KTOO News Update

In this newscast: Twenty pounds of methamphetamine were seized last week in what law enforcement is calling one of the biggest drug busts in Southeast Alaska in recent years; Thousands of Matanuska-Susitna Borough students have now gone without bus service for three weeks as bus drivers continue to strike over their contract

Senator Mary Peltola makes her first address to state lawmakers. New study says maternal deaths in Alaska were twice as high in 2021 as compared to recent years. The U.S. Air Force has released an investigation report on the death of Eagle River ROTC cadet Mackenzie Wilson. The Wrangell speaks out against an environmental lawsuit…

In this newscast: Alaska is slated to get $285 million from the federal government to modernize its ferry fleet Juneau city leaders propose spending marine passenger fees on a range of city services and projects A longtime state employee has been chosen to lead the Alaska Division of Elections The Alaska Native Sisterhood in Juneau…

In this newscast:  This year's Arctic Winter Games were the first to be held since 2018 & Team Alaska placed second overall in terms of wins and gold medals, or ulus. Four of this year's athletes are from Juneau and sat down with KTOO's Chloe Pleznac

In this newscast: Preschoolers, parents and advocates delivered Valentine's Day cards to Alaska state legislators on Monday; The Sitka Tribe of Alaska is concerned that a proposed extension of the Sitka Seawalk will destroy one of the few remaining cultural sites on the town's waterfront; A crewmember aboard the Oscar Dyson NOAA research vessel was medevacked on Wednesday

In this newscast: Last week, Juneau joined a program that commits to making the city more livable for seniors; Metlakatla residents hope that by filling the new Annette Island Reserve Historical Archive, future generations will know where they came from and the current generation will remember the past; Alaska has joined nearly two dozen states in a lawsuit hat would eliminate Americans' access to a pill used for abortions -- even in states where abortion is legal

In this newscast: State workers rallied in Juneau Friday for better benefits, but they were mostly there to support the staff who are working through a months-long backlog for food stamps; Thousands of Alaskans have gotten their food stamps after waiting months, but thousands more are still waiting; Juneau's Deputy Director of Public Works Denise Koch will represent the city as a new member of the Environmental Protection Agency's Local Government Advisory Committee.

In this newscast: Stove technicians say Toyo's midsized stoves - popular in rural Alaska - are failing in cold weather, and they aren't sure why; The tanner crab fishery begins this weekend in Southeast Alaska, to low prices and bitter crab disease; At a senate committee hearing Thursday, Senator Lisa Murkowski asked the Biden Administration why they waited to respond to the surveillance balloon

In this newscast: Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Mary Peltola say the Willow Arctic drilling proposal would help the state and country Providers and lawmakers look for a way out of Alaska’s childcare shortage As families take more extended vacations, Petersburg teachers worry students are falling behind

In this newscast: U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan urged the Alaska Legislature to use its collective power to support the Willow project Tuesday

This newscast ended early for coverage of President Biden's State of the Union Address.