Anchorage News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

This Friday, Juneau’s Thunder Mountain Middle School is staging history with the world’s first Lingít opera — “Ḵutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles” — a groundbreaking fusion of Indigenous storytelling and classical music. Composed by Ed Littlefield, with libretto by acclaimed writer Vera Starbard and orchestral arrangements by Rory Stitt, the piece will debut its overture this weekend with the...

Tok, Alaska, is recovering from the devastating Mukluk fire as Team Rubicon—led by veterans—races against winter to build emergency shelters. With community support pouring in and volunteers staying warm and dry, the crew split into land-clearing and shelter-building teams… until strong winds forced a pause. Now, their biggest obstacle? Ten burned-out vehicles blocking key sites. They need local h...

On September 11, 2001, David Williams in Anchorage witnessed history unfold on TV—and soon found himself at the heart of an unexpected humanitarian crisis. As flights rerouted to Alaska, hundreds of stranded travelers from Japan and China were welcomed into a Red Cross shelter set up with help from Changepoint Church. When air travel resumed, Williams turned his focus to the East Coast, helping gr...

Alaska’s rural healthcare crisis just got a major boost: Foundation Health Partners in Interior Alaska just received $16 million to transform primary care access. With demand far outpacing supply—especially for Medicare and Medicaid patients—the funding will launch a five-year overhaul, starting with a new clinic at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital by fall 2027. The plan includes hiring more staff, dep...

A ghost spill turned real when Hilcorp Alaska’s pipeline test unleashed an oily sheen in Cook Inlet — a marine hotspot teeming with beluga whales, sea otters, and salmon. With no source found and officials baffled, the mystery deepens as everyone watches closely to protect this vital ecosystem. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN...

Rural Alaska braces for winter amid a fuel crisis as prices soar from $9 to $15 a gallon, threatening heating and food choices. Remote communities rely on risky barges or expensive planes—many aging and strained—while officials scramble to ensure no one’s left in the cold. State aid programs exist, but residents warn they may fall short, urging lawmakers to act before temperatures drop further. Li...

No new opioid settlement grant applications were ready this week in Fairbanks North Star Borough, so all $277,500 set aside for this round will roll over to fund existing programs—treatment, rehab, prevention, and education—already running across the borough. Seven organizations manage 13 initiatives funded by these grants, each capped at $25,000. Originally designed with a declining funding model...

Anchorage’s police chief is getting praised by independent assessors for meaningful reform strides—especially in internal investigations—but they’re warning that sustaining these changes is the real challenge. Experts are pushing back on expanding the PIT maneuver beyond 35 mph, citing deadly risks at higher speeds, and calling for deeper scrutiny into a small group of officers responsible for nea...

Turn environmental data into music—literally. A student at the University of Alaska Southeast transformed a year’s worth of stream measurements into an immersive soundscape, letting listeners “hear” what it’s like for salmon to navigate glacial, snow-fed, rain-fed, and beaver-pond waters. Using water level as melody, temperature as synth, oxygen as wind, and turbidity as bass, she turned complex e...

An Anchorage Police Department use-of-force audit reveals troubling patterns: higher incident rates than neighboring Northwest departments, a small group of officers driving most encounters, and disproportionate impacts on Alaska Native and Indigenous communities. Sparked by recent officer-involved shootings—including the death of a 16-year-old—the audit, conducted by former law enforcement consul...

Emmy night is heating up with “The Pitt” and “Pluribus” locked in a fierce drama battle, while “Hacks” and the surprise hit “Widow’s Bay” collide in comedy. “Widow’s Bay” stunned with eight wins, including best guest actress, while “Hacks” barely cracked the early tally — but Jean Smart’s inevitable win feels certain. Rhea Seehorn could finally take home her first Emmy after years of nominations,...

A 15-year-old Alaska fisherman clung to an overturned skiff for days in freezing waters—barely surviving, while his brother was trapped beneath and his cousin had already died. Rescued by a fishing crew after nearly 72 hours, he’s now the sole survivor, sparking a GoFundMe for funeral costs and recovery. A story of raw survival, heartbreak, and quiet heroism in one of the world’s harshest environm...

A tragic hit-and-run in Anchorage claims the life of 25-year-old motorcycle enthusiast Miguel Angel Pagan Jr., who was killed just after 9 PM while riding on North Post Road. Wearing a helmet, he died at the scene after being struck by a Jeep Cherokee that fled the scene in another vehicle. Known for his fierce confidence, big heart, and love of riding, Miguel leaves behind three young children an...

Ronald Hemenway, a late-bloomer who joined the Navy at 30, became an electronics technician so skilled he landed a Pentagon job—only to be among the 125 lost when Flight 77 struck. A Wasilla High grad and self-taught encyclopedia reader, he built a life in Italy with his wife Marinella and two kids, embodying hands-on fatherhood. Tragically, his remains were never recovered due to the fire’s 3,000...

Joel Jackson, beloved president of the Organized Village of Kake, passed away but his legacy lives on — as a fierce protector of the Tongass National Forest and a tireless advocate for healing his community. He saw the ancient forest not just as wilderness, but as sacred ground vital to the Lingít people’s survival and spirit. Beyond the trees, he fought for justice, securing an official apology f...

The Alaska Supreme Court is poised to make a landmark ruling on qualified immunity for police officers, centered on a 2022 incident in Kotzebue where an officer shot Luke Outwater during a mental health crisis. Outwater, who survived, is suing over alleged negligence and ignored de-escalation protocols, backed by damning body camera footage showing the officer failing to maintain distance and cove...

Alaska’s Democratic Party is suing the governor’s office over a controversial decision to let Republican candidate Jose Tagle stay on the ballot despite failing to disclose financial interests — a move that could reshape state transparency laws and ripple into the governor’s race, especially for Treg Taylor, who also faced disclosure issues. Though the Public Offices Commission and lieutenant gove...

Anchorage mourns the passing of Dick Traini, a legendary 30-year Assembly veteran who shaped the city’s future through landmark policies—from banning indoor smoking to creating dog parks and regulating cannabis. Revered for his wisdom, bipartisan spirit, and unwavering work ethic, Traini left an indelible mark on public service, earning respect even from political rivals. His legacy lives on in th...

This weekend in Anchorage is a whirlwind of events—from honoring history to climbing mountains, quilting, pirate adventures, and symphony magic. Kick off Friday with free admission at the Alaska Veterans Museum as a tribute to 9/11, then catch the U.S. National Under-17 hockey team in action with a special 9/11 moment of reflection. Saturday’s packed: tackle the Alyeska Climbathon for charity, bro...

The Mukluk Fire tore through Tok, destroying 50 homes and over 100 buildings across 7,000 acres—now, with winter looming, recovery is in full swing. The governor’s disaster declaration unlocks state aid for uninsured losses, with a deadline of October 19th; 74 residents have already applied. Federal support is also being eyed for hit businesses. Debris cleanup is a massive task, but volunteer grou...

The Skagway ferry terminal is set to reopen Thursday after a month-long shutdown due to structural damage — cracks in the concrete and compromised chains forced the closure, disrupting travel and scrambling race teams preparing for the Klondike Road Relay. All 19 chains are now repaired, power is being restored, and officials are optimistic — though they urge caution before canceling other plans....

The Juneau Education Support Staff union is set to take its case to trial in February after a year-long legal battle over the shutdown of the RALLY after-school program. Originally slated for arbitration, that process stalled in March — and now, with no resolution in sight, the union and district are headed to court. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for January 11, followed by a two-day trial in J...

Alaska just poured $25.8 million into rural healthcare, bringing its Rural Health Transformation Program total to over $207 million—funding 32 projects aimed at boosting access, telehealth, nutrition, and facility upgrades across remote communities. Part of a $1.3 billion federal initiative launched last year to counter Medicaid cuts, the state received nearly 1,800 proposals and selected over 400...

Alaska’s general election is just around the corner—ballots start mailing out September 18th, early voting begins October 19th, and voters have a packed slate of debates and forums to compare candidates for governor, U.S. House, and Senate across the state. From Anchorage to Kodiak, organizations like AOGA, the Alaska Hospital Association, and the Mat-Su Chamber are hosting events covering key iss...

New research reveals a massive, synchronized geological uplift across the Aleutian Islands 5-7 million years ago — part of a sweeping tectonic shift rippling around the Pacific Rim. By analyzing helium isotopes in rocks, scientists found this event mirrored similar upheavals in California, New Zealand, and Canada, creating a rare global pattern. The stability of the Aleutians since then has preser...