Author: Nicole Thompson

According to Alaska State Troopers, an ATV broke through the ice on the Little Susitna River Thursday morning, leaving two workers unaccounted for. The missing men were washed away beneath the ice, but three others escaped and made it to safety. At 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, Alaska Wildlife Troopers got a distress call stating that the vehicle had crashed through thin ice while five personnel were crossing the river. After climbing out, the three survivors arrived at a nearby work camp, where they were subsequently picked up by a charter helicopter. Troops verified that they refused medical care. Search crews…

Alaska State Troopers avalanche experts and rescue teams were unable to access the slide zone near Girdwood on Wednesday due to bad weather; officials said the site, which is in the remote Chugach Mountains, could only be reached by air. Authorities in Alaska plan to arrive on Thursday at the scene of the Alaska heli-skiing avalanche to recover three skiers buried under deep snow. The avalanche occurred Tuesday afternoon after a helicopter dropped skiers onto a backcountry peak. Three skiers were trapped beneath an estimated 30 feet of snow when the snow avalanche began at about 3,500 feet and went…

British Columbia Premier David Eby announced plans to impose tolls on commercial trucks transporting goods from the Lower 48 to Alaska. Eby said the truck tolls would offset President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff policies on Canadian commerce while addressing the Legislative Assembly in Victoria.  He emphasized that the proposed legislation will impose penalties on trucks that use British Columbia as a transit route, among other responses. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy urged British Columbia to reconsider, emphasizing the need for federal-level solutions. Dunleavy warned that unilateral decisions by provinces or states could complicate broader trade negotiations. Commercial trucker Robert Myers, a…

The Anchorage sales tax proposal remains uncertain after the Assembly postponed its final vote until March 18 following calls for more public input. Assembly members Felix Rivera and Randy Sulte introduced the measure and announced two town hall meetings to gather residents’ feedback. The first event will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Loussac Library’s Wilda Marston Theatre, while the second is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Mountain View Library. Under the proposal, voters would decide in a special September election whether to implement a 3% sales tax, projected to be $180 million annually. Two-thirds…

The University of Alaska DEI ban has triggered intense criticism from students, faculty, and historians who argue it threatens academic freedom. The University of Alaska Board of Regents approved the measure on February 21st, 2025, by a 9-1 vote, eliminating all references to diversity, equality, inclusion, or other associated terms. This decision followed President Donald Trump’s executive order, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing. Many academics and students worry that this shift will result in fewer support services and lower financing. Katherine Sinclair, an assistant term professor of history, expressed worries that students are worried about losing…

The Ketchikan Federal Building sale could happen soon as the US government prepares to offload more than 440 properties nationwide. On Tuesday, the General Services Administration (GSA) identified these properties as non-core assets that no longer serve essential federal functions. Officials said selling underused buildings would eliminate soft maintenance and redirect taxpayer funds toward improved work environments. The 1930s-era Ketchikan building is historically significant as the only pink-painted federal structure in the nation. It is currently one of the government properties that may shortly be transferred. In addition, the GSA’s disposal list included three Anchorage locations. These include the annex…

President Donald Trump has renewed efforts to advance a long-delayed natural gas pipeline in Alaska, seeking investment from Asian allies. The LNG pipeline project has faced challenges for decades, but Trump’s direct involvement has changed the conversation.  During his address to Congress, he highlighted the initiative, emphasizing interest from Japan, South Korea, and other nations. His administration has held ongoing discussions to secure investment and export agreements, aiming to make the project a reality. Japan already has a large amount of foreign direct investment in the United States, approaching its annual budget. Trump personally pushed Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba…

The Anchorage School District outlined why it wants municipality voters to approve a $63,822,000 security and safety upgrade on the school bond proposal, Proposition 1, on the April ballot during the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s “Make It Monday” forum. If passed, property taxpayers would have $12.90 added to each $100,000 assessed value to pay for upgrades at 40 schools and two support buildings. ASD Chief Operating Officer James Anderson told members that projects would include security systems, building entry improvements, infrastructure renovations and replacements, and upgrades to snow removal equipment. Since many of ASD’s schools were constructed years ago, they…

On Friday, Governor Mike Dunleavy introduced a judicial selection amendment to give future governors more significant influence over judicial appointments. If the legislature approves the measure, voters will decide in 2026 whether to limit the Alaska Judicial Council’s role in selecting judges.  The Alaska Judicial Council reviews applications and selects the most qualified candidates for judicial vacancies before sending a shortlist to the governor. The council includes three appointed public members and three Alaska Bar Association members. If a tie occurs during selection, the Alaska Supreme Court chief justice Casts the deciding vote. Dunleavy’s proposal would require the council to…

The Board of Regents’ decision to eliminate all references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from university policies came after Trump’s administration warned institutions to remove race-based policies or risk losing federal funding. Students and faculty at the University of Alaska strongly opposed this decision. Under the new directive, the university must revise job titles, websites, and publications to remove words like diversity, equity, inclusion, and affirmative action. The board stated that it aims to ensure compliance with federal laws while promoting equal opportunity. However, faculty and students argue that the sudden DEI language removal move limits free speech, weakens support…

A damaged subsea cable has caused significant cell phone and internet disruptions across Southeast Alaska, affecting government websites and essential services. The subsea cable outage began late Thursday night, leaving thousands without connectivity.  Alaska Communications confirmed the issue Friday and dispatched a repair ship to assess and fix the damage. Heather Marron, a spokesperson for Alaska Communications, said the company was also exploring alternative ways to restore service in Juneau. She assured customers that resolving the issue remained the company’s top priority, though no estimated restoration time had been provided. The outage took down important online platforms, including MyAlaska, the…

Alaska lawmakers will vote next week on House Bill 69 to increase the state’s per-student public school funding. The school funding bill proposes raising the base student allocation (BSA) by $1,000 next year with an additional $800 increase over two years.  House Speaker Bryce Edgmon and House Rules Chair Louise Stutes confirmed that amendments will be added to the House Rules Committee on Wednesday. After these revisions, the bill will advance to a vote before the full House, where further changes could be proposed. Governor Mike Dunleavy opposes the bill’s current version, arguing that it lacks necessary education policy reforms…