowstorms. 
Wright Services, the company that owns the park, said it won’t be able to repair the main water line until temperatures warm. And warm weather isn’t in the forecast any time soon. 
Tammy Jablonski]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/residents-at-a-mobile-home-park-in-juneau-go-weeks-without-adequate-water-pressure/Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:52:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/residents-at-a-mobile-home-park-in-juneau-go-weeks-without-adequate-water-pressure/ Residents of Juneau are living in a snow globe. Another winter storm began Sunday night, dropping more snow on top of the 4 feet that fell just after Christmas.  
City offices and facilities will remain closed Tuesday, as well as local schools.
During a break in the snow over the weekend, many residents prepared for the oncoming winter storm by digging out roofs, driveways and cars.&nbs]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/snowpocalypse-continues-as-juneau-runs-out-of-places-to-put-it-all-school-closed-again/Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:36:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/snowpocalypse-continues-as-juneau-runs-out-of-places-to-put-it-all-school-closed-again/ Residents of Juneau are living in a snow globe. Another winter storm began Sunday night, dropping more snow on top of the 4 feet that fell just after Christmas.  
During a break in the snow over the weekend, many residents prepared for the oncoming winter storm by digging out roofs, driveways and cars. 
As of Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service reported 6 inches to a foo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/snowpocalypse-continues-as-juneau-runs-out-of-places-to-put-it-all/Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:36:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/snowpocalypse-continues-as-juneau-runs-out-of-places-to-put-it-all/ Ski patrollers at Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood rescued a dog from a deep ravine last week that had been missing for 13 days.
Otis, who’s described as a friendly Bernese Mountain Dog who loves snacks, was reported missing on Dec. 17 from his home in Girdwood on Crystal Mountain Road.
Then, on Dec. 29, an Alyeska staff member heard a faint bark as they were head]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/girdwood-dog-missing-for-2-weeks-rescued-from-deep-alyeska-ravine/Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/girdwood-dog-missing-for-2-weeks-rescued-from-deep-alyeska-ravine/ In this newscast:The City and Borough of Juneau issued an avalanche alert via text this afternoon, telling residents in the Mount Juneau slide path to be prepared,
Residents of Juneau are living in a snow globe. Another winter storm began last night, dropping more snow on top of the four feet that fell just after Christmas,
Amid record-breaking snowfalls and unusually low temperatures, some residents in a mobile home pa]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-jan-5-2026/Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-jan-5-2026/ The City and Borough of Juneau issued an avalanche alert via text Monday afternoon, telling residents in the Mount Juneau slide path to be prepared.
It’s the second avalanche alert issued in the last week, as record-breaking snow blankets the community and the mountains above it.  
Ryan O’Shaughnessy, Juneau’s em]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-avalanche-alert-issued-for-behrends-white-neighborhoods-thane-road/Tue, 06 Jan 2026 01:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-avalanche-alert-issued-for-behrends-white-neighborhoods-thane-road/ U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski struck a note of skepticism in her reaction to Saturday’s military operation ousting Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro.
“While I am hopeful that this morning’s actions have made the world a safer place,” Murkowski wrote in a social media post Saturday, “the manner in which the United States conducts military operations, as well as the authority under which these operations]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trump-hasnt-provided-legal-basis-for-military-action-in-venezuela-murkowski-says/Mon, 05 Jan 2026 21:18:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/trump-hasnt-provided-legal-basis-for-military-action-in-venezuela-murkowski-says/ At least three Alaskans have died from complications of influenza so far this season, amid a surge in cases happening earlier than last year, according to state epidemiologists.
Alaska has seen about 1,100 reported flu cases so far this season, the state Health Department reported.
This flu season is dominated by a new variant of the flu virus, but getting th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-flu-cases-spike-causing-at-least-3-deaths-and-high-numbers-of-hospitalizations/Mon, 05 Jan 2026 19:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-flu-cases-spike-causing-at-least-3-deaths-and-high-numbers-of-hospitalizations/ More snow is on the way this week for Juneau and the rest of the panhandle, even as recovery from last week’s storm continues.
The Juneau School District announced Sunday night that school would be closed Monday. City offices are also closed, and the University of Alaska Southeast campus will operate remotely.National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Spann says communities fr]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/school-closed-as-another-winter-storm-brings-snow-potential-rain-mixture-to-juneau/Mon, 05 Jan 2026 03:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/school-closed-as-another-winter-storm-brings-snow-potential-rain-mixture-to-juneau/ More snow is on the way this week for Juneau and the rest of the panhandle, even as recovery from last week’s storm continues.
National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Spann says communities from Elfin Cove to Juneau can expect anywhere from 5 to 13 inches of new snow on Monday. The heaviest snow is expected mid-morning through the afternoon.
There’s a possibility for]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/another-winter-storm-will-bring-snow-potential-rain-mixture-to-juneau/Mon, 05 Jan 2026 03:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/another-winter-storm-will-bring-snow-potential-rain-mixture-to-juneau/ In this newscast:It’s a new year, but Juneau residents are still digging out from four feet of snow that fell earlier this week,
Thane Road is now open after being closed for two days due to avalanche risk,
Two Juneau artists spent this snowy Friday framing and mounting 18 block prints that correlate with myths — ones they wrote themselves,
In 2025 Alaskans experienced record-breaking heat on the North Slope]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-2-2026/Sat, 03 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-jan-2-2026/ The state ferry Lituya went aground on Tuesday at about 2:50 p.m. near Annette Bay in Southeast Alaska. The small ferry runs a daily shuttle service between Ketchikan and Metlakatla.
The brief grounding happened when the ferry left Annette Bay dock. It lasted less than a minute, according to Shannon McCarthy, a spokesperson with the Alaska De]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mv-lituya-back-sailing-on-a-limited-basis-after-brief-grounding/Sat, 03 Jan 2026 02:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mv-lituya-back-sailing-on-a-limited-basis-after-brief-grounding/ Two Juneau artists spent this snowy Friday framing and mounting 18 block prints that correlate with myths — ones they wrote themselves. 
The prints are a part of a show titled “My Mother’s Bones,” opening Friday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center.
Rachel Levy said thinking about folktales and their morals inspired the series. 
“Things you wouldn’t even consider my]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/first-friday-show-features-new-myths-written-and-illustrated-by-juneau-artists/Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/first-friday-show-features-new-myths-written-and-illustrated-by-juneau-artists/ Western Alaska residents who evacuated to Anchorage after the remnants of Typhoon Halong battered their villages are now moving out of city hotels and into temporary housing.
They’re looking forward to having more privacy, being able to cook for themselves and having more space, said Jeremy Zidek, publ]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/western-alaska-evacuees-in-anchorage-slowly-moving-to-temporary-housing/Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/western-alaska-evacuees-in-anchorage-slowly-moving-to-temporary-housing/ The Alaska Earthquake Center is in negotiations with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to restore funding for nine seismic stations.
In late September, NOAA advised the center it would no longer fund its real-time seismic data flow to the National Tsunami Warning Center, a service the federal organization had been funding for decades.
In a statement in mid-December, a NOAA spokesperson said the federal govern]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/negotiations-underway-to-keep-aleutian-seismic-stations-online/Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/negotiations-underway-to-keep-aleutian-seismic-stations-online/ It’s a new year, but Juneau residents are still digging out from four feet of snow that fell this week.
The heavy snow collapsed the roof of at least one Juneau business, and others have closed for snow removal. 
Fred Meyer closed early on Thursday and did not reopen on Friday morning. 
“Our Juneau Fred Meyer is temporarily closed to allow for sno]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/fred-meyer-closed-for-snow-removal-as-juneau-continues-to-dig-out/Fri, 02 Jan 2026 21:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/fred-meyer-closed-for-snow-removal-as-juneau-continues-to-dig-out/ For many, the New Year signals a fresh start. But for Alaskans, it also means it’s time to apply for the Permanent Fund dividend.
Applications for the 2026 PFD opened Thursday, with online filing starting at 9 a.m. Over 600,000 Alaskans receive the PFD each year, which is usually paid out in October.
It’s not yet clear how much the 2026 d]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hey-alaskans-its-time-to-file-for-your-pfd/Fri, 02 Jan 2026 19:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hey-alaskans-its-time-to-file-for-your-pfd/ The City and Borough of Juneau is warning residents about urban avalanches a bit differently this year in an effort to help residents in the downtown avalanche zone understand how they should respond to the danger. 
The city posted its new avalanche information webpage on Monday, the day before it issued an avalanche advisory for the Behrends neighborhood and Thane Road that remains in effect.&nb]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-updates-its-avalanche-messaging-as-snowstorm-smashes-local-records/Thu, 01 Jan 2026 03:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-updates-its-avalanche-messaging-as-snowstorm-smashes-local-records/ In this newscast:The City and Borough of Juneau is warning residents about urban avalanches a bit differently this year,
After Juneau residents helped raise more than $1 million this fall, a local boy with a rare genetic disease will be able to receive a potentially life-changing gene therapy in the New Year,
Alaska will get $272 million from the federal government next year to upgrade its rural health system,
For Alaskan]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-dec-31-2025/Thu, 01 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-dec-31-2025/ Like many people during the holiday season, Sitkan Gaylen Needham was planning on spending Christmas with her adult children, who planned to fly in from Pelican.
However, due to record snowfall, low visibility and cold temperatures, Pelican has been without seaplane access since Nov. 28, cutting the Southeast community of 91 people off from the rest of the region.
“We lived out there full time in the 70s, and we had hard winters out there th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/winter-weather-leaves-pelican-without-seaplane-ferry-access-for-weeks/Thu, 01 Jan 2026 02:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/winter-weather-leaves-pelican-without-seaplane-ferry-access-for-weeks/ After Juneau residents helped raise more than $1 million this fall, a local boy with a rare genetic disease will be able to receive a potentially life-changing gene therapy in the new year.
For the past two years, 4-year-old Cade Jobsisʼs mother Emma Jobsis has been raising money to allow scientists to restart clinical trials that previously showed promising results treating AP4 Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, or SPG50.&nb]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-childs-clinical-trial-set-to-proceed-in-new-year-after-community-raises-more-than-1-million/Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:47:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-childs-clinical-trial-set-to-proceed-in-new-year-after-community-raises-more-than-1-million/ Audio PodcastThe KTOO News team, from left to right: Yvonne Krumrey, Adelyn Baxter, Lisa Phu, Clarise Larson, Mike Lane, Jamie Diep, and Alix Soliman.The 2025 top five most-read stories on KTOO.org:Mendenhall Glacier has officially receded from Mendenhal]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/2025-ktoo-news-round-up-review/Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/2025-ktoo-news-round-up-review/ In this newscast:The city issued an alert this afternoon to residents living in downtown Juneau that avalanche conditions are elevated in the areas above Behrends Avenue and Thane Road,
City and state facilities remain closed again today after record-breaking snowfall in Juneau,
Chief Rich Etheridge is retiring from Capital City Fire/Rescue and his last day is tomorrow,
In a special feature highlighting some of KTOO&rsquo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-dec-30-2025/Wed, 31 Dec 2025 02:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-dec-30-2025/ The city issued an alert Tuesday afternoon to residents living in downtown Juneau that avalanche conditions are elevated in the areas above Behrends Avenue and Thane Road. 
The alert is not an evacuation advisory. But the city advises residents in the affected areas to prepare for an evacuation if conditions continue to worsen.
The alert comes after more than 30 inches]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/avalanche-alert-issued-for-downtown-thane-residents/Wed, 31 Dec 2025 02:30:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/avalanche-alert-issued-for-downtown-thane-residents/ City and state facilities remain closed again on Tuesday after record-breaking snowfall in Juneau. 
Official snow totals from the National Weather Service confirm that Juneau has broken its all-time snow record for the month of December with 63.7 inches as of Tuesday morning.
The previous record from December 1964 was 54.7 inches. 
The city originally planned a delayed opening of facilitie]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-state-and-businesses-continue-closures-in-juneau-amid-record-breaking-snowfall/Tue, 30 Dec 2025 22:52:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-state-and-businesses-continue-closures-in-juneau-amid-record-breaking-snowfall/ Individuals who have been impacted by Typhoon Halong may be eligible for unemployment benefits.
On Dec. 26, the Alaska Department of Labor announced that anyone who lived or was employed at the time of the disaster in the Lower Kuskokwim Regional Education Attendance Area (REAA)]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/halong-impacted-individuals-may-be-eligible-for-unemployment-assistance/Tue, 30 Dec 2025 21:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/halong-impacted-individuals-may-be-eligible-for-unemployment-assistance/ Alaska was awarded more federal money than any state besides Texas for a federal rural health initiative, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced on Monday.
The money will come from the Rural Health Transformation Fund, a $50 billion program set up as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and intended to counteract the effects of its sweeping Medicaid cu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-could-see-up-to-136-billion-for-rural-health-over-the-next-5-years/Tue, 30 Dec 2025 20:40:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-could-see-up-to-136-billion-for-rural-health-over-the-next-5-years/ Chief Rich Etheridge is retiring from Capital City Fire/Rescue at the end of this year. After serving as a first responder for decades, he’s now turning his focus to woodworking.
KTOO’s Mike Lane spoke with Etheridge about his retirement and his future plans.
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CHIEF_ETHERIDGE_RETIRE122325-2way.mp3
The following transcript ha]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-fire-chief-reflects-on-33-year-career-ahead-of-retirement/Tue, 30 Dec 2025 20:21:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-fire-chief-reflects-on-33-year-career-ahead-of-retirement/ In this newscast:A winter storm dumped more than two feet of snow and freezing rain on the capital city this holiday weekend. As of Monday, residents were still trying to dig out as more snow fell.
For decades, Alaska officials have dreamed of a pipeline that would ferry natural gas hundreds of miles from the North Slope to an export terminal in Cook Inlet. Over the years, the state has pumped hundreds of millions of doll]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-dec-29-2025/Tue, 30 Dec 2025 02:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-dec-29-2025/ Framed by the fireplace in Alaska’s governor’s mansion earlier this month, Gov. Mike Dunleavy shook hands and posed for pictures in the final holiday open house of his two terms as Alaska’s top elected official.
