KTOO News Update

In this newscast: 

Alaska confirms its first case of the omicron variant of COVID-19; Juneau officials relax indoor masking requirements; Alaska's U.S. senators are anchoring opposite ends of the Republican spectrum; A Juneau man is held up in Yakutat when an equipment failure blocks air travel; and Family members of people killed by cancer share the importance of early screening at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention

In this newscast: Another 25 Juneau residents have tested positive for COVID-19;

The Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is expanding in Aak'w Village District;

Authorities have identified human remains found nearly a year ago near a downtown Juneau seawalk; 

Juneau's Mariya Lovischuk was awarded a sabbatical in recognition of her community service; 

A Juneau man who works for the state has been charged with possessing child pornography; 

A Dillingham student applies his passion for rap to the 4,000 year old Epic of Gilgamesh;

Fairbanks curler Vicky Persinger is headed to the Winter Olympics next year;

A federal report has been released on a fatal Kodiak plane crash.

In this newscast: Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation's executive director was removed from her position; Kevin Meyer has been the focus of criticism from conservatives unhappy with last year's election; Rasmuson Foundation gives funding to Juneau's domestic and sexual violence shelter; Alaska crab boat captain who was on "Deadliest Catch" admitted to dealing heroin; Preliminary report on a fatal crash in Kodiak comes out

In this newscast:

After a run of 41 years, the owners of the Gustavus Inn have sold it to the Hoonah Indian Association;

Alaska tribes could gain the power to prosecute crimes like domestic violence and sexual assault in Native villages;

Gov. Mike Dunleavy hosted the first holiday open house at the governor's mansion in two years;

Health care professionals in Alaska are frustrated by the abundance of misinformation about COVID-19 prevention and treatment circulating online.

In this newscast: Skagway works towards an electric ferry program funded by federal infrastructure dollars; Fairbanks could join a lawsuit against the Alaska Redistricting Board—or file its own; Governor Mike Dunleavy commits to replacing the aging ferry Tustumena.

In this newscast: Delays in ferry repairs could cause Southeast Alaska communities to go without ferries for several weeks; Federal judge rejects Dunleavey administration's legal challenge to a subsistence hunt in Kake; Nuclear regulatory commission chairman intrigued by Eielson Air Force Base nuclear power plant plans; Matanuska-Susitna Borough is suing the Alaska Redistricting Board

In this newscast: The state released COVID-19 death report; 1 person is dead after boat sinks near Whittier; Alaska gets $1.5 billion for broadband; Home health nurses are treating COVID patients door-to-door in Petersburg

In this newscast: A year later, Haines residents are still healing from a landslide swept through the community; The State of Alaska is looking to hire ferries from the private sector to connect five Southeast Alaska villages

In this newscast: 

About 2400 people weighed-in on a public opinion survey on tourism in Juneau;

Wasilla Republican Representative Christopher Kurka joined the growing list of candidates for governor;

The U.S. Department of Interior says oil and gas companies should pay more to extract fossil fuels from federal waters and lands;

 State health officials are asking Alaskans to be cautious as they brace for the arrival of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus;

In this newscast: Winter weather made Juneau roads slippery this weekend; Some lawmakers say the permanent fund could help pay for public education; Infrared camera reveals formline designs on Lingít bentwood boxes