Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
Alaska Military Future Remains Uncertain
The U.S. military is in a time of transition and future mission status is uncertain. That was the message of U.S. Army Alaska commander Major General Michael Garret in Fairbanks yesterday. Garret says the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan means there are no combat deployments on the horizon, and the focus is on training.
Song Written To Celebrate New Arctic Research Vessel
An original piece of music has been written to celebrate the University of Alaska Fairbanks new Arctic research vessel, the Sikuliaq.
Tanana Adding New Biomass Systems
The city of Tanana is looking forward to lower fuel bills. The city is adding new biomass systems enabling it to swap high priced oil for locally available wood.
Energy, Manufacturing Companies In Asia Hope To Buy Alaska Gas
Energy and manufacturing companies in Asia want to buy Alaska North Slope gas. The Alaska Gasline Port Authority says it has interest from six corporations: four in Korea, and one each in Thailand and Indonesia.
Golden Valley Electric Secures Gas Shipments To Fairbanks
Golden Valley Electric Association has cleared a hurdle in its push to truck North Slope natural gas to Fairbanks. The electric utility has secured a gas supply contract with BP. Under the deal, Golden Valley can purchase up to 23 billion cubic feet of gas annually for 20 years. It’s a key part of a project being forwarded in partnership with the Flint Hills Refinery.
Scientists Studying ‘Slow Quakes’
Earthquakes are a daily occurrence in Alaska, but most go unnoticed by the general public. The unfelt quakes include a slow variety unknown to scientists until about 10 years ago. Stanford University professor of geophysics Gregory Beroza, says ultra sensitive seismometers and GPS measurements detect the gradual but powerful movements of the earth’s crust.
Fairbanks Youth Homeless Shelter Project Delayed
A youth homeless shelter project in Fairbanks has been delayed. The organization Fairbanks Youth Advocates is working to turn a donated downtown apartment building into a place to provide short term housing and meals for homeless kids.
Record Numbers Expected At 50th Running Of Equinox Marathon
The 50th running of the Equinox Marathon starts at 8:00 a.m. Saturday at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. A near record number of participants are expected.
Downsized Budget Reduced Scope Of Denali Commission
Decreased federal spending has downsized the budget and scope of the Denali Commission in Alaska. The independent federal agency was created by former Senator Ted Stevens in 1998 to address infrastructure in rural communities, but its financial clout is greatly diminished.
UAF Considers Possibility Of ‘Aurorium’
The advance of darkness means the return of prime aurora viewing season in interior Alaska, but a project being considered by the University of Alaska Fairbanks could make watching the northern lights a year round experience.
New Research Ship Will Be Operated By UAF
A new research ship to be based in Alaska, hits the water next month. The 261 foot Sikuliaq is being built at a shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin for the National Science Foundation. The $200 million ice going ship will be operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and home ported at its Seward Marine Center to serve scientists from around the world.
New Plan Surfaces To Get Natural Gas To Fairbanks
There’s another plan to get natural gas to Fairbanks. It’s one of several in play aimed at reducing Fairbanks dependence on high cost oil, and air polluting wood and coal.
Group Taking Alaska Vets To WWII Memorial
A newly formed chapter of a national non-profit organization is taking a group of Alaska veterans to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.
Rain Raises Flood Concerns in the Interior
There’s concern about high water in areas of the interior. National Weather Service meteorologist John Lingas in Fairbanks says heavy rain has fallen over an area from the central interior to the southeastern Brooks Range in recent days.
Gary Gray Named UAF Athletic Director
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has a new athletic director. Gary Gray is coming to Fairbanks from UAF rival Montanan State University. At a press conference announcing the selection Friday morning, UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers credited Gray’s experience.
Eva Creek Wind Farm Nears Completion
Construction is nearing completion on the state’s largest wind farm: Golden Valley Electric Association’s $93 million Eva Creek Project. A ribbon cutting held Wednesday at the hill top site near Healy.
Popular Fairbanks Trail Reopens
A popular Fairbanks area hiking trail, recently closed due to bear trouble, has reopened. The Granite Tors Trail in the Chena River State Recreation Area has been the location of four human bear encounters this summer, the latest of which saw a bear tear a hole in a camper’s tent. No one has been hurt, but bear spray, rocks and gun shots have been used to scare the animals off.
Prop 1 Would Allow Local Option Of Increasing Residential Property Tax Exemptions
A measure on next week’s primary election ballot would allow the local option of increasing the residential property tax exemption from the current $20,000 to a maximum of $50,000. If approved, municipal voters would then have to O.K. any change. Local government could also adjust the exemption to reflect increases in the cost of living.
Wildfire Near Fairbanks Grows Over Weekend
A wildfire that sent smoke over Fairbanks this weekend has grown substantially. The Alaska Fire Service reports that the Dry Creek Fire, burning about 25 miles south of Fairbanks is now about 14,000 acres. That’s up from 3,000 acres Thursday.
Robots Offer New Medical Care Options In Remote Communities
The next evolution of telemedicine is employing robots. A project presented at last week’s International Conference on Circumpolar health in Fairbanks showed how a remote control robot is helping patients in the Canadian arctic. Rosie the robot offers a new option for medical care in isolated communities.