KTOO News Update

In this newscast: The Juneau Assembly is slated to decide on Monday night whether Juneau should adopt a ranked choice voting system for municipal elections beginning next year; The City and Borough of Juneau demolished an encampment of unhoused people in the Mendenhall Valley again this morning; Palmer Republican Sen. Shelley Hughes resigned from the Alaska Senate today to pursue her gubernatorial candidacy; Juneau high school students are getting real-world building experience while creating much-needed affordable homes in the community.

In this newscast: University of Alaska President Pat Pitney will retire this spring; After a decade of serving Juneau a range of fresh food and diverse flavors, a beloved local restaurant is closing its doors later this month. Zerelda's Bistro was started by a couple who love food almost as much as they love each other; Powerful solar storms brought a dazzling light show to the skies above the Northern Hemisphere this week. As the Alaska Desk's Shelby Herbert reports, even scientists who have observed the aurora for decades say this storm is something special; A derelict vessel is no longer drifting unmanned in the waters of the Wrangell Narrows, near Petersburg; Nine puppies found seemingly abandoned in a crate at the Fox transfer site in Fairbanks last week were all adopted by new families in a single day

In this newscast: The number of Democrats running for governor of Alaska grew to two on Monday as Anchorage state Sen. Matt Claman entered the race; More than a dozen people without permanent housing have been camping out on Teal Street in the Mendenhall Valley. It's Juneau's largest unhoused encampment and the city plans to force people and their belongings out of the area on Friday, ahead of the season's first expected snowfall; One Fairbanks woman is especially grateful to be home with her family for the holidays. That's after she spent a month in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Washington State. The Alaska Desk's Shelby Herbert caught up with Atcharee Buntow about her ordeal, and her hopes for maintaining her residency in the United States

In this newscast: Tomorrow is Veterans Day and there are several ceremonies honoring veterans in Juneau; Juneau's avalanche forecasters are gearing up for winter; The state of Alaska is limiting payments to SNAP recipients this week in response to federal guidance; Dozens of elders and youth from around Alaska learned how to process a seal at a workshop last month

In this newscast:  The delay in SNAP benefit payments has driven Juneau residents to worry that their next meal isn't guaranteed, and local organizations are stepping up their efforts to fill the gaps; The University of Alaska Board of Regents approved increasing tuition across the board by 4% next year; Fishing jobs in Alaska are down for the fifth year in a row, according to new economic data from the state Department of Labor for the year 2024; Cruise ships are relatively new to Prince of Wales Island, and not all residents are happy to have them

In this newscast: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is among 40 airports across the country forced to slash air traffic by 10% starting Friday as the government shutdown becomes the longest in U.S. history; The Juneau Assembly is facing some tough decisions in the coming months. That's after Juneau voters approved tax cuts this fall, leaving an estimated $12 million annual hole in the city's budget. Last night, Assembly members discussed what that will mean for the level of services the city can provide moving forward; The state of Alaska is moving forward with a controversial plan to build a brand-new ferry terminal north of Juneau that it says will have short- and long-term benefits. But the idea has stirred pushback in communities who rely on the ferry system to access healthcare, air travel and more in Juneau. An advisory board charged with overseeing the ferry system's planning process has also raised concerns; The Municipality of Anchorage is set to own its city hall, rather than rent it, after the Assembly approved a purchase agreement Tuesday night. In total, the city is authorized to spend about $35 million dollars on both the building and renovations to the roof and fire systems.

In this newscast: Alaska might soon regulate its own hazardous waste if authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Haines and Skagway are among the communities across Alaska are doing what they can to support the more than one thousand people displaced by Typhoon Halong; The largest community in the North Slope Borough has a new grocery store; College Gate Elementary School now have 70 new students who evacuated from Western Alaska communities after ex-typhoon Halong last month.

