News

Education

UAF installs radome over cutting edge new satellite dish off the Richardson highway

Updated: 2 hours ago

By Ryan Osborne

UAF installs cutting edge new satellite antennae off the Richardson highway

Candidate Profiles & Election Information

Charles Foster III runs for Fairbanks City Council Seat F

Updated: 2 hours ago

By Alex Bengel

Charles Foster III is running for seat F on the Fairbanks City Council.

Crime

Man who lived in Fairbanks charged with 15 counts of sexually abusing a minor

Updated: 2 hours ago

By John Dougherty

Danny Sowers, 36, allegedly had sex with a 5-year-old victim starting in 2013. According to charging documents, the abuse continued for two years until 2015.

Crime

Alaska man arrested, charged for attempting to smuggle firearms into Canada

Updated: 4 hours ago

By KTVF Staff Reporter

The Canada Border Services Agency announced September 18th that charges are being brought against an Alaska man who attempted to smuggle assault style firearms, along with other firearms, into Canada earlier this summer.

Crime

Suspect arrested in Fairbanks after being on the run for over a week

Updated: 8 hours ago

By Gilbert Cordova

Alaska State Troopers say a 19-year-old suspect was finally arrested after being on the run from law enforcement for about a week.

News

Justice for Peter Horace-Wright: Family of man murdered in Fairbanks calls for answers

Updated: Sep. 17, 2020 at 5:31 PM AKDT

By Sarah Hollister

Peter Horace-Wright was allegedly shot to death by Ryder Alan Smith at a towing business in November of last year. The 11 minutes between the gun shots and Ryder Smith calling the police, Smith can be heard calling his father. Ryder Smith faces first degree murder charges, but Peter Horace-Wright's family is calling on the justice system to make Smith's father accountable as well.

Candidate Profiles & Election Information

Lonny Marney runs for Fairbanks City Council Seat E

Updated: Sep. 17, 2020 at 4:06 PM AKDT

By Alex Bengel

Lonny Marney is running for seat E on the Fairbanks City Council.

Education

Fairbanks school district to allow sporting events in Red Zone with updated guidelines

Updated: Sep. 17, 2020 at 1:58 PM AKDT

By KTVF Staff Reporter

According to a press release from Assistant Superintendent Luke Meinert, sporting events and activities will continue in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District despite currently being in the Red Zone.

Candidate Profiles & Election Information

Bert Bell runs for Interior Alaska Natural Gas Utility Board Seat D

Updated: Sep. 16, 2020 at 4:14 PM AKDT

By Alex Bengel

Bert Bell is running for seat D on the Interior Alaska Natural Gas Utility Board.

Fire & Rescue

Searchers locate body of man missing from Arctic Village

Updated: Sep. 16, 2020 at 1:26 PM AKDT

By KTVF Staff Reporter

Mark L. James, 47 of Arctic Village, was last seen on his ATV sometime during the evening hours of September 12, 2020. Local searchers located James' body in a lake near Arctic Village. On September 15, 2020 AST returned to Arctic Village and recovered the body.

Fire & Rescue

Alaska Airlines resumes flights with new smoke protocols

Updated: Sep. 16, 2020 at 11:12 AM AKDT

By Associated Press

Alaska Airlines has resumed flights in and out of Portland, Oregon and Spokane, Washington with new wildfire smoke protocols.

Education

School Board Meeting Pt. 1: Fairbanks School Board votes for in-person learning

Updated: Sep. 16, 2020 at 12:58 AM AKDT

By Amanda Hanson

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District School Board voted to allow in person learning for elementary schools and middle schools dependent on the COVID case count, but postponed the decision to approve in person learning for high schools.

Court

Alaska Public Defenders file motion to permit in-person visitation with client

Updated: Sep. 15, 2020 at 4:52 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

According to a 10-page motioned filed in Fairbanks Superior Court, “Due process guarantees a criminal defendant the right to prepare and present a defense, and this due process right encompasses the separate constitutional right to the effective assistance of counsel.” They claim this right is violated by the rule banning in-person visitation.

Education

Fairbanks school district superintendent comments on retirement, what’s next for her

Updated: Sep. 15, 2020 at 4:45 PM AKDT

By Alex Bengel

According to a letter released on Sunday, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Superintendent Karen Gaborik has indicated her intention to retire from her position, effective June 30th of 2021.

Candidate Profiles & Election Information

Luke Hopkins runs for Interior Alaska Natural Gas Utility Board Seat C

Updated: Sep. 15, 2020 at 4:11 PM AKDT

By Alex Bengel

Luke Hopkins is running for seat C on the Interior Alaska Natural Gas Utility Board.