Dunleavy is prohibited from running for another term, and 14 candidates have]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pipeline-deal-and-disasters-were-highlight-and-low-point-of-2025-alaska-governor-says/Mon, 29 Dec 2025 23:21:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pipeline-deal-and-disasters-were-highlight-and-low-point-of-2025-alaska-governor-says/ A winter storm dumped more than a foot of snow and freezing rain on the capital city this holiday weekend. As of Monday, residents were still trying to dig out. 
The National Weather Service in Juneau extended the winter storm warning in Juneau to 6 a.m. Tuesday and says an additional 5 to 10 inches of snowfall could arrive by then. “Snow totals have so far been around]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/heavy-snow-and-freezing-rain-buries-juneau-ahead-of-the-new-year/Mon, 29 Dec 2025 21:42:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/heavy-snow-and-freezing-rain-buries-juneau-ahead-of-the-new-year/ This story is co-published by the Wrangell Sentinel and Northern Journal.
An Indigenous community]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/indigenous-nation-to-get-7250-per-person-payments-as-a-mine-advances-upstream-of-alaska/Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:23:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/indigenous-nation-to-get-7250-per-person-payments-as-a-mine-advances-upstream-of-alaska/ A controversial stretch of road connecting two Eastern Aleutian communities is heading toward construction.
The Alaska Department of Transportation has applied for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit to build the road and is taking public comments on the proposed work until Jan. 12.
The 19-mile road would pass through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, connecting King Cove residents to nearby Cold Bay. King Cove com]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-begins-permitting-process-to-build-izembek-road/Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-begins-permitting-process-to-build-izembek-road/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy has chosen two Mat-Su Republicans to fill vacant state House seats.
In a statement Wednesday, Dunleavy announced the appointment of Wasilla resident Steve St. Clair and Sutton resident Garret Nelson to the state House of Representatives.
Both seats were vacated when George Rauscher of Sutton and Cathy Tilton of Wasilla were chosen by the governor to fill two vacancies in the Sen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-fills-2-mat-su-republican-vacancies-in-state-house/Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-fills-2-mat-su-republican-vacancies-in-state-house/ A 7-year-old child died from injuries suffered in a car accident near Auke Lake on Christmas Eve. 
Police received a call around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday reporting that two vehicles had collided along Glacier Highway near Auke Lake, according to a press release from the Juneau Police Department. 
Emergency responders extracted multiple people who were trapped inside the vehicles at t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/child-dies-in-christmas-eve-car-accident-by-auke-lake/Thu, 25 Dec 2025 07:44:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/child-dies-in-christmas-eve-car-accident-by-auke-lake/ In this newscast:Heavy snow is forecast to hit Juneau and other parts of Alaska’s panhandle this weekend, following days of record-breaking frigid temperatures.
When it snows, crews fan out with plows, graders, blowers and more to clear the streets in Juneau. Morning Edition host Mike Lane recently sat down with CBJ Streets & Fleet Superintendent Scott Gray to learn more about local snow removal operations.
As]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-dec-24-2025/Thu, 25 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-dec-24-2025/ Heavy snow is forecast to hit Juneau and other parts of Alaska’s panhandle this weekend, following days of record-breaking frigid temperatures. 
According to the National Weather Service, Juneau is forecast to see more than a foot of snowfall in 24 hours beginning late Friday evening through Saturday evening. That storm is an atmospheric river and will bring warmer temperatures, which could]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/another-winter-storm-could-dump-more-than-a-foot-of-snow-in-juneau-this-weekend/Thu, 25 Dec 2025 00:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/another-winter-storm-could-dump-more-than-a-foot-of-snow-in-juneau-this-weekend/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/11Nutcracker.mp3
As a well-known prop designer for community theater productions in Sitka, Jack Petersen is no stranger to construction. He holds up one of his proudest works, a wooden nutcracker adorned in a blue marching band uniform.
“As an artist, I do get very particular about…not just like the visual aesthe]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sitkas-top-nutcracker-collector-hopes-to-crack-open-peoples-childlike-wonder/Wed, 24 Dec 2025 21:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sitkas-top-nutcracker-collector-hopes-to-crack-open-peoples-childlike-wonder/ With its Ferris Wheel made of K’nex and model airplanes hanging from the ceiling, the Ben Franklin store was a landmark in downtown Juneau, drawing attention from passersby, young and old. But in mid-December, it was almost empty as people came and went to see what’s left. 
After more than 50 years, the family-r]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-more-than-50-years-a-family-run-shop-in-downtown-juneau-is-closing-its-doors/Wed, 24 Dec 2025 20:40:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-more-than-50-years-a-family-run-shop-in-downtown-juneau-is-closing-its-doors/ In this newscast:This week marks six months since 42-year-old Juneau resident Benjamin Stepetin was last seen in downtown Juneau.
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development found that the Juneau School District did not provide occupational therapy services to some students that were supposed to receive them last school year.
The next legislative session is less than a month away, and lawmakers are preparing]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-dec-23-2025/Wed, 24 Dec 2025 03:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-dec-23-2025/ The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, or DEED, found that the Juneau School District did not provide occupational therapy services to some students that were supposed to receive them last school year.
According to a report from the department, the district lost an occupational therapist last year and did not follow the correct procedure to ensure students would continue to receive services]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/deed-investigation-finds-some-juneau-students-did-not-receive-required-occupational-therapy/Wed, 24 Dec 2025 02:23:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/deed-investigation-finds-some-juneau-students-did-not-receive-required-occupational-therapy/ “During a very challenging period in public broadcasting’s history, it’s a thrill to collaborate with KTOO to make this happen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ktoo-and-kuac-collaborate-to-bring-world-create-and-fnx-to-a-wide-audience/Wed, 24 Dec 2025 01:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ktoo-and-kuac-collaborate-to-bring-world-create-and-fnx-to-a-wide-audience/ This week marks six months since 42-year-old Juneau resident Benjamin “Benny” Stepetin was last seen in downtown Juneau. 
His brother, Martin Stepetin Sr., said his family and friends haven’t stopped looking for him even during the holidays.
“We just don’t want his memory to fade, or anybody to thin]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/six-months-after-juneau-mans-disappearance-his-family-continues-to-search-for-answers/Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:35:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/six-months-after-juneau-mans-disappearance-his-family-continues-to-search-for-answers/ One of Rep. Nick Begich III’s uncles is endorsing his main Democratic opponent, Matt Schultz, in next year’s election. Tom Begich’s name was atop a list released to the Alaska Beacon by Schultz’s campaign this month.
Begich’s endorsement of his nephew’s opponent won’t s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-year-before-alaskas-us-house-election-two-candidates-are-emerging-as-frontrunners/Tue, 23 Dec 2025 20:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-year-before-alaskas-us-house-election-two-candidates-are-emerging-as-frontrunners/ The state is in the early stages of crafting a new plan to guide decisions about Southeast Alaska transit for the next two decades.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities aims to draft a plan for Southeast by the end of summer 2026 and finalize it by this time next year. The document will cover all communities fro]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-to-overhaul-southeasts-20-year-transportation-plan/Tue, 23 Dec 2025 19:12:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-to-overhaul-southeasts-20-year-transportation-plan/ Listen here:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/22ByeTJ.wav
After more than 16 years as a staple at Juneau’s State Office Building, a local musician has played his last theater organ concert. In a holiday-themed show on Friday, T.J. Duffy said goodbye to a packed audience filled with longtime listeners and soon-to-b]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-musician-ends-local-organ-career-with-farewell-christmas-concert/Tue, 23 Dec 2025 19:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-musician-ends-local-organ-career-with-farewell-christmas-concert/ The Juneau Afternoon 2025 Holiday Special – originally aired on Friday, December 19 at 3:00 p.m.House Band: Luke & Heather (Heather Mountcastle & Luke Weld)Featured Performances:Vox Borealis (Sara Radke-Brown, Tanya Green, David Monroe, Aria Moore, Kristina Paulick, & Jake Soboleff)Theater Alaska’s “A Christmas Carol” (Tom Robenolt as Scrooge, Bryan Crowder as Marley, Flordelino Lagundino)SpruceConversations:Reason for the SeasonR]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-afternoon-2025-holiday-special/Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-afternoon-2025-holiday-special/ In this newscast:Juneau saw two destructive residential fires in a mobile home park in the course of just three days, and one fire resulted in a fatality.
A federal grand jury has indicted two Alaska State Troopers shown on body-camera video beating, tasing and pepper-spraying a Kenai man in a case of mistaken identity.
Juneau residents celebrated the winter solstice with a “light the night” Nordic ski club ga]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-dec-22-2025/Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-dec-22-2025/ The darkest day of the year has officially passed. Now, the days are growing brighter. Dozens of Juneau residents marked the occasion at Mendenhall Campground with a ‘light the night’ winter solstice event on Sunday, hosted by the Juneau Nordic Ski Club.
The sun set just after 3 p.m., casting a stripe of pink and gold alpenglow on the sheer peaks that tow]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-nordic-skiers-celebrate-winter-solstice-at-light-the-night-event/Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:49:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-nordic-skiers-celebrate-winter-solstice-at-light-the-night-event/ Juneau saw two destructive residential fires in a mobile home park in the course of just three days. One fire resulted in a fatality. 
The first fire was reported on Saturday evening at about 7:30 p.m. at the Switzer Village Mobile Home Park in Lemon Creek. Family members reported that 38-year-old Juneau resident Calvin Olsen died in the fire.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-sees-back-to-back-house-fires-in-same-neighborhood-as-negative-temperatures-persist/Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-sees-back-to-back-house-fires-in-same-neighborhood-as-negative-temperatures-persist/ When writer Lani Hulse heard the news about Typhoon Halong, she was across the country in Hawaii, where she lives.
“I just, I couldn’t help with each video that I watched online — people posting about the disaster, and afterwards — I just could not just sit there,” Hulse recalled. &ldqu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/author-with-y-k-delta-roots-looks-to-creativity-to-support-halong-impacted-families/Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/author-with-y-k-delta-roots-looks-to-creativity-to-support-halong-impacted-families/ When it snows, crews fan out with plows, graders, blowers and more to clear the streets in Juneau. Morning Edition Host Mike Lane recently sat down with CBJ Streets & Fleet Superintendent Scott Gray to learn more about local snow removal operations.
Listen:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/21ScottGray-CBJ-Streets-n-Fleet.wav
This transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity. 
Mike Lan]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/what-goes-into-keeping-juneaus-streets-clear-of-snow-all-winter-long/Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/what-goes-into-keeping-juneaus-streets-clear-of-snow-all-winter-long/ Christmas presents may be arriving later than expected for many rural communities in Alaska. That’s after Alaska Air Cargo, Alaska Airlines’ cargo-specific carrier, placed an embargo on freight shipments for several hubs across the state.
According to Alaska Airlines, the embargo began on Dec. 16 and will end on Dec. 21.
The embargo excludes Alaska Air Cargo’s GoldStreak shipping service, desig]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-air-cargo-delays-could-mean-later-christmas-packages-for-many-rural-communities/Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:30:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-air-cargo-delays-could-mean-later-christmas-packages-for-many-rural-communities/ Three Haines artists were recently recognized by the Rasmuson Foundation, which announced its Individual Artist awardees earlier this month.
Shannon Kelly Donahue took home one of the $10,000 awards, which will help fund her work on a personal memoir that involves travel to]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/haines-writer-nabs-rasmuson-award-for-book-about-hope-amid-environmental-collapse/Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/haines-writer-nabs-rasmuson-award-for-book-about-hope-amid-environmental-collapse/ A years-old mistake by the Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles voter registration program has endangered the citizenship of two prominent Kodiak residents and could cause them to be deported, according to a newly filed lawsuit in Alaska’s federal court.
The suit, filed Thursday by Eva Benedelova and Pavel Benedela in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, says U.S. Citizenship and Imm]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-kodiak-couple-faces-possible-deportation-due-to-a-voter-registration-error-by-the-state/Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:20:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-kodiak-couple-faces-possible-deportation-due-to-a-voter-registration-error-by-the-state/ Following a partial opening last week, Eaglecrest Ski Area is experiencing some issues going into this weekend, including a broken water line, a delayed opening of the Ptarmigan lift and a pause in snowmaking efforts.The ski area unexpectedly closed on Friday and will remain closed Saturday due to a large break in its main water line that supplies its lodges. 
The ski area&rsq]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-area-closed-friday-and-saturday-due-to-water-line-break/Sat, 20 Dec 2025 01:41:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-area-closed-friday-and-saturday-due-to-water-line-break/ WASHINGTON — It’s been a rough year for Alaska’s 15,000 federal employees. Along with job losses and funding uncertainty, in March President Trump signed an executive order to take away union protections from a large swath of the federal workforce.
But the U.S. House gave public employee unions a ray of hope last week.
The Republican-led House delivered a rare rebuke of Trump and passed a bill to restore union right]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-federal-employee-unions-want-their-rights-back-the-us-house-passed-a-bill-to-do-that/Fri, 19 Dec 2025 21:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-federal-employee-unions-want-their-rights-back-the-us-house-passed-a-bill-to-do-that/ The Alaska Department of Corrections has reported 18 people have died in custody of the state’s prisons and jails so far this year – on par with the state’s highest death count in 2022. Advocates and lawmakers say the number is “devastating” and “preventable,” and are calling for the reinstatement of an independent oversight body to investigate.
The coun]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-department-of-corrections-reports-record-tying-18-deaths-in-custody-this-year/Fri, 19 Dec 2025 20:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-department-of-corrections-reports-record-tying-18-deaths-in-custody-this-year/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy is eyeing a property tax break for the long-planned Alaska LNG project. The Republican governor said he plans to propose a two-mill property tax for the 800-mile natural gas pipeline and associated infrastructure, a 90% lower rate than the state typically charges in property tax for oil and gas infrastructure.