In this newscast: The U. S. Coast Guard may briefly be unable to hear distress calls in Southeast Alaska for 3-5 minute intervals this week; Tenants living in Juneau's historic Telephone Hill neighborhood had until this past weekend to move out. But some didn't, and several are now suing the city to reverse the evictions. At the same time, city officials are discussing the next steps for the downtown neighborhood's redevelopment into new, denser housing; A controversial higher education compact from the Trump administration has sparked a petition from several University of Alaska unions, who say they're worried about political overreach stifling academic freedom; Alaska's state-owned economic development and finance corporation is committing another $50 million to the controversial Ambler Road Project. Earlier this month, the board of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority unanimously voted to make the money available to support the 211-mile project, which would connect the Dalton Highway to an undeveloped, mining region near the Brooks Range.

In this newscast: The Juneau Assembly doesn't plan to take a stance on whether it's in favor of the state's proposed Cascade Point Ferry Terminal north of Juneau; Five firefighter apprentices in Juneau received their pins on Saturday — that means the formally joined the force; Renters living in Juneau's Telephone Hill neighborhood had until Saturday to vacate their homes before the city would have evicted them; The Juneau Assembly is hoping to avoid paying a portion of the cost for a federal program that would offer buyouts to residents living on the street hardest-hit by the city's annual glacial outburst flood; People who rely on food assistance from SNAP, the Supplemental nutrition Assistance Program, could have their electronic benefits cards refilled as soon as this week; The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently canceled its contract with the entity that collects much of the data on earthquake and tsunami signals.

In this newscast: Thousands of Juneau residents will be in limbo as of tomorrow, as the SNAP program remains caught in a political battle between Congress, the Trump administration, and federal courts; Juneau schools are finding ways to support students and families in the midst of the government shutdown; The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced last night that it will pay the full cost to extend and repair Juneau's temporary levee meant to protect almost all Mendenhall Valley neighborhoods from glacial outburst floods in the near-term; The competitive commercial red king crab fishery in Southeast Alaska opens tomorrow, and it will be the first of its kind in eight years

In this newscast: The Juneau School Board swore in three members and honored two outgoing members at a meeting Tuesday; Though Alaskans approved ranked-choice voting nearly 5 years ago, the debate about whether it actually benefits voters persists. At a Chamber of Commerce luncheon this afternoon, two speakers shared what they think of the system; Juneau's new hydroelectric utility passed one of its last hurdles this week toward expanding the capital city's energy grid; A beloved maintenance employee at the University of Alaska Southeast starred in a low-budget sci-fi comedy a decade ago. This week, some UAS students screened the film to honor their friendly campus handy-man

In this newscast: Federal subsidies for rural air travel will continue through at least mid-November despite the government shutdown. That's according to a notice from the Transportation Department telling air carriers that it's found enough funding to continue paying Essential Air Service subsidies through Nov. 18; The state's plan to build a new ferry terminal north of Juneau has sparked calls for more information about the project … and, what justifies it. The state recently released an economic analysis to that effect. But, at least so far, the report hasn't done much to ease concerns – particularly among members of a key oversight board; The University of Alaska Anchorage kicked off its new school psychology master's program this fall to address a shortage in school psychologists. But the program has so far failed to get approval from the state Board of Education over concerns about social justice advocacy. That could make it harder for students to get jobs after they graduate; John Boyle, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, abruptly resigned his position on Friday. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced the appointment of his deputy, John Crowther, as acting head of the agency that regulates Alaska's agriculture, mining, oil and gas.

In this newscast: Juneau plans to expand its temporary levee along the Mendenhall River, in part by using money originally intended for a new arts and culture center; A project meant to bring more than 70 units of new workforce housing to downtown Juneau is dead before it could even break ground. The developer blames the city for stopping it. The city says the project was a risk to public safety; The Juneau Assembly approved merit and cost-of-living pay bumps to Juneau's city manager and city attorney Monday night; It's been almost three weeks since a storm caused major flooding and erosion damage to infrastructure in Kotzebue and other Northwest Arctic communities. And that was before the remnants of Typhoon Halong made their way through the region. 

