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EPA employee numbers limited at Alaska environmental conference
Rachel Waldholz, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Anchorage
President Donald Trump’s transition team ordered Environmental Protection Agency employees to limit participation in an Alaska environmental conference this week.
City data on crime, property, health brought online
Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
New website is a one-stop-shop for public data, part of the city’s broader effort toward open data.
State coffers won’t cover cost of cleanup if oil companies walk away
Elizabeth Harball, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Anchorage
The agency that oversees oil and gas drilling in the state says it doesn’t collect nearly enough money to clean up wells in case companies walk away. Regulators say the recent influx of small, private companies means Alaska risks shouldering the cost of abandoned wells. State lawmakers are receptive to addressing the issue.
Alaska’s infrastructure report card probably not going on the fridge
Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Juneau
Is Alaska on the honor roll for its energy grid and water systems? According to the American Society of Civil Engineers the answer is “no.” The professional organization graded Alaska’s infrastructure for the first time, releasing the report card on Tuesday. And while the state didn’t ace anything, it could always be worse.
Real ID cards to be mandatory starting in June
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
Alaska law bars the state government from spending money to comply with the federal REAL ID Act. Starting in June, the federal government will require Alaska residents visiting military bases and other federal facilities to have ID cards that meet REAL ID standards.
One refugee’s story of fleeing war and finding love
Anne Hillman, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
Refugee stories are often about fear: people fleeing their homes because they fear for their safety. But they can also be stories of joy. One Anchorage woman and her family took a path from war to love, and finally, to Alaska.
Musher suffers dog “expiration” as racers continue Yukon Quest
Molly Rettig, KUAC – Fairbanks
Yukon Quest front runner Brent Sass got back on the trail this morning after completing the 36 hour break mushers must take at the race’s halfway point in Dawson City, Yukon. Sass was followed about 4 hours later by Hugh Neff, with close running Matt Hall and Allen Moore about another 2 hours back.
Ask a Climatologist: What the fog, Anchorage?
Annie Feidt, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Anchorage
This week we’re responding to a listener who asked: What the fog? Why has there been so much fog in Anchorage this winter?
