Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
Kangas: Guilty of first-degree murder of two police officers
A Tanana man has been convicted of first degree murder for killing 2 Alaska State Troopers. 22-year-old Nathanial Kangas shot Sergeant Scott Johnson and Trooper Gabe Rich on May 1st 2014 as they tried to arrest his father at the Kangas home in Tanana. Jurors spent less than 6 hours deliberating following a week of testimony, which included eye witness accounts and audio recordings of the killings. Download Audio
Kangas trial finishes presentation of evidence
Closing arguments in the trial of a Tanana man charged with killing 2 Alaska State Troopers, are scheduled for Friday in Fairbanks Superior Court. Presentation of evidence in the Nathaniel Kangas murder trial ended Wednesday. Download Audio
Jurors hear audio, Trooper investigator testimony in Kangas murder trial
Day 2 of the Nathanial Kangas murder trail included testimony from Alaska State Troopers who investigated the May 2014 shooting deaths of two of their comrades in the village of Tanana. Download Audio
Salmon acceleration up Copper River may be due to early breakup
An early break up on the Copper River may accelerate salmon moving upstream. Glenallen area state sportfish biologist Mark Sommerville says little ice remains and water levels are unusually low, conditions that may lead to warmer water and trigger early fish migration. Download Audio
Jury begins to hear case involving the death of two State Troopers in Fairbanks
A Fairbanks jury has begun hearing the case of a Tanana man charged with killing 2 Alaska State Troopers in the interior village. Twenty 2 year old Nathaniel Kangas shot Trooper Gabe Rich and Sargent Scott Johnson while they were trying to arrest his father at the Kangas home May first 2014. During his opening statement on Monday District attorney Greg Olson began making the case for first degree murder convictions. Download Audio
Healy cabin program wins national attention
A Healy area program that teaches teens how to build cabins has been nationally recognized.
Park study looks at chances of spotting wolves in Denali
A new study identifies factors influencing wolf viewing opportunities in Denali National Park.
Jury selection starts in Kangas murder trial
Jury selection began Monday in Fairbanks for the trial of a Tanana man charged with killing two Alaska State Troopers. Nathaniel Kangas, 22, is charged with the May 1, 2014 murders of Sergeant Scott Johnson and Trooper Gabe Rich.
Ice jam on the Yukon releases
An ice jam on the Yukon River below Eagle has released. National Weather Service hydrologist Ed Plumb said the jam in place since Tuesday, broke up early this morning. Download Audio
Ice jam raises water levels in Eagle
An ice jam on the Yukon River has raised water levels at Eagle. A few low lying areas of the river side community were reported flooded Wednesday morning from the jam about 9 miles downstream. National Weather Service hydrologist Ed Plumb said conditions are not conducive to serious flooding. Download Audio
Early breakup occurs along Yukon River
Ice is going out early along the Yukon River. Flooding has so far not been an issue. Download Audio
UAF Title IX violations due to systemic failures
An independent report on the University of Alaska Fairbanks failed handling of sexual assault cases was released Friday. The review done by Anchorage attorney Jeff Feldman confirms that UAF failed to pursue policy dictated disciplinary action against perpetrators in five cases from 2011 into 2014.
UAF involved in new project in climate change and wildfire studies
University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers will play a big role in 3 newly funded climate change and wildfire studies. Alaska Fire Science Consortium ecologist Randi Jandt said teams that include UAF based and trained researchers will focus on implications of increasing warmth and fire activity from a cross disciplinary perspective. Download Audio
Trans-Alaska Pipeline up and running after tank fire the previous day
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is back in operation following a tank fire that shut it down for 9 hours yesterday. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company spokeswoman Michelle Egan said workers at Pump Station 5 saw flames coming from a large crude oil storage tank at Pump Station 5 at the base of Atigun Pass in the Brooks Range around 2:20 Wednesday afternoon. Download Audio
Wildfire season getting an early start
The season’s first wildfires are getting attention. The Alaska Interagency Coordination reports a 25-acre blaze in the Palmer being worked by 13 firefighters, with smaller blazes in the MatSu, on the Kenai, and in the Fairbanks area, drawing responses or being monitored in recent days. Download Audio
Moose population increases in the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve
Natural factors are credited with growing the moose population in the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve. Preserve wildlife biologist Mat Sorum said the latest data from moose population surveys conducted every 3 years, show more moose in a 3,000 square-mile corridor along the Yukon and Charley Rivers. Download Audio
Man mauled by a grizzly bear near Denali Highway
A man was attacked by a bear near the Denali Highway over the weekend. Alaska State Trooper spokesman Tim DeSpain says 77-year-old Glenn Bohn of Wasilla was bear hunting Friday afternoon near mile 68, when he was mauled by a grizzly. Download Audio
Warm weather to lead to mellow breakup, experts say
Warm weather and early snow melt, are conducive to a mellow break up. That was the message of forecasters during a teleconference Tuesday morning. Alaska River Forecast Center Senior hydrologist Crane Johnson anticipates more of a mush out. Download Audio
Denali area wolf hunt shortened
The Alaska Board of Game has approved a National Park Service proposal aimed at reducing the number of park wolves killed outside the Denali’s northern boundary. It’s the latest move in a long running debate over how to manage park wolves that roam onto state land. Download Audio
Avalanche fatality at Summit Lake
A North Pole woman was killed in an avalanche near Summit Lake over the weekend. The fatality comes as thousands of Alaskans head to the area for the Arctic Man event. Download Audio