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Locals attempt to rebuild after powerful winds tear through Kuskokwim communities
Anna Rose MacArthur, KYUK – Bethel
The communities of Quinhagak and Platinum are working to rebuild, after high winds tore along the coast of Kuskokwim Bay before Christmas. The eighty-five mile-per-hour winds howled from the Southeast on Thursday and Friday, ripping apart buildings…but leaving the towns’ Christmas spirit untouched.
Port Heiden loses road access to safe harbor and old village
Avery Lill, KDLG – Dillingham
Port Heiden’s road to its harbor and old village site is crumbling into the sea and the lake on the other side of it will likely breach soon.
Work starts on oil exploration project in Arctic federal waters
Ravenna Koenig, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Fairbanks
It’s the first oil exploration project to take place in Arctic federal waters since Shell discontinued their efforts in 2015.
As kings suffer across Southeast, Chilkat Chinook candidate for “stock of concern”
Berett Wilber, KHNS – Haines
For more than five years, Southeast’s iconic king salmon have been returning in fewer and fewer numbers. Managers with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are recommending Chilkat, Unuk and King Salmon River Chinooks become official “stocks of concern.”
Unalaska mayor will face recall election in 2018
Zoe Sobel, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Unalaska
Unalaska will have a mayoral recall election early next year, thanks to a successful petition submitted to city government.
Come 2018, the state plans to dispose of F/V Akutan
Zoe Sobel, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Unalaska
The processor was abandoned in September following a disastrous fishing season in Bristol Bay where the ship’s owner went broke, the crew went unpaid, and it’s 158,000 pound haul of salmon was declared unfit for human consumption.
Juneau revisits scrapping eagle nest protections
Jacob Resneck, KTOO – Juneau
A similar effort stalled in 2012 following public outcry. City staff say the problem now is there aren’t enough federal biologists to map eagles’ nests, so enforcement is inconsistent.
Sheldon Chalet offers luxury at elevation in the Alaska Range
Phillip Manning, KTNA – Talkeetna
For half a century, the Sheldon Mountain House has stood above the Ruth Glacier as a shelter and gathering place. Now, it has a new neighbor in the form of a luxury accommodation just a few hundred feet away.
Memoir details emigration from Ireland to New York to Alaska
Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
A recent memoir chronicles the adventures of a young man as he emigrated from Ireland to New York and Alaska.
