News of the North

The first time I remember being aware of my father’s hands was when I was three.

Florida (KINY) - A federal judge has ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can not require cruise ship passengers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. ABC has called the ruling an "initial win" for Florida.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The special legislative session limped toward a bitter end Friday, with Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and House majority leaders sharply disagreeing over the adequacy of the budget passed by lawmakers earlier this week.

JUNEAU, Alaska (KINY) — The special legislative session ended Friday, with Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and House majority leaders still at odds over the budget passed by lawmakers earlier this week.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The National Weather Service is requesting feedback on how it can improve messaging during times when weather or flood hazards are possible or happening. 

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium announced that they have named Valerie Davidson as their Permanent President.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - John Luhrs replaces Steve Morrow who left the post following the conclusion of this school year.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A split federal appeals court panel has sent back for further legal review a 2019 decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw proposed restrictions on large-scale mining in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region. The EPA during the Obama administration proposed but never finalized restrictions on large-scale mining in response to the Pebble Mine project.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said he is "prepared" to call the Legislature back into session on June 23 if they do not craft a full budget by Friday evening, the last day of the special session.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska legislative leaders have agreed to allow lawmakers to collect retroactively an allowance for the special session now nearing its end.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - When Lydia Jacoby, the 17-year-old Seward Tsunami Swim Club sensation, touched the wall at Tuesday’s U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, in the finals of the 100-meter breaststroke and the her lane clock stopped at one minute 05.28 seconds, a crowd of Juneau’s Glacier Swim Club athletes, clad in swim gear at practice, erupted in cheer.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Legislative Council, a group made up of members from both the House and Senate, unanimously agreed to reopen the Alaska State Capitol to members of the public in a meeting Wednesday.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Juneau Representative Andi Story believes a $525 Permanent Fund Dividend is too low and will eventually be increased to $1,100, but not in this special session.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted 6-3 on Monday evening to decline a $2 million donation from Norwegian Cruise Line, citing it as "inappropriate" and bad timing. Instead, they decided to ask NCL to redirect the funds to the Juneau Community Foundation.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska hiker who reported needing help following bear encounters on a trail reached a road and flagged down help Wednesday, authorities said.

Juneau, Alaska (AP / KINY) - The Alaska Legislature approved a state spending package following a series of dramatic votes in the Senate on Wednesday and impassioned speeches highlighting the tensions over the annual dividend paid to residents and the frayed nerves after five months in session.

Washington (AP) - Both Republican and Democratic senators are pressing Interior Secretary Deb Haaland for answers after a federal court blocked the Biden administration’s suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau Police Department has taken a step backwards in its effort to recruit officers.

Douglas, Alaska (KINY) -On June 14, the Douglas Fire Fighters ranked their favorite flag decorations on Douglas. The judges have made their decisions in the Douglas Flag Day competition.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Alaska Senate took up and passed the budget proposed by the conference committee on Wednesday.

Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) -The Anchorage Traditional Games are scheduled to be held this weekend for the first time in two years.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - One of the Alaska’s best distance runners, and most unselfish running camp volunteers, Allie Ostrander, recently revealed through personal media accounts in YouTube and Instagram that she has been struggling with an eating disorder.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau Weather Service reported that water levels on the Taku River have been steadily rising, with bankfall levels at 42 feet as of 5 am.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Lydia Jacoby, the 17-year-old Seward Tsunami Swim Club sensation, swam the second-fastest time in the world this season at Tuesday’s U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, to earn a berth in the Summer Olympic Games.

JUNEAU, Alaska (Becky Bohrer / Associated Press) — The Alaska House late Tuesday passed a state budget that would result in a $525 dividend to residents this year and leave in doubt funding for a number of programs and infrastructure projects after it failed to garner sufficient support on a key vote.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Between May 31 and June 13, Juneau reported 29 cases of COVID-19. The previous 14-day period was 33, meaning the number of cases has decreased.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Juneau has decided to decline the $2 million donation from Norwegian Cruise Lines. Some members of the Assembly called the donation "inappropriate."

