Alaska News Nightly: Thursday Sep. 14, 2017

Stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn

Listen now

How Kodiak got to almost 100 percent renewable power

Rachel Waldholz, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Anchorage

Since 2014, Kodiak has gotten more than 99 percent of its electricity from renewable energy, using a combination of wind and hydropower. It’s part of a growing trend, as cities around the nation aim for a hundred percent clean energy.

Strategic Pathways on the docket of UA Board of Regents meeting

Robert Hannon, KUAC – Fairbanks

The University Of Alaska Board Of Regents meets in Juneau Thursday and Friday. Today’s agenda includes an update from UA President Jim Johnsen on the university’s Strategic Pathways, downsizing initiative.

UA president calls for action on DACA ahead of regents meeting in Juneau

Adelyn Baxter, KTOO – Juneau

Earlier this week, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen wrote Alaska’s congressional delegation urging it to quickly resolve the Trump administration’s directive to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.

Fire marshal: Butte fire that claimed the lives of five girls was “cooking related”

Phillip Manning. KTNA – Talkeetna

The Alaska Fire Marshal’s Office has determined the fire that claimed the lives of five girls in the Mat-Su Valley Butte area last week was accidental and “cooking-related.”

HUD sends money to Alaska communities, including ‘Middle Spenard’

Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced $7 million in grants to 14 Alaska tribal organizations, much of it for housing. One grantee aims to redevelop a commercial building on Spenard Road.

Two new contracts could ship Sitka water to potential buyers soon

Emily Kwong, KCAW – Sitka

Raw water may be shipped out of Sitka within the next three years. At least, that’s the promise of two bulk water contracts — approved by the Sitka Assembly on Tuesday night. One came from start-up in the business of bottling, while the other is a repeat customer who has spent decades trying to sell raw water to countries around the world.

Freeride ski and snowboard competition not returning to Haines in 2018

Emily Files, KHNS – Haines

An international big mountain ski and snowboard competition that brought an economic boost to Haines for three winters is not returning to Alaska in 2018.

Crew abandons F/V Akutan in Unalaska’s Captains Bay

Zoe Sobel, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Unalaska

After a disastrous fishing season as a processor in Bristol Bay — the F/V Akutan’s owner went broke, the crew went unpaid and now the ship is disabled and unable to move.

GCI looks into bringing fiber to Unalaska

Zoe Sobel, KUCB – Unalaska

GCI is looking into what it would take to bring faster internet to Unalaska. The telecommunications company is evaluating if fiber would be a financially feasible solution. Right now, they are in the exploratory process.

Kodiak College nursing program adapts to hospital policy change

Kayla Desroches, KMXT – Kodiak

Kodiak College, which is part of the University of Alaska Anchorage, will soon make a bachelor’s degree the go-to for aspiring nurses.

Previous articleFire marshal: Butte fire that claimed the lives of five girls was “cooking related”
Next articlePremier of a new murder mystery at Anchorage Community Theatre