Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
Technology Research Thrives at UAF
Meeting in Fairbanks, UA regents received an update yesterday (Thurs) on a range of research going on at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. As KUAC Dan Bross reports, technology is at the center of activity.
Randall and Diggins Ski to Team Sprint Victory
Anchorage’s Kikkan Randall teamed with Jessie Diggins of Minnesota to win a World Cup team sprint race in Quebec City, Canada today. It’s the first ever World Cup gold for a U.S. women’s cross country relay team.
Park Service Pushes Back Against Some Interior Sport Hunts
The National Park Service continues to push back against some state sport hunts in the Interior. It’s the latest skirmish in a battle over state and federal authority on preserves designated by the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
Fairbanks Students Lead Effort To Raise Awareness Of Distracted Driving
The danger of distracted driving is the target of a public outreach effort by a Fairbanks high school class.
University Aims To Rein In Health Care Plan Costs
The University of Alaska, is looking at health care plan changes. The university covers over 80 percent of the cost of health insurance for about 4,000 employees. Many of the plan changes are aimed at reining in costs, which are rising 7 to 10 percent a year.
Electricity Rates Dropping In Fairbanks
Electricity rates are coming down in the Fairbanks area. Golden Valley Electric customers from Delta Junction to Fairbanks and Healy will see their bills drop 11 to 13 percent, depending on service level as of Dec. 1. Golden Valley is benefiting from additional power from Anchorage – natural gas fired energy that’s less expensive than oil generated electricity in Fairbanks.
Delegation Pushes To Protect Eielson Air Force Base
Alaska’s Congressional delegation is pushing defense authorization bill amendments aimed at protecting Eielson Air Force base from downsizing.
Snow Levels Low Around The State
Many Alaska locations are ending up the month with minimal snow. National Weather Service climate data shows Fairbanks and Anchorage 13 inches below normal, with 6 inches on the ground in Fairbanks and just 2 in Anchorage.
State Awards Emergency Food Supply Contract
The state has awarded a contract for an emergency food supply. Anchorage based Select Medical Products Incorporated is the recipient of a $4 million, five-year contract from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
‘Fairbanks Four’ Supporters Looking Beyond Recent Court Ruling
Supporters of four men imprisoned for the 1997 murder of a Fairbanks teen are looking beyond a recent favorable court ruling. Eugene Vent, George Frese, Kevin Pease and Marvin Roberts are serving multi-decade prison sentences for killing John Hartman. There was no physical evidence tying the men to the beating attack, and the case has long drawn questions about whether justice was served. The latest ruling involves an appeal by one of the convicted men.
Search Called Off For Man Missing In Brooks Range
The official search for a man missing in the Brooks Range has been called off. Thirty one year old Thomas Seibold had been staying at a cabin on the Ambler River since September. He’d planned to hike 25 miles to the village of Kobuk for a flight out on Nov. 11, but never arrived. A two-week aerial search followed, but Alaska State Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters says there’s been no sign of Seibold.
Company Pushes For Rail Link To Export Oil Sands
A Canadian company is pushing a rail link from Alberta to Delta Junction. Vancouver based Generating for 7 Generations or “G-7-G” wants to build the 1,600 mile railroad to export oil sands through the Trans Alaska Pipeline.
Lend Lease Program Has Long-Lasting Impact
It’s the 70th anniversary of the start of the Lend Lease program. The World War 2 era U.S. aid effort included the transfer of thousands of American made planes to Russia from Fairbanks. Lend lease has had a lasting impact on the interior city and fellow air hub communities in the Russian Far East.
US Mint Issues Denali Quarter
Alaskans and coin collectors from as far away as the Lower 48, were in Healy yesterday for the U.S. Mint’s official launch of a new Denali National Park quarter.
UAF Faces NCAA Fines
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is initiating a major infractions case against the University of Alaska Fairbanks. As KUAC’s Dan Bross reports, the case involves failure to meet athlete eligibility requirements.
Another Soldier Convicted In Stryker Brigade Member Death
Another Ft. Wainwright soldier has been convicted of charges related to the death of a fellow Stryker Brigade member last year in Afghanistan. Sergeant Jeffrey Hurst was found guilty of one count of dereliction of duty at a court marshal trail at Ft. Brag North Carolina Friday.
New Street, Bridge Open In Fairbanks
It’s a lot easier to navigate downtown Fairbanks. After two years of construction, a long awaited new road and bridge in the city center, opened Monday.
New Player May Enter Field For North Slope LNG
There’s another company looking at producing liquefied natural gas on the North Slope. The move could broaden Fairbanks access to the cheaper, cleaner burning fuel.
Candlelight Vigil To Mark National Homelessness Awareness Month
A local organization marks National Homelessness Awareness Month with a candlelight vigil Wednesday night in Fairbanks. The annual downtown walk is put on by Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption’s Street Outreach and Advocacy Program or “SOAP.” SOAP supervisor Randy Lewis says the event is aimed at raising awareness of homeless youth.
Questions Remain As Campaign Season Comes To A Close
As the campaign season comes to a close, there are few questions remaining about where Fairbanks area candidates stand on the big issues. Everyone wants to lower the cost of energy, and Republicans and Democrats differ sharply on oil tax reform. A Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce forum this week saw re-hash of the familiar topics, but also provided some new insight. KUAC’s Dan Bross reports on what the candidates running for State House Districts 1, 4 and 5 had to say.