Alaska News Nightly - Alaska Public Media

Newtok's disaster declaration is denied; Senate majority eyes $750M in budget cuts over three years; Ballot initiative to change Anchorage’s protections for LGBTQ community deemed illegal; Alaska volcano erupts again, sends ash cloud to 31,000 feet; 2016 officially hottest year on record worldwide; North Star School Board reconsiders banned sex ed websites; State sues federal land managers over predator hunting restrictions; Culturally valuable yellow cedar on the decline; Writer John McPhee was at ease in a canoe, Brad Snow was at ease with him Listen now

Legislative session kicks off in Juneau; Pilot, passenger on downed aircraft near Pilot Point evaced Monday night; Airport shooting suspect back in court for bail hearing; Interior pick firmly against fed land transfer, with wiggle room for Alaska; Earthquakes shake waters off Elfin Cove; Trio makes CB 300 history; Alaska Highway 75th anniversary events to include tribute to black soldiers’ key role; Scientist says vanishing clouds have lead to colder temperatures; Interior Alaska hit with abnormally chilly weather; Bean's Cafe moves to 24-hour schedule to alleviate cold patrons; Here's why your street isn't plowed yet Listen now

New snow slows CB 300 mushers; Economic forecasters in Anchorage say despite recession ‘sky’s not falling’; Alaska's population increases slightly; National and Alaska tribal health leader Sally Smith dies; Greenhouse grows inspired young people; Mushing, a tradition on the fritz in Bristol Bay; David Cornberg has the last word in “Coming into the Country” Listen now

ConocoPhillips’ big new find on the North Slope could help replenish pipeline; Alaska’s warming waters could slow coral growth, impacting fish; Alaska Pioneer Homes escape state budget cuts, for now; CB 300 kicks off mushing season; Board of Game approves Kenai wolf control program; Fairbanks Assembly backs code enforcement; AK: Club Baby Seal provides new artistic outlet in Juneau; 49 Voices: John Borg of Eagle Listen now

Alaska’s House majority weighs whether to hold open caucus meetings; 'What's the plan?' Senators say ACA replacement in the works; APU skier places fourth as national cross country championship comes to close; Amid violence and breakdown, no clear intervention for Florida shooter; HIV cluster hits Bristol Bay village; Interior Energy Project reaches key milestone; BLM adds new protections to Natural Petroleum Reserve; Bill would cut ferry costs, reinstate discharge rules Listen now

Arizona senator on a pork hunt targets Kodiak; Trump's VA pick came to Alaska in 2015; WIIN and NDAA make an Arctic deep draft port more likely; Walrus Islands designated as national historic landmark; Before and after photos of Bogoslof Island show big changes after recent eruption; Extreme cold to move across Alaska in coming week; Anchorage looks to provide shelter for homeless in pending cold snap; Only homeless shelter in Kodiak fights through the cold; Tanker truck spills 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel after crash near Paxson; Sitka’s Green Lake Dam back in service; Homer students to compete in state robotics championship Listen now

Anvik tribal courts given more jurisdiction in lower level cases; Murkowski says repeal, replace should coincide; School districts cope with flat state funding as costs continue to rise; DOC inmate dies by suicide; Fukushima radiation yet, and unlikely, to affect Alaska seafood; US announces polar bear plan; critics call it toothless; Whale freed from anchor line in Ketchican; Stories of Coming into the Country: Arliss Sturgulewski ;Four mariners rescued from Gulf of Alaska; Experts say 2016 smashed previous records for Alaska's hottest year on record; Two actors adapt the Narnia world to the Kodiak stage Listen now

FBI and police address Fort Lauderdale shooter's ties to Alaska Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage Law enforcement officials in Anchorage held a press conference on Saturday regarding what's known about Esteban Santiago, the alleged shooter in Friday's attack at the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Savoonga residents request state help after storm devastation Davis Hovey, KNOM - Nome In the final days of 2016, a storm caused wind and water damage to many buildings in Savoonga, one of two communities on St. Lawrence Island. At one point, nearly a hundred people took shelter in the school building. How Alaska had this Trump nominee shaking Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media - Washington DC President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Commerce Department, Wilbur Ross, is a billionaire investor, a specialist in distressed industries. Alaska Economic outlook for 2017 is bleak Rashah McChesney, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau Thousands of Alaskans lost their jobs in 2016. And in the forecast for 2017, it doesn't look like the economy is going to stop shrinking anytime soon. Lawmakers pre-file legislation in the lead up to next week's session start Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Public Media/KTOO - Juneau Lawmakers couldn't agree last year whether to permanently provide health insurance to the survivors of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty. Starting next week, they'll have another chance. Hold These Truth tells story of WWII, presents lessons for today Anne Hillman, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage The Perseverance Theater production of “Hold These Truths” is playing in Anchorage this week. The one-man show tells the story of Gordon Hirabayashi and his resistance of the forced imprisonment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Elevated avalanche concern for interior Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks Recent heavy snows and high winds have created avalanche conditions in areas of the interior not normally prone to slides. Minnesota climber gives up Mount Hunter attempt Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks Lonnie Dupre (doo-PREE) has called it quits on Mt. Hunter after a harrowing experience. The Minnesota based adventurer began an attempt last week to become the first person to scale the 14 thousand 5 hundred foot Alaska Range peak alone in January. Whale Pass votes to become a second class city Angela Denning, KSTK - Petersburg Whale Pass residents voted to become a second class city in an election that is wrapping up. The small community has about 50 residents on northern Prince of Wales Island.

Anchorage man in custody for Ft. Lauderdale airport shooting; Anchorage weighs sales tax option; Mental Health Trust investments in legal "ambiguity"; Newtok asks: Can the U.S. deal with slow-motion climate disasters?; Miners dislike BLM's 'balanced' plan for Eastern Interior; Study documents tree species' decline due to climate warming; Wind gusts forecast up to 80 mph into the Juneau weekend; Orthodox Christmas in Sitka; AK: Garrison Keillor's Sitka pen pal; 49 Voices: Jack Bennett of Homer Listen now

At hacking hearing, Sullivan steers clear of Russia; Fairbanks air quality lawsuit successful; King Cove continues push for road to Cold Bay; Alaska congressional delegation looks to open ANWR for drilling under new administration; Juneau Empire publisher departs abruptly; Kake looks to have new renewable energy in form of hydro dam; APD clarifies proper Amber Alert procedure; Alaska Airlines launches service to Havana amid uncertainty about Cuba policy; Several upticks mar a fairly mild Alaska flu season; Wrangell's Sourdough Lodge to become assisted-living facility; Remote Alaska volcano erupts again in brief explosion Listen now