In this newscast: Fairbanks North Star Borough officials are searching for places that could offer more stable housing for ex-Typhoon Halong evacuees; A geological firm presented options for long-term rockslide mitigation in Skagway, but none of the choices are easy or cheap; The City and Borough of Wrangell is pausing work at a housing project after archaeologists confirmed artifacts at the site; Months after Joann Fabrics stores closed in Alaska, the gap in craft supplies is being put to the test at a crucial creative time of year: Halloween.

In this newscast: A private beach in Gustavus, known as the Beach Meadows, is now protected by a conservation easement the owners signed with the Southeast Alaska Land Trust; The Trump administration, reverting to a decision during the prior Trump presidency, is again advancing the Ambler Road project in Northwest Alaska, to help mining interests; In the days after Typhoon Halong tore through Western Alaska, the state evacuated hundreds of people to Anchorage. The evacuees say they mostly have what they need, but it's the things the Red Cross can't change that haunt them; In Juneau, young people in Juneau have a new way to find their voice: a podcast club for youth 

In this newscast: Local advocates have gathered more than 600 signatures in an effort to pause the looming evictions and demolition of the historic Telephone Hill neighborhood in downtown Juneau; Alaskans will not receive SNAP, or food stamp, benefits for November, according to the state division of public assistance. That's unless the federal government shutdown ends before then; Dozens of communities in Western Alaska are working to restore essential infrastructure and repair damaged homes after the remnants of Typhoon Halong devastated coastal communities. But one stands out. In Kipnuk, Halong's high winds and storm surge left a catastrophe. The state Department of Transportation estimates that 90% of the structures in the community were destroyed. Most of Kipnuk's residents evacuated on military helicopters in the days after the storm; Alaska Congressman Nick Begich has a new challenger. Pastor Matt Schultz of First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage launched his campaign earlier this week. 

In this newscast: Final results for Juneau's municipal election dropped Tuesday, showing that voters chose not to implement a new seasonal sales tax system in Juneau next year; The Juneau school board will have two new board members and one returning member following the release of final election results yesterday; Scientists in Southeast Alaska recently established that avalanches are a leading cause of mountain goat mortalities; Over 3 million people visited Alaska during the tourism season that ended in April 2025, marking a new record for the state; President Trump has signed a disaster declaration for Western Alaska; Anchorage officials say they're continuing to assist hundreds of people evacuated from Western Alaska after the catastrophic storm.

In this newscast:  The Alaska Office of Children's Services has struggled with staffing for years, and data shows caseworker demographics also don't line up with the states, or the system's, children; The mayor's task force on short-term rentals wrapped up four months ago, without immediate recommendations on regulations or restrictions for the Juneau Assembly; Juneau's black bears are packing on the pounds to keep from starving during hibernation, and they are going for whatever they can find; Ten women will be inducted into the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame tonight, including Joaqlin Estus, an Alaska Native journalist

In this newscast: Alaska Federation of Natives delegates on Saturday called for an immediate emergency declaration from President Donald Trump – and more federal assistance for communities hit by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. It was one of dozens of resolutions passed on the final day of the AFN convention in Anchorage; Alaska Airlines is dropping its popular policy that allowed travelers flying within the state of Alaska to check three bags for free. The change will primarily impact non-Alaska residents; More than 1,500 Juneauites joined millions of people nationwide this weekend to partake in the second iteration of the No Kings protest against President Donald Trump's policies and actions; Alaska Congressman Nick Begich on Saturday delivered his first address to the Alaska Federation of Natives since being sworn in this year; As residents boarded air transports out of Kipnuk Wednesday, they were leaving what remained of their houses, belongings, and ancestral homeland behind. For many, that list also included their dogs. A Bethel-based nonprofit sprang into action to rescue the pets.

In this newscast: Dozens of attendees at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention stood in protest during U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan's speech Friday morning; Juneau residents got a glimpse of what life in town looked like in the mid-20th century - in Kodachrome; Community leaders in Ketchikan and Saxman have teamed up with the state to build more affordable housing units; Western Alaska residents from the storm-ravaged communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok continued to land Thursday night in Anchorage at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson.

