KMXT News

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Challenges continue over books on shelves in the Ketchikan Public Library. The Legislature will consider bills that would seek to expand capacity for renewable energy. And taprooms can now stay open one hour longer! Photo: A new solar farm located in Houston, Alaska.

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Anchorage officials are puzzled by a bill sponsored by a Bethel Senator that would transfer its port to the state. A new program will help Alaska nonprofits with their heating and electricity bills. And months after being found stranded in Kenai, a young otter pup is thriving in captivity in another part of the country. Photo: Rescued baby sea otter...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: State economists are predicting modest job growth this year across Alaska. A drag queen story hour event planned for the Soldotna Public Library this weekend has been postponed following online uproar about the event. And a man dies while being taken into custody in Fairbanks. Photo: Online poster announcing the postponement of a drag show to be hel...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: A cargo ship carrying lithium-ion batteries reported a cargo fire Thursday morning, and is currently anchored outside of Unalaska. Juneau’s only electric bus hasn't hit the road in more than a year. And enough mushers have signed up to make the Yukon Quest a go. Photo: Capital Transit’s first electric bus has faced persistent problems, but the c...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: The tiny Eastern Interior community of Healy Lake is the first in Alaska to go live with high-speed internet funded through the federal Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input regarding removing protections for 28 million acres of lands across Alaska. And opinions vary about why Sitka is strugglin...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: An Alaska Native corporation is trying to develop a new hotel in Homer, but some residents have concerns. Sealaska Heritage Institute has released new language learning apps for endangered Indigenous languages. And local health officials are encouraging residents to take precautions to avoid seasonal respiratory viruses. Photo: Front parcel of land...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: The final sled dog race of 2023 brought 14 teams out into the bitter cold to compete for the Holiday Classic title.  After months without a clear plan, Juneau’s new cold weather emergency shelter opened in a warehouse south of downtown in late October. And the U.S. military did not begin a new “Arctic pay” bonus for Alaska-based military members in...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: In Anchorage the Meaning of Home Project has showcased the poetry, music, and art of those who struggle with housing. Other states have been quicker to adjust the salaries of educators to compensate for higher costs, while Alaska has fallen further behind.  And arctic temperatures continue to rise, according to the recent Arctic Report Card. Photo:...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Christmas in Ambler, above the Arctic Circle. The drinking water from a Nikiski utility contains higher-than-safe levels of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” And it’s unclear whether the Alaska Marine Highway System will have enough crew to operate all of its ferries. Photo: The M/V Malaspina sits at the dock in Auke Bay, near Juneau, as the...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Anchorage schoolkids celebrate light for the solstice. Operation Santa brings cheer to remote Alaska communities. And the Anchorage Assembly struggles to rename the Port of Anchorage. Photo: Santa rides in a Blackhawk.

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines:There are more beavers in the Arctic, and they are busy releasing methane into the atmosphere. Governor Mike Dunleavy outlined a variety of ideas to address Alaska’s energy needs in his budget proposal. And Petersburg’s Borough-owned hydro-power plant upgrade is in its final phase of testing. Photo: A pair of beavers work over some branches in shallo...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Only two companies bid in the state’s first royalty-free Cook Inlet natural gas lease sale. It was a very tuba Christmas at the Anchorage Performing Arts Center. And St. Paul plans to revitalize reindeer meat processing in the Pribilofs. Photo: Neal Haglund, a retired school band teacher, has conducted TubaChristmas for most of its 28 years in Ancho...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines A recent report to Congress on gaps in law enforcement response to cases of missing and murdered Native people had a special chapter just on Alaska. Landslides are almost impossible to forecast precisely. But scientists say more data could help. And The small Kasilof Historical Museum recently acquired two maritime navigation lanterns from the Smiths...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: The Hispanic community in Juneau celebrates the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The National Weather Service has issued high wind and flood watches for Southeast Alaska communities from Juneau down to Ketchikan. And Manh Choh ore trucks are being allowed across the Chena River bridge in Fairbanks, despite an earlier ban. Photo: Residents sing an...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Governor Mike Dunleavy has issued a disaster declaration for Little Diomede. The southern half of the village of Quinhagak has been without power since Friday. And Alaska State Troopers responded to a plane crash near Anchor Point on Friday. Photo: Little Diomede, a village in the Bering Strait, is only accessible by aircraft during the winter. (Fil...

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Two days of memorial services are planned this week for Father Michael Oleksa. Bethel’s Fire Department has a new training facility that's expected to be a hot destination for training firefighters. And Alaska Airlines is buying Hawaiian Airlines. Photo: Father Michael Oleksa

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Internet and phones are back online for residents in Wrangell cut off after last week’s landslide. Alaska may have ballots in fewer Native languages next year.  And The front doors of the Petersburg middle and high school will be locked each day after classes begin. Photo: Early Voting stickers say “I voted” in English, Spanish, Tagalog and several...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: In Bristol Bay, students got a chance to practice their first aid and health triage skills as part of crisis training. Work has begun to clear a path through the landslide debris in Wrangell. And drag queens from across the state vied for the title of Miss Gay Alaska America recently.

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Two people are still missing after last week's deadly landslide in Wrangell. The only known survivor of the Wrangell Landslide tells her story. And Senator Lisa Murkowski has an idea to ease Congressional tension. Photo: Sen. Murkowski talks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in 2020. (Jeff Malet/MaletPhoto.com)  

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: While the search continued out the road on Thanksgiving Day, many Wrangell residents gathered at the local community center. The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced final action on a state plan to improve Fairbanks North Pole area wintertime air quality. And Alaska's Minimum Wage will rise, but Minimum Salary probably matters more....

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: The Environmental Protection Agency has announced plans to give $150 Million to Alaska Tribes for clean energy, and climate change resilience projects. Three are dead and three people are still missing after a large landslide outside of Wrangell Monday night. And many Alaskans commute to work via aircraft, making coldwater aircraft crash training a...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: An unknown number of people are missing after a "massive" landslide in Wrangell. A lawsuit filed Friday accuses the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District of violating six students’ constitutional rights by removing books from school library shelves. And an emergency subsistence hunt held in Kake at the start of the COVID pandemic has b...

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Recent overdoses overshadowed Covenant House Alaska’s annual candlelight vigil. Sitka's Assembly has voted to return excess sales tax revenues as energy credits. And the state will step in to stabilize barley prices in Delta Junction. Photo: Wrigley Barley Field with Mt. Hayes Looming. Photograph courtesy of Alaska Flour Company  

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Many people scrambled to help rescue the crew of the downed Coast Guard helicopter near Sitka. And Alaskans are encouraged to check out health insurance plans offered during the Affordable Care act's open enrollment period.

On today’s Midday Report with host Terry Haines: The number of missing and murdered indigenous people in Alaska continues to climb. The Sitka Community Land Trust is bridging the housing gap one cottage at a time. And high prices make Ketchikan an attractive fentanyl market.