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Despite shutdown, Trump administration continues work to begin oil drilling in ANWR
Elizabeth Harball, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Anchorage
As the partial government shutdown drags on, the Trump administration is making sure some Interior Department employees continue work on one of its biggest, most controversial priorities: opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
Legislation would put 90-day legislative session, PFDs in Alaska Constitution
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
Two constitutional amendments were among the first batch of legislative proposals released before the Alaska Legislature convenes on Jan. 15.
Bill proposes federal aid to replace wood-burning stoves
Associated Press
Two U.S. senators have proposed legislation that would give federal aid to help Alaska residents and others across county to replace inefficient wood stoves.
Bethel’s first cannabis shop is closer to opening – if it gets its paperwork done
Krysti Shallenberger, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Bethel
Anchorage’s recreational marijuana shop, ALASKAbuds, is inching closer to its first expansion in Bethel.
Moose wanders into Alaska hospital
Associated Press
A moose wandered into a hospital building Monday in Alaska’s largest city, and Stephanie Hupton was ready with her phone camera.
Bonuses of nearly $300,000 paid to pipeline corporation head
Associated Press
The president of the state-sanctioned Alaska Gasline Development Corp. has received performance bonuses totaling nearly $300,000 for work the past two years.
Navy destroyer to be named after Ted Stevens
Associated Press
Alaska’s congressional delegation says the U.S. Navy plans to name a new destroyer after the late former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, who died in a plane crash in 2010.
Winter salmon trolling starts slow in Southeast Alaska
Joe Viechnicki, KFSK – Petersburg
From October through the end of December, winter trollers had caught only around 5,500 king salmon. That’s almost 2,000 fewer kings than last winter’s catch during the same time period.
Alaska Made: A new rule makes this easy-to-build gadget a required kit for the tackle box
Leila Khiery, KRBD – Ketchikan
A Ketchikan band has a rap song about rockfish recompression. And you’d better listen up, because their easy-to-build gadget will soon be required by regulation in Southeast.
Names of Native teens added to plaque marking Denali summit
Associated Press
The names of two Alaska Native teenagers have been added to a plaque commemorating the first summit of North America’s highest mountain more than a century ago.
An elementary school program is growing gardeners in Juneau
Zoe Grueskin, KTOO – Juneau
Cold, gray winter may be settling on Juneau, but kids at Riverbend and Glacier Valley elementary schools are still talking about the rainbow of fruits and vegetables they helped grow this summer.
Minnesota adventurer Lonnie Dupre sets sights on Mt. Hunter
Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
Dupre became the first person to solo climb Denali during January, back in 2015. He now has his sights set on Mount Hunter, 14,000-plus feet of what, Dupre says, is the steepest and most technical of the three great peaks in Denali National Park.