In this newscast: Juneau School District's high school graduation rate went up after the first year of consolidating schools; Half a dozen helicopter crews and other aircraft have worked since the weekend to move people and supplies where they're needed in the storm-battered Kuskokwim Delta; Volunteers in Juneau are offering free lunches for federal employees who were furloughed when the government shut down on Oct. 1st; Sealaska Heritage Institute opened its new science education building Monday; Escalating tensions between the U.S. and Canada fueled fears last winter that Canadians would respond by canceling cross-border visits to Alaska this summer, but a full-scale boycott never seemed to materialize

In this newscast: Juneau's cold weather emergency shelter opens tonight; Researchers presented new preliminary data on how the ice contributed this summer's record-breaking flood in the Mendenhall Valley and shared their ideas about how that could change in the future; Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser is resigning; Juneau saw at least five backcountry deaths this summer, many were cruise tourists or visitors; Alaska has joined more than half of the country in creating artificial intelligence guidance for education as it becomes a larger part of the school day

In this newscast:  A power outage hit all of Juneau today just after 11 a.m.; The city clerk's office released another batch of results from Juneau's municipal election today that include ballots cast on Election Day; The former Juneau police officer who slammed a man to the ground during an arrest this summer will not face criminal charges; At least three people are still missing and 51 have been rescued following a record-breaking storm that slammed into the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Sunday; The Norwegian Encore departs Juneau this evening. It's the last cruise ship of the year, and it marks the end of a nearly 200-day tourism season; In a ceremony held on Indigenous People's Day Monday, clan leaders and carvers dedicated the latest pole in Sealaska Heritage Institute's Kooteeyaa Deiyi, Juneau's totem pole trail

In this newscast: A grand jury indicted a Juneau man on two counts of felony assault for allegedly injuring two Juneau Police officers earlier this month Floodwaters have receded in Kotzebue and other western Alaska communities after a storm, but another is coming The Department of Education and Early Development backtracked on its initial recommendation…

In this newscast: Out-of-state undergraduate students at the University of Alaska Southeast will see lower tuition rates beginning next fall, Nearly 100 large whales were reported entangled around the U.S. in 2024, almost a 50% increase from 2023, Funding for a program subsidizing rural air travel is set to continue through early November despite the…

In this newscast: Preliminary results are in for Juneau's 2025 municipal election; No developers have bitten on 200 acres of city land upzoned for denser housing on Douglas Island and in Auke Bay; The interim superintendent for Ketchikan's school district submitted her letter of resignation months into the job; Some Alaskans feel they don't have a meaningful say in the process as a proposed gold mine in Canada goes through its environmental assessment.

In this newscast: Today is municipal Election Day and the KTOO newsroom was around town to chat with voters about their thoughts on the election; The state of Alaska is in the throes of studying what it would take to build a road that would better connect Juneau, Haines and Skagway, and the Dept. of Transportation held open house-style meetings last week to inform the public, and get community feedback; Top state lawmakers say they are investigating why $50 million from the state's primary savings account was invested in an outside private equity fund; A Fairbanks man has a unique antidote to his winter blues: balloon art

In this newscast: Juneau's municipal Election Day is almost here. Voters have until tomorrow night at 8 p.m. sharp to cast their ballots; And Juneau's high school students also cast votes in mock elections to learn more about how they work; The Petersburg Borough assembly passed a resolution last month calling on state and federal authorities for help dealing with rising sea otter populations; President Trump approved the 211-mile Ambler Road in Northwest Alaska today

In this newscast: Among the most vulnerable Alaskans to the ongoing federal shutdown could be thousands of parents who depend on WIC to help them buy food; Former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson is joining the race for governor; Juneau voters will decide in this fall's municipal election whether to exempt essential food and residential utilities from local sales tax; Earlier this month, the judge in a case against a former Juneau chiropractor dismissed a charge, which revealed a gap in state sexual assault laws; A Pennsylvania man allegedly used the stolen identities of seven Alaskans in an attempt to steal their Permanent Fund Dividends in 2022

