Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media
Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.
Begich Gets Seat On Indian Affairs, Appropriations Committees
When the 113th congress gets to work, Democratic Senator Mark Begich will have some new committee assignments. Begich has secured a seat on the Indian Affairs committee. He will no longer have a spot on the budget committee. Begich also now has a seat on the powerful appropriations committee, he gave up his seat on the Armed Services Committee for the appropriations position.
Beluga Numbers Rise Slightly In Last Year
The annual survey count for the endangered Cook Inlet Belugas has been released and as in years past, it has not changed much. NOAA scientists counted 312 whales last summer and fall, up 28 animals from the 2011 count, but the uptick is not considered significant and scientists say the belugas are still in a slow decline. Kim Sheldon is a biologist with the National Marine Mammal Lab in Seattle. She says although the count continues to show a downward trend over the last decade, they were excited to see belugas in the lower part of Cook Inlet last summer.
Shell Drill Rig Runs Aground
The Kulluk grounded on the southeast shoreline of Sitkalidak Island (between the north edge of Ocean Bay and Partition Cove) at approximately 9 p.m. on December 31, 2012. The shoreline of Partition Cove is primarily comprised of mixed sand and gravel beaches. Severe weather conditions continue to impact operations.
Lance Mackey Wins Top of the World 350
Lance Mackey took first place on Sunday in the inaugural running of the Top of the World 350 race from Eagle to Tok. Following Lance in for second place was Gerry Willomitzer. Jake Berkowitz took third.
Long-Time APD Officer Retires
After nearly 18 years on the force, Lt. Dave Parker is retiring from the Anchorage Police Department. Today is his last day. Lt. Parker has been the public information officer for APD for the past four years and was a detective before that. He is also a member of the clergy. He says being a cop is like being a pastor. It’s a helping profession.
Top of the World 350 Kicks Off in Tok
Some well known names in the Alaska mushing world are heading toward Eagle today as the inaugural running of the Top of the World 350 kicked off in Tok. Lance Mackey, Gerry Willomitzer and Dan Kaduce are among the 22 mushers racing toward the Yukon river community near the Canadian border. The race is in honor of Eagle elder Issac Juneby who passed away last summer. Shyanne Beatty is Juneby’s niece. She’s helping with the organization of the race and spoke to me today from the Tok Dog Musher’s association headquarters. She says mushers came from across the state.
Alaska Native Arts Foundation Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
The Alaska Native Arts Foundation is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. The foundation’s gallery is in downtown Anchorage but Trina Landlord, the executive director, says they now have a registry of more than 1,100 Alaska Native artists from across Alaska. She says beyond showcasing art and helping build economies in rural Alaska, the foundation offers training in both art and in business training for artists.
Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye Passes Away
Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye died Monday at age 88. His office said he died of respiratory complications. The Democrat was a World War Two hero who became the first Japanese American to serve in Congress. He served 49 years, second only to the late Robert Byrd at 51 years.
Anchorage Prepares for USS Anchorage Commissioning
For the second time, the U.S. Navy is honoring the city of Anchorage by naming a new amphibious ship after Alaska's largest city. The U.S.S Anchorage will be commissioned at the Port of Anchorage in May and kicks off the city's Centennial Celebration.
Explosion near Eagle Leads to Mysterious Geologic Slump
Residents in the Yukon River community of Eagle are excited about a mysterious geologic event that is emitting fire, steam and a sulfur smell. Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve lead Interpretative Ranger Pat Sanders says it all started on Sept. 27.
Report Says Lower Kenai River Violates Water Standards
A report commissioned by the State Department of Environmental Conservation shows water quality on the lower Kenai River violates state standards. The report has not been released by DEC.
BP To Pay $4.5 Billion In Deepwater Horizon Settlement
BP has agreed to plead guilty and pay a $4.5 billion fine to settle federal criminal charges surrounding the Deepwater Horizon blowout and spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Eleven people were killed in the 2010 explosion. The