Dunleavy described his plans in an interview with the A]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-gov-dunleavy-says-hell-propose-a-property-tax-break-for-planned-gas-pipeline/Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:44:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-gov-dunleavy-says-hell-propose-a-property-tax-break-for-planned-gas-pipeline/ Over the last year, Ed Schoenfeld, with the help of Mike Sikarias, has put together a one-hour special, “The Way It Was: The Best of the Bluescast,” which will air on January 1, 2026, on KTOO at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The Bluecast was an Alaska news comedy group from 1979 to 2012. For over 30 years, it was a send-up and commentary on the news and issues of the day. One of the Bluecast’s founders was KTOO Jeff Brown, and o]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-preview-of-the-way-it-was-the-best-of-the-bluescast-with-ed-schoenfeld/Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-preview-of-the-way-it-was-the-best-of-the-bluescast-with-ed-schoenfeld/ In this newscast:A civil lawsuit aimed at preserving a historic neighborhood in Juneau is set for trial next summer. Juneau’s city government, meanwhile, plans to demolish the neighborhood before then,
KTOO spoke with Juneau Fire Chief Rich Etheridge about a recent incident of someone falling through the ice, what to do if it happens, and other safety precautions when venturing out on frozen bodies of water,
Over a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-dec-18-2025/Fri, 19 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-dec-18-2025/ A civil lawsuit aimed at preserving a historic neighborhood in the capital city is set for trial next summer. Juneau’s city government, meanwhile, plans to demolish the neighborhood before then.
At a hearing on Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Amanda Browning set the trial date for August 2026. Three longtime tenants of the city-owned Telephone Hill neighborhood filed th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-plans-to-demolish-telephone-hill-neighborhood-before-a-lawsuit-to-save-it-goes-to-trial/Fri, 19 Dec 2025 01:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-plans-to-demolish-telephone-hill-neighborhood-before-a-lawsuit-to-save-it-goes-to-trial/ KTOO spoke with Juneau Fire Chief Rich Etheridge about a recent incident of someone falling through the ice, what to do if it happens, and other safety precautions when venturing out on]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/departing-fire-chief-shares-ice-safety-tips-wisdom-ahead-of-retirement/Thu, 18 Dec 2025 23:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/departing-fire-chief-shares-ice-safety-tips-wisdom-ahead-of-retirement/ Alaska State Troopers said in a bulletin Monday that Dr. Ryan McDonough died in a weekend fire at his home in Wasilla.
At the time of the fire, McDonough — a cardiologist formerly with Mat-Su Regional Medical Center — was on $50,000 bail after being arrested on Dec. 11 and accused of owning child sexual abuse images.
The alleged crimes, and the bail posted by McDonough’s wife,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/former-state-medical-board-member-dies-in-house-fire-after-arrest-for-child-sexual-abuse-images/Thu, 18 Dec 2025 22:35:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/former-state-medical-board-member-dies-in-house-fire-after-arrest-for-child-sexual-abuse-images/ Officials say to be prepared as Juneau is expected to see frigid temperatures starting this weekend and stretching into the next couple of weeks.
The National Weather Service issued a cold weather advisory and a high wind warning starting Thursday evening.  
The forecast shows that a Taku wind event could start as early as Thursday evening. The strongest g]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bitter-cold-and-taku-winds-are-in-the-forecast-for-juneau-heres-how-to-stay-safe/Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:16:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/bitter-cold-and-taku-winds-are-in-the-forecast-for-juneau-heres-how-to-stay-safe/ A federal grand jury has indicted two Alaska State Troopers shown on body-camera video beating, tasing and pepper-spraying a Kenai man in a case of mistaken identity.
Former Trooper Sgt. Joseph Miller and Jason Woodruff are each charged with violating the man’s civil rights. Neither were arrested following t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/feds-charge-soldotna-troopers-with-civil-rights-violations-over-violent-kenai-arrest/Thu, 18 Dec 2025 20:51:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/feds-charge-soldotna-troopers-with-civil-rights-violations-over-violent-kenai-arrest/ Capital City Fire & Rescue will roll out the first buprenorphine program through its Mobile Integrated Health unit, in collaboration with SEARHC and Front Street Clinic addiction experts.
St. Vincent de Paul is looking for additional sponsors for its Adopt-A-Family Christmas Gift ProgramHoliday Jazz & Classics is a concert featuring national talents Kyle Athade and Eddie Barbash, along with featured local artists, in a holiday fund]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/buprenorphine-program-rollout-st-vincent-de-pauls-adopt-a-family-christmas-gift-program/Thu, 18 Dec 2025 06:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/buprenorphine-program-rollout-st-vincent-de-pauls-adopt-a-family-christmas-gift-program/ In this newscast:Juneau’s homeless shelter is once again offering daytime meals and other services after stopping them in August due to safety concerns,
Officials say to be prepared as Juneau is expected to see frigid temperatures starting this weekend and stretching into the next couple of weeks,
A U.S. Forest Service plan to revamp the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to accommodate more tourists could be upende]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-dec-17-2025/Thu, 18 Dec 2025 02:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-dec-17-2025/ Juneau’s homeless shelter is once again offering daytime meals and other services after stopping them in August due to safety concerns. 
The Glory Hall’s Executive Director Kaia Quinto said there were multiple instances of violence and threats this summer that put the safety of shelter staff and clients at risk. She said it was getting hard]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-homeless-shelter-resumes-day-services-after-months-long-pause/Thu, 18 Dec 2025 01:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-homeless-shelter-resumes-day-services-after-months-long-pause/ A Juneau musician is giving his final organ performance in the State Office Building this Friday. T.J. Duffy is retiring after 16 years of live concerts on the nearly century-old instrument.
The theater organ concert will mostly feature holiday music, according to a press release. He will also perform Christmas carols that audience members can sing along]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-organist-wraps-up-16-years-of-performances-with-holiday-themed-concert-friday/Thu, 18 Dec 2025 01:12:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-organist-wraps-up-16-years-of-performances-with-holiday-themed-concert-friday/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/17firefinalists.wav
Two finalists in the running for fire chief at Capital City Fire/Rescue got a chance to share their vision for the department during public presentations this week. Juneau’s city manager is expected to make a decision next week.
Finalist Sean]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/finalists-for-new-juneau-fire-chief-present-their-plans-for-the-department/Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/finalists-for-new-juneau-fire-chief-present-their-plans-for-the-department/ A U.S. Forest Service plan to revamp the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to accommodate more tourists could be upended by a lawsuit brought by a nearby homeowner. 
Katharine Miller has lived in the Dredge Lake area near the visitor center for about 22 years. 
“It’s my backyard,” she said. “I do spend quite a bit of time there.”
Last July, she sued the Forest Se]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/federal-lawsuit-could-scrap-mendenhall-glacier-visitor-center-improvement-plan/Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/federal-lawsuit-could-scrap-mendenhall-glacier-visitor-center-improvement-plan/ The Arctic continues to warm faster than other parts of the planet and is seeing record high temperatures and record low sea ice levels. That’s according to the 2025 Arctic Report Card, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released today.
For the past 20 years, the report has documented changes in snow and sea ice cover as well as air and ocean temperatures in the nor]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/report-details-threats-from-a-warming-arctic-these-changes-cascade-directly-into-peoples-lives/Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:21:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/report-details-threats-from-a-warming-arctic-these-changes-cascade-directly-into-peoples-lives/ The state of Alaska is considering opening up a new ferry terminal in Southeast Alaska, connecting Alaska’s ferries to the Lower 48 road system without going through Canada.
The idea comes as Alaska continues to struggle with the closure of the ferry terminal at Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Now, the state is conducting a $250,000 study to see if a terminal on Alaska’s side of the border would be a good replacem]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-studies-building-a-ferry-terminal-at-hyder-to-connect-to-the-road-system/Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-studies-building-a-ferry-terminal-at-hyder-to-connect-to-the-road-system/ Tok Republican Sen. Mike Cronk is the state Senate’s new minority leader. The six-member minority caucus in the state Legislature’s upper chamber announced Tuesday its members had elected Cronk to replace former Wasilla Republican Sen. Mike Shower, who resigned to run for lieutenant governor earlier this year.
Cronk is a former schoolteacher and construction worker who]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-republicans-pick-tok-sen-mike-cronk-as-new-minority-leader/Wed, 17 Dec 2025 03:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-senate-republicans-pick-tok-sen-mike-cronk-as-new-minority-leader/ In this newscast:Juneau Animal Rescue has finally secured a location for its proposed new animal shelter,
The state of Alaska is considering opening up a new ferry terminal in Southeast Alaska that would connect Alaska’s ferries to the Lower 48 road system without going through Canada,
What could be Alaska’s first official hybrid electric fishing boat is one step closer to hitting the water]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-dec-16-2025/Wed, 17 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-dec-16-2025/ Juneau Animal Rescue has finally secured a location for its proposed new animal shelter.
On Monday night, the Juneau Assembly unanimously approved leasing a parcel of city property in the Mendenhall Valley to Juneau Animal Rescue to serve as the site of a larger facility for rescued animals. 
Rick Driscoll, the shelter’s executive dire]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-animal-rescues-long-sought-new-shelter-secures-location-from-assembly/Wed, 17 Dec 2025 01:12:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-animal-rescues-long-sought-new-shelter-secures-location-from-assembly/ The latest estimate for the Western Arctic Caribou Herd is 121,000, a steep drop from 2023. The last time the herd’s numbers were this low, Jimmy Carter was president — almost 50 years ago.
Once one of the world’s largest herds, its range is the size of California, stretching across a large swath of Northern and western Alaska. For the remote communities of the regio]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/advocates-push-for-drastic-measures-as-the-western-arctic-caribou-herd-drops-to-a-new-low/Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/advocates-push-for-drastic-measures-as-the-western-arctic-caribou-herd-drops-to-a-new-low/ The State of Alaska and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have extended their deadlines to apply for individual disaster assistance for those impacted by storms in Western Alaska, including Typhoon Halong.
How to apply for State of Alaska or FEMA individual assistanc]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/disaster-aid-deadlines-extended-into-2026-for-those-affected-by-western-alaska-storms/Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:37:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/disaster-aid-deadlines-extended-into-2026-for-those-affected-by-western-alaska-storms/ The Juneau School District Board of Education took another step toward finding a new superintendent. 
At a special board meeting Monday, the board approved a contract with a national search firm to find its nex]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-contracts-with-national-search-firm-to-find-new-superintendent/Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:31:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-contracts-with-national-search-firm-to-find-new-superintendent/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy is dropping a longtime priority ahead of next year’s legislative session.
At his annual holiday open house on Dec. 9, the Republican governor told reporters he isn’t planning to revive his push to reform the state’s schools.
“I’ve always said this, for year after year after year, that once the issue of]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-veto-overrides-alaska-gov-dunleavy-drops-push-for-major-education-reform/Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-veto-overrides-alaska-gov-dunleavy-drops-push-for-major-education-reform/ In this newscast:The Juneau School Board took another step toward finding a new superintendent.
Eaglecrest Ski Area’s gondola cabins are headed to Colorado next month for repair and paint job.
An Alaska Airlines flight headed from Juneau to Sika this morning was struck by lightning just before landing.
Congress approved critical funding for rural schools last week with the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act.
G]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-dec-15-2025/Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-dec-15-2025/ An Alaska Airlines flight headed from Juneau to Sitka on Monday morning was struck by lightning just before landing. 
Passenger Kathy Fitzgerald was on board the 27-minute flight. She said the plane was briefly engulfed in a bright orange and gold flash.
“It was like a giant flashbulb going off throughout the whole plane, coming from outside,&r]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lightning-strikes-milk-run-flying-from-juneau-to-sitka-monday-morning/Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lightning-strikes-milk-run-flying-from-juneau-to-sitka-monday-morning/ An Alaska Airlines flight headed from Juneau to Sitka on Monday morning was struck by lightning just before landing. 
Passenger Kathy Fitzgerald was on board the 27-minute flight. She said the plane was briefly engulfed in a bright orange and gold flash.
“It was like a giant flashbulb going off throughout the whole plane, coming from outside,&r]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lighting-strikes-milk-run-flying-from-juneau-to-sitka-monday-morning/Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lighting-strikes-milk-run-flying-from-juneau-to-sitka-monday-morning/ Eaglecrest Ski Area’s gondola cabins are headed to Colorado next month for repairs and a paint job. Cost for the work and shipping is expected to be around $450,000. The cost to bring other gondola parts to Juneau is expected to be even higher with tariffs. 
It’s been more than three years since the city bought the used gondola system from Austria. The plan is to have]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-areas-gondola-cabins-are-headed-to-colorado-for-refurbishment/Tue, 16 Dec 2025 01:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-areas-gondola-cabins-are-headed-to-colorado-for-refurbishment/ About one in 500 Alaskans died of COVID-19 between 2020 and 2023. That’s according to an epidemiology bulletin the Alaska Department of Health released Dec. 9, which says there were substantial racial disparities in rates of COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality in the state.
Early in the pandemic, for instance, age-adjusted mortality rates in the state were about 3.6 times higher for Asian and Pacific Islander people co]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/report-documents-racial-disparities-in-pandemic-death-rates-in-alaska/Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/report-documents-racial-disparities-in-pandemic-death-rates-in-alaska/ Federal funding for libraries and museums has been reinstated nine months after the Trump administration first sought to eliminate the agency that provides that money.
The initial move sparked concern around Alaska, where dozens of tribes and villages rely on federal dollars to pay staff and offer programming at libraries. At the time, a handful of libraries reported grant cancellations.
But in early December, the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Ser]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/judge-restores-federal-funding-for-museums-and-libraries-including-in-alaska/Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:38:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/judge-restores-federal-funding-for-museums-and-libraries-including-in-alaska/ For those who haven’t filed for their Native allotments, Alaska Native veterans don’t have much time to claim 160 acres of federal land. The window for applications closes permanently on Dec. 29.
