Author: Nicole Thompson

Due to the Park Highway collision, traffic was severely disrupted late Sunday afternoon. This incident occurred when two cars crashed into each other, causing the lane to stop for two hours. Alaska State Troopers reported that a 1998 Jeep Cherokee traveling north crossed the center line and struck a southbound 2012 Honda minivan. Emergency responders transported three individuals with severe injuries to a local hospital for treatment following the crash. While troopers directed traffic around the crash site, an hour later, another vehicle struck a trooper in an unrelated accident. The driver, Warren Slater, a 43-year-old from Talkeetna, ignored the…

District officials say the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District may have a $32 million budget shortfall in Fiscal Year 2026. Fairbanks school district budget deficit depends on there not being a one-time state funding increase like the one that was given in FY25. Lawmakers failed to override the governor’s veto of a permanent per-student funding system known as the Base Student Allocation (BSA). The borough’s chief operations officer, Andy DeGraw, clarified that the state’s contribution may decrease by $20 million without more financing. During the presentation, DeGraw listed three possible outcomes, all of which involved impairments. He determined that…

A family of six escaped a Matanuska Valley fire but lost their home and possessions. Adam Barnes, the father, woke up at 4:30 a.m. to discover the motorhome they were living in completely enveloped in flames. “My wife was screaming that the house was on fire,” he said. Looking outside, Barnes saw the entire roof consumed by the growing fire. Despite grabbing a fire extinguisher, Barnes quickly realized the fire had spread too far to be controlled. “I realized thirty seconds into waking up that there was no putting this fire out,” he said. Adam and his wife, Heather Barnes,…

For Alaska’s sole House seat, republican Nick Begich III, a member of the state’s well-known liberal family, defeated Representative Mary Peltola. Begich’s victory, declared on wednesday, was a significant triumph for Republicans hoping to increase their slim House majority. After losing to Peltola in 2022 due to split Republican votes in Alaska’s ranked-choice system, Begich’s victory represents a political comeback. Republicans supported Begich this year, avoiding the vote splitting that had previously cost them the seat.  A combined Republican vote made possible by former Governor Sarah Palin’s withdrawal from the race helped propel Begich to victory. The first Alaska native…

Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s $639 million budget for 2025 was passed by the Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday, prioritizing public safety and snow removal. The city’s tax limitation limits the amount collected from property taxes, keeping the general government budget at $235,000. Assembly Chairman Chris Constant stated, “It addresses critical needs in the city that the voters and our constituents have been demanding that we address.” According to Mayor LaFrance, the budget includes money to raise snow plow operator wages, guarantee efficiency, and lower turnover. “We’re committed to ensuring that taxpayers get the best value for their money,” she said. In addition…

The Anchorage School Board meeting drew a packed room Tuesday night as parents and students debated plans to close seven elementary schools. The initiative known as “Rightsizing ASD” has caused a great deal of concern, with more than 80 people, many of whom are students, voicing their thoughts.  Parents and students packed the conference room, fervently defending their schools and questioning the metrics behind the closure recommendations. Aimee Villareal, a parent of an ASD child, emphasized Anchorage’s distinct population dynamics and criticized the district for using dropping birth rates as justification for closures.  The proposed plan includes potentially closing, consolidating,…

Due to the Fairbanks Police staff shortage, the department has hired four additional officers to strengthen its personnel. One officer from North Carolina will start on December 1st, and another will attend the Public Safety Academy in January, according to Police Chief Ron Dupee. Two policemen from Tennessee will begin work early in 2025. Even with these fresh hires, the department currently employs 31 people out of the 39 allocated. Addressing incidents that resulted in widespread mistrust, Chief Dupee emphasized a nationwide trend of declining interest in policing since 2020. He further stated that the department faced difficulty filling some…

The 62.69-acre farm near Fredericksburg that Bell & Evans recently purchased for $2.5 million in April 2023 is still undeveloped 19 months later. Company representatives remained silent about the Bell & Evans property’s future in the face of questions, refusing to disclose plans for it. The company immediately requested a zoning change from agricultural to manufacturing from the Bethel Township Planning Commission. Bell & Evans, Mike Bracrella, and Alex Kinzey from Steckbeck Engineering discussed the adjustment in the April 2023 meeting. Bracrella acknowledged that no specific growth strategy was in place and explained that the request was made proactively. Before…

The debate continues whether Alaska’s Governor Mike Dunleavy will still play a part in the new administration as President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks are being disclosed. Doug Burgum, the Governor of North Dakota, was recently nominated by Trump for the position of Interior Secretary. Burgum received immediate endorsement from Dunleavy, who praised his private sector qualifications and leadership experience in North Dakota. According to Dunleavy, Burgum’s leadership will support Trump’s coal, oil, gas, and critical minerals development program, benefiting Alaska. Before endorsing Trump, Burgum sought the Republican Presidential candidacy. North Dakota produces the third most oil and the seventh most…

Kodiak bonfire explosion at a weekend party injured eight teenagers. None of the injuries were life-threatening, and five of the eight teenagers are recovering at Anchorage’s Alaska Native Medical Center.  Dr. Elisha Brownson, the only fellowship-trained burn surgeon in the state, said that burn injury recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. According to her, time is necessary for psychosocial recovery, pain management, treatment, and healing. Even though there will be difficult days, progress is usually visible week by week. Brownson noted that hospital stays generally correspond to the percentage of the body burned, helping guide patients and families. So…

The Homer Foundation’s donation will be the biggest the organization has received since its founding in 1991, totaling $1.2 million. Jules Ravin, a resident homer, and his family submitted the cheque after winning a sizable sum in this summer’s Alaska lottery. In August, Ravin took over $13 million home from the “Chase the Ace” lotto game. Executive Director Stacey Schultz of the Homer Foundation described his intention to contribute a large amount of money as a “game-changer” for their organization. The contribution consists of $200,000 for immediate use as needed and $1 million for the foundation to invest, ensuring that…

Wade Cavanaugh requested a last-minute agenda item last week to consider a letter of support for his $25,000 Betterment Fund grant application, but the Bethel Council denied it. Cavanaugh is trying to buy the Bethel Inn Convention Center, and he plans to use the grant to explore collaborative options for public areas there. Since his original June proposal, Cavanaugh has wanted to turn the convention center into a youth community center. He also sees the possibility of the area supporting neighboring establishments like the public library and the city administration. At a recent board meeting, Cavanaugh, who owns the Gem…