Winds kick up century old volcanic ash in Alaska

Updated: Sep. 15, 2020 at 2:55 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

Strong southerly winds picked up loose ash from a 1912 volcanic eruption, sending an ash cloud about 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) into the sky on Monday.

Crime

Alaska Department of Law warns against ‘Blessing Loom’ pyramid scheme

Updated: Sep. 15, 2020 at 1:31 PM AKDT

By KTVF Staff Reporter

The Alaska Department of Law warns Alaskans not to participate in a growing pyramid scheme called “The Blessing Loom.”

News

Alaska Airlines temporarily suspends flights to Portland, Spokane for 24 hrs due to smoke

Updated: Sep. 15, 2020 at 12:14 PM AKDT

By KTVF Staff Reporter

In a press release issued Monday Sept. 14th Alaska Airlines states that flights to and from airports in Portland, Oregon and Spokane, Washington will be temporarily suspended starting Monday September 14th as the Pacific Northwest continues to battle intense wildfires and hazardous air quality.

Education

When home is a homeless shelter for online learning

Updated: Sep. 15, 2020 at 11:26 AM AKDT

By Lauren Maxwell

Clare House is a shelter for women and their children that has at least a dozen children learning online.

Fire & Rescue

A fire destroys a church in Chugiak early Tuesday morning

Updated: Sep. 15, 2020 at 7:06 AM AKDT

By Gilbert Cordova

A church in Chugiak is a total loss after it caught fire early Tuesday morning.

Education

Montessori School in Fairbanks closes for two weeks to mitigate COVID-19

Updated: Sep. 14, 2020 at 5:15 PM AKDT

By Ryan Osborne

Fairbanks Spruce Tree Montessori School closes for two weeks due to COVID concerns.

Military Report

Fort Wainwright soldier dies of natural causes in Seattle hospital

Updated: Sep. 14, 2020 at 5:11 PM AKDT

By KTVF Staff Reporter

A Fort Wainwright Soldier died Sunday, Sept. 13, at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle from natural causes.

Education

New UAF program to focus on Indigenous knowledge

Updated: Sep. 14, 2020 at 4:58 PM AKDT

By Grant Robinson

A new graduate program at UAF’s College of Fisheries and Ocean Science aims to both elevate indigenous knowledge on fisheries in Alaska, and also equip more Alaskan Native students to be leaders in organizations involved with managing the resource.

Candidate Profiles & Election Information

Brandon Boylan runs for School Board Seat G

Updated: Sep. 14, 2020 at 4:12 PM AKDT

By Alex Bengel

Brandon Boylan is running for seat G on the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board.

Crime

Minto man charged with criminally negligent homicide in death of elderly man

Updated: Sep. 14, 2020 at 4:09 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

According to charging documents, on Sept. 1, Zachary Charlie, 27, was found asleep on a couch next to Knowlend Silas, 73, who was laying in a pool of blood. Silas had possible injuries to his face. Charlie was said to have blood on his hands and clothing.

Test rocket crashes and explodes on Alaska’s Kodiak Island

Updated: Sep. 14, 2020 at 2:47 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

The rocket operated by Astra from the nearby Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska crashed on Kodiak Island Friday.

Crime

Search for missing Nome woman continues with little new information

Updated: Sep. 14, 2020 at 12:52 AM AKDT

By Matt Leseman

Authorities say it's policy not to discuss lines of investigation while they are ongoing.

Health

Protestors push for visitor allowances at Providence Alaska Medical Center

Updated: Sep. 14, 2020 at 12:01 AM AKDT

By Beth Verge

Families pushing for visitor allowances at Providence Alaska Medical Center gathered for a peaceful demonstration Sunday.

News

The Fishing Report: Drifting beads for Upper Kenai rainbows

Updated: Sep. 12, 2020 at 10:40 PM AKDT

By Grant Robinson

This month offers ample opportunity for fishermen to catch large rainbow trout.

News

UA says reports of sexual assault are down

Updated: Sep. 12, 2020 at 10:13 PM AKDT

By Grant Robinson

Among the University of Alaska Board of Regents meetings filled with reduced budgets and slashed athletic programs regents discussed progress to reduce and respond to sexual assault and harassment on campus.

News

Big Lake students honored for life-saving actions

Updated: Sep. 12, 2020 at 6:16 PM AKDT

By Heather Hintze

Two Big Lake Elementary students received a community hero award after taking action during a medical emergency.

Fire & Rescue

AFD looks to recruit more female firefighters before application period closes

Updated: Sep. 11, 2020 at 5:45 PM AKDT

By Daniella Rivera

Women make up only 3.6 percent of AFD’s line operations staff. Jodie Hettrick, AFD's first female chief, is looking to change that.