In this newscast: A former Juneau chiropractor accused of sexual assault now has a public defender; Juneau is mulling over how to prepare for next year's glacial outburst flood; It's been over three years since one of Juneau's elementary schools had a functioning library, but it was able to build and open one this year; Funding has lapsed for the federal government, so a shutdown began Wednesday

In this newscast:  A high-profile lawsuit challenging a key part of Alaska's homeschool system moved ahead this week after an Anchorage judge denied a motion to dismiss the case; The Juneau Assembly is considering offering a portion of the future Telephone Hill redevelopment to house U.S. Coast Guard families moving to Juneau,; Tuesday was Orange Shirt Day, a day of remembrance for Indigenous children who were separated from their language, families and culture and sent to residential schools across North America from the late 1800s well into the 20th Century; At Southeast Alaska's annual economic conference in mid-September, fishing industry leaders talked about the importance of modernizing the industry to ensure economic resilience and sustainability

In this newscast: Chief of Police Derek Bos says the Juneau Police Department is taking action to reform its policies after an officer was filmed slamming a man to the ground during an arrest in July; The City and Borough of Juneau has pushed back the eviction deadline for renters living in the historic Telephone Hill neighborhood in downtown Juneau; Goldbelt Incorporated leadership says the Alaska Native corporation has big plans for its proposed $500 million cruise ship port on Juneau's Douglas Island; Most of the staff running three Alaska newspapers on the Kenai Peninsula and Juneau resigned in protest Monday.

In this newscast: Another glacial outburst flood is underway on the Taku River south of Juneau today; Tomorrow is Orange Shirt Day, a day of remembrance for Indigenous children who were separated from their families and sent to residential schools across North America; The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska's plan to open a casino-like gambling hall on Douglas Island may be in jeopardy; When Juneau's homeless shelter limited day services this summer, a group of churches mobilized to fill the gap by distributing hot means in a food truck downtown; President Donald Trump announced plans to increase the cost of some types of work visas earlier this month, and it could have consequences for Alaska's schools and businesses 

In this newscast: Bartlett Regional Hospital is taking over ownership of an independently owned pediatric clinic in downtown Juneau; A proposition on Juneau's local ballot this year asks voters whether to lower the cap on the local property tax rate, also known as the mill rate; The state of Alaska imagines a future when the already growing shellfish farming industry takes off; For years, a national database that tracks and maps landslides has had an Alaska-shaped hole, but that's about to change

In this newscast:  Hurricane-force winds are expected to hit central and southern Southeast Alaska late tonight and into Friday; Construction to get Eaglecrest Ski Area's controversial gondola up and running is finally underway; Juneau School Board President Deedie Sorensen was set to finish her term this year, but she is adding her name to this year's school board race; Renters living on Juneau's historic Telephone Hill have a week to pack up their belongings and vacate their homes before the city's Oct. 1 eviction date

In this newscast: Researchers at the University of Alaska Anchorage are looking for community problems to solve using artificial intelligence; The Juneau Assembly approved funding to get started on a new playground at the Dzantik'i Heeni campus in Lemon Creek, but the decision brought up budget concerns as voters consider reducing taxes in the municipal election; Unless Congress steps in with a solution, thousands of Alaskans will lose health insurance subsidies at the end of December and see the cost of their premiums shoot up; Alaska viewers of this year's Super Bowl may recognize the Crimson Bears, Juneau's high school football team, in the coverage leading up to the big game. An NBC camera crew flew in to catch a very rainy game Saturday

