Emily Schwing, special to Alaska Public Media
17 New Forest Fires Reported Sunday
Lightning was active across the Central and Southern Interior region of the state this weekend, with more than 2000 strikes on Saturday alone. The Alaska Interagency Coordination Center reported 17 new fires Sunday.
Crews Work To Quell Allakaket Blaze
The Alaska Fires Service says a fire burning near the village of Allakaket is 43 percent contained. The blaze covers more than 2700 acres. Fire Service Public Information Officer Nan Floyd says it’s tentative, but crews hope to have the blaze fully contained by the end of the week.
Army Relocating Units To Fort Wainwright
The Army announced the final phase of a relocation of two aviation units to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma Washington on Thursday. The move includesa Company based at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks.
Invasive Species Causing Major Problems
Alaska isn’t home to a large number of non-native bugs and weeds, but those that are here are beginning to cause some serious problems.
Exxon Files Plan For Point Thompson
Exxon Mobil has filed a plan of operations for Pt. Thomson. The action follows a recent legal settlement with the state, and nearly 5 decades of work delays on Alaska’s largest undeveloped oil and gas field. Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed earlier this month could stall things again.
BLM Holds Public Meetings To Develop Management Strategy For NPR-A
The Bureau of Land Management has hosted more than 10 public meetings this spring as part of the process to develop the first comprehensive management strategy for National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska. The public comment period for the draft Integrated Activity Plan and Environmental Impact Statement ends Friday. KUAC’s Emily Schwing attended a meeting in Fairbanks to find out how people are feeling about potential oil and gas development in a controversial corner of the North Slope.
Red Flag Training Gets Underway at Eielson
A series of Pacific Air Forces direct training exercises is happening in the air space over that stretches from Fairbanks to Delta. Red Flag –Alaska began last week. As KUAC’s Emily Schwing reports, the...
Doyon Awaiting Final Report From Nenana Basin Oil, Gas Field Work
Doyon, Limited is waiting for the final report from oil and gas field work conducted in the Nenana Basin last winter. The interior-Alaska native corporation conducted 100 miles worth of seismic work in the basin last winter. Doyon President and CEO Aaron Schutt says the corporation has not developed a timeline for production yet.
500 Gather for Chickenstock Music Festival
Nearly 500 people gathered over the weekend for the Chickenstock Music Festival. The Festival takes place in the tiny community of Chicken, 80 miles north of Tok. It’s the sixth year in a row the festival has drawn a crowd from Alaska, the Yukon Territory and beyond.
Fairbanks Leaders, Air Force Officials Discuss F-16 Move
The Air Force has flagged nearly 20 buildings on Eielson Air Force base for reuse, repurposing, or demolition as part the plan to relocate the F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. Fairbanks leaders had another chance today to ask questions about developments in the plan during a teleconference with Air Force officials in Fairbanks.
Missing Bison Found Near Chena Lakes
Three of the four bison that escaped last month from a ranch just outside North Pole have turned up along the bike path at the Chena Lakes Flood Control Project south of Fairbanks.
Lightning Blamed For Denali Park Fire
Park Rangers are blaming lightning for a five acre fire inside Denali National Park. When a crew flew over the fire at noon Thursday, there was no visible smoke. The blaze burned a five acre area, 15 miles north of the park road along the East Fork drainage of the Toklat River. Park officials are concerned about an historic cabin located within three miles of the fire. Crews plan to fly over the fire again this evening.
Venus Transit Draws Big Crowd In Fairbanks
Hundreds of people also turned out in Fairbanks to witness the Venus transit outside the Noel Wien public library.
Group Unhappy With Redistricting Board’s Amended Proclamation Plan
Alaskans for Fair Redistricting released a statement last week calling the Redistricting Board’s Amended Proclamation Plan “terrible.” Vince Beltrami is the co-chair of AFFR. He says the latest plan could result in the loss of a protected seat in proposed district 38, which pairs urban communities in Fairbanks with rural communities as far out as the Bering Sea Coast.
F-16 Squadron Move Would Seriously Affect North Star Borough School District
The Air Force’s plan to relocate the F-16 Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force base will have serious implications for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District if the move takes place.
Community Leaders, Air Force Meet About Eielson F-16 Movement Impact Report
A group of community leaders held a teleconference with the Air Force’s Director of Logistics to find out more about the proposed relocation of the F-16 Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base. The meeting followed the release of an Air Force Report revealing more details about the move.
Air Force Releases Eielson F-16 Move Impact Report
The Air Force released its report Thursday. It outlines the impacts of relocating the F-16 Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base. Alaska’s congressional Delegation says the report leaves much to be desired.
CCHRC Reworks Energy Efficiency Recommendations
The Cold Climate Housing Research Center has reworked its energy efficiency policy recommendations to the state. The report, released last week, details how the state can cut its total energy use by 15 percent. That kind of cut could save the state more than 850 million dollars by 2020.
Alaska Gains Some Manufacturing Jobs
Alaska gained a few manufacturing jobs over the past year - a 2 percent increase. According to the 2012 Alaska Manufacturers Directory, published annually by Manufacturer’s News Incorporated., Alaska gained more than 600 new industrial jobs.
UAF Student Hoping to Make Olympic Team
A group of freshman on this year’s University of Alaska Fairbanks swim team is making waves on the national scene. One of the athletes is training in California for shot at the Olympic trials.