Alaska News Nightly: Friday, January 9, 2026

Alaska Public Media
Host: Casey Grove
Date: January 10, 2026

Overview

This episode of Alaska News Nightly spotlights urgent developments and compelling stories from all corners of Alaska. Major topics include avalanche evacuations in Juneau amid extreme weather, a high-stakes subsistence rights battle in the US Supreme Court, highlights from the upcoming legislative session, an investigation into a fire department fraud, international Arctic trade with South Korea, Alaska’s Russian Orthodox Christmas traditions, and more.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Avalanche Evacuations in Juneau

[01:29–04:45]

• Juneau faced an avalanche evacuation advisory as an atmospheric river pounded the city, following heavy snowfall.
• Some residents chose to evacuate while others stayed, weighing perceived risks and previous experiences.
• The city set up an emergency shelter, expecting worsening weather.
• The Red Cross prepared to accommodate up to 150 evacuees.

Notable Quotes:

• "We already had a go bag going and we already had the cars loaded up and ready to roll. And so we're rolling." — Carlos Cadiente, resident on the move [03:22]
• "It's actually a good thing that we're seeing smaller slides, reducing the total snow load that is capable of producing an avalanche." — John Brissette, avalanche advisor [02:31]

2. Supreme Court Hears Alaska Subsistence Rights Case

[04:45–09:51]

• The Supreme Court deliberated whether to revisit a contentious state vs. federal management debate over rural Alaska subsistence fishing rights, especially on the Kuskokwim River.
• The Ninth Circuit had consistently affirmed a federal priority for rural subsistence on federal lands.
• Legal experts expressed concern over possible implications for Alaska Native and rural communities.

Notable Quotes:

• "This is just a case about Alaska, about a statute that only applies in Alaska, where the Ninth Circuit has ruled on this particular point three times." — Tanner Amdur Clark, tribal attorney [06:48]
• "The effect of the state's current petition for review would be to return full state management, for the most part, to the state of Alaska and get the federal government pretty much out of the business of managing subsistence fishing in Alaska, which would be a huge blow..." — Bob Anderson, attorney [07:46]
• "We won't know until Monday morning, early Alaska time, whether or not they've decided to review the case or not... So I'll be on pins and needles. I guarantee at 5:30 on Monday morning." — Bob Anderson [09:02]

3. Legislative Session: New Bills and Priorities

[10:57–14:26]

• Previews of bills for the upcoming session included education reforms, board term limits, and law enforcement transparency.
• Notable bills:
  • Reform in school board terms (Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson)
  • Overhaul of math education modeled on the successful READS act (Rep. Jubilee Underwood)
  • Law enforcement mask-wearing restrictions and closing a sexual assault loophole (Rep. Sarah Hannan)
  • Addressing AI-fueled digital harassment in schools and licensing for out-of-state psychologists (Rep. David Nelson)

Notable Quotes:

• "So this is kind of modeled after kind of the READS act, but in the math area." — Rep. Jubilee Underwood [11:30]
• "Getting them proficient in reading and math... will really push our scores and our testing forward, which is what I feel like Alaska's Alaskans are kind of screaming for." — Rep. Underwood [11:53]
• "You know, there's not a silver bullet that's going to solve everything, but if we're starting to have incremental approaches to help with younger individuals, mental health, I think that's something that we should definitely look into and work on." — Rep. David Nelson [13:49]

4. Delta Junction Fire Department Chief Pleads Guilty to Fraud

[14:26–17:22]

• Michael Pascal, former chief of the Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire Department, pleaded guilty to defrauding the department of over $440,000.
• The loss led to the department’s temporary shutdown and reliance on city services.
• Sentencing is pending; restitution will exceed $440,000.

Notable Quotes:

• "Once we discovered this serious breach of trust, we took immediate action to address the situation." — Dave Newberger, board chair [15:43]
• "[Pascal] basically manipulated the bank account, ran payment through his own credit cards, issued payments to himself." — Prosecutor Andrew Granik [16:24]

5. Alaska’s Summer Ferry Schedule Draft and Public Feedback

[17:22–18:45]

• The draft summer ferry schedule was released, with public comments invited until January 13.
• Aims to balance community needs, safety, and budget constraints.

6. South Korea's Busan Mayor Visits Nome: Arctic Trade Potential

[18:45–22:56]

• Busan Mayor Park Hong Joon toured Nome’s port to explore future trade and Arctic shipping routes as sea ice retreats.
• The upcoming port expansion in Nome could see container ships from Korea making stops, leveraging the Northwest Passage as an alternative to the Russian Arctic route.
• Locals are curious but cautious about the potential impact.

Notable Quotes:

• "We are deeply interested in [the] Northwest Passage because this route doesn't have geopolitical tension compared to [the] North Sea Route." — Mayor Park Hong Joon [20:35]
• "I'm a little worried about them trying to displace local businesses... I think we can have some mutually beneficial things going on, but that's gotta be, gotta be wary." — Charlie Lean, Nome port commission [21:59]
• "The Alaska crab is very famous in Korea already." — Mayor Park [22:50]

7. Russian Orthodox Christmas Celebrated Across Alaska

[23:08–26:22]

• Alaskans observed Russian Orthodox Christmas (January 7) with hymns in multiple languages and the “Starring” tradition.
• Celebrations fostered a sense of connection, especially for Alaska Native patients away from home.

Notable Quotes:

• "Wonderful, beautiful tradition that has been in Alaska for over a hundred years." — Archbishop Alexei [24:22]
• "You're not supposed to dance in church, right? But this song they always did... all the elders, you can see them tapping their feet and their head. So yeah, I miss that." — Akalina Patricia Lekhanov Gregory, participant [25:17]

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• Evacuation readiness amidst Juneau avalanches: [03:22]
• Supreme Court suspense over Alaska’s subsistence rights: [09:02]
• Port of Nome as Arctic ‘foothold’ for South Korean trade: [21:59]
• Elders “dancing” at Russian Orthodox Christmas: [25:17]

Conclusion

This episode illustrates the diversity and urgency of news across Alaska: from natural disasters and legal fights to legislative priorities, international economic interests, and vibrant cultural celebrations. Each segment underscores the challenges and opportunities facing Alaska—and the sense of community and vigilance that connects its people.

For more stories, visit alaskapublic.org.