In this newscast: Juneau is getting a new City Hall location after all. On Monday, the Juneau Assembly greenlit the purchase of two floors of the Michael J. Burns building, which houses the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation downtown. It will become Juneau's new City Hall location after renovations; Dozens of residents attended the Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday to protest the city's plans to evict all residents of the historic downtown Telephone Hill neighborhood in less than two weeks; In August of 2015, a man died in Lemon Creek Correctional Center after staff denied him medical care. Now, a decade later, his widow wonders if the state made any changes to prison protocol that would prevent a death like her husband's from happening again; State prosecutors will retry the sexual assault case against a former Juneau chiropractor facing 13 charges. They stated their intention to move forward at a hearing Tuesday; Democrats and independents in the Alaska state Legislature are urging Congress to preserve federal funding for science and research. In a letter sent Friday, 14 lawmakers urged the state's all-Republican congressional delegation to oppose cuts that President Trump proposed in his 2026 budget.

In this newscast: It's officially autumn, and with the season comes more stormy weather. The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning and flood watch for Juneau today; Raising $1 million can be a difficult task. But one family in Juneau is trying it anyway because it could mean accessing lifesaving treatment for their child. With the help of local businesses and individuals, they have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars so far. And the number continues to climb; More than a million cruise ship passengers visit Juneau each summer. The city may adopt a seasonal sales tax to make the most of their spending. Some residents are wary of the idea. But other towns in Southeast have had success with similar systems; Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is yet again expanding its services in Juneau. This time, a spokesperson says the Alaska Native-run health care organization is renovating the former Planned Parenthood building in Lemon Creek into a new specialty care clinic.

In this newscast: Ballots are on their way from Washington state to registered voters in Juneau for this year's local election; This year's Permanent Fund Dividend will be exactly $1000; A jury has declared a Juneau artist not guilty of terroristic threatening, Mitchell Watley was accused of threatening the public in 2023, when he distributed printed notes around town that referenced school shootings; Juneau's 2025 municipal election is just around the corner. There are three propositions. KTOO's Clarise Larson breaks down what they are and why they matter for voters this election

In this newscast: One of the sessions at Southeast Alaska's annual economic conference in Sitka looked at economic variables, and their future impact on the region; A landslide triggered by heavy rain and wind took down trees next to an apartment building in downtown Juneau late last night; A Lingit master weaver is using viral monster dolls called Labubus to bring attention to Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving; Former Alaska attorney general Treg Taylor filed to join the 2026 race for governor; Alaskans can expect a La Nina climate pattern this winter

In this newscast: A storm moving through Southeast Alaska is causing high winds that will continue into this evening in Juneau, resulting in power outages and fallen trees; A cruise ship passenger died in Juneau Tuesday after falling off a steep mountainside on Mount Roberts near downtown; Juneau might lose its ability to say that its electricity is created entirely by renewable hydropower, if the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority prevails in a lawsuit; An elementary school on Douglas started a school garden in 2022 as a part of a federal watershed and ocean conservation program

In this newscast: Juneau's longtime fire chief announced he plans to retire later this fall; The National Weather Service has canceled a flood warning for Mendenhall Lake and River this morning after a second, minor glacial lake outburst flood last night; The U.S. Department of Education announced last week that it will cut millions in federal grants for its Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions program; Scientists studying killer whales in Alaska are uncovering long-term impacts of the 2014 marine heatwave; Tongass Voices: Student debaters explore what the U.S. Constitution means to them on stage

In this newscast: A second, minor glacial lake outburst flood is underway in Juneau; On Saturday, more than 100 people gathered in Juneau to protest the potential rescission of the Roadless Rule; Eaglecrest Ski Area celebrated 50 years of downhill skiing and outdoor adventures this weekend; The Alaska Legislature last week took a step towards suing Gov. Mike Dunleavy over an executive order he issued ahead of last month's special legislative session

In this newscast: Heavy rainfall in Juneau this week caused untreated wastewater from a city pump station downtown to overflow into Gastineau Channel for several hours; On their first field trip of the year, students at Tlingit, Culture, Language and Literacy in Juneau learned about Lingit language and values through foraging and processing local foods; Alaska's Office of Children's Services is defending their practices in a federal court case that began last month in Anchorage; Heavy rain in Sitka triggered debris flow, flooding and one landslide on Wednesday night