Candidate Profiles & Election Information

Greg Kahoe runs for School Board seat F

Updated: Sep. 11, 2020 at 4:11 PM AKDT

By Alex Bengel

Greg Kahoe is running for seat F on the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board. This

Fire & Rescue

Fire Wire: Eielson AFB Fire Department, military firefighters who do it all

Updated: Sep. 11, 2020 at 4:08 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

Wearing military uniforms and trained to fight both structural and aircraft fires, the firefighters at the Eielson AFB Fire Department do it all while helping the military and surrounding communities.

Alaska pilot sentenced for lying to accident investigators

Updated: Sep. 11, 2020 at 2:59 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

An Alaska pilot convicted of lying to federal investigators after a fatal 2014 crash was sentenced to a 12-month prison term.

State

Woman comes forward about encounter with ex-Alaska official

Updated: Sep. 10, 2020 at 5:26 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

Byron Mallott invited a woman to a meeting at a hotel in 2018 in which Alaska’s then-lieutenant governor said he was attracted to her and expressed hope she felt the same, she told the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica of the events that led to Mallott’s resignation.

Safety

Making a plan and building a kit, two ways to prepare for disaster

Updated: Sep. 10, 2020 at 5:06 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

September is National Preparedness Month and federal, state and local governments are encouraging people to learn about being prepared for disasters.

Education

Melting glacial ice presents new scientific concerns for Alaska’s water quality

Updated: Sep. 10, 2020 at 4:20 PM AKDT

By Ryan Osborne

Melting glacial ice presents new scientific concerns for Alaska’s water quality. Srijan Aggarwal receives a National Science Foundation grant to research this developing phenomenon.

Candidate Profiles & Election Information

April Smith runs for School Board seat F

Updated: Sep. 10, 2020 at 4:17 PM AKDT

By Alex Bengel

April Smith is running for seat F on the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board.

Official: Alaska shelter virus outbreak part of testing gap

Updated: Sep. 10, 2020 at 3:26 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

Alaska Public Media reported Tuesday that a recent outbreak at the Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage spread to dozens of residents who had stayed there and as of Sunday had infected at least 93 people.

News

Woman fights to visit husband in ICU despite COVID-19 restrictions

Updated: Sep. 9, 2020 at 7:41 PM AKDT

By Daniella Rivera

A woman is pushing to be allowed to visit her husband in ICU as he recovers from an ATV accident, but the hospital's COVID-19 visitation policy will not allow it.

Military Report

Fort Wainwright housing project aims to update barracks for soldiers families living on base

Updated: Sep. 9, 2020 at 4:45 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

Contractors are currently building and renovating family homes on Fort Wainwright to ensure that military families have modern and safe places to live according to the project manager. They are building 32 new units and renovating 58 homes.

Crime

Suspect on the run after AST standoff in Delta Junction

Updated: Sep. 9, 2020 at 4:40 PM AKDT

By KTVF Staff Reporter

According to the Delta Wind Alaska State Troopers and the Special Emergency Response Team went to a home on Hanson Road in Delta Junction allegedly in search of Tyler Smith.

News

Voting rights advocates sue over state’s witness requirement for absentee ballots

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 7:49 PM AKDT

By Kortnie Horazdovsky

The lieutenant governor’s office says it can’t waive statute, ballots could be thrown out on court challenge

News

Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate wraps up Alaska trip in Juneau

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 6:35 PM AKDT

By Sean Maguire

The Libertarian Party’s candidate for president finished a four-city tour of Alaska on Tuesday when she visited Juneau.

Candidate Profiles & Election Information

Tammie Wilson runs for Borough Assembly Seat D

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 4:05 PM AKDT

By Alex Bengel

Tammie Wilson is running for seat D in the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly.

Study says pink salmon could prosper in warmer Arctic waters

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 3:10 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

A new study has found that global warming could produce higher numbers of pink salmon in the Arctic by making rivers and streams more hospitable for spawning.

Most Alaska wildland fire crews fighting blazes beyond state

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 2:54 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

Alaska fire crews have a history of assisting beyond the state’s borders. But this year is unique with the necessity of also trying to suppress the coronavirus that could strike personnel.

News

3 McLaughlin Youth Center juveniles escape

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 2:46 PM AKDT

By Malia Barto

Three youth have escaped from Anchorage’s McLaughlin Youth Center.

Crime

APD identifies a suspect they are looking for near Bootleggers Cove

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 6:09 AM AKDT

By Gilbert Cordova

There is a large police presence in the areas of Bootleggers Cove and Downtown Anchorage as police look for a suspect with felony warrants.