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge in Louisiana has ordered an end to the Biden administration's suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to lower the total mill rate by 0.1 during their Monday night meeting.

Barbara Blake has decided to run for the Assembly. She'll file for the seat now held by Loren Jones who is term-limited and barred from running again.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - An item on the Assembly’s agenda Monday was a resolution that “would designate CBJ property managed by Parks and Recreation, Docks and Harbors, and Eaglecrest” for fireworks use.

Juneau, Alaska (AP/KINY) - Alaska budget negotiators reached a tentative agreement on a spending package that would keep state government running and allocate federal recovery aid dollars.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly decided not to accept the $2 million donation from Norwegian Cruise Lines during Monday night’s meeting.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - There was a structure fire on the 1000 block of Edwin Place in Juneau on Sunday night at around 10:30. Responders arrived at a second-floor wooden deck ablaze on a two-story duplex.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Juneau’s Post 25 American Legion baseball team is undefeated in the young season, opening their conference play with a twin-bill sweep of Chugiak Post 33 on Saturday, at Adair Kennedy Field, in between a pair of non-league games against Chugiak on Friday and Sunday.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The bill that formally protects the cemetery at Funter Bay on Admiralty Island was sponsored by Juneau Representative Sara Hannan but she gives the credit to Martin Stepetin.

Anchorage, Alaska (AP) - Wildlife officials in Alaska have said two campers were attacked by a bear this weekend while they were sleeping in their tent in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

Concord, N.H. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Coast Guard have updated guidance for commercial fishermen saying those who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear a mask while outside on a commercial fishing vessel.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Legislative Conference Committee made up of members of both the House and Senate met over the weekend to hash out the state's budget.

Juneau, Alaska (AP) - Alaska budget negotiators are working to try to reach a tentative agreement on a state spending plan.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - On Saturday, a crowd gathered around the whale statue in downtown Juneau to hold a vigil for the 215 children that were found buried at Kamloops Residential School in Canada in late May.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Topping the Assembly's agenda Monday night will be the budget ordinance and the measure setting the mill rate.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The U.S. Forest Service "plans to repeal or replace a decision by the Trump administration to lift restrictions on logging and road building" in Alaska, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development has announced that they will be replacing the state's testing assessment PEAKS with a new test from the Northwest Evaluation Association or NWEA.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An indictment shows a former Alaska legislator has been indicted on new felony charges alleging voter misconduct related to the 2018 elections.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Juneau Assemblymember Christine Woll offered her reaction to the proposed charter amendments that aimed to reign in cruise ship visits and the failure of sponsors to gather the required number of signatures while a guest on Action Line.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Juneau’s High Heat Club has started their Hole In One registration for a chance at putting in a million dollar golf shot on the Mendenhall Golf Course.

Anchorage, Alaska (AP) - An Anchorage man says he helped a baby moose over a guardrail to be reunited with its mother after watching the young moose struggle to get over the guardrail as traffic piled up over the weekend.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Alaska Congressman Don Young talked about the passage of the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, economic diversification, and the possibilities of energy production in Alaska while at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce's weekly luncheon.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau Chamber of Commerce is doing a cash drawing and providing gift cards to Juneau businesses for individuals who receive either their first shot, or single shot of the vaccine in an effort dubbed "The Healthly Juneau Initiative" that will run through most of June.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Anchorage man says he helped a baby moose over a guardrail to be reunited with its mother after watching the young moose struggle to get over the guardrail as traffic piled up over the weekend.

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — A Seward City Council member has apologized for making an antisemitic comment during a council work session earlier this week.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Graduating seniors in Juneau will be allowed to earn half a credit less than prior graduating classes under a change adopted this week that was billed as a way to acknowledge the impact the pandemic has had on learning.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - A new study has identified 20 locations around the state that could be potential landslide hazards. One of those potential hazards is on the Lemon Creek side of Thunder Mountain in Juneau.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - There were a couple of announcements regarding News of the North on Thursday's Action Line program.

