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Plenty Of Work Left Before An Alaska LNG Pipeline Becomes A Reality
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
Next year, Alaska is supposed to move forward on the engineering and design work of a natural gas pipeline. The project would cost at least $45 billion, with that amount split between the state, Exxon, BP, ConocoPhillips, and TransCanada. If the project gets built, it would allow Alaska to sell North Slope gas to Asia, and and use the revenue to help pay for state government.
But there are a lot of things that must happen before the state gets to that point.
Bethel Prosecutor Chris Carpeneti Resigns
Daysha Eaton, KYUK – Bethel
Prosecutor Chris Carpeneti has resigned from the Bethel District Attorney’s office. His resignation comes on the heels of the Walker Administration’s firing of Bethel District Attorney June Stein.
Unusual Weather Prompts Concerns Over Early Fire Season Possibilities
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
Alaska wildfire mangers are anticipating the possibility of an early season. This winter’s unusual weather is prompting concerns.
Walker Administration Renews Medicaid Push
Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau
A week after the House Finance Committee removed Medicaid expansion language from the budget, Health Commissioner Valerie Davidson is back before legislators advocating for the program.
Radio Stations Weigh Rural Impact of Proposed Public Media Cut
Annie Ropeik, KUCB – Unalaska
Public radio and TV in Alaska could lose $2.5 million next year if a proposed state budget cut goes through. It would be a small reduction compared to the overall deficit legislators need to close — but it would eliminate more than half of the funding public media gets from the state.
As lawmakers try to spare towns with only one source for broadcast information, that distinction might not be so easy to make.
Traditional Chief Paul John Passes Away
Charles Enoch, KYUK – Bethel
Association of Village Council Presidents Traditional Chief and Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation Honorary Board Member Paul John of Toksook Bay has passed away.
AK: Women Who Mush
Emily Schwing, APRN Contributor
This year 78 mushers are signed up to drive dog teams in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, but only a third of them are women. In the Yukon Quest, only 3 of 26 mushers who started this year were women. Despite the small numbers many are up-and-coming mushers who are redefining what it means to run dogs.
49 Voices: Wilma Distor
This week on AK, we’re launching a new segment. It’s called “49 voices” and it’s a chance for Alaskans to talk about why they live in the state and what they love about it. First up is Wilma Distor who recently moved to Mountain Village after working as a teacher in Pilot Station for nearly a decade. She’s originally from the Phillipines.
