Author: Nicole Thompson

Alaska state wins as U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason for Alaska vacated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) critical habitat designations for the Arctic subspecies of ringed seals and the Beringia population of bearded seals. Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor argued that federal land use restrictions hinder Alaskans’ access to their land and resources. He claimed these restrictions often disguise themselves under the pretense of conservation. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) originally recognized vast regions roughly the size of Texas as critical habitats for both seal species. The Court overturned this designation because NMFS failed to explain why such…

The Alaska Federation of Natives convention will begin Thursday morning at the Dena’ina Civic and Conference Center. This three-day event, themed “Our Children, Our Future Ancestors,” will cover critical topics such as voting, public safety, and sustenance. Benjamin Mallott, president of the Alaska Native Federation, emphasized the convention’s importance in effectively educating future leaders. He stated that it allows current leaders to engage in meaningful discussions about the needs of Alaska Native communities. Mallott said the conference is open to the public and offers insight into Alaska Native customs and struggles. Participants will be provided insight into the policies these…

Palmer City Council chose John Diumenti as temporary Palmer interim city manager on Tuesday night, following the resignation of Stephen Jellie, the former city manager. The Palmer City Council chose Diumenti, who currently manages Palmer Airport, during an emergency meeting to fill the leadership void. This meeting occurred just days after Jellie resigned and immediately before another special city council session to examine the city’s budget. Jellie, who had been in the position for less than two months, resigned on October 9. As part of his departure, he agreed to a severance compensation of $75,000, equivalent to six months of…

Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s proposed budget includes increased money for the Anchorage Fire Department Mobile Crisis Team (MCT). The budget allocates an additional $1.36 million to ensure the service remains available at all times. The crisis team consists of a qualified mental health therapist and an EMT or paramedic from the fire department. The Fire Department Dispatch Center evaluates 911 calls and decides if they should dispatch the MCT. The supervising clinician, Jennifer Pierce, stressed that the team links people to follow-up programs and offers instant aid. The aim is to decrease the number of needless hospital visits and ensure that…

Patrick Moran, 34, of Anchorage, has been named the culprit in the Richardson Vista disturbance that forced the evacuation last night. The event took place in the area of Government Hill, in the 900 block of Richardson Vista Road. At around 11:14 p.m. on Saturday, police said they began receiving several reports of a guy damaging cars in a parking lot while reportedly brandishing a huge knife. This sparked the incident. According to eyewitnesses, Moran cut tires and vandalized cars before locking himself in an apartment. The Anchorage Police Department (APD) responded swiftly after Moran reportedly set fire to the…

On Friday night, more than 22,000 Chugach Electric customers experienced a power outage due to a major load-shedding event. A significant outage happens when a primary power generation source along the Railbelt fails, resulting in extensive disruption. At 7:35 p.m., Chugach Electric confirmed the outage to Alaska’s News Source, stating the necessity to shed some customers to avert a more comprehensive power loss. This approach ensures stability in the power grid by aligning the electric load with the available generation. After the event, Chugach Electric shared additional information about the situation in a Facebook post. The company indicated that the…

Additional information has emerged regarding the fatal shooting of 24-year-old James V. Afuvai, who an officer shot during the Anchorage Mountain View Shooting on September 29.  Afuvai allegedly lunged toward the responding officer, Sgt. James Dokken, brandishing a 14-inch knife before Dokken fired and killed him. According to the police, Afuvai allegedly made three muddled 911 calls, initially claiming that someone was in danger while refusing to provide additional details. After the call, Afuvai provided police with a false identity when reporting gunfire in his area to dispatch. Afuvai identified himself as the victim and requested updates on the last…

Alaska’s seafood industry plummeted, costing $1.8 billion and cutting profits in half. New NOAA research attributes this collapse to rising borrowing rates, labor, and energy expenses. The fall in Alaska’s core industry hurt local economies, cost roughly 38,000 jobs, and cut U.S. GDP by $4.3 billion. Overall, the situation highlights Alaska’s seafood industry’s significant challenges and broader implications for the national economy. Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California shed $191 million in state and local tax revenue. Director of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Robert Foy, emphasized the national ramifications, stating that Alaska’s seafood industry is critical to the U.S. seafood…

On Saturday night, a massive fire ripped through the town of Haines in the Southeast, destroying several stores and residences and incurring millions of dollars in damage. The Alaska State Troopers reported that the Haines Volunteer Fire Department and the Haines Borough Police Department responded to a fire at the intersection of Haines Highway and Mud Bay. In addition to the second-story apartments, the building had several businesses, such as Haines’ Quick Shop, Outfitter Liquor, Outfitter Sporting Goods, and Mike’s Bikes & Boards. Everyone safely evacuated the building, and fortunately, no one sustained injuries. The fire caused an estimated $3.5…

On Sunday evening, a landslide occurred in Ketchikan, which resulted in the closing of a two-lane road on the outskirts of the Southeast Alaska hamlet. The debris from the landslide in Ketchikan began to obstruct both lanes of Revilla Road at around eight o’clock in the evening, as the Ketchikan Gateway Borough reported. The obstruction happened after the Ward Lake exit but before the paintball fields were on the scene. In response, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is currently waiting for a geologist from Juneau to assess the region before beginning to remove the debris particles. Eight…

Alaska State Troopers arrested 20-year-old Hooper Bay resident Shaquille Carawan four days after the horrific killings of two young ladies. Investigators discovered the bodies of 18-year-olds Novely Rivers and Abigail Olson at a home near Hooper Bay. However, upon learning of Carawan’s whereabouts, investigators quickly identified him as a suspect in the Hooper Bay murder case. Consequently, Carawan faced charges of first and second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and furnishing alcohol to minors in a prohibited area. Furthermore, Alaska State Troopers classified the act as a violent murder, thereby highlighting the gravity of the circumstances. On Friday, the Native American…

Nearly 60% of Juneau voters oppose a ballot measure that seeks to prohibit large cruise ships from docking on Saturdays. If enacted, the legislation would ban cruise ships carrying 250 or more passengers from docking on Saturdays and the Fourth of July, beginning next year. Advocates for the “Ship-Free Saturdays” initiative, including retiree Karla Hart, express concerns about overcrowding and the adverse effects of tourism on the city, particularly the noise generated by helicopter tours. Those who are against the bill, such as Protect Juneau’s Future, say it would hurt the economy in the area by cutting jobs and tax…