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McKinley Fire close to 50 percent contained, evacuation levels lowered
Casey Grove and Phillip Manning, Alaska Public Media & KTNA – Talkeetna
Officials lowered evacuation levels for the McKinley Fire between Willow and Talkeetna Monday, allowing some residents to get into their homes.
‘Do they know that it’s that bad?’ Drivers describe ‘hellfire’ on Sterling Highway Sunday
Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
As managers try to balance fire hazards with residents’ transit needs, drivers describe an unexpected inferno along the Sterling Highway overnight.
Kennicott rescues boat passengers in Canada’s Inside Passage
Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska – Juneau
An Alaska Marine Highway ferry rescued five people after a small boat capsized Friday morning near Bella Bella, B.C. in the Inside Passage.
Dunleavy sends letter encouraging potential Pebble investor
Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.
Officially, Gov. Dunleavy is neutral on the Pebble mine. But a letter he wrote to a potential investor in the controversial project calls his neutrality into question.
Rockslide blocks Pogo mine entrance
Tim Ellis, KUAC – Fairbanks
Officials with the federal agency that regulates mine safety have confirmed that a rockslide at the Pogo mine blocked access to one of the mine’s entrances last week.
Water shortage looms in Chignik Lagoon
Tyler Thompson, KDLG – Dillingham
A boil water notice has been in effect since July 2. As of Thursday, residents had only 5,000 gallons of drinkable water left.
Dunleavy appoints 2 new members to human rights commission
Associated Press
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has appointed two new members to the state human rights commission.
In Alaska, Education Secretary DeVos touts alternative schooling agenda
Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is in Alaska this week, traveling the state to see how certain communities are using alternatives to traditional K-12 public schooling.
Veteran musher Jim Lanier denied entry into 2020 Iditarod
Associated Press
A veteran Iditarod musher says he’s been denied entry into the 2020 race.
Southeast Alaska’s summer chums returned much lower than expected
Angela Denning, KFSK – Petersburg
The fishing season for fall chum salmon in Southeast Alaska is just getting going. But earlier runs of summer chum this year turned out to be unexpectedly very poor. Hatchery managers in the region are struggling to get enough eggs for raising future generations of fish.
Elim residents ride on new roads; Kawerak says they’ll improve quality of life
Davis Hovey, KNOM – Nome
Youth in Elim are starting to trade in their bikes for scooters and roller-skates now that they have paved roads to ride on. Through a $12-million project funded by Kawerak, Elim now has approximately three miles of paved streets throughout town.
