Author: Rachel Enano

Eric Fleming, a resident of Whittier, Alaska, is facing a lawsuit from the City of Whittier for developing his property without a building and land use permit. Fleming had requested a permit on March 29, 2024, but was denied a month later due to non-compliance with lot size requirements and lack of a plan for connecting to water and sewer utilities. Despite the denial, Fleming began clearing trees and building a driveway on his 11,000-square-foot plot. He claimed he was unaware that this was against the Whittier Municipal Code. Fleming said he only removed overgrown vegetation to get a view…

Anchorage faces a daunting challenge as winter approaches, snow removal staffing. Municipal Manager Becky Windt Pearson told the Assembly’s Transportation Committee that the city’s staffing level is 30% below desired levels. Last season, Anchorage experienced near-record snowfall, with 108,000 snowloads removed. However, the municipality struggled to keep up due to fewer available workers. The municipality extended seven snow removal job offers this year, showing progress. Windt Pearson emphasized the need for a multi-pronged approach, including active recruitment and competitive pay. Jim Anderson, Anchorage School District’s Chief Operating Officer, noted that the municipality, state, and district compete for the same pool…

Alaska’s studded tire season is approaching, with different start dates depending on your location. Residents north of the 60th parallel are just days away from being able to install studded tires, with the option to do so starting Monday. However, Anchorage residents must wait until October 1st to make the switch. Those living south of the 60th parallel must wait until October 1st to use studded tires. But once they can, they’re allowed to keep them on until April 14, 2025. An important exception is that motorists on the paved parts of the Sterling Highway can’t use studded tires between…

Alaska’s tourism season is wrapping up, and businesses are reflecting on the summer’s success. Ian Stewart from Your Alaska Link spoke with Anchorage entrepreneurs to get the scoop. Casey Neumann, who runs Grizzly Gifts, Phillips Cruises and Tours, and the Anchorage Hotel, reported a thriving season. “We had great numbers, our new boat was booked solid, and our hotel did well,” she said. The influx of visitors brought a welcome boost to her businesses. Michael Bialy, co-owner of the Red Umbrella Reindeer Hot Dog cart, also saw a significant increase in activity compared to last year. “Everything ran smoothly, and…

Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos cleared all officers involved in the fatal shooting of Steven Kissack, a 35-year-old homeless man, of wrongdoing. The incident occurred on July 15 and involved four Juneau Police Department officers and one Alaska Wildlife Trooper. Body camera footage shows Officer Lee Phelps approaching Kissack, who was sitting with a knife in his hand. Phelps had responded to an earlier alleged assault. After a six-minute conversation, Kissack stands up and confronts Phelps with the knife, saying, “I don’t like the way you’re looking at me. Back up!” Phelps raises his gun and asks Kissack to put…

A contentious lawsuit is unfolding in Alaska, centered on the eligibility of imprisoned candidate Eric Hafner to remain on the November ballot. Hafner, a Democrat, began serving a 20-year sentence for threatening officials in New Jersey. Despite his incarceration, he continues to campaign for the U.S. House seat. Hafner asserts that Alaska faces numerous challenges, including joblessness, housing issues, and neglected Indigenous rights. Despite not residing in the state, he claims to be the best candidate to address these problems. His opponent, Rep. Mary Peltola, dismisses his candidacy as a “gimmick.” The Alaska Democratic Party has filed a lawsuit to…

In 2005, Joyce Durcanin-Robbins and Sean Robbins faced devastating news: their son Ian’s leukemia meant he might not live to see another Halloween. Determined to give him one last trick-or-treating experience, they organized an early Halloween celebration in their neighborhood. Little did they know, this would become an annual event spanning multiple cities. Seventeen years later, Trick or Treat in the Heat has grown exponentially. What started as a small, informal gathering has transformed into a fundraiser, sponsored by Spirit Halloween and encompassing ten neighborhoods in Anchorage, Palmer, and Wasilla. The event has raised approximately $700,000, with all proceeds going…

In Anchorage, Alaska, two highly contested House election races are underway, with challengers scrutinizing incumbents’ education records. In District 11, nonpartisan candidate Walter Featherly trails incumbent Rep. Julie Coulombe by a mere 121 votes. Featherly criticizes Coulombe’s reversal on education funding, arguing she initially supported a comprehensive package but succumbed to political pressure. Coulombe defends her decision, explaining that overriding the governor’s veto would have resulted in no school funding this year. She secured a one-time funding increase instead, aiming for a long-term solution. In District 22, Democrat Ted Eischeid leads incumbent Republican Rep. Stanley Wright by a narrow margin…

The Anchorage Police Department released unseen body-worn camera footage of the fatal police shooting of Tyler May on June 3. The footage includes an edited video and five unedited videos from each officer’s camera. On June 3, officers arrived at the Anchorage Senior Center at 9:38 p.m. with weapons drawn. They spotted May and his friend and ordered them to raise their hands. May’s friend complied, but May ran from the police after being told to get on the ground. A K9 was released, taking May to the ground. While being bitten, May screamed, and police told him to “drop…

The British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office’s recent “substantially started” determination for the Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell (KSM) mining project raises serious environmental concerns. This decision essentially grants permanent status to the project’s Environmental Assessment Certificate despite outdated Greenhouse footprint analyses. The KSM project, a massive open-pit and underground gold-copper-silver mine, poses significant risks to downstream communities and ecosystems. Located in the coastal mountains of northwestern B.C., it threatens the headwaters of the Nass River and the transboundary Unuk River, which flows into Southeast Alaska. B.C. regulators require project proponents to substantially start their projects within ten years, ensuring that environmental analyses stay up-to-date.…

The Anchorage Assembly is taking a proactive approach ahead of Governor Mike Dunleavy’s decision. With a deadline looming, they’re sending a preferred proposal to address concerns about the dam’s operations. The Eklutna Dam has been a point of contention. It supplies power and drinking water to thousands of Anchorage homes. However, the governor must approve collaborative proposals, including those related to fish and wildlife protection. The Assembly’s proposal differs from Chugach Electric’s plan. Their plan includes alternatives like pump storage hydro and increased water flow. Chair Chris Constant emphasizes that the Assembly’s proposal meets the 1991 Fish and Wildlife Agreement’s…

Sitka, Alaska, is experiencing a prolonged internet outage due to an underwater fiber break. On Labor Day, GCI, the primary internet provider, acknowledged the delay and requested customers’ patience, ensuring that teams work diligently to restore services. GCI has successfully implemented alternative technologies to restore basic mobile voice and text services. However, mobile data, internet, and Yukon TV services remain unavailable. A fiber repair ship is en route to the site, with an expected arrival by week’s end. The repair timeline is estimated to be up to six days, depending on the situation’s complexity and any unforeseen challenges. Alaska Communications…