Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
Heavy rain forecasted for the Alaska Range
Heavy rain is forecast for the Alaska Range. National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Berg said two systems coming together over the state are expected to dump significant moisture on the mountains. Download Audio
Lightning strikes spark fires all over the Interior
Fire fighting resources were stretched over the weekend as dozens of new wildfires were sparked by lightning across the interior. Alaska Division of Forestry spokesman Tim Mowry said thunderstorm activity resulted in starts from the Brooks Range to the Alaska Range. Download Audio
UAF researcher looks at 9/11 World Trade Center mystery
A University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher is working to unravel a lingering mystery of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. The collapse of Building 7, near the Twin Towers, has long been a centerpiece of theories that the 9/11 attacks were part of a government conspiracy. UAF Engineering professor J. Leroy Hulsey is taking a scientific approach to scrutinize what happened to the building. Download Audio
Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor to speak at UAF in August
United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor is scheduled to speak at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. UAF Summer Sessions will host Sotomayor at the Davis Concert Hall August 14th. Download Audio
Clouds delay Midnight Sun Baseball Game
Fairbanks annual Midnight Sun Baseball Game continues Wednesday night after being suspended early that morning due to low light. Download Audio
Future of Denali Wolf pack in question
A long studied and viewed Denali National Park wolf pack is on the verge of disappearing. The East Fork pack ranges near the park entrance, including on state land wolf advocates want closed to harvest. The fate of the East Fork pack has also inspired a call for closer pack monitoring and rescue of any orphan pups. Download Audio
More than 200 people work to put out Tetlin River Fire near Tok
More than 200 people are working the Tetlin River Fire, south of Tok. The wildfire, suspected to be human caused, has grown to over a thousand acres since starting Friday southwest of the village of Tetlin. Download Audio
Numerous wildfires hit Interior and St. Lawrence Island
There were 9 new wildfires reported in Alaska on Wednesday, including 6 on a machine gun training range on Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks. The range fires each burned well less than an acre before being put out by military personnel. Alaska Fire Service spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said the Army works with the agency to minimize wildfire risk. Download Audio
Copper River King salmon run slower than anticipated
The Copper River King salmon run is coming in weaker than anticipated. Alaska Department of Fish and Game Glennallen area management biologist Mark Somerville said run measures, including a weak commercial king harvest on the delta, and sub-par in river counts and catches all point to the same thing. Download Audio
Bear gets head stuck in can, officials jump to aid
State officials came to the aid of a bear with a can stuck on its head along the Alaska Highway. Download Audio
Lawsuit filed against EPA over fine particulate pollution in Fairbanks, North Pole
A suit has been filed in federal court against the Environmental Protection Agency to force action to address wintertime fine particulate pollution in the Fairbanks, North Pole area. Download Audio
DOT looks to reduce rock fall from Nenana River Canyon onto highway
The State Department of Transportation is taking action to reduce rock fall on the Parks Highway through the Nenana River Canyon, near Denali National Park. DOT northern region spokeswoman Meadow Bailey said the area has long posed a safety threat. Download Audio
Survey tracks rate of sexual assualt, misconduct
Results are in from a survey of University of Alaska students about sexual victimization. The University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center administered “Campus Climate” survey provides insight into occurrences of sexual assault and other misconduct. Download Audio
UAF Looking To Expand HAARP Potential
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has several prospective customers for the HAARP facility. UAF took ownership of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program facility in Gakona from the Air Force last summer, and there’s optimism that the station, once destined for scrap, has a future. Download Audio
Department of Environmental Conservation seeks herbicide for invasive Elodea plant
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is considering a state sought permit to apply an herbicide to 3 Fairbanks area water bodies infested with the invasive plant Elodea. Floridone has proven successful at battling back the aquatic weed known to choke out fresh waters. Download Audio
Tanana Valley Fisheries Center to be opened early June
The state plans to open its Tanana Valley Fisheries Center in Fairbanks on June 7. The visitor’s center will realize a long envisioned public interface at the new hatchery. Download Audio
Former UAF shooter prepares for his 4th Olympics
Former University of Alaska Fairbanks shooter and 2004 Olympic champion Matt Emmons is in top form heading toward his 4th Olympics this summer in Rio. Download Audio
Legislation in motion to grant tribal entities health care facilities
A U.S. House committee held a hearing Wednesday on legislation that would transfer federal lands in Tanana and Dillingham to tribal entities for health care facilities. HR 4289 would convey 11 acres in Tanana to the Tanana Tribal Council. Council Secretary Dorothy Jordan testified before the House Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs subcommittee in support of transfer of the former Indian Health Service hospital site. Download Audio
Congress passes bills for Alaska military projects
The U.S. House and Senate have passed appropriations bills that include numerous Alaska military construction projects. A release from Representative Don Young’s office lists projects slated for 5 sites, including over $213 million at Eielson Air Force Base related to the planned basing of F-35 fighter jets. The F-35 projects include aircraft hangars, as well as field training, munitions storage, and missile maintenance facilities. Download Audio
Denali wolf killed in “no wolf kill buffer zone”
Another Denali wolf has been killed outside the National Park’s boundary. It’s the latest of several park based animals harvested in recent years on state land along the park’s northeastern edge. The kill occurred in an area long sought for protection by wolf advocates. Download Audio