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A jury in Palmer, Alaska, convicted Phillip Phillips, 58, of multiple serious sex crimes against a minor that occurred in 2020 — including first-degree and second-degree sexual abuse and harassment — after he vanished mid-trial. Phillips bizarrely fired his lawyer on the first day and skipped court entirely, sparking a manhunt. Authorities found he’d sold his home and truck, bought a satellite pho...

Experience the vibrant Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow in Fairbanks, Alaska — a free, family-friendly cultural celebration open to all. Featuring dazzling traditional dances, a special drum group from Arizona, craft vendors, kid-friendly activities, and even a potato dance for adults, this three-day event (Friday 6 PM to Sunday noon) brings together Alaska Natives, American Indians, and First Nati...

Alaska’s campaign finance debate just got a dramatic twist: Governor Dunleavy just vetoed a five-year legislative effort to cap campaign donations, sending the issue back to voters. The bill, House Bill 16, proposed strict limits—$2,000 per person and $4,000 per group—with inflation adjustments. Dunleavy argued it unfairly targeted self-funded candidates and violated free speech, favoring transpar...

Fairbanks is eyeing a new $7M scenic riverwalk along the Chena — but with inflation and budget constraints, officials are rethinking design to slash costs while keeping the dream alive. Mayor Hopkins wants a budget-friendly path connecting to a footbridge, stretching 1,600 feet west to Peger Road, with federal funds covering land and local dollars covering construction. Public support remains stro...

Anchorage mourns the loss of Midas, a legendary K-9 hero who served with unmatched bravery for 14 years, credited with over 60 arrests and saving officers’ lives twice in high-stakes confrontations. Even after being stabbed with a sword in 2019, he rose stronger — embodying loyalty, courage, and the unbreakable bond between police and their canine partners. His legacy lives on through the communit...

Juneau braces for another massive glacial lake outburst flood as Suicide Basin, swollen by rain and melting ice, threatens to unleash catastrophic flooding again this year. With last year’s disaster still fresh in mind, agencies like the Army Corps and local tribes have spent $45 million reinforcing barriers, building berms, and installing pumps to protect homes — but officials stress it’s still u...

Alaska’s brutal bear culling operation—68 brown bears killed this spring, bringing the three-year total to 254—has sparked outrage after graphic photos surfaced, revealing the grim reality of state-sanctioned predator control. Despite officials claiming the meat feeds local villages, critics question the truth behind the claims. Wildlife advocates and photographers risked exposure to the stench an...

A deadly four-vehicle crash on Alaska’s Glenn Highway near Eagle River left two dead and a child critically injured after a pickup truck veered into southbound traffic—shutting down lanes for hours and serving as a sobering reminder of road dangers. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, hi...

Alaska’s Governor Dunleavy just vetoed a campaign finance bill that would’ve capped individual donations at $2,000 and group donations at $4,000 — a move that clears the way for a nearly identical ballot measure to hit the August ballot. The veto, citing the bill’s failure to curb self-funding by wealthy candidates, sparks debate over whether money should dictate political priorities. While lawmak...

A driver in Ketchikan, Alaska, narrowly avoided disaster when she spotted two massive boulders blocking the North Tongass Highway—freshly fallen, even smelling of earth. While smaller than past tragedies like the 2024 landslide that claimed a life, the near-miss underscores growing safety concerns. Locals like Spring Barry are calling for better hazard mapping, rockfall prevention, and wire mesh o...

This year’s glacial flood threat has hit hard—evacuation zones have nearly doubled, covering nearly 2,000 homes. With roads blocked and emergency access limited, officials are urging everyone in the zone to evacuate immediately, even if they’ve never flooded before. A $50 million flood wall, reinforced with HESCO barriers, now stretches farther along the river—but it’s not foolproof: a tree fell a...

Alaska’s Mary Peltola is running for Congress while still working her day job—fishing in Bristol Bay, where she pays bills, feeds her family, and honors generations of hard work. She’s frustrated with Washington’s disconnect, where distant lawmakers ignore the struggles of everyday Americans. Peltola’s lived experience fuels her push to ban stock trading by lawmakers and demand billionaires and bi...

Governor Mike Dunleavy just vetoed Alaska’s first major effort to ban Styrofoam food containers, a bipartisan bill aimed at cutting toxic, non-degradable plastic that pollutes ecosystems and enters the food chain. Designed as a phased transition to give businesses time to adapt, the law sought to reduce microplastics and protect public health — a rare moment of cross-party unity on environmental p...

Alaska just passed a groundbreaking bill letting pharmacists prescribe meds for common ailments—aimed at fixing rural healthcare access. But while lawmakers insist it’s abortion-free, critics warn history shows small policy shifts can quietly pave the way for bigger changes. The real debate? Can we expand care without risking values we can’t afford to lose. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a S...

A grateful Anchorage resident, Gregory S. Fisher, shares how strangers stepped in during his awkward mishap—calling them angels for their quick, professional help. Though embarrassed by the disruption, he’s overwhelmed by the kindness and community spirit that emerged, using his story to spotlight the everyday heroes who make a real difference when you need them most. Listen in comfort: Get a disc...

In 1951, powered boats revolutionized the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, replacing sailboats and opening the door to outsiders—doctors, lawyers, anyone—turning fishing into a side hustle. This surge led to overfishing, prompting a 1970s “limited entry” system that turned permits into tradable assets. Today, that system has siphoned wealth from local communities, while the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Se...

Alaska’s Ballot Measure 3 isn’t just about ranked-choice voting—it secretly guts campaign finance transparency by eliminating “true source” disclosure laws, letting dark money hide behind shell groups. While critics claim open primaries favor Democrats, real-world examples like Nick Begich’s comeback prove the system can work for all candidates. This vote’s not just about ranking candidates—it’s a...

Alaska’s governor just vetoed a campaign finance bill meant to reinstate contribution limits, arguing it unfairly favors the wealthy by restricting small donors while letting big spenders self-fund. The move sets up a voter showdown in August, where Alaskans will decide whether to restore caps on donations — a battle rooted in a 2021 court ruling that gutted previous limits and reshaped how campai...

The Haines landfill is cutting ties with its local power company after skyrocketing bills—driven by demand charges that added hundreds to their monthly tab—by going fully off-grid with solar, batteries, and diesel. Despite only a 13% rise in energy use, their power bill more than doubled in a year. The $60K investment aims to slash costs long-term, with full independence expected by fall. While of...

A woman was viciously attacked by a brown bear on her own front deck in Alaska after trying to shoo the bear and its cubs away with a shotgun—she was airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries. Her neighbor bravely helped her back inside while the bear was driven off. Investigators suspect bird feeders may have lured the bears to the area. Wildlife officials are urging locals to report any be...

A woman in Kenai was seriously injured early Thursday when a mother brown bear and her cubs charged into her yard after she let her dogs out. In a desperate attempt to protect her dog, she fired a shotgun — which only enraged the bear, leading to a brutal attack on her front deck. A bystander scared the bear off with a loud yell, but not before she suffered major injuries and was airlifted to Anch...

The White House slams the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History for allegedly promoting radical ideology by downplaying U.S. achievements and overemphasizing racial injustice — a move critics say is politically motivated. Academics fire back, calling the report itself ideologically driven, while the Smithsonian defends its nonpartisan mission. Some lawmakers echo the White House, urgin...

Sixteen members of one Anchorage family escaped a devastating house fire unscathed, but their home and vehicles are a total loss. Firefighters acted swiftly to contain the blaze that started in the garage, but the damage is complete. The American Red Cross is now stepping in with emergency supplies, financial aid, and caseworker support to help the family navigate this crisis. With nowhere to go a...

Alaska Highway Pile-Up Claims Life | Anchorage News

Juneau Afternoon is serving up a vibrant week of local culture and civic engagement, spotlighting the Master’s Faire, the “Feast for Your Ears” cabaret, and the Commission on Sustainability’s Docks and Harbors tour—giving listeners a front-row seat to the heartbeat of Juneau. From circus acts and Fourth of July festivities to whale health talks and theater productions, the show keeps the community...