ANCSA ended 1906 Native allotment program
The land grants were part of a government program created over a hundred years ago, to promote homesteads and private property ownership. But the 1906 Native allotment progr]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-native-veterans-and-heirs-race-to-apply-for-native-allotments/Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-native-veterans-and-heirs-race-to-apply-for-native-allotments/ Juneau schools will be closed Monday due to weather conditions in the Juneau area.
A winter storm warning is currently in effect for the Juneau area. An additional 4 to 7 inches of snow accumulation is forecasted.
After-school activities and events are also canceled. The special school board meeting will take place as scheduled at noon on Zoom.
City and Borough of Juneau faciliti]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-schools-are-closed-monday-due-to-ongoing-snow-storm/Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-schools-are-closed-monday-due-to-ongoing-snow-storm/ Congress approved critical funding for rural schools Tuesday night with the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act.
More than $12 million is set aside for Alaskan communities affected by the decline of the timber industry. That money goes to districts with large amounts of untaxed federal]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/congress-approves-reauthorization-of-secure-rural-schools-funding/Sun, 14 Dec 2025 15:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/congress-approves-reauthorization-of-secure-rural-schools-funding/ Two different birds rarely seen in Sitka and much of Alaska showed up in Southeast last month. As KCAW’s Katherine Rose reports, it was exciting news for birders leading into a big month for our feathered friends–the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count.
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/09RAREBIRD.mp3
In mid-November, the arrival of two rare birds in Sitka caught the attention o]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/rare-birds-in-sitka-spark-excitement-ahead-of-annual-count/Sun, 14 Dec 2025 14:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/rare-birds-in-sitka-spark-excitement-ahead-of-annual-count/ Federal funding for libraries and museums has been reinstated nine months after the Trump administration first sought to eliminate the agency that provides that money.
The initial move sparked concern around Alaska, where dozens of tribes and villages rely on federal dollars to pay staff and offer programming at libraries. At the time, a handful of libraries reported grant cancellations.
But in early December, the U.S. Institu]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/federal-agency-restores-funding-for-museums-and-libraries-including-in-klukwan/Sat, 13 Dec 2025 20:31:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/federal-agency-restores-funding-for-museums-and-libraries-including-in-klukwan/ Environmental and Native organizations on Thursday sued the Trump administration to try to overturn last month’s approval of an expansiv]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawsuit-challenges-trump-administration-approval-for-arctic-alaska-oil-exploration-plan/Sat, 13 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lawsuit-challenges-trump-administration-approval-for-arctic-alaska-oil-exploration-plan/ WASHINGTON — The subject of Thursday’s hearing was one of the biggest political controversies of President Trump’s second term: His use of the National Guard within the United States.
Democrats on the Senate Armed Service Committee railed against the deployment of the National Guard to American cities. Some Republicans on the committee vigorously defended those ur]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/facing-a-hot-trump-controversy-sullivan-deploys-a-sidestep/Sat, 13 Dec 2025 04:19:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/facing-a-hot-trump-controversy-sullivan-deploys-a-sidestep/ A group of 14 student athletes from Angoon finally returned home from Juneau Friday morning after a cancelled ferry left them stuck in the capital city for four extra days.
The students came to Juneau on Dec. 3 for a basketball tournament. Angoon School principal Emma Demmert was on the trip with the team and said their]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/angoon-students-return-home-after-being-stuck-in-juneau/Sat, 13 Dec 2025 03:32:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/angoon-students-return-home-after-being-stuck-in-juneau/ In this newscast:The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has landed on a solution to put an end to glacial outburst floods that have grown more destructive in Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley neighborhoods over the past few summers,
Juneau Animal Rescue might soon have a location in the Mendenhall Valley for its proposed new animal shelter,
A group of 14 student athletes from Angoon finally returned home from Juneau Friday morni]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-dec-12-2025/Sat, 13 Dec 2025 03:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-dec-12-2025/ The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has landed on a solution to put an end to glacial outburst floods that have grown more destructive in Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley neighborhoods over the past few summers. 
The agency will pursue something called a ‘lake tap.’ It’s essentially a tunnel through Bullard Mountain on the east side of the glacier t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/army-corps-will-pursue-a-lake-tap-solution-to-stop-glacial-outburst-floods-in-the-mendenhall-valley/Sat, 13 Dec 2025 03:02:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/army-corps-will-pursue-a-lake-tap-solution-to-stop-glacial-outburst-floods-in-the-mendenhall-valley/ Last week, members of the body that oversees federal fisheries off Alaska’s coast recommended keeping next year’s catch limits for the sprawling Bering Sea pollock fishery about the same as this year.
Managing the nation’s largest commercial fishery is never simple, but North Pacific Fishery Management Cou]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/federal-shutdown-disrupts-quota-setting-for-pollock/Sat, 13 Dec 2025 02:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/federal-shutdown-disrupts-quota-setting-for-pollock/ Juneau Animal Rescue might soon have a location in the Mendenhall Valley for its proposed new animal shelter.
The Juneau Assembly is slated to vote Monday night on whether to lease a parcel of city property to the rescue for less than fair market value.
The nonprofit organization has been fundraising to construct a newer, updated facility for the last few years. The current shelter was bui]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-might-approve-a-spot-for-juneau-animal-rescues-new-shelter/Fri, 12 Dec 2025 23:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-might-approve-a-spot-for-juneau-animal-rescues-new-shelter/ Winter has arrived in Southeast Alaska, bringing freezing temperatures and enough snow to break daily records for some communities.
Jeff Garmon is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Juneau.
“I don’t think anybody escapes having to, you know, just make sure that we’re ready for arctic tem]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/arctic-temperatures-hit-southeast-alaska-as-petersburg-sees-record-snowfall/Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/arctic-temperatures-hit-southeast-alaska-as-petersburg-sees-record-snowfall/ The Rasmuson Foundation announced their list of Individual Artist awardees, and eight Juneau projects made the list. The 50 total awards go to artists across the state, who will receive $10,000 each toward a project they have planned. 
For Juneau-based artists like CJ Harrell, the grants support deeply personal projects. Harrell plans to make bl]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-artists-rack-up-eight-rasmuson-awards-heres-what-three-of-the-winners-are-creating/Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-artists-rack-up-eight-rasmuson-awards-heres-what-three-of-the-winners-are-creating/ On a crisp day in mid-November, two wildlife biologists bushwhacked into the Takshanuk Mountains until they reached the edge of a canyon that offers close-up views of mountain goats.
Kevin White, a wildlife biologist and Haines local, checked the batteries and downloaded the photos from a camera strapped to a nearby tree.
“There’s a por]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/can-they-adapt-researchers-watch-for-signs-of-lynx-in-the-chilkat-valley/Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/can-they-adapt-researchers-watch-for-signs-of-lynx-in-the-chilkat-valley/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveiled his proposed state budget on Thursday — but this year, he skipped the usual press conference.
Instead, the governor released a short YouTube video and Facebook Reel outlining his plan.
“Here are the examples of the larger budget items proposed in this year’s budget,” Dunleavy read, “a full Permanent Fund dividend, as]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavys-proposed-budget-requires-15b-from-savings/Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:47:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavys-proposed-budget-requires-15b-from-savings/ In this newscast:Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski Area is slated to open at a limited capacity on Saturday and Sunday after an influx of snow earlier this week,
The Rasmuson Foundation announced their list of Individual Artist awardees, and eight Juneau projects made the list. The 50 awards go to artists across the state, who will receive $10,000 each toward a project they have planned,
Gov. Mike Dunleavy plans to roll out a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-dec-11-2025/Fri, 12 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-dec-11-2025/ WASHINGTON — Both of Alaska’s U.S senators crossed the aisle Thursday to vote to advance a Democratic bill that would’ve extended health insurance subsidies for three years.
The Alaskans and two other senators were the only Republicans to back the plan, which failed to get the 60 votes needed.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s vote was not a surprise. She’s known for often voting with Democrats, and she]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sullivan-and-murkowski-vote-with-democrats-to-support-failed-health-subsidy-extension/Fri, 12 Dec 2025 02:32:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/sullivan-and-murkowski-vote-with-democrats-to-support-failed-health-subsidy-extension/ Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski Area is slated to open at a limited capacity on Saturday and Sunday after an influx of snow earlier this week. 
General Manager Craig Cimmons said the city-owned ski area will begin operating with only the Porcupine lift running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. That lift services the mountain’s easiest trails. 
The ski area is calling the partial opening a “winter preview weekend” s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-eaglecrest-ski-area-to-open-at-limited-capacity-this-weekend/Thu, 11 Dec 2025 21:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-eaglecrest-ski-area-to-open-at-limited-capacity-this-weekend/ Many retirees tend to spend their leisure time volunteering, reading books, or playing pickleball. But, 69-year-old Jack “Jack Hammer” Duckworth spent his Saturday evening in a boxing ring at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall, facing an opponent ha]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/popular-fight-night-in-juneau-celebrates-40th-beatdown/Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/popular-fight-night-in-juneau-celebrates-40th-beatdown/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he will roll out a new plan to stabilize Alaska’s tumultuous state finances in the coming weeks ahead of next month’s legislative session. The upcoming session provides Dunleavy his last chance to address an issue that has vexed his seven years in office.
“(The) next three, four, five years are going to be tough,” Dun]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-says-he-plans-to-roll-out-fiscal-plan-ahead-of-alaska-lawmakers-return-to-juneau/Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:05:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-says-he-plans-to-roll-out-fiscal-plan-ahead-of-alaska-lawmakers-return-to-juneau/ A dead humpback whale was spotted in Unalaska Bay on Dec. 4, the third reported dead whale to wash up on the island since Oct. 16.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reported the whale to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the same]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/third-humpback-whale-found-dead-in-unalaska-since-october/Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/third-humpback-whale-found-dead-in-unalaska-since-october/ In a Friday hearing, members of the Alaska Senate spoke critically about a proposed new ferry terminal in Juneau, questioning why the project would be worth its multimillion-dollar cost.
Earlier this year, state legislators planned to divert $62 million from a variety of transportation projects in order to pay for the state share of federal transportation]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-senators-express-skepticism-about-proposed-juneau-ferry-terminal-backed-by-dunleavy/Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-senators-express-skepticism-about-proposed-juneau-ferry-terminal-backed-by-dunleavy/ In this newscast:Three months after a trial against a former Juneau chiropractor accused of sexual assault ended in mistrial, the new defense team is asking for more time to review the case before a second trial,
This weekend, hundreds of Juneau residents braved the heavy snowfall and icy roads to make their way to a fight night downtown,
The federal government’s official name for North America’s tallest peak]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-dec-10-2025/Thu, 11 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-dec-10-2025/ Three months after a trial against a former Juneau chiropractor accused of sexual assault ended in mistrial, the new public defense team is asking for more time to review the case before a second trial.
Fourteen former patients accused Jeffrey Fultz of sexual assault under the guise of medical care. They say the incidents took place during medical appointments between 2014 and 2020 while he was]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-a-juneau-sexual-assault-case-ended-in-mistrial-new-defense-team-asks-for-more-time-to-prepare-next-trial/Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-a-juneau-sexual-assault-case-ended-in-mistrial-new-defense-team-asks-for-more-time-to-prepare-next-trial/ When someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest in Juneau, the average response time for Capital City Fire/Rescue is 9 minutes. 
CCFR’s EMS Program Manager Andrew Pantiskas is leading an initiative – involving the help of Juneau community members and an app called PulsePoint – to make the response time faster.KTOO’s Mike Lane spoke with Pantiskis about this life-saving ef]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ccfr-aims-to-reduce-response-times-for-juneau-residents-experiencing-cardiac-arrest/Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:33:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ccfr-aims-to-reduce-response-times-for-juneau-residents-experiencing-cardiac-arrest/ WASHINGTON — The federal government’s official name for North America’s tallest peak is Mount McKinley.
President Trump reinstated the moniker on Day 1 of his second term with an executive order entitled “Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness.”
But Sen. Lisa Murkowski is trying to re-restore a much older name.
“We have called it, this mountain, Denali in Alaska for decades, generations,”]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-tries-again-to-change-mountains-name-to-denali/Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-tries-again-to-change-mountains-name-to-denali/ The state of Alaska has settled lawsuits against Juul and Altria, two nicotine vapor manufacturers, for a combined $7.8 million, the state Department of Law said on Friday.
The suits were part of a nationwide pattern: Alaska and other U.S. states had alleged that the companies deliberately targeted children with advertising, something that likely contributed to a surge in nicotine use among children and young adults.
Altria settled]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-settles-2-lawsuits-against-vape-companies-for-allegedly-targeting-kids-for-addiction/Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-settles-2-lawsuits-against-vape-companies-for-allegedly-targeting-kids-for-addiction/ The Alaska State Troopers are returning to television with a new show set to air in January. The self-titled documentary series follows troopers responding to calls across the state, including cities in the interior and villages in rural Alaska.
Spokesperson for the troopers, Austin McDaniel, said the State of Alaska won’t be compensated for participating in the show,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/release-date-set-for-alaska-state-troopers-tv-show/Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/release-date-set-for-alaska-state-troopers-tv-show/ In this newscast:Artists have an opportunity to have their bear-themed art work depicted on trash cans in Juneau built to keep the animals out – and win a ten thousand dollar award,
Thunder Mountain Middle School has recently joined the growing number of schools in Juneau composting food waste. Before rolling out the program, students led their peers through sorting out their trash and seeing how much of it can avoi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-dec-9-2025/Wed, 10 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-dec-9-2025/ Artists have an opportunity to have their bear-themed art work depicted on trash cans in Juneau built to keep the animals out — and win a ten thousand dollar award.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is partnering with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to host an art contest. Selected artists will have their art turned into miniature murals that will be printed on bea]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-contest-for-art-to-go-on-bear-resistant-trash-cans-in-juneau-opened-today/Wed, 10 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-contest-for-art-to-go-on-bear-resistant-trash-cans-in-juneau-opened-today/ Listen here:
https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/09TMWaste.wav
This week, Thunder Mountain Middle School joined the growing number of schools composting food waste. Before rolling out the program, students in an environmental club led their peers through sorting out their trash and seeing how much of it can avoid the landfill.