Billings, Montana (AP) - The sponsor of the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline says it's pulling the plug on the contentious project after Canadian officials failed to persuade the Biden administration to reverse its cancellation of the company's permit.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, of Louisiana, and representatives of the Louisiana seafood industry spent this week in Juneau. It's the mark of a formal partnership between their state and Alaska, the two highest producing seafood states in the nation.

Ketchikan, Alaska (KINY) - A man was medevaced by the Coast Guard from a yacht near Ketchikan on Wednesday.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The second Juneau Ridge Race, a 15-mile outing that features breathtaking scenery and some initial vertical ascents, is set for Sunday, June 27, and approaching its registration capacity of 100 participants.

Fairbanks, Alaska (KINY) - The Fairbanks Emergency Communication Center received a report of suspicious circumstances Sunday evening in the woods after a caller said she was walking in the woods with her mother when her mother lunged at her.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - There may be a light at the end of the tunnel for the current special legislative session.

Juneau, Alaska (AP) -An agreement between an Alaska Native village corporation and conservationists would restrict development on lands in the Bristol Bay region where a mine developer has proposed a road.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services continues to work with authorities to perform an analysis of the cyber attack identified on May 17, while also further strengthening systems and restoring services.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Congressman Don Young and House lawmakers introduced legislation Tuesday to permanently reauthorize the Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have introduced legislation to amend the Alaska Native Vietnam era Veterans Land Allotment program which aims to make over 3 million acres of federal land in the National Wildlife Refuge System available for selection.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Governor Mike Dunleavy signed a bill into law that formally protects the Funter Bay cemetery on Admiralty Island on Tuesday.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - A public hearing on zoning proposals in Auke Bay has been postponed until June 22. It was originally scheduled for June 8.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole held it's first meeting with the Systemic Racism review committee.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The number of jobs in Alaska has shown a partial recovery.

Kodiak, Alaska (KINY) - Three people were rescued Saturday by the Coast Guard in Kodiak, but what makes this rescue out of the ordinary is that the rescued three were on an inflatable pink flamingo.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Craft breweries in Alaska are on the rise.

Juneau, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is urging lawmakers to act on his proposal to place in the state constitution a new formula for the annual check residents receive from Alaska’s oil-wealth fund.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Work began Monday on the trail and wetland area along Duck Creek in the valley. It is set to continue throughout the month.

WASHINGTON (KINY) - Alaska US Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski are part of a coalition of senators that have introduced the Visit America Act.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau School Board conducts its regular meeting Tuesday evening.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The CARES Program operated by Capital City Fire Rescue plans to expand staffing after nearly two years of existence.

Anchorage, Alaska (AP) - The Anchorage Police Department is proposing that uniformed officers wear body cameras at all time while on duty and record all calls for service or when initiating encounters with the public unless it is “unsafe, impossible or impractical to do so.”

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - As Alaska’s court system is reopening the criminal justice system faces a growing backlog of cases.

Anchorage, Alaska (AP) - The University of Alaska Anchorage has announced a new partnership with a university in Oregon to expand opportunities for current and future students interested in law degrees.

Anchorage, Alaska (AP) - Tom Fink, a former speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives who later became mayor of Anchorage, has died.

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Unable to travel to the state basketball tournament over COVID-19 concerns, the Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears are hustling to play at a tournament in California as a club team this weekend. 

The Mt. Edgecumbe High School Braves topped the Sitka Wolves in the final game of their best two-out-of-three Region V 3A basketball tournament series championship.

JUNEAU, ALASKA (KINY) - The Mt. Edgecumbe High School Lady Braves beat the Sitka Lady Wolves with a last-second shot on Wednesday night inside the B.J. McGillis Field House.

JUNEAU, ALASKA (KINY) - The 2021 Region V Virtual Cheer Champions were announced on Tuesday.

The House voted 32-7 to send to the senate fast track legislation that provides 24 million for the marine highway system to keep running and 45 million for medicaid.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A federal study says more shrubs growing on Arctic tundra likely will have little effect on the abundance of most bird species until the vegetation grows tall.