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Japanese community recalls JBER internment camp
Zachariah Hughes, KSKA – Anchorage
New historical evidence is shedding light on the internment of Japanese people in Alaska during World War Two. A small ceremony held last Friday at Joint-Base Elmendorf Richardson was one of the first of its kind, according to officials present. The ceremony fell on the official Day of Remembrance held nation-wide, and is part of an expanding effort to recognize the experiences of Southeast Alaska’s Japanese community during the war years.
Anchorage sets record for most days without snowfall
Wesley Early, APRN – Anchorage
A nearly 60-year-old record for low snowfall went down over the weekend. National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Snider confirmed that Saturday night was the 37th day in a row without snow in Anchorage. The streak had started on January 15th.
Peninsula snows to give way to rain
Quinton Chandler, KBBI – Homer
Areas of the Southern Kenai Peninsula reported between 12 to 30 inches of snowfall over the weekend in addition to heavy rain showers. Rebecca Duell, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Anchorage says the amount of snowfall will most likely decrease over the next few days.
Alaska’s weather among the warmest in over a century
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
This winter’s warmer than normal weather could set an Alaska record. National Weather Service Alaska region climate science and services manager Rick Thoman points to a lack of extreme cold temperatures across the state.
Legislators consider using Permanent Fund to close budget deficit
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
There are currently three proposals aimed at helping to close the state’s budget shortfall using the Permanent Fund. Legislators are weighing which – if any – to support. Today they heard from their own nonpartisan budget expert on what makes each plan unique.
Obama: Oil states must prepare for cleaner future
Liz Ruskin, APRN – Washington D.C.
Gov. Bill Walker asked President Obama on Monday to allow more oil drilling on federal land. Obama told him and other governors that oil producing states should prepare for a shift to cleaner energy.
New Anchorage charter middle school to connect kids to nature, community
Anne Hillman, KSKA – Anchorage
After five years of work, a new middle school is opening in East Anchorage this fall, if the school can attract enough students. The Stream Academy is focused on getting kids out of the classroom and doing hands-on research projects. The founders gave prospective students and their parents a taste of their teaching methods over the weekend.
Young adult novel follows lives of four Alaska teens
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock grew up in Alaska but she says she could never have written her debut novel if she hadn’t moved out of state. Her young adult book, published February 23rd, is called The Smell of Other People’s Houses. Set in 1970’s Alaska, the book tells the story of four teenagers who live very different lives in different parts of the state, but end up coming together in surprising ways.
Fairbanks skier wins nation’s biggest cross country race
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
David Norris of Fairbanks won the nation’s biggest cross country ski race over the weekend. Norris bested an elite field in Saturday’s 51 kilometer American Birkibeiner in Wisconsin
Iron Dog rookie from Nome has high hopes
Emily Russell, KNOM – Nome
The 33rd Annual Iron Dog snowmachine race kicked off this weekend. While most racers come from Southcentral, a few are based out of the race’s halfway point in Nome. Shawn Pomrenke dredges for gold in the summer with his race partner Amos Cruise. Pomrenke says it’s been a long road to the race’s start line.
Fans and mushers celebrate the end of the 2016 Yukon Quest
Molly Rettig, KUAC – Fairbanks
Mushers and fans gathered over the weekend to celebrate the completion of the 2016 Yukon Quest in Whitehorse. The event was highlighted by awards and stories from the trail. About a dozen Tlingit dancers paraded onto the stage in fur, feathers, and traditional clothing to congratulate Hugh Neff for winning the Yukon Quest.
