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Dunleavy retains Michael Johnson as education commissioner
Zoe Grueskin, KTOO – Juneau
Unlike other members of the cabinet, the education commissioner is not directly appointed by the governor. Instead, the choice is made by the Alaska Board of Education. The governor confirms the board’s pick.
Appeals court rules on decade-old challenge of four Tongass timber sales
Joe Viechnicki, KFSK – Petersburg
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in a decade-old lawsuit against four timber sales planned on the Tongass National Forest.
Alaska credit union to serve marijuana businesses
Associated Press
A credit union is launching a pilot program to begin serving marijuana businesses in Alaska, giving the cash-reliant industry a financial option after banks shunned the industry.
New trial date set for man convicted in Coast Guard killings
Associated Press
A new trial date has been set for a man convicted in the 2012 killings of two co-workers at a Coast Guard communications station in Alaska.
National report says Alaska Natives, rural Alaskans bear the brunt of climate change
Krysti Shallenberger, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Bethel
A national climate report says what many Alaskans already know: the state is warming twice as fast as the rest of the country. Rural and Alaska Native communities are the first to feel those impacts, and the stakes are especially high for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta because the region is home to the greatest number of tribes in the state.
No piped sewer and water for Bethel’s Avenues neighborhood
Christine Trudeau, KYUK – Bethel
Faced with a bigger local price tag than they asked for, the Bethel City Council rejected a federal grant to bring piped water and sewer lines to the Avenues neighborhood by a tie vote, with one council member absent.
Eielson AFB commander says F-35’s will usher new era of combat power
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
Base commander Colonel Ben Bishop says he envisions Alaska becoming a mecca for F-35 training.
Wrangell removes prayer from public meetings… sort of
June Leffler, KSTK – Wrangell
Wrangell’s attorney recommended this change, saying the Kenai ruling would create precedence for all Alaska communities.
Alaska musher banned from Iditarod sled race next year
Associated Press
Officials have banned a longtime musher from competing in Alaska’s Iditarod sled race next year, citing concerns about his care of dogs.
In Golovin, search continues for missing elder
Emily Hoffstaedter, KNOM – Nome
Lincoln “Mike” Simon of White Mountain disappeared from the Golovin Bay on November 4th after his four -wheeler broke through the ice. Since then, a search and rescue mission has grown to include communities throughout the region who are set on bringing Simon back home to his family.
Pacific High carving class brings serenity to students
Enrique Perez de la Rosa, KCAW – Sitka
Every Friday, after a week of lessons in math, history and science in front of white boards, the students of Pacific High School trek beyond the four walls of their classrooms to Sitka National Historical Park. There, they learn how to carve traditional paddles just as Indigenous Alaskans to have done in Southeast for thousands of years.