Seventh grader Thal]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/thunder-mountain-middle-school-students-teach-peers-about-food-waste-and-composting/Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/thunder-mountain-middle-school-students-teach-peers-about-food-waste-and-composting/ It’s that season: time for snow, holiday shopping and, of course, end-of-year top 10 lists. Last week, Spotify’s Wrapped and Apple Music’s Replay gave users their top songs, artists and genres of the year.
That got us wondering — what did state lawmakers have on their playlist this year? We asked a few.
Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage: Feminine angst and en]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/what-was-on-alaska-state-lawmakers-playlists-this-year/Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/what-was-on-alaska-state-lawmakers-playlists-this-year/ When the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development met on December 3, several Mt. Edgecumbe High School alumni, as well as current and former staff said that budget and staffing cuts over the past year were putting students at risk. Several said that over 40 students have withdrawn their enrollment so far this year.
Tanya Kitka is a member of the school’s alumni advi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alumni-former-staff-sound-alarm-on-mental-health-crisis-at-mt-edgecumbe-high-school/Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alumni-former-staff-sound-alarm-on-mental-health-crisis-at-mt-edgecumbe-high-school/ Republican officials in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough have proposed a field of six conservative Alaskans for two vacant seats in the Alaska House of Representatives.
On Sunday, local Republican Party officials delivered their suggestions to replace Cathy Tilton and George Rauscher, whom Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed to fill two vacancies in the Alaska Senate.
Those Senate vacancies occurred when]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mat-su-republicans-suggest-six-candidates-for-two-spots-in-alaska-house-of-representatives/Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mat-su-republicans-suggest-six-candidates-for-two-spots-in-alaska-house-of-representatives/ In this newscast:A magnitude 7 earthquake shook Juneau and other towns in Alaska’s northern and central panhandle late Saturday morning,
Juneau saw a snowfall record during a winter storm over the weekend, and now, freezing temperatures and clear skies are expected to stretch through most of this week,
After more than a century, a Lingít clan will once again be the legal owners of a Raven helmet worn during]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-dec-8-2025/Tue, 09 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-dec-8-2025/ Juneau saw a snowfall record during a winter storm over the weekend, and now, freezing temperatures and clear skies are expected to stretch through most of this week. 
Juneau received 13.6 inches of snow this past weekend, measured at the Juneau International Airport. The majority, 9.6 inches, fell on Saturday, Dec. 6, breaking the record for that day in history, according to the Nation]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/winter-storm-sets-a-local-snow-record-and-strands-a-high-school-nordic-team-in-whitehorse/Tue, 09 Dec 2025 02:31:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/winter-storm-sets-a-local-snow-record-and-strands-a-high-school-nordic-team-in-whitehorse/ The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s child support system has first priority when a foreclosed property is sold to pay multiple debts.
The court issued its opinion on Nov. 28, resolving a long-running lawsuit brought by Global Federal Credit Union (formerly Alaska USA) against the state and several other d]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/child-support-comes-first-when-considering-debts-owed-in-foreclosure-alaska-supreme-court-rules/Tue, 09 Dec 2025 01:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/child-support-comes-first-when-considering-debts-owed-in-foreclosure-alaska-supreme-court-rules/https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hepatitis-vaccines-credited-as-life-saving-for-alaska-children-may-be-upended/Tue, 09 Dec 2025 01:33:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/hepatitis-vaccines-credited-as-life-saving-for-alaska-children-may-be-upended/ More than 200 years ago, Lingít and other Alaska Native people waged battles against invading and oppressive Russian colonists in Sitka. To this day, those battles are a symbol of Lingít resistance to colonialism. A Kiks.ádi warrior named Ḵ’alyáan led the attacks, and in 1804]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-raven-helmet-from-the-1804-battle-of-sitka-will-soon-be-back-in-kiksadi-hands-after-more-than-100-years/Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:45:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-raven-helmet-from-the-1804-battle-of-sitka-will-soon-be-back-in-kiksadi-hands-after-more-than-100-years/ For several southwest Alaska communities, it will take years to replace what was lost in one night of hurricane force winds and floods, unleashed from the remnants of Typhoon Halong. Some may never rebuild completely.
How and where to begin is a question that seven trainees tackled at a construction workshop offered by the Alaska Works Partn]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/construction-workshop-gives-kipnuk-storm-evacuees-new-skills-new-hope/Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/construction-workshop-gives-kipnuk-storm-evacuees-new-skills-new-hope/ Most weeks between September and December, Stacie Evans drives up the Haines highway, counting bald eagles through a high-powered scope.
Her drives are part of a longstanding annual survey that aims to provide insight into the valley’s annual gathering of eagles, which is one of the world’s largest. Last week, she saw more than 1,400.
“It’s the highest count that&rsq]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/whats-happening-with-alaskas-largest-bald-eagle-congregation-its-hard-to-say/Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:16:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/whats-happening-with-alaskas-largest-bald-eagle-congregation-its-hard-to-say/ Educator turnover rates in Alaska have increased overall, beyond levels preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from the Institute of Social and Economic Research, or ISER. It comes as the state continues working on ways to improve teacher retention and recruitment in the state. 
Dayna DeFeo is the director of the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research, a clea]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-data-shows-teacher-and-principal-turnover-in-alaska-continuing-to-rise/Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-data-shows-teacher-and-principal-turnover-in-alaska-continuing-to-rise/ Jonathan Swinton is the featured artist at Juneau Artists Gallery in December with a new show of cyanotypes titled “Blueprints of Rain.”
The Juneau Symphony features Sitka Holiday Brass and Vox Borealis at its “Holiday Cheer” concerts on Saturday, December 13, and Sunday, December 14 at Thunder Mountain Middle School.
Mudrooms storytelling event features seven storytellers on the theme of “That’s real nice,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-artists-gallery-features-jonathan-swinton-juneau-symphony-spreads-holiday-cheer-and-mudrooms-says-thats-real-nice-clark/Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:38:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-artists-gallery-features-jonathan-swinton-juneau-symphony-spreads-holiday-cheer-and-mudrooms-says-thats-real-nice-clark/ A magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook Juneau and other towns in Alaska’s northern and central panhandle late Saturday morning.   
According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, the quake happened at 11:41 a.m. and was centered roughly 55 miles north of Yakutat, at a depth of about three miles. Residents from Juneau, Haines, Whitehorse and other Southeast Alaska towns reported houses shaking briefly. There were no immediate reports of any damage. The N]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/magnitude-7-earthquake-near-yakutat-shakes-southeast-alaska/Sat, 06 Dec 2025 23:33:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/magnitude-7-earthquake-near-yakutat-shakes-southeast-alaska/ In this newscast:The University of Alaska will host listening sessions in Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage next week as it ramps up its search for a new president,
Teacher and principal turnover rates in Alaska have increased overall, beyond levels preceding the COVID-19 pandemic,
 The state approved a contract on Monday, agreeing to pay Juneau’s new hydroelectric utility $1.3 million to power the controversia]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-dec-5-2025/Sat, 06 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-dec-5-2025/ The state approved a contract on Monday agreeing to pay Juneau’s new hydroelectric utility $1.3 million to power the controversial Cascade Point Ferry Terminal — a project that has yet to be finalized.
That money will pay for a transformer and submarine cable required to connect the Alaska Department of Transportation’s proposed ferry terminal to the S]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-signs-13-million-contract-with-juneau-hydropower-to-electrify-proposed-cascade-point-ferry-terminal/Sat, 06 Dec 2025 01:40:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-signs-13-million-contract-with-juneau-hydropower-to-electrify-proposed-cascade-point-ferry-terminal/ The University of Alaska will host listening sessions in Juneau, Fairbanks and Anchorage next week as it ramps up its search for a new president. 
This comes after UA President Pat Pitney announced her retirement plans last month. The university contracted with WittKieffer, a global executive search firm, to help with the search. During the session, it hopes to get input on what the un]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/university-of-alaska-will-hold-listening-sessions-as-part-of-president-search/Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:31:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/university-of-alaska-will-hold-listening-sessions-as-part-of-president-search/ The City & Borough of Juneau is accepting project proposals for the CBJ Marine Passenger Fee (MPF) budget. City Visitor Industry Director Alix Pierce shares details about the budget and how you can participate.
Deborah Craig from the Juneau Commission on]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lodestone-library-amp-lounge-a-gathering-place-for-mind-body-and-spirit-wellness-welcomes-artist-fu-bao-during-gallery-walk/Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:19:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lodestone-library-amp-lounge-a-gathering-place-for-mind-body-and-spirit-wellness-welcomes-artist-fu-bao-during-gallery-walk/ WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she was deeply troubled by a Washington Post report alleging that the military launched a second strike on Sept. 2 to kill survivors clinging to the wreckage of their suspected drug boat.
“That effectively makes you a war criminal,” she said. “I mean, there are rules of war. We don’t do that.”
Some of her colleagues on Thursday viewed a video of the S]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-says-a-military-strike-on-shipwreck-survivors-would-be-a-war-crime/Fri, 05 Dec 2025 23:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-says-a-military-strike-on-shipwreck-survivors-would-be-a-war-crime/ One of Alaska’s smallest telecommunications companies is about to provide a critical backup for the entire state.
On Wednesday, Cordova Telecom Cooperative and GCI announced a partnership to lay an undersea fiber optic cable from Juneau to Cordova and a second cable from Cordova to Seward.
When open for service in fall 2027, the two cables will provide high]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/planned-fiber-optic-cable-will-add-backup-for-alaskas-phone-and-high-speed-internet-network/Fri, 05 Dec 2025 20:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/planned-fiber-optic-cable-will-add-backup-for-alaskas-phone-and-high-speed-internet-network/ In this newscast:Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski Area will not open to skiers this weekend after all,
Downtown Juneau’s annual Gallery Walk event is tomorrow from 4 to 8 p.m.,
Alumni and former staff members at Mt. Edgecumbe High School are raising serious concerns about safety and student support at the state-run boarding school in Sitka,
The Chilkat Valley is home to one of the world’s largest gathering of ba]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-december-4-2025/Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-december-4-2025/ Downtown Juneau’s annual Gallery Walk is Friday evening.
More than 50 businesses and organizations will feature art exhibits, activities, live performances and holiday cheer.
One of those organizations is local conservation nonprofit Southeast Alaska Land Trust, also called SEALT.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-annual-gallery-walk-brings-holiday-spin-to-first-friday/Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-annual-gallery-walk-brings-holiday-spin-to-first-friday/ Susan Sookram sat in the hot tub of the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Fitness Center. She brought her book to settle into — an anthology containing the first three Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books — with the whole tub to herself.
But up until recently, this post-workout ritual was put on pause.
“I think I did come a little bit less without that mo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tub-of-the-town-bethel-residents-soak-up-restored-community-space/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:44:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tub-of-the-town-bethel-residents-soak-up-restored-community-space/ Juneau artist Christine Carpenter opens her new show, “From Palate to Pigment,” during Gallery Walk on Friday, December 5, at Liaise Studio in The Senate Mall.The Juneau Foundation for End of Life Care hosts leading palliative and hospice care expert, Dr. Ira Byock, on Wednesday, December 10, for a talk entitled “What Mortality Can Teach Us About Living Fully.”Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/artist-christine-carpenters-new-show-from-palate-to-pigment-and-foundation-for-end-of-life-care-hosts-palliative-expert-dr-ira-byock/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:39:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/artist-christine-carpenters-new-show-from-palate-to-pigment-and-foundation-for-end-of-life-care-hosts-palliative-expert-dr-ira-byock/ Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski Area will not open to skiers this weekend after all.
Craig Cimmons, the ski area’s general manager, said Thursday that the recent rain washed away the snow that had accumulated on the mountain. That means the opening date will be pushed back at least a week. 
“We always put the first Saturday as the potential opening day, knowing that it’s h]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lack-of-snow-delays-eaglecrest-ski-area-opening-day-this-weekend/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:33:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lack-of-snow-delays-eaglecrest-ski-area-opening-day-this-weekend/ The federal government research organization that has been devoted for half a century to renewable energy development has had the wo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-department-of-energy-lab-active-in-alaska-drops-renewable-from-name/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-department-of-energy-lab-active-in-alaska-drops-renewable-from-name/ Alaska sees the largest seasonal employment swing of any state, according to new data from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The gap between the lowest and highest employment months is about 14% in the state, or a difference of 43,900 jobs. The next closest state is Montana a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-leads-the-nation-in-seasonal-employment-swings-by-a-lot/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 22:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-leads-the-nation-in-seasonal-employment-swings-by-a-lot/ Update, 9:30 a.m. Thursday:
The repeal resolution passed the Senate Thursday by a vote of 49-45. It goes next to the president’s desk.
Original story:
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate is about to vote on a resolution to toss ex-President Biden’s limits on oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and ensure nothing like it is imposed again.
The measure would expand the area available fo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/congress-overturns-biden-restrictions-on-leasing-in-arctic-refuge/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 20:55:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/congress-overturns-biden-restrictions-on-leasing-in-arctic-refuge/ Winter in Alaska isn’t just cold. It can feel like the sun barely shows up. I wake up, and it’s dark. I go to work, still dark. By the time I drive home, it’s dark again. Every winter, those long, dark days can drag me into the winter blues — grumpy mornings, sadness and low energy.
This ye]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/5-simple-and-cheap-ways-to-feel-better-on-dark-winter-days-in-alaska/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 20:37:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/5-simple-and-cheap-ways-to-feel-better-on-dark-winter-days-in-alaska/ In this newscast:Next week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a closed-door, three-day meeting in Juneau to discuss long-term solution options for glacial outburst floods in the Mendenhall Valley. Federal agencies, local officials and researchers will participate,
The City and Borough of Juneau is seeking ideas from Juneau residents about how to spend the fees paid by cruise ship passengers this coming ye]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-dec-3-2025/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-dec-3-2025/ Haines’ mayor would like the borough’s Tlingit Park to be owned by the Tlingits.
In November’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, the Mayor Tom Morphet made the case for granting the land, part of which is a Tlingit cemetery, to a local tribe, the Chilkoot Indian Association. The plan was met with mixed reactions.
The mayor first brought up the concept this spring and says he has had conversations with the Chilk]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/haines-mayor-proposes-borough-return-tlingit-park-to-the-tlingits/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 02:19:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/haines-mayor-proposes-borough-return-tlingit-park-to-the-tlingits/ Next week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a closed-door, three-day meeting in Juneau to discuss long-term solution options for glacial outburst floods in the Mendenhall Valley. Federal agencies, local officials and researchers will participate. 
During the meeting, the group will discuss the pros and cons of five options to prevent]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-army-corps-to-hold-closed-door-glacial-outburst-flood-solution-meeting-in-juneau-next-week/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 01:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/us-army-corps-to-hold-closed-door-glacial-outburst-flood-solution-meeting-in-juneau-next-week/ The City and Borough of Juneau is seeking ideas from Juneau residents about how to spend the fees paid by cruise ship passengers this coming year. More than $20 million is expected to be available for tourism-related projects. 
Juneau residents and businesses can now submit proposals to the city through Dec. 31. The last round of funding paid for things like free public Wi-Fi downtown and]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-now-accepting-ideas-for-how-juneau-spends-marine-passenger-fees/Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/city-now-accepting-ideas-for-how-juneau-spends-marine-passenger-fees/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy has approved a U.S. Defense Department request for Alaska]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-approves-alaska-national-guard-assisting-ice-in-anchorage/Wed, 03 Dec 2025 20:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-approves-alaska-national-guard-assisting-ice-in-anchorage/ Republicans in the Alaska House have a new leader. Palmer Rep. DeLena Johnson replaced Anchorage Rep. Mia Costello as minority leader on Saturday after a hastily-called vote. And some members of the caucus are crying foul.
Alaska Public Media’s state government reporter, Eric Stone, joined Alaska News Nightly host Casey Grove to break down the transition.
The f]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/johnson-will-lead-alaska-house-minority-after-a-shakeup-that-has-conservatives-crying-foul/Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:58:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/johnson-will-lead-alaska-house-minority-after-a-shakeup-that-has-conservatives-crying-foul/ In this newscast:With major cruise tourism developments on the horizon in the capital city, the City and Borough of Juneau is resurrecting a task force to look at whether its current approach to managing tourism is working,
Eaglecrest Ski Area is slated to open for its 50th season this Saturday, and KTOO’s Mike Lane sat down with Craig Cimmons, the general manager of the city-owned ski area, to talk about the seaso]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-dec-2-2025/Wed, 03 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-dec-2-2025/ Eaglecrest Ski Area is slated to open for its 50th season this Saturday. And there’s a lot to talk about ahead of the season – like lift conditions, the status of the gondola and the actual likelihood of opening on time. 
KTOO sat down with Craig Cimmons, the general manager of the city-owned ski area, to talk about all of it.
Listen:https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/12022025CRAIGCIMMONS.mp3
T]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-area-manager-shares-updates-ahead-of-saturdays-50th-season-opening/Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/eaglecrest-ski-area-manager-shares-updates-ahead-of-saturdays-50th-season-opening/ Bo Anderson and Kathleen Harper’s “Art Scraps” opens this Friday during Gallery Walk at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum with a reception at 4:30 p.m.
Southeast Alaska Land Trust presents the second year of their “Conservation Art Show” featuring local Juneau artists Teri Gardner Robus, Patrick Ripp, and others sharing work that was created on conserved lands in Southeast at their downtown space (119 Seward St.) at 4:00]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gallery-walk-previews-with-sealt-conservation-art-show-and-bo-anderson-amp-kathleen-harperrsquos-wonderful-world-of-lsquoart-scrapsrsquo-plus-juneau-dance-theatrersquos-lsquothe-nutcrackerrsquo/Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gallery-walk-previews-with-sealt-conservation-art-show-and-bo-anderson-amp-kathleen-harperrsquos-wonderful-world-of-lsquoart-scrapsrsquo-plus-juneau-dance-theatrersquos-lsquothe-nutcrackerrsquo/ With major cruise tourism developments on the horizon in the capital city, the City and Borough of Juneau is resurrecting a task force to look at whether its current approach to managing tourism is working.  
At a Juneau Assembly committee meeting Monday night, members approved the relaunch of the Visitor Industry Task Force and its members. Mayor Beth Weldon said th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-revives-task-force-to-tackle-big-tourism-questions/Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:03:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-revives-task-force-to-tackle-big-tourism-questions/ Ten years ago, the state of Alaska signed an agreement with British Columbia that sought to give Alaskans a say in the development of mines upstream of Southeast Alaska. Environmental advocates say Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration has walked away from key pillars of that agreement — but state offici]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ten-years-after-alaska-bc-mining-agreement-environmental-group-says-state-is-falling-short/Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/ten-years-after-alaska-bc-mining-agreement-environmental-group-says-state-is-falling-short/ This is Tongass Voices, a series from KTOO sharing weekly perspectives from the homelands of the Áak’w Kwáan and beyond.
Svitlana Bell moved to Juneau from Ukraine after a few years of seasonal work to marry her husband and send more money back to her family. 
Bell cleans houses during the day, but in the evenings, she spends hours quilting. Her quilts are intricate and full]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-svitlana-bell-on-quilting-her-ukrainian-pride/Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-svitlana-bell-on-quilting-her-ukrainian-pride/ This is Tongass Voices, a series from KTOO sharing weekly perspectives from the homelands of the Áak’w Kwáan and beyond.
Svitlana Bell moved to Juneau from Ukraine after a few years of seasonal work to marry her husband and send more money back to her family. 
Bell cleans houses during the day, but in the evenings, she spends hours quilting. Her quilts are intricate and full]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-svitlana-bell-on-quilting-for-ukrainian-pride-and-independence/Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-svitlana-bell-on-quilting-for-ukrainian-pride-and-independence/ This article was reported and published in collaboration between the Chilkat Valley News and the Alaska Beacon.
Skagway’s former paramedic is alleging wrongdoing by the Southeast Alaska town, saying in a newly filed lawsuit that she was illegally fired after submitting a grievance against the city’s fire chief and deputy fire chief.
In a lawsuit filed]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/skagways-lone-paramedic-is-suing-the-city-alleging-retaliation-by-fire-department-officials/Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:40:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/skagways-lone-paramedic-is-suing-the-city-alleging-retaliation-by-fire-department-officials/ Over Thanksgiving weekend, Centennial Hall in downtown Juneau was bustling with people browsing for holiday gifts fashioned by around 175 vendors. 
Juneau Public Market ramped up the holiday shopping season with hundreds of people buying handmade art, jewelry, clothes and other goods. Vendors from near and far said it’s one of the mo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/our-biggest-weekend-of-the-year-artisans-count-on-sales-and-connections-at-juneau-public-market/Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/our-biggest-weekend-of-the-year-artisans-count-on-sales-and-connections-at-juneau-public-market/ In this newscast:The comment period for the first phase of construction of a new ferry terminal north of Juneau has been extended to January 9, 2026,
A Superior Court judge is allowing the City and Borough of Juneau to refile eviction cases against the tenants who are refusing to vacate the historic Telephone Hill neighborhood in downtown Juneau,
Alaska’s Office of Children’s Services pushed back last we]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-dec-1-2025/Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-dec-1-2025/ A Superior Court judge is allowing the City and Borough of Juneau to refile eviction cases against the tenants who are refusing to vacate the historic Telephone Hill neighborhood in downtown Juneau. 
The city wants to demolish the homes on the hill this winter to make way for denser housing, but some tenants are refusing to leave and filed a lawsuit to prevent demolition and preser]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/judge-gives-city-ok-to-refile-eviction-cases-against-telephone-hill-residents/Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:39:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/judge-gives-city-ok-to-refile-eviction-cases-against-telephone-hill-residents/ (Environmental Protection Agency)
Developers’ efforts to overturn the cancellation of a vast gold and copper mine planned for southwest Alaska are getting a boost from national mining and pro-business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
On Nov. 24 and Nov. 25, th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pebble-mine-halted-by-epa-order-gets-support-from-national-development-groups/Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:33:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/pebble-mine-halted-by-epa-order-gets-support-from-national-development-groups/ Juneau’s Parks and Recreation department began hosting pick-up pickleball three days a week at the Floyd Dryden gymnasium this fall. In the last decade, new players across the country — especially seniors — have been picking up the sport. 
And as Juneau’s population continues to grow older, the city says interest in pickleball is]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-parks-and-rec-feeds-growing-passion-for-pickleball-among-seniors/Mon, 01 Dec 2025 23:56:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-parks-and-rec-feeds-growing-passion-for-pickleball-among-seniors/ The Regulatory Commission of Alaska has unanimously approved a series of requests for financial secrecy filed by attorneys representing John Malone, the telecom billionaire seeking to take a controlling interest in Alaska’s largest internet firm.
The approval means Malone will not be required to publish his personal finances and that the financial condition of three GCI-related subsidiaries will also remain secret. The financ]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-state-utility-regulators-approve-secrecy-orders-for-billionaires-takeover-of-gci/Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:44:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-state-utility-regulators-approve-secrecy-orders-for-billionaires-takeover-of-gci/ Some Southeast residents put up Christmas decorations over Thanksgiving weekend. The centerpiece, of course, is the tree.
The U.S. Forest Service allows each household to cut down one Christmas tree from the Tongass National Forest per year. Julia Spofford is the assistant director at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. No permit is required, but she said residents should follow a few key guidelines to protect e]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/what-to-know-before-harvesting-your-christmas-tree-in-juneau/Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:21:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/what-to-know-before-harvesting-your-christmas-tree-in-juneau/ In this newscast:The comment period for the first phase of construction of a new ferry terminal north of Juneau ends this Friday.
For the first time, Juneau’s famous Mendenhall Glacier is not touching Mendenhall Lake.
As Thanksgiving approaches, some Southeast residents are already putting up Christmas decorations, including a Christmas tree that can be harvested in the Tongass National Forest and Juneau]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-nov-26-2025/Thu, 27 Nov 2025 03:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-wednesday-nov-26-2025/ Juneau’s annual Thanksgiving tradition, The Public Market, features demonstrations from Capital City Fire and Rescue and new vendors such as Sweet Spot Studios, which is expanding to create a new store with baking and decorating classes in Juneau.
Juneau Community Bands’ presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” is Saturday, November 29, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 30, at 2:00 p.m. at ḴunéixQ]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/public-market-handels-messiah-and-kim-heacox-on-the-power-of-story-in-addressing-the-climate-crisis/Thu, 27 Nov 2025 02:31:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/public-market-handels-messiah-and-kim-heacox-on-the-power-of-story-in-addressing-the-climate-crisis/ Gov. Mike Dunleavy has appointed state Reps. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, and Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, to two vacancies in the Alaska Senate.
Each nomination will become effective if at least five of the Senate’s nine other Republicans approve them. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said the votes will take pl]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-appoints-rauscher-and-tilton-to-alaska-senate-opening-two-house-vacancies/Thu, 27 Nov 2025 02:15:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/dunleavy-appoints-rauscher-and-tilton-to-alaska-senate-opening-two-house-vacancies/ Josh Engle was bundled up on one of the first frigid days in October, walking along a forest path to do outreach in a homeless encampment in Anchorage. He approached a man in a weathered coat near several tents and a makeshift structure.
“How long you been out here on the streets?]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/for-many-alaskans-seeking-addiction-treatment-help-starts-with-someone-who-has-been-there/Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/for-many-alaskans-seeking-addiction-treatment-help-starts-with-someone-who-has-been-there/ A controversial mineral exploration project north of Haines has changed hands twice in the last year. That included earlier this month, when Vizsla Copper purchased the Palmer Project in exchange for $15 million of its company stock.
Steve Masterman currently serves as deputy director of the Alaska Critical Minerals Collaborative at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Before that, he was the state geologist.
The Alaska Desk’s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/this-mineral-exploration-site-near-haines-has-had-3-owners-in-the-last-year-is-that-normal/Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/this-mineral-exploration-site-near-haines-has-had-3-owners-in-the-last-year-is-that-normal/ Listen here:https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/26VeraMolly.wav
Lingít and Dena’ina writer and playwright Vera Starbard recently clinched her fourth Emmy nomination for the PBS Kids show, “Molly of Denali.” She was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Series for an episode called “Thanks-for-giving.”
The episode aired last November a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-vera-starbard-earns-emmy-nomination-for-molly-of-denali-thanksgiving-episode/Wed, 26 Nov 2025 21:46:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-vera-starbard-earns-emmy-nomination-for-molly-of-denali-thanksgiving-episode/ WASHINGTON — Sen. Lisa Murkowski is sticking up for six Democratic members of Congress whom President Trump has called traitors for a video they made aimed at military members.
On the video the Democrats face the camera and tell servicemembers they can or should refuse orders that are illegal.
The Pentagon now says it’s investigating one of the six, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired military offi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-defends-democrats-trump-accuses-of-seditious-behavior/Wed, 26 Nov 2025 20:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/murkowski-defends-democrats-trump-accuses-of-seditious-behavior/ In this newscast:Sitka city officials look into what to do about the ability for uninsured boats to use the marine haulout at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park.
Marc Wheeler talks about potential changes to Juneau Parks and Recreation services.
S’eitlin Jamiann Hasselquist talks about community soup nights where she makes soup from traditional Lingít foods.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-nov-25-2025/Wed, 26 Nov 2025 03:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-nov-25-2025/ For the first time, Juneau’s famous Mendenhall Glacier is not touching Mendenhall Lake, which was hidden beneath a thick sheet of glacial ice only a couple of hundred years ago. Scientists say this means the glacier has entered a new phase of its retreat.
Jason Amundson, a glaciologist at the University of Alaska]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mendenhall-glacier-has-officially-receded-from-mendenhall-lake/Wed, 26 Nov 2025 03:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/mendenhall-glacier-has-officially-receded-from-mendenhall-lake/ The comment period for the first phase of construction of a new ferry terminal north of Juneau ends this Friday. 
The state’s proposed Cascade Point Ferry Terminal is slated to be located just beyond where the road ends in Juneau on land owned by Goldbelt Incorporated, a local Alaska Native corporation.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities began soliciting p]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-says-no-build-option-still-possible-for-proposed-cascade-point-terminal-as-first-comment-period-closes/Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:26:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-says-no-build-option-still-possible-for-proposed-cascade-point-terminal-as-first-comment-period-closes/ Officials with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management announced a reduction of some state emergency response operations on Friday, and a transition from a response to a recovery phase following t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/disaster-relief-crews-begin-to-depart-western-alaska-as-winter-sets-in-officials-say/Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:17:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/disaster-relief-crews-begin-to-depart-western-alaska-as-winter-sets-in-officials-say/ Listen here: https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/24JEAArbitration.wav
More than 70 educators and community members packed into the Thunder Mountain Middle School library last week during the Juneau School District School Board meeting.During public testimony, teachers voiced their frustrations about contract negotiations.
“We’]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-teachers-union-upset-over-districts-arbitration-announcement-for-contract-negotiations/Tue, 25 Nov 2025 23:25:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-teachers-union-upset-over-districts-arbitration-announcement-for-contract-negotiations/ Alaska State Commission for Human Rights chair Dorene Lorenz sued blogger Jeff Landfield of the Alaska Landmine on Friday. Lorenz accuses Landfield of defaming her by implying she stole state funding intended to preserve a historic building in Seward.
Landfield, whose irreverent blog often breaks significant political news, recently poked fun at a land acknowledgement Lorenz read at a United Natio]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-official-sues-alaska-landmine-over-suggestion-she-stole-state-money/Tue, 25 Nov 2025 21:19:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/state-official-sues-alaska-landmine-over-suggestion-she-stole-state-money/ Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is now considering who may fill two legislative seats vacated by state senators seeking higher office.
Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, resigned Nov. 3 to run for lieutenant governor, and Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, resigned Nov. 14 to run for governor.
On Sunday, Republicans in Hughes’ district proposed three local residen]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/even-with-no-election-the-alaska-legislature-is-in-flux-ahead-of-the-regular-session/Tue, 25 Nov 2025 20:53:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/even-with-no-election-the-alaska-legislature-is-in-flux-ahead-of-the-regular-session/ An Alaska Marine Lines barge that was taking on water off the coast of British Columbia has continued its journey south to Seattle.
The barge was spotted floating lower than normal last week near Bella Bella, about 260 miles south of Ketchikan, on its way from Alaska.
According to an email from Alaska Marine Lines Director of Marketing Ryan Dixon, the barge was damaged during transit but was “secure”]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-marine-lines-barge-continues-south-after-taking-on-water-off-british-columbia/Tue, 25 Nov 2025 19:59:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-marine-lines-barge-continues-south-after-taking-on-water-off-british-columbia/ This is Tongass Voices, a series from KTOO sharing weekly perspectives from the homelands of the Áak’w Kwáan and beyond.
S’eitlin Jamiann Hasselquist has been hosting weekly community soup nights this month in the Traditional Foods and Medicine Kitchen inside Sealaska Heritage Institut]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-seiltin-jamiann-hasselquist-on-the-power-of-traditional-foods/Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:42:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/tongass-voices-seiltin-jamiann-hasselquist-on-the-power-of-traditional-foods/ In this newscast:Alaska’s state government is increasingly failing to keep up with requirements in state and federal law, according to the state’s nonpartisan auditor.
Thousands of Alaskans who rely on the federal marketplace for health insurance are experiencing sticker shock as they apply for coverage for the coming year.
Earlier this month, the Juneau School District unilaterally announced it wa]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-nov-24-2025/Tue, 25 Nov 2025 03:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-nov-24-2025/ Alaska commercial fishers caught much more salmon in 2025 than they did last year, but the money they earned was modest, according to the statewide harvest report.
The state commercial salmon haul totaled 19]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-commercial-salmon-harvest-rebounds-after-ultra-low-harvest-last-year/Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaskas-commercial-salmon-harvest-rebounds-after-ultra-low-harvest-last-year/ Marc Wheeler has worn a lot of hats in Juneau – from serving on the Juneau Assembly, to founding a beloved Juneau coffee shop and working with youth at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, he’s no stranger to public service. 
Now, he’s taken on a new role as the city’s new Parks and Recreation Director. His fir]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-new-parks-and-rec-director-says-fee-increases-service-reductions-likely/Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-new-parks-and-rec-director-says-fee-increases-service-reductions-likely/ On a dreary November day in Seattle, the U.S. Coast Guard put its past and future on display.
Within sight of the Space Needle, three eye-catching red icebreakers]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/as-the-arctic-heats-up-the-us-coast-guards-icebreaker-fleet-is-preparing-for-boom-times/Mon, 24 Nov 2025 22:18:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/as-the-arctic-heats-up-the-us-coast-guards-icebreaker-fleet-is-preparing-for-boom-times/ Listen:https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/21HealthInsurance.mp3
Thousands of Alaskans who rely on the federal marketplace for health insurance are experiencing sticker shock as they apply for coverage for the coming year. That’s because key health care subsidies that have helped millions of Americans a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/possible-end-of-federal-health-care-subsidies-could-hit-alaskans-especially-hard/Mon, 24 Nov 2025 19:52:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/possible-end-of-federal-health-care-subsidies-could-hit-alaskans-especially-hard/ Alaska’s state government is increasingly failing to keep up with requirements in state and federal law, the state’s nonpartisan auditor told a group of lawmakers on Wednesday.
Legislative Auditor Kris Curtis said she identified dozens of accounting and compliance issues in her agency’s most recent audit. Those range from the Department of Corrections overspending its budget to the Division of Public A]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-state-agencies-are-increasingly-struggling-to-comply-with-the-law-auditor-warns/Mon, 24 Nov 2025 19:22:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-state-agencies-are-increasingly-struggling-to-comply-with-the-law-auditor-warns/ Perseverance Theatre presents a one-person comedy show, “Buyer & Cellar,” about a struggling actor who works for Barbara Streisand in her Malibu basement.The local group, Juneau Cello Choir, plays at the Public Market on Saturday, November 29, at 3:00 p.m. at Centennial Hall.The Juneau School District is running a brick-by-brick campaign to help build a playground at the Dzantik’i Heeni school campus.
Audio PodcastVid]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/perseverance-theatrersquos-lsquobuyer-amp-cellarrdquo-juneau-cello-choir-plays-public-market-and-juneau-school-districtrsquos-playground-campaign-for-dzantikrsquoi-heeni-campus/Sat, 22 Nov 2025 06:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/perseverance-theatrersquos-lsquobuyer-amp-cellarrdquo-juneau-cello-choir-plays-public-market-and-juneau-school-districtrsquos-playground-campaign-for-dzantikrsquoi-heeni-campus/ Tidal Echoes, the literary and arts journal published by the University of Alaska Southeast, is seeking submissions for the 2026 edition. The deadline is December 1.
Theater Alaska presents its second year of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at various venues around Juneau in December.
Chancellor Dr. Aparna Palmer shares updates from UAS, including a partnership with Goldbelt and Master Carver Wayne Price, study abroad in G]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/theater-alaskas-a-christmas-carol-brings-out-holiday-tradition-literary-journal-tidal-echoes-seeks-submissions-for-2026-edition/Sat, 22 Nov 2025 03:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/theater-alaskas-a-christmas-carol-brings-out-holiday-tradition-literary-journal-tidal-echoes-seeks-submissions-for-2026-edition/ Juneau’s sole electricity provider, Alaska Electric Light & Power, is appealing the Regulatory Commission of Alaska’s decision to approve Juneau Hydropower as a new public utility. Last week, the Superior Court of Alaska consolidated two separate cases involving disputes between the hydroelectric companies. 
The appeal follows more than a decade of disputes between AEL&a]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-sole-electricity-provider-appeals-state-approval-for-second-one/Sat, 22 Nov 2025 03:08:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-sole-electricity-provider-appeals-state-approval-for-second-one/ In this newscast:Maggie McMillan is the new Juneau Arts and Humanities Council Executive Director. The JAHC announced the hire Friday, more than six months after the former director stepped down in May.
A District Court judge has dismissed the eviction cases against three tenants refusing to vacate their rentals in the historic Telephone Hill neighborhood in downtown Juneau.
Juneau’s sole electricity provider, Alas]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-nov-21-2025/Sat, 22 Nov 2025 03:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-nov-21-2025/ Maggie McMillan is the new Juneau Arts and Humanities Council Director.The JAHC announced the hire Friday, more than six months after the former director stepped down in May.
“Between my love for art and my love for the community, it was just like a pillar I’ve always had my eye on,” she said. “And if I had the opportun]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/maggie-mcmillan-to-lead-juneau-arts-and-humanities-council/Sat, 22 Nov 2025 01:57:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/maggie-mcmillan-to-lead-juneau-arts-and-humanities-council/ When people talk about Alaska’s reliance on imported food, they nearly always cite the same number: 95%.
The figure has been around for decades – appearing again and again in executive orders, media reports, state-commissioned analyses and speeches. But food systems experts can’t trace the number back to a verifiable, data backed source – or crunch it themselves.
“I think it is a very]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/that-figure-youve-heard-on-how-much-food-alaska-imports-its-not-real/Sat, 22 Nov 2025 00:28:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/that-figure-youve-heard-on-how-much-food-alaska-imports-its-not-real/ Earlier this week, the Juneau Assembly approved spending $320,200 in mostly federal grant funding to purchase an amphibious wetland rescue vehicle for the Juneau International Airport.
The vehicle is called the Marsh Master MM-2MX. At the Assembly meeting on Monday, City Manager Katie Koester said emergency responders would use the vehicle to rescue people who get stranded in wetland areas surrounding the airport.
“Th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-oks-320k-grant-purchase-of-wetland-rescue-vehicle-for-airport/Fri, 21 Nov 2025 21:28:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-oks-320k-grant-purchase-of-wetland-rescue-vehicle-for-airport/ A District Court judge has dismissed the eviction cases against three tenants refusing to vacate their rentals in the historic Telephone Hill neighborhood in downtown Juneau. 
Instead, a Superior Court judge presiding over a lawsuit filed by tenants against the city late last month will decide the outcome. The lawsuit seeks to stop the city’s demoli]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/judge-dismisses-telephone-hill-eviction-cases-pending-outcome-of-lawsuit/Fri, 21 Nov 2025 20:42:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/judge-dismisses-telephone-hill-eviction-cases-pending-outcome-of-lawsuit/ Fairbanks-based Alaska Native filmmakers from Deenaadàį’ Productions are bringing an award-winning 1993 book to the screen for the first time.
“Two Old Women” is an adaptation of Velma Wallis’ novel of the same name – and in the new film, the story is told entirely in Gwich’in. It premiered in Hawai’i l]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/first-screen-adaptation-of-two-old-women-told-in-severely-endangered-athabascan-language/Fri, 21 Nov 2025 20:14:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/first-screen-adaptation-of-two-old-women-told-in-severely-endangered-athabascan-language/ WASHINGTON — The Trump administration proposes to open nearly all of the oceans off Alaska to potential oil and gas drilling.
The draft offshore leasing plan includes the Bering Sea, the Gulf of Alaska and other areas important to the fishing industry. It’s part of a national proposal that includes the entire coast of California, where drilling is]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-offshore-drilling-plan-opens-almost-all-federal-water-off-alaska/Fri, 21 Nov 2025 19:11:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/new-offshore-drilling-plan-opens-almost-all-federal-water-off-alaska/ Officials with the Alaska National Guard said they are preparing and training a response force of 100 service members to deploy to Washington D.C. and support civil authorities, as directed by the Pentagon and Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
The update on]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-approves-deployment-of-alaska-national-guard-to-washington-dc-in-2026/Fri, 21 Nov 2025 19:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/gov-dunleavy-approves-deployment-of-alaska-national-guard-to-washington-dc-in-2026/ In this newscast:Earlier this week, the Juneau Assembly approved spending more than $320,000 — made up of mostly grant funding from the FAA — to purchase an amphibious wetland rescue vehicle for the Juneau International Airport,
Starting today, Juneau residents won’t have to pay local sales tax on essential food and residential utilities. Voters in Juneau approved exempting them during this fall’s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-nov-20-2025/Fri, 21 Nov 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-thursday-nov-20-2025/ Juneau Gastineau Rotary sponsors their annual 2025 Foundations and New Generations Live Outcry and Silent Action, Friday, November 21, at the Moose Lodge
Audio PodcastVideo LivestreamBostin Christopher hosts the con]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/local-band-sunny-porch-releases-debut-album-the-sound-of-this-place-plus-juneau-gastineau-rotary-outcry-auction/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/local-band-sunny-porch-releases-debut-album-the-sound-of-this-place-plus-juneau-gastineau-rotary-outcry-auction/ Financial relief is finally reaching Alaska fishermen, roughly four years after the crab crash hit the Bering Sea fleet.
The payments cover Bristol Bay red king crab and Bering Sea snow crab fisheries from the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons, when stocks collapsed and the fisheries remained closed.
The trade group Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers coordinated with harvesters, processor]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/disaster-relief-applications-open-for-captain-and-crew-affected-by-2021-22-and-2022-23-crab-seasons/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:48:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/disaster-relief-applications-open-for-captain-and-crew-affected-by-2021-22-and-2022-23-crab-seasons/ Before Thursday, when you would grab some groceries or pay your utility bill, Juneau’s city government taxed most residents at 5%. But now, that tax has dropped to zero percent for everyone, regardless of their income or age.
That’s because of a ballot measure that was approved by voters during this fall’]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-new-sales-tax-exemptions-roll-out-today-heres-what-you-need-to-know/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-new-sales-tax-exemptions-roll-out-today-heres-what-you-need-to-know/ https://media.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/19taxrollout-.wav
Before Thursday, when you would grab some groceries or pay your utility bill, Juneau’s city government taxed most residents at 5%. But now, that tax has dropped to zero percent for everyone, regardless of their income or age.
That’s because of a ballot measure that was approved by voters during this fall&rsquo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-new-sales-tax-exemptions-just-rolled-out-heres-what-you-need-to-know/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:24:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneaus-new-sales-tax-exemptions-just-rolled-out-heres-what-you-need-to-know/ Alaskans who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program received half of their benefits nearly a week late as a result of the federal government shutdown this month. Their full benefits were two weeks late, even though the state had emergency funds to prevent that.
Officials say the state never used the $5 million per week it set aside to keep people from w]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-didnt-use-5m-set-aside-to-fund-snap-during-the-shutdown-even-though-benefits-were-late/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:23:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-didnt-use-5m-set-aside-to-fund-snap-during-the-shutdown-even-though-benefits-were-late/ WASHINGTON — President Trump’s pick to be a federal judge in Alaska encountered no turbulence at his nomination hearing Wednesday in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
Aaron C. Peterson is from Eagle River and is an assistant attorney general in the Alaska Department of Law’s natural resources section. He told the senators that an asset he&rs]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-nominee-for-federal-judgeship-has-smooth-confirmation-hearing/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:13:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-nominee-for-federal-judgeship-has-smooth-confirmation-hearing/ A lawsuit from Alaska’s only Native reservation will proceed over the objections of other Southeast Alaska tribes. A federal judge last week declined a request from a coalition of tribes, including the largest in Southeast, to throw out Metlakatla Indian Community’s lawsuit chal]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/judge-denies-southeast-alaska-tribes-effort-to-dismiss-metlakatla-fishing-rights-case/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 19:29:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/judge-denies-southeast-alaska-tribes-effort-to-dismiss-metlakatla-fishing-rights-case/ Indigenous violinist and inspirational speaker, Swil Kanim, plays a free public concert for Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM) at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Thursday, November 20 at 6:00 p.m.Jan Welch writes and performs “Plucky Lady.” It’s a one-person show about the fearless Alaskan adventurer Mary Joyce who came to Southeast Alaska in 1928. She was a nurse, the owner of a hunting lodge, a mink farmer, bush pl]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/swil-kanim-plays-with-jamm-plucky-lady-solo-show-about-mary-joyce-plays-city-museum/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:30:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/swil-kanim-plays-with-jamm-plucky-lady-solo-show-about-mary-joyce-plays-city-museum/ A local Juneau nonprofit is seeing a 20% rise in the number of people requesting Thanksgiving food baskets this year. And there’s still time to request one. 
Juneau’s chapter of St. Vincent de Paul is delivering the baskets this Saturday to anyone who applies, with the help of 60 volunteers. 
Executive Director Jennifer Skinner said the application is simple and p]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/food-insecurity-continues-into-the-holidays-in-juneau/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:09:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/food-insecurity-continues-into-the-holidays-in-juneau/ The Juneau School District Board of Education voted to hold off on returning $1.05 million meant for child care to the city on Tuesday.
The money makes up about two-thirds of the funds left over after the district ended its afterschool and summer child care Relationships and Leadership Learning for Youth program, known as RALLY, last]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-holds-on-to-105-million-in-city-funds-for-child-care-despite-ending-rally-program/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:49:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-district-holds-on-to-105-million-in-city-funds-for-child-care-despite-ending-rally-program/ A district court judge has delayed the pending eviction hearings of three tenants who have refused to vacate their residences in Juneau’s downtown Telephone Hill neighborhood until at least Friday morning.
That’s so the judge can review a motion filed late Tuesday by the tenants’ attorney. 
The motion asks the court to delay the evictions pending the outcome of a lawsuit f]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lets-get-ugly-tenants-continue-to-fight-telephone-hill-eviction-cases-as-judge-delays-decision/Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:43:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/lets-get-ugly-tenants-continue-to-fight-telephone-hill-eviction-cases-as-judge-delays-decision/ Fewer Alaska babies were born in 2024 than the year prior, continuing a yearslong decline in the state’s births and women’s fertility rates, a new report shows.
T]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-births-continue-to-decline-but-some-health-indicators-are-positive-state-reports-say/Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:37:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-births-continue-to-decline-but-some-health-indicators-are-positive-state-reports-say/ Southeast Alaska tribes and environmental groups have delivered nearly 30,000 messages to British Columbia lawmakers about transboundary mining.
Earthjustice, the international conservation organization Re:wild and the tribal commission said the letters encourage British Columbia to pause mining developments in]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/30000-messages-urge-british-columbia-to-address-transboundary-mining/Wed, 19 Nov 2025 21:39:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/30000-messages-urge-british-columbia-to-address-transboundary-mining/ Researchers say vessel strikes are a major threat for whales, including in the waters off Alaska. A new technology is aiming to change that by using AI, thermal imagining and marine observers.
Matson’s container ships bring cargo and cars from Tacoma, Washington to Anchorage, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor. The company has partnered with WhaleSpotter, a new system that helps ships detect whales, said Matson’s CEO Matt Cox.]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-new-technology-aims-to-help-ships-avoid-whale-strikes/Wed, 19 Nov 2025 19:34:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-new-technology-aims-to-help-ships-avoid-whale-strikes/ In this newscast:Last night, the Juneau Assembly officially killed a proposal to locally implement ranked choice voting. The body unanimously voted to table the ordinance to adopt a ranked-choice voting system for municipal elections beginning next year,
The man who was slammed to the ground by a former Juneau police officer this summer is suing the City and Borough of Juneau and the officer in civil superior court,
A co]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-nov-18-2025/Wed, 19 Nov 2025 03:00:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-tuesday-nov-18-2025/ The man who was slammed to the ground by a former Juneau police officer this summer is suing the City and Borough of Juneau and the officer in civil superior court. 
Christopher Williams, Jr. filed a lawsuit last week against the city and former Juneau Police officer Brandon LeBlanc for allegedly violating his civil rights during the arrest. Th]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-man-files-civil-lawsuit-against-city-officer-after-violent-july-arrest/Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-man-files-civil-lawsuit-against-city-officer-after-violent-july-arrest/ WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted nearly unanimously to force the Justice Department to release documents and investigative materials on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Alaska’s lone member of the House, Republican Rep. Nick Begich, voted for the bill, too. And Begich said he would have voted yes even if President Trump was still urging Repub]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/begich-like-rest-of-us-house-votes-to-release-epstein-files/Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/begich-like-rest-of-us-house-votes-to-release-epstein-files/ The Juneau Assembly officially killed a proposal to locally implement ranked choice voting on Monday night. The body unanimously voted to indefinitely table the ordinance to adopt a ranked-choice voting system for municipal elections beginning next year. 
The decision came after multiple people testified on the topic at the Assembly’s regular meeti]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-kills-ordinance-to-adopt-local-ranked-choice-voting-system/Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:52:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-kills-ordinance-to-adopt-local-ranked-choice-voting-system/ Alaska legislators with the state Joint Armed Services Committee are raising concerns that a federal directive to prepare the Alaska National Guard to deploy domestically for civil unrest could divert service members from disaster relief ef]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/legislators-question-federal-directive-for-alaska-national-guard-to-prepare-for-civil-disturbance/Tue, 18 Nov 2025 19:50:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/legislators-question-federal-directive-for-alaska-national-guard-to-prepare-for-civil-disturbance/ Last week marked one month since the remnants of Typhoon Halong devastated communities in Western Alaska with high winds and flooding.
The scale of the destruction in the remote, isolated region is still only st]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/one-month-after-halong-heres-what-rebuilding-looks-like-in-six-y-k-delta-communities/Tue, 18 Nov 2025 19:41:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/one-month-after-halong-heres-what-rebuilding-looks-like-in-six-y-k-delta-communities/ In this newscast:The Juneau School District Board of Education is considering giving more than $1 million dollars earmarked for child care back to the city at its regular meeting tomorrow,
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history came to an end last week. That paved the way for federal employees to return to their posts, including many in Alaska’s capital city. But as KTOO’s Alix Soliman reports,]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-nov-17-2025/Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:18:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-monday-nov-17-2025/ Two landslides took out Juneau’s popular Auke Lake Trail in September, causing the City and Borough of Juneau to close it to the public. Now, as trail workers repair it, they say it’s an example of climate impacts on local trails they’ve been seeing more frequently in recent years. 
On Monday, a trail coordinator used a chainsaw t]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-a-landslide-closure-auke-lake-trail-to-reopen-soon/Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/after-a-landslide-closure-auke-lake-trail-to-reopen-soon/ The Juneau School District Board of Education is considering giving $1.05 million dollars earmarked for child care back to the city at its regular meeting Tuesday.
The money was left over after the district ended its afterschool Relationships and Leadership Learning for Youth program, known as RALLY, last summer. 
Private child care provider Auke Lake Preschool is now]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-to-consider-returning-105-million-in-child-care-funding-to-the-city/Tue, 18 Nov 2025 02:01:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-school-board-to-consider-returning-105-million-in-child-care-funding-to-the-city/ For more than a decade, the Kuspuk School District asked Alaska’s education department for the money to fix a rotting elementary school. The school, in the small and predominantly Indigenous community of Aniak in western Alaska, was in deep need of repair]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-owns-dozens-of-crumbling-schools-it-wants-underfunded-districts-to-take-them-on/Tue, 18 Nov 2025 01:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-owns-dozens-of-crumbling-schools-it-wants-underfunded-districts-to-take-them-on/ The University of Alaska is anticipating an increase of up to 10% for health care costs this fiscal year, on par with what employers are anticipating nationally, according to officials presenting to the Board of Regents at their me]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/university-of-alaska-projects-up-to-10-increase-in-health-care-costs-this-fiscal-year/Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:04:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/university-of-alaska-projects-up-to-10-increase-in-health-care-costs-this-fiscal-year/ KWIGILLINGOK, Alaska – When the remnants of Typhoon Halong hit this Alaska Native village last month, Ryan David was at home with his four children. They felt the house shake in the wind, then as floodwaters came, the building floated away.
“I yelled at my kids to g]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-station-that-covered-devastating-storm-cuts-jobs/Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:32:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-station-that-covered-devastating-storm-cuts-jobs/ The longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended last week, paving the way for federal employees to return to their posts, including many in Alaska’s capital city. But reopening is not necessarily a smooth process and some agency workers say they are frustrated.
After 43 days without work or pay, Don MacDougall got a text from his boss Wednesday evening telling him to come back to the office the next mo]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/its-just-been-a-frustrating-time-juneaus-federal-workers-return-to-their-posts-after-shutdown-ends/Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:10:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/its-just-been-a-frustrating-time-juneaus-federal-workers-return-to-their-posts-after-shutdown-ends/ A controversial mineral exploration project near Haines is again changing hands, just one year after the last shakeup.
Vizsla Copper Corp. said Thursday that it’s purchasing the Palmer Project from American Pacific Mining Corp. The project is a zinc, copper, gold, silver and barite exploration site that sits about 14 miles upstream from the Native village of Klukwan.
The new owner said it prides itself on its commi]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-mineral-exploration-project-near-haines-has-changed-hands-again/Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:36:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/a-mineral-exploration-project-near-haines-has-changed-hands-again/ In this newscast:The Juneau Assembly is slated to decide on Monday night whether Juneau should adopt a ranked choice voting system for municipal elections beginning next year.
The City and Borough of Juneau demolished an encampment of unhoused people in the Mendenhall Valley again this morning.
Palmer Republican Sen. Shelley Hughes resigned from the Alaska Senate today to pursue her gubernatorial candidacy.
Juneau high s]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-nov-14-2025/Sat, 15 Nov 2025 03:07:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/newscast-friday-nov-14-2025/ Juneau Community Foundation‘s Amy Skilbred on Alaska Philanthropy Day, giving deadlines, and updates on the Feeding Juneau Kids programJuneau Salvation Army on their holiday meal programs for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, plus information on the Red Kettle and Angel Tree programsMudrooms is offering a workshop on Sunday, November 16, on overcoming performance anxiety, plus information and details on the call for performers for]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-community-foundations-feeding-juneau-kids-program-salvation-army-holiday-meals-and-mudrooms-workshop-on-performance-anxiety/Sat, 15 Nov 2025 02:54:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-community-foundations-feeding-juneau-kids-program-salvation-army-holiday-meals-and-mudrooms-workshop-on-performance-anxiety/ On Friday morning, about a dozen people pulled items out of their makeshift homes along Teal Street, and packed them into black trash bags or tote boxes.A dusting of snow had already started settling on the tents and shelters. Police stood on the sidewalk, and volunteers and nonprofit workers passed]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/unhoused-campers-kicked-off-teal-street-say-they-have-few-options/Sat, 15 Nov 2025 02:18:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/unhoused-campers-kicked-off-teal-street-say-they-have-few-options/ Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, resigned from the Alaska Senate on Friday to pursue her gubernatorial candidacy, according to a news release from her campaign.
Her resignation follows that of fellow Senate minority caucus member Mike Shower, who represented Wasilla and resigned at the end of last month to focus on his run for lieutenant governor.
Senate President Gary S]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-republican-senator-shelley-hughes-resigns-to-pursue-gubernatorial-campaign/Sat, 15 Nov 2025 01:06:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/alaska-republican-senator-shelley-hughes-resigns-to-pursue-gubernatorial-campaign/ The Juneau Assembly is slated to decide on Monday night whether Juneau should adopt a ranked choice voting system for municipal elections beginning next year. 
Alaska already uses a ranked choice voting system for statewide elections. In local elections, Juneau voters currently choose one candidate in a single-seat race. With ranked choice voting, voters]]>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-will-decide-whether-to-adopt-ranked-choice-voting-monday/Sat, 15 Nov 2025 00:21:00 +0100https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/anchorage/juneau-assembly-will-decide-whether-to-adopt-ranked-choice-voting-monday/