Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
Feds to Investigate Groundwater Contamination in North Pole
A federal agency will conduct a study to determine the danger of drinking groundwater contaminated by the industrial solvent sulfolane in the North Pole area.
Fairbanks Man Likely Contracted Measles in Mongolia
A case of measles in Fairbanks is the first confirmed occurrence of the highly contagious viral infection in the state in 15 years. An epidemiologist says the patient likely contracted it in Mongolia.
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PFD earning, taxes highlight governor’s fiscal discussion
Governor Bill Walker gathered Alaska leaders from around the state in Fairbanks over the weekend to talk about state services and how to pay for them. The event called: “Building a Sustainable Future: Conversations With Alaskans” resulted in some clear and predictable messages, but it’s uncertain when or if they will result in legislative action.
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Regents Nominate Ex-Exec. For UA System President
Former University of Alaska executive Jim Johnsen of Fairbanks has been put forward by the UA Board of Regents as their choice to be the university system’s next president.
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Dalton To Re-Open, But Repairs Still Needed
The Alaska Department of Transportation plans to re-open the flood damaged northern stretch of the Dalton Highway to traffic Friday morning. The opening will follow a nearly three-week closure caused by melt out of unusually heavy overflow ice from the Sag River.
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Fort Yukon Goes Solar
Ft. Yukon recently began operating a solar electric project. The system is testing integration of the energy source into the power grid of an isolated northern community.
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Cold Front Sweeps in From the North
June has ushered in a dramatic change in the weather as a cold front from the high arctic dips into Alaska.
KIYU-Galena GM Rigs His Home for Temporary Broadcast
KIYU-Galena serves middle Yukon River area communities; it's making do while the station’s building is being elevated. KIYU-Galena general manager Brian Landrum says the facility is being raised above the high water level as a precaution in case of floods like the one that inundated the village two years ago this month.
AIDEA Holds Off On F.N.G. Decision
The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority has delayed action on the state agency’s proposed purchase of Fairbanks Natural Gas parent company Pentex. The AIDEA Board announced the delay, following an executive session in Anchorage Wednesday, siting technical engineering issues related to the $54 million deal.
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Dalton Highway Still Closed, But Repairs Underway
Repair work is progressing on the northern end of the Dalton Highway, where breakup flooding has made the road impassable for nearly 2 weeks. Water began dropping back last weekend, leaving behind extensive damage, and Department of Transportation spokeswoman Meadow Bailey says there’s no repair timeline.
Federal Officials to Meet With Forty Mile Gold Miners
Bureau of Land Management officials are scheduled to meet with Forty Mile area gold miners tomorrow. BLM Alaska spokeswoman Leslie Ellis Waters says Friday’s meeting in Chicken will include the agency’s top administrators.
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Fairbanks Navigates Pot Legalization
The Fairbanks North Star Borough is holding a public meeting Wednesday on proposed rules for marijuana businesses.
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Smokejumpers Race to Divert Seventy Mile Fire From Community of Eagle
Warm, mostly dry weather continues across much of the eastern interior, and that has fire managers concerned about future growth of the Seventy Mile fire in the eastern interior. It’s so far burning in remote country, north of the Seventy Mile River and away from the community of Eagle. Alaska Fire Service spokesman Sam Harrel says a planned burn out operation would blacken an area of heavy timber along the river to protect values on the other side.
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Eielson Air Force Base Investigates Potential Ground Water Contamination
Ground water contamination at Eielson Air Force Base may have spread off the facility. The Air Force has contacted private property owners in the nearby Moose Creek area offering to test well water for presence of a chemical presumed to be from firefighting foam formerly used at the base.
Dalton Flooding: DOT Digs Trenches to Keep Airport Open
The northern stretch of the Dalton Highway is expected to remain closed into next week.
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Museum of the North Rolls Out A New Exhibit: DINOSAURS!
The University of Alaska Museum of the North opens a new exhibit Saturday. “Expedition Alaska: Dinosaurs” gives visitors the opportunity to experience paleontologists quest and what they’re finding in an underexplored region.
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Utility to Revive Long-Idled Coal Plant In Healy
Golden Valley Electric Association plans to start up a long-idled Healy area coal fired power plant next week.
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El Nino Returns
The Ocean driven climate cycle El Nino is back. That means immediate weather changes along the Equator, and some effects as far north as Alaska.
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Hot, Dry Weather Fuels an Early Start to Fire Season
Wildland fighters are busy responding to new starts as hot dry breezy weather continues in the interior. Most of the human caused fires are being knocked down quickly, but a few are requiring larger responses.
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Flooding Closes Dalton Highway
The northern end of the Dalton Highway is closed again. A month after overflow from the Sag River shut it down, spring melt water has made the only access road to the North Slope oil fields impassable again.
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