AKPM Staff
Exploratory drilling in Beaufort sea temporarily blocked by federal court
Late yesterday the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals placed a temporary injunction against Shell Offshore's plans for exploratory drilling in the Beaufort sea this summer in order to give plaintiffs a chance to present...
NMFS takes public comment on listing beluga whales as endangered
The National Marine Fisheries Service is taking testimony this evening in Anchorage on a proposal to list Cook Inlet beluga whales under the federal Endangered Species Act. A similar public hearing was held...
Construction accident at Rock Creek mine takes two lives
Two young men are dead following an industrial accident yesterday at the Rock Creek mine site, about 8 miles north of Nome. Tyler Kahle, a 19 year old from Wisconsin and Craig Bagley, a...
Proposed tax in Fairbanks shot down by Assembly
The Fairbanks Borough Assembly voted down a proposed gross receipts tax last night. Ordinance co-sponsor Tim Beck says the tax failed to move forward following questions about how it would affect economic development. Despite...
Advisory board prepping recommendations for Marine Highway schedule
The state's Marine Transportation Advisory Board plans to take its recommendations for changes in the Marine Highway schedule directly to the Governor. Following three hours of discussion at its meeting on Tuesday -- mostly...
BLM (finally) issues land titles to Vietnam vets and a Native corporation
At a ceremony in Nome this week, four Alaska Natives became some of the first Vietnam veterans in the state to receive Native land allotments. Plus, a regional corporation took one step closer to...
MCI dropping calling card recharges for Alaskans
After September 4, 2007 people with MCI prepaid long distance phone cards will no longer be able to add minutes for calls out of Alaska. The telecommunications company marketing the calling cards says it...
Ultra Challenge racing field includes hard-core professionals
In today's stage of the Sadler's Ultra Challenge handcycle and wheelchair race (between Fairbanks and Anchorage), South African Ernst Van Dyk tied for first place with Alejandro Albor of California. Oz Sanchez, also of...
Alaska News Nightly: July 20, 2007
Alaska residents weigh in on the federal proposal to list Cook Inlet beluga whales under the Endangered Species Act. Plus, a court order halts Shell Oil's plans to drill exploratory wells in the Beaufort...
Preview: Talk of Alaska for Tue, July 24
Coming up Tuesday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m. on Talk of Alaska...
Alaska Native Corporations, in securing federal contracts, have brought billions of dollars to Alaska. But Congress is considering legislation that may change the...
Kenai land deal between friends puts Murkowski on defense
Senator Lisa Murkowski and her husband have come under fire from bloggers, talk radio and conventional news media for a Kenai River land purchase from real estate developer and political supporter Bob Penney. Late...
Melting glaciers expected to feed faster, higher sea level rise
The massive polar ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica contain the vast majority of frozen water on the planet. But a new study shows melting from the world's glaciers and ice caps will be...
Legislators ask Governor's team to collaborate in expanding children's health insurance
The sponsors of House and Senate bills that would provide affordable health care coverage to all the state's children have asked the Palin administration to work with them on the subject. The Governor's Health...
McGrath fuel costs nearly double, gas now $7.15/gallon
Low water levels on the upper Kuskokwim have made it impossible to barge fuel into McGrath this year. The region's fuel delivery company -- Crowley -- has been flying in shipments instead. That's sent...
New state law will develop alcohol shipping database alongside new transport rules
A new state law is intended to help curb the bootlegging of alcohol in rural Alaska.
Angela Denning-Barns, KYUK - Bethel
Exploratory mining begins in Kisaralik Lake area; DNR takes public comment
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) commissioner Tom Irwin was in Bethel earlier this week to hear public testimony about an exploratory mining permit the agency granted in Kisaralik Lake region. (Kisa Gold, mentioned in...
Murkowski takes the helm of Senate's Indian Affairs committee
Lisa Murkowski made a little history when she was formally installed today as the ranking Republican and Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate's Committee on Indian Affairs. The post opened up after the recent...
Initiative to publicly fund state elections blocked, expected to resurface
The Lieutenant Governor today denied certification of a preliminary ballot initiative that would have enabled a system to pay for some state election campaigns. Ballot initiative sponsors anticipated the decision and are already on...
Echo Cove area suffering off-road damage; Juneau to hold hearings
Juneau officials expect to hold public hearings next week to address tribal concerns about property destruction, alcohol consumption and gunfire around the Echo Cove boat ramp, about 40 miles north of Juneau.
John Ryan, KTOO...
Governor’s funding cuts slowing watershed documentation and cleanup in Southeast
Watershed work in Yakutat, Haines and Skagway could slow due to one of Governor Sarah Palin's vetoes. The governor's office says it's not a top priority.
Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska - Juneau