KTOO News Update
The day’s local and state news in about 10 minutes.
Newscast – Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025
In this newscast: Mining leaders had an optimistic outlook at the third annual Juneau Mining Forum this week; A plan to move Juneau's city employees into the building that houses the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation downtown is inching toward reality; A state-run trust that owns much of the land surrounding a controversial mining project outside Haines has formally decided against purchasing federal mining claims in the area; Snow is melting early across large swaths of Alaska this year, which could mean a big wildfire season in certain parts of the state
Read More »Newscast – Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025
In this newscast: Influenza cases in Alaska are spiking, according to data from the state's division of public health; The Juneau police officer who shot and killed a resident wielding a hatchet last year will not face criminal charges; In less than two months the Juneau Assembly is expected to vote on a proposal that would allow the construction of a fifth cruise ship dock downtown to move forward; The University of Alaska is grappling with how to respond to broad executive orders from the Trump administration that include eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs
Read More »Newscast – Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025
In this newscast: Juneau’s longtime city clerk Beth McEwen is retiring from her position after nearly three decades with the city; The Juneau Assembly is moving forward with a plan that would demolish most of Marie Drake building to use for parking; Juneau’s tourism sector says its unsure what will happen at Mendenhall Glacier, after the firing of most of its staff, as summer season approaches; Tongass Voices: Frank Henry Kaash Katasse on directing the funny, yet biting show opening at Perseverance: The Thanksgiving Play
Read More »Newscast – Monday, Feb. 24, 2025
In this newscast: Anchorage parents could be legally liable if their child brings a gun or other deadly weapon to school under a proposed Assembly ordinance; Lawmakers heard last week that they're facing even larger deficits than they previously thought, complicating a key priority for majority-caucus lawmakers in the House and Senate: boosting funding for public schools; An investment by the Alaska Permanent Fund in the seafood processing company Peter Pan resulted in the lost of more than $29 million when the company collapsed
Read More »Newscast – Friday, Feb. 21, 2025
In this newscast: A survey of Juneau's Bartlett Regional Hospital staff last year shows they lack confidence in management and leadership and are experiencing higher rates of burnout and turnover; The Juneau School District Board of Education began formal discussions on next school year's budget based on an assumption of a $400 increase to the state's per-student funding contribution; A closely watched bill that would boost state funding for public schools took a step forward on Wednesday; Ketchikan residents joined others around the nation in protesting the Trump Administration's mass firing of federal employees Wednesday; The Haines Assembly last week voted to send a friendly letter to its Canadian neighbors
Read More »Newscast – Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025
In this newscast: Roughly three-quarters of the staff at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center have been laid off, according to former employees with knowledge of the situation; Bartlett Regional Hospital's board voted to incrementally pay back $2 million to the City and Borough of Juneau over the next three years; Congressman Nick Begich III told the Alaska Legislature the state has become too dependent on federal spending; A panel of civil rights and immigration advocates addressed how immigration policy changes from the Trump administration may affect Alaskans; The Southeast island community of Petersburg called a town hall meeting last week to discuss the future of tourism, as they consider a potential partnership with a small cruise ship company
Read More »Newscast – Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025
In this newscast: Federal workers in Juneau are among the thousands nationwide to receive layoff notices in the inboxes last week and over the holiday weekend. This is part of the Trump Administration’s continued efforts to downsize the government; State lawmakers are considering a new student loan repayment program to attract former Alaskans to return and serve as teachers and state workers; Alaska’s state ferry system continues to face stiff headwinds when it comes to staffing, state officials say.
Read More »Newscast – Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025
In this newscast: Juneau Democratic Representative Sara Hannan introduced a bill that would impose a statewide tax on e-cigarette or vape products and raise the minimum purchasing age in Alaska. Versions of this bill have come before lawmakers multiple times in the past few years and public testimony was divided; Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order to eliminate federally funded programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. That order could affect a wide range of programs in Alaska, from climate research to summer camps; The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will now start in Fairbanks due to a lack of snow, race officials announced yesterday. The last-minute change follows alarms raised by some mushers over the weekend who said stretches of the trail were not safe for their teams.
Read More »Newscast – Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
In this newscast: Sen. Lisa Murkowski introduced a bill that would keep the name Denali for North America’s highest peak; Lawmakers are looking at Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposal to create a state Department of Agriculture; Preschool students presented lawmakers with Valentines — and plea for policy-level support for childcare — at the state Capitol; A…
Read More »Newscast – Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025
In this newscast: Juneau’s city-owned hospital is in a much better financial position than it has been in years. For the last eight months, the hospital has been making steady positive income; A deadly strain of bird flu is sweeping the nation. It has killed more than 20 million chickens since October, and that has scrambled the egg market. Alaska Public Media’s Ava White has more on how Anchorage businesses are coping with rapidly increasing egg prices along with supply problems; Juneau’s city-owned hospital is in a much better financial position than it has been in years. For the last eight months, the hospital has been making steady positive income; Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as President Trump’s director of national intelligence. She also announced that she intends to vote to confirm Robert Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services.
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