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Congress Looking At Sealaska Lands Bill
Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC
The latest Sealaska land conveyance bill had its first public showing in Congress on Thursday.
The public lands panel of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard from two federal agencies about transferring 70,000 acres of the Tongass National Forest to the Sealaska Corporation.
While the bill’s supporters are optimistic it will pass, there are still a couple of major hurdles.
Bill Walker To Run For Governor
Steve Heimel, APRN – Anchorage
Next year’s election season is already heating up, with Republican Bill Walker announcing today that he will again run for Governor, as he did in 2010.
Ruling Favors One Of ‘Fairbanks 4’
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
The Alaska Supreme Court has issued a ruling that could lead to a new trial for one of the Fairbanks Four. The high court turned down a state appeal of a decision allowing Eugene Vent a hearing to argue his attorney did not adequately represent him during his murder trial. Vent and three other local men are serving multi decade prison sentences for the 1997 beating death of Fairbanks teenager John Hartman on a downtown street.
Students At Alaska Pacific University Research Big Fisheries Questions
Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage
There are more questions than answers about the problems facing fisheries in Cook Inlet. And scientists working on those problems are chronically short on time and funding. But a new fisheries program at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage has students tackling some important research questions. And it isn’t just graduate students doing the work, under grads are getting their feet wet doing real science too.
Spring Whaling Begins In Arctic
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
Despite the lingering effects of winter, spring whaling has begun in Arctic Alaska and seal hunters are also heading to the coast from Chevak in the Southwest part of the state. Grace Levettte with the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission in Barrow confirmed today that whaling crews on St Lawrence Island have landed a total of three bowheads so far – two for Gambell and one for Savoonga.
Native Youth Olympics Kick Off In Anchorage
Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
The Native Youth Olympics got underway Thursday in Anchorage. More than 600 student athletes are gathered at the city’s Dena’ina Convention Center for three days of competition in games that showcase Alaska Native traditions, skills and teamwork.
Juneau Reaches Out To Nearby Communities, Neighbor To Neighbor
Casey Kelly, KTOO – Juneau
The borough assemblies from Haines, Skagway and Juneau will meet Friday afternoon in the Skagway Assembly Chambers for what’s being billed as “The Northern Lynn Canal Neighbors Summit.”
Whitehorse, Yukon officials are expected to attend as well, giving the gathering an international flavor.
Sitka Library Receives Heartfelt Donation
Anne Brice, KCAW – Sitka
Kettleson Library in Sitka has been planning an expansion project for the past decade, using a combination of public and private funding. On Saturday, the library staff announced a big boost to that cause.
