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Alaska’s Right to Produce Act is being mischaracterized as a betrayal by Rep. Mary Peltola, but the truth is more nuanced: she co-sponsored the bill before withdrawing support due to environmental and Indigenous rights concerns — not because she voted against it, but because she voted “present” after seeing its potential harm. The bill passed the House in May 2024, yet still sits idle in the Senat...

Mary Peltola, a Democrat touting Alaska’s resource potential, sparked controversy by co-sponsoring a bill to reopen Arctic drilling — only to later flip and urge her party to vote against it, citing local conservation concerns near Nome. When the House voted May 1, she abstained — the lone Democratic “present” — raising questions about consistency between campaign promises and legislative actions....

Nine American Samoan residents of Whittier, Alaska, whose voter misconduct charges were dropped after a court ruled the state couldn’t prove they knowingly lied about citizenship—highlighting legal confusion over birthright status and the blurred line between citizen and national under U.S. law. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DN...

Soldiers at Fort Wainwright honored the 9/11 victims with solemn ceremonies, reflecting on how the attacks reshaped national unity and military readiness—lessons still echoed today by a generation too young to remember the day but shaped by its legacy. Senator Lisa Murkowski joined in, recalling her own shock that morning and lamenting today’s deeper divisions, while both she and Brigadier General...

The University of Alaska Fairbanks just secured a $300,000 grant to transform the iconic Bus 142—Christopher McCandless’s final vehicle from “Into the Wild”—into a free, 24/7 outdoor exhibit. After years of conservation work, including window repairs and weatherproofing following its dramatic helicopter rescue, the bus is ready for public display, possibly with a pavilion and guided tours. The pro...

Alaska’s political race hit a snag when the Department of Law flagged dozens of candidates for financial disclosure issues — only for reporters to uncover most were based on outdated, inaccurate, or outright wrong data. Some candidates were falsely accused of owning businesses or properties they never held. The controversy exploded when Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom used the flawed report to reinst...

Alaska’s youngest learners are crushing it in early reading—60% of kids from kindergarten through third grade now meet or exceed benchmarks, thanks to the Alaska Reads Act. But educators warn this is just the beginning: to keep momentum alive, we must also invest in teachers, stabilize funding, and ensure no student falls behind in math, science, or social studies. Listen in comfort: Get a discoun...

Alaska’s Fairbanks just got a smart, free solution for yard waste: drop off branches and trees at a new debris site on Easy Street, and get wood chips in return. Running Thursday through Monday, noon to 6 PM, this wildfire-prevention program turns clutter into community gold—perfect for paths, soil moisture, or livestock bedding. Residents are already lining up, and the Division of Forestry plans...

Anchorage firefighters honored 9/11 heroes with a grueling stair climb challenge—wearing 100-pound turnout gear for 11 minutes to simulate the physical and mental toll of rushing into danger. It was more than endurance; it was raw tribute to fallen first responders, a visceral reminder of sacrifice, and a powerful moment for families witnessing the courage that defines those who answer the call. L...

Anchorage firefighters honored 9/11 heroes with a grueling stair climb challenge—wearing 100-pound turnout gear for 11 minutes to simulate the physical and mental toll of rushing into danger. It was more than endurance; it was raw tribute to fallen first responders, a visceral reminder of sacrifice, and a powerful moment for families witnessing the courage that defines those who answer the call. L...

Kodiak Island is unveiling immersive cultural tours rooted in its 7,000-year-old Alutiiq heritage, blending history, cuisine, and tradition into unforgettable experiences. Visitors can learn to cook like a local, tour historic fish processing facilities, and even step inside a traditional underground Alutiiq home called a “ciqlluaq.” Guided museum vault access, live cultural demonstrations, and st...

Alaska teachers are confronting a tough but vital task: explaining the September 11 attacks to fifth graders who weren’t born when it happened. With personal ties to the tragedy—like one teacher whose father worked in the World Trade Center—educators are weaving history, emotion, and real-world impacts into lessons on security, privacy, and foreign policy. Students are moved by stories of loss and...

