KTOO News Update

In this newscast: Cruise ship passenger taxes could help fund an integrated convention center and performing arts venue; There's still a vacancy on the Alaska Board of Fisheries, which complicates its currently meeting; The omnibus bill Congress passed last week renews the Violence Against Women Act; Officials are still trying to determine the source of a natural gas leak on the North Slope

In this newscast: Two members of Alaska's Congressional delegation vote for the latest federal spending bill; The number of mental health patients in Juneau continues to skyrocket; Alaska's visitor industry is bullish about the coming cruise season; A totem pole is rededicated in the State Office Building; Local COVID numbers remain low; KTOO's managing editor gives a send off for the newsroom's Rashah McChesney.

In this newscast: Masks will become optional in Juneau schools beginning April 4; Retired public employees and the state settle two lawsuits over medical and dental plan changes; An Alaska lawmaker calls efforts to remove a war criminal's name from a major state highway a case of cancel culture; Faculty at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School discover vandalism that includes a swastika; Juneau School Board members hope for higher school funding from state lawmakers; The International Longshore and Warehouse Union says they won't touch Russian ships or cargo; The Brooks Camp at Katmai National Park and Preserve says it will operate at 100% capacity this season

In this newscast: The value of Alaska's investments in Russia nosedive; State transportation officials hear from four interested buyers of an iconic state ferry; The latest COVID-19 numbers; Haines shuts down its emergency operations center; The USDA says it will help pay for relocating  six Alaska communities threatened by erosion and flooding

In this newscast: 

A Juneau artist submitted a piece for this year's Wearable Arts show that was entirely in Lingít, but it was later disqualified from the judging process;

President Biden announced a ban on Russian oil imports this morning, here's what that means for Alaska;

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce has named Edie Grunwald as his running mate

In this newscast: The U.S. Forest Service is updating its management plan for fighting invasive plants in Southeast Alaska; The Alaska Marine Highway System is resuming ferry links to Prince Rupert, British Columbia; The decision to turn Skagway's medical clinic over to a SEARHC may go before voters; KTOO reports today's COVID numbers

In this newscast: Research on Southeast Alaska's pre-pandemic multi-year drought; A draft of the state budget is out from the House Finance Committee; Trying to eradicate rats in the Aleutian Islands;

27 racist and sexist place names in Alaska are slated to be replaced

In this newscast: Juneau Assembly agreed to purchase a used gondola for Eaglecrest; The Juneau School District has chosen Shawn Arnold as the next principle of Thunder Mountain High School; A Hydaburg man died in custody in Craig in February

In this newscast: An Anchorage resident is trying to find the grave of her great-aunt, who died while attending Carlisle Indian Industrial School; Alaska's Child Care Assistance Program plans to distribute $100 million in federal funds; Washington state lawmakers jettisoned the proposed tax on gasoline that would affect other states, including Alaska; Alaska Airlines is temporarily suspending its partnership with a Russian airline

In this newscast: Riverbend Elementary students move back into their flooded school; Will Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson still speak at the Alaska Bar Association convention if she's a Supreme Court Justice?; Ravn Alaska's loyalty program goes crypto; Alaska's U.S. senators renew calls to advance home-state priorities in response to Russia's aggression toward Ukraine