Alaska News

Judge rejects appeal by Stevens prosecutors for report secrecy

A federal judge today rejected an attempt by federal prosecutors to keep secret a report detailing their misconduct in the prosecution of former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. The judge ruled the 500-page report will be made public March 15.

Judge's order to release report

Roof snow load begins to worry Anchorage building owners

Heavy snowfall in Anchorage has pushed two commercial buildings to the breaking point. But city officials say snow loads shouldn't be a problem for most roofs.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Alaska could see savings with pension deposit, analyst says

The state could save $5.3 billion in payments to Alaska's troubled public employees' retirement system by putting $2 billion into a reserve fund now, a legislative fiscal analyst said today.

Lawmaker drops push for state firearm declaration

More Legislature coverage

Former fisheries official gets prison for fishing violations

A former aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski who worked as a commercial fisherman while sitting on the council that regulates fishing off Alaska's coast was sentenced Tuesday to five months in prison for falsifying his own fishing reports.

FBI assists police in search for abducted Anchorage barista

Surveillance video reveals a young woman abducted nearly a week ago in Anchorage appeared frightened by the man who took her, but police say releasing the video could compromise their investigation.

Video: Police discuss search for Samantha Koenig

Photos: The search for Samantha Koenig

Sitka man dies in accidental shooting at gun range

A 50-year-old Sitka man has died in an accidental shooting at a gun range.

Death of woman, 67, found in apartment called homicide

Anchorage police said in a written statement this evening that a 67-year-old woman found dead Monday died as a result of homicide. Police have not yet notified the woman's next of kin and her name has not been released.

Audit takes new dig at Native corporation contracting benefit

The debate over the sole-source contracting privileges that Alaska Native corporations have used to make billions of dollars is flaring in Congress with a new government audit that finds lax oversight.

Read the GAO report on Alaska Native corporations

Trooper says attempted extortion case involved threats

An Alaska man accused of attempted extortion told state troopers he would shut down government and commercial entities and teach "crackheads" to make devices that could be used against police, unless the state cut a deal for him to receive $85,000 to pay his bills, according to court documents.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

DNR claims mission statement isn't a philosophy change

The commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources told lawmakers Tuesday that no philosophical change is intended in a proposed a new mission statement deleting the words "conserve" and "enhance."

Alaska Senate plans generic oil tax bill to start process

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Lawmaker drops push for state firearm declaration

Sen. Charlie Huggins, a Wasilla Republican who last year proposed making the pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle the official state firearm, has withdrawn the legislation.

Alaska could see savings with pension deposit, analyst says

Senate slated to take up ethics bill

More Legislature coverage

Fairbanks borough takes another look at limits on heating emissions

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly is scheduled in two weeks to take up a proposal that would implement an emissions limit for burners as well as creating a system to approve heating devices.

Wasilla residents vote to recall City Councilman Menard

Wasilla residents have voted to recall City Councilman Steve Menard after he trashed a motel room in Sitka last summer.

Agencies pledge science-based policy in Arctic development

The head of President Obama's working group on Alaska energy development says the federal government will bring a renewed effort to incorporating science in Arctic policy decisions.

Redistricting board plans appeal of judge's decision

The Alaska Redistricting Board on Tuesday decided on a partial appeal of a judge's decision that they redraw four House districts.

BP reports strong profits, hikes dividend despite oil spill

Less than two years ago, the British oil company BP was worried about its very survival as a seemingly unstoppable oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico threatened to destroy its finances and reputation. But on Tuesday, BP expressed renewed confidence in its future, reporting strong quarterly profits and raising its dividend to shareholders.

Firearm accidentally discharges, kills Sitka man

A 50-year-old Sitka man has died in an accidental shooting.

Rural Alaska air travel subsidies survive budget cuts

Subsidies for rural Alaska air travel survived the cost cutting talk as Congress passed a four-year funding bill for the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday after years of dispute.

FAA bill speeds switch to GPS for airliners

Group hopes to lure moose off Southcentral roads with food

The Department of Fish and Game announced Monday that a permit has been issued to the Alaska Moose Federation allowing the advocacy group to take measures in Southcentral Alaska that will divert moose from roads, driveways and railroad lines.

Mother, boyfriend charged in beating death of Barrow child

The investigation of the beating death of a Barrow child and the battering of the child's baby sibling took another twist Monday when Anchorage police arrested the children's mother on a warrant from Barrow.

BP gives $1 million for UAA lab to study metals corrosion

BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. announced Monday that it will donate $1 million to the University of Alaska Anchorage to help create a lab to study the effects of corrosion on pipe metals.