Juneau’s schools are facing a surprising enrollment drop—94 fewer students than projected, with kindergarten hit hardest. The superintendent’s bringing in a demographer to forecast future numbers, while the school board eyes staffing shifts to fill open roles, especially in key elementary programs. Though state funding isn’t finalized until October, budget adjustments will come in November to alig...

In Dutch Harbor, scientists are using cutting-edge DNA analysis to track chum salmon bycatch in the pollock fishery, revealing that less than 20% come from Western Alaska — a region deeply reliant on these fish. This data-driven approach, unique to Alaska, is fueling a heated debate over fishing limits and helping policymakers balance ecological health with community survival. Listen in comfort: G...

Local music duo The Heists drop their debut EP “Break & Mend” this weekend, kicking off with a live show at The Crystal Saloon — while later this month, a powerful community walk honoring Orange Shirt Day and MMIWG unites Tlingit and Haida youth in a call for truth and change. Juneau’s pulse keeps beating strong with UAS admissions open houses, NAMI’s suicide prevention picnic, and even bear sight...

Alaska’s youth crisis is hitting hard — 2025 saw the deadliest year for young people in a decade, with boys dying by suicide at over four times the rate of girls, and most victims just sixteen years old. Rooted in trauma from colonization, cultural disruption, and gaps in mental health access, the issue demands urgent, community-wide action. Experts warn that impulsive decisions often happen in mi...

Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources is set to hand over nearly 20,000 acres near Houston to AIDEA, a state agency with a history of costly failures, for an industrial park that could destroy 42 miles of trails and disrupt salmon and moose habitats. Young activists are rallying against the deal, warning it prioritizes outside industries over Alaska’s ecosystems and communities—public comment c...

Alaska Democrats are demanding a judge remove Republican House candidate Jose Tagle from the ballot after his initial financial disclosure form was blank — a move they say violates election rules, citing a prior court ruling. Despite Tagle’s claim it was a “glitch” and his later submission of corrected info, including debts and a judgment, Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom certified him — along...

Discover how Kennecott Mines in Alaska became a copper empire thanks to a mind-blowing natural process: copper-rich fluids from ancient greenstone rocks were funneled through fractures into limestone, creating ultra-pure, massive ore deposits. Today, as a historic landmark managed by the National Park Service, you can still see the geology’s legacy—like that vibrant green malachite streak in the r...

After weeks of chaos, Skagway’s ferry dock is back online—thanks to heroic repairs that fixed cracked concrete and all 19 anchor chains. The shutdown threw a wrench into travel plans for seasonal workers and the Klondike Road Relay teams, forcing costly workarounds and delays. With crews diving and rebuilding around the clock, officials cautiously reopened on schedule, but kept fingers crossed for...

Anchorage is giving veteran-owned businesses a five percent bid advantage on city contracts — a bold move to keep skilled veterans rooted in the community. With Alaska boasting the highest veteran population percentage in the nation and Anchorage home to over 37,000 vets, this policy aims to retain talent while aligning with state and federal practices. Though concerns about budget impact and veri...

Twenty-five years after 9/11, surveillance has exploded from a targeted national security tool into an all-encompassing digital ecosystem—now embedded in everyday policing and powered by AI. What began as a response to terrorism has morphed into a system that tracks movements via license plates, facial recognition, and social media data, linking federal, state, and local agencies. While hailed as...

Alaska Democrats are fighting in court to remove Republican candidate Jose Tagle from the November ballot after a last-minute reversal by Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom. Initially aligned with election officials who said Tagle missed campaign finance deadlines, Dahlstrom backed down after pressure from the Department of Law, arguing fairness demands consistent enforcement across all candidate...

Two measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania were quietly erased from CDC records after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questioned their validity — a move experts say shatters trust between state and federal health agencies and threatens the reliability of public health data nationwide. Former CDC leaders and Yale researchers warn this undermines the entire system, risking...

A student in Juneau turned salmon stream data into haunting, immersive music—transforming water levels, temperature, and turbidity into melodies and soundscapes to help people feel the pulse of their local ecosystem. Through sonification, Ashlen Smith and her mentor Lindsey McCulloch made complex environmental data emotionally resonant, hoping to deepen public connection with nature—one note at a...