Ben Matheson, KNOM - Nome
Ben Matheson is a contributor with the Alaska Public Radio Network.
Donlin Gold Closes Camp During Permitting
Donlin Gold is shutting down its camp at the site of its gold deposit near Crooked Creek. Kurt Parkan is external affairs manager for Donlin Gold.
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XS Platinum Agent Doesn’t Appear at Arraignment
An arraignment was held Wednesday in federal court in Anchorage for the five XS Platinum Inc. corporate officials indicted on charges of violating the Clean Water Act and making false statements to federal officials.
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Bethel’s Pete Kaiser Wins Kuskokwim 300
Bethel’s Pete Kaiser is the 2015 Kuskokwim 300 champion. Kaiser and his team crossed the finish line in Bethel at 5:31 Sunday morning with a team of nine dogs in the 36th running of the race. Kaiser is the first local musher in 29 years to win the race.
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Kuskokwim 300 Mushers Ready to Race on Ice
Twenty-five mushers are set to race from Bethel to Aniak and back in the 36th running of the Kuskokwim 300. After a couple winter warmups, and little snow, this year’s trail follows the truck road on the river almost exclusively to Aniak and back, cutting out the loop near Whitefish Lake.
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Spay and Neuter Clinics Improve Village Safety
A team of veterinarians brought spaying, neutering, and vaccinations to two YK Delta villages last week. Alaska Native Rural Veterinary, a Fairbanks-based nonprofit visited Tuntutuliak and Kongiganak for the free clinic.
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Kuskokwim 300 Boasts Biggest Field in Two Decades
Exactly one month from the start of the Kuskokwim 300, 31 mushers have signed up for the race to Aniak and back. Race Manager Zach Fansler says it’s the biggest field in two decades.
Santa Steers Blackhawk Sleigh to Newtok
Christmas is still three weeks out, but Santa Claus made an early visit to Newtok Thursday with the help of the Alaska Army and Air National Guard.
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Regional Committee Votes to Hold Governance Convention
The Calista-sponsored Regional Committee voted Monday to hold a Governance Convention next year to pursue the possibility of a creating a regional tribal government or making changes to the Association of Village Council Presidents.
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Regional Tribal Government Considered by Calista Regional Committee
A new regional tribal government, new taxes, and a constitutional convention will be considered when theCalista-facilitated Regional Committee meets Monday in Anchorage.
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Hoffman, Halford Prepare for Walker Transition Weekend
Bethel’s Ana Hoffman and former Senate President Rick Halford are chairing incoming Governor Bill Walker’s transition team. Walker is racing towards inauguration next month.
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Platinum Creek Mine Operator Indicted For Alleged Illegal Mine Waste Water Discharges
XS Platinum and five of its employees and corporate officers have been indicted by a federal grand jury for alleged illegal discharges of mine waste water at the Platinum Creek mine in Southwest Alaska and for making false statements to authorities.
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Kuskokwim 300 to Run as 12-Dog Race
The Kuskowkim 300 Sled Dog race is now a 12-dog event. The race committee decided this fall to lower the dog limit from 14 to 12.
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Lights Back on in Tuluksak
After a week without power, the lights in Tuluksak came back on Friday evening. Some families lost hundreds of pounds of meat and fish due to the extended outage during unseasonably warm weather. The community of more than 400 located upriver from Bethel lost power earlier this month.
With No Power, Tuluksak Residents Scramble to Save Meat
After a week without power, a backup generator is scheduled to arrive in Tuluksak Friday. But families have already lost hundreds of pounds of moose, fish, birds, and berries.
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State To Send Backup Generator to Tuluksak
The state is sending an emergency generator to Tuluksak, which has not had power since Friday afternoon.
Bethel Man Pleads Guilty in Sexual Abuse Case
A Bethel man has accepted a plea deal for sexual abuse of minors. Eighteen charges against 66-year old Daniel Kashatok were consolidated into a charge of 2nd degree sexual assault of a minor and one 2nd degree count of attempted sexual assault of a minor.
Y-K Delta Representative Bob Herron Named Majority Whip
Y-K Delta House Representative Bob Herron will be the Whip for the Majority Caucus this January. Herron and the Republican-led caucus just finished two days of organization meetings. As Majority Whip, the District 38 Democrat is charged with making sure there is effective communication in the caucus.
How Will Legal Marijuana Work In Rural Alaska?
Early next year, Alaskans will be able to legally buy, transport, and use small amounts of marijuana. The initiative will not be law until three months after the vote is certified, and the state has more time to come up with rules for marijuana sales.
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Crews Troubleshoot Bethel’s Pool Sprinkler System
There’s no timeline for reopening the $24 million Bethel pool, which closed right after the grand opening this past Saturday due to a sprinkler system issue.
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Senator Lyman Hoffman to Caucus with Majority
Y-K Delta Senator Lyman Hoffman will be caucusing with the Majority Caucus. The group met Wednesday in Anchorage to organize and name leadership. Hoffman is the first Democrat to join this version of the 15-person body. He says he’s had positive experiences working with members on gasline legislation.