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Legislators defy Dunleavy, announce Juneau as special session location
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
Legislative leaders say the floor sessions would be held at the Capitol in Juneau, while most of the meetings would be in Anchorage at the Legislative Information Office.
Swan Lake fire grows, moving closer to Sterling Highway
Abbey Collins, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
The Swan Lake fire has grown to 32,300 acres. The fire has been burning since early June in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. This weekend, winds spread the fire within two miles of the Sterling Highway.
State extends air quality advisory amid Swan Lake Fire
Kirsten Swann, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
State officials have extended an air quality advisory for Southcentral Alaska as smoke from the Swan Lake Fire continues to linger over the area.
Team assigned to Creek Fire northwest of Fairbanks
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
An incident management team has been assigned to wildfire response north of Fairbanks. The Alaska based group is assuming management of the 600 acre shovel Creek Fire 25 miles northwest of Fairbanks in the Murphy Dome area.
Passengers in fatal Kenai airplane crash were from Michigan
Associated Press
Alaska State Troopers have released the names of two Michigan residents killed in a weekend small airplane crash on the Kenai Peninsula.
Tongass forest supporters rally in favor of roadless rule
Associated Press
About 150 people turned out in Juneau for a rally opposing expanded development in the Tongass National Forest.
Alaska considers $10 million loan fund to prop up Ketchikan’s shipyard
Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska – Juneau
With the future of Alaska’s ferry system in question, the state may offer short-term financing to incentivize work at Ketchikan’s shipyard.
Russian ambassador seeks conversation, friendship in first visit to Sitka
Nina Sparling, KCAW – Sitka
Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov paid a visit to Sitka last week, one of several Alaska stops on a history and culture tour.
Jökulhlaup raises Taku River levels; Suicide Basin release likely in next few weeks
Matt Miller, KTOO – Juneau
The rising water level will bring more debris and much colder water. “So, if you were to perhaps fall in the river, there would be more risk of hypothermia,” said Nicole Ferrin of the National Weather Service.
Hydro lakes rebounding, but a long way from full
Joe Viechnicki, KFSK – Petersburg
Hydroelectric reservoirs in Southeast Alaska are rising this month with the last of the remaining snow melt and some significant rainfall. However, hydro operators caution those lakes are still a long way from full.
Meet Sovereign Bill, the voice behind Molly of Denali
Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
Molly is voiced by 14-year-old Indigenous actress Sovereign Bill of Auburn, Washington. Bill is of Tlingit and Muckleshoot descent.