In this newscast: The Juneau School Board greenlit bringing back the district's universal free breakfast program this week; Major maritime shipping companies in Alaska have stopped transporting electric vehicles to the state; Juneau's cat population is growing at an unsustainable rate; Republican candidate for governor Bernadette Wilson announced her running mate, Mike Shower, this week

In this newscast: Juneau may be getting a ‘new' City Hall after all – but this time voters won't get to decide on whether to approve it; The union that represents support staff at the Juneau School District is suing the district over its afterschool child care program; Last year, the Klondike Road Relay got off to a late start when a tour bus crash delayed the race, forcing participants to skip the first few legs. This year, the event celebrated its biggest gathering, despite broken infrastructure and ongoing political tension; Sea shanties have been around for centuries. But in recent years, they've made a pop culture comeback. You can hear them all over TikTok or in the video game Assassin's Creed 4. But one man has been getting generations of people in Ketchikan to sing shanty songs for over 30 years. 

In this newscast: University of Alaska Fairbanks administrators told the Board of Regents last week that they think UAF is set to become a top-tier research institution in 2030; The man who died on Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier last week has been identified as a planetary  geologist from the University of Padua in Italy; Red king crab fisherman in Southeast Alaska are getting the first competitive commercial fishery since 2017; A U.S. Coast Guard crew rescued a hunter after he broke his leg on a hunting trip northwest of Sitka on Friday; This month's Economic Trends Magazine reported that it's getting harder for Alaskans to afford a place to live.

In this newscast: A Sitka Grand Jury indicted a Juneau man Thursday for allegedly assaulting two men at a demonstration in downtown Sitka; Fairbanks police evacuated one of the city's Fred Meyer locations on Saturday evening, after a deactivated mortar shell was left in the grocery store's bathroom; The University of Alaska Board of Regents introduced changes to the University's antidiscrimination policy around hiring and recruitment on Friday; Alaska students' test scores improved modestly last school year, according to results released Friday by the Department of Education and Early Development; One of Petersburg's most popular trail systems on Mitkof Island recently got an upgrade with help from out-of-towners.

Sunday is the last day to register to vote or update your mailing address for Juneau's 2025 municipal election A pedestrian is dead after a car went over a guardrail in Ketchikan; The University of Alaska Fairbanks is searching for a permanent chancellor; Coeur Alaska's Kensington Mine found more gold, extending the mine's life five years; Former Juneau chiropractor Jeffrey Fultz is not guilty on two counts of sexual assault, and a mistrial was declared for 12 other counts; Two Sitka community gardens have received grant funding to support food independence

In this newscast: The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry LeConte will continue to be out of service leading into the weekend; After eight days of deliberation, the jury in a sexual assault trial against a former Juneau chiropractor returned a verdict of not guilty on two counts, and hung jury on 12 others Thursday; Researchers continue to investigate a massive landslide and tsunami that hit a fjord popular among sightseeing cruises in Southeast Alaska last month. A veritable mountainside of rock crashed into the water at the end of Tracy Arm, near the terminus of South Sawyer Glacier, generating a tsunami wave that scoured the shoreline of vegetation in the surrounding area and even disrupted tides in Juneau, about 75 miles away; Alaska's Department of Law is asking a judge to throw out much of a class action lawsuit over the state's failure to process food assistance applications on time. Thousands of Alaskans are caught in backlogs that have plagued the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and other aid programs for years. But the state argues a recent Supreme Court case means they shouldn't be allowed to sue.

In this newscast: A plan to bring more high-speed electric vehicle charging stations to Alaska is back on track; A man fell into a hole in the ice on the Mendenhall Glacier Tuesday; Ships could pose a risk to seabirds migrating through Alaska's waters; Elementary reading scores in Petersburg are rising above state and national averages; The Arctic Research Consortium is shutting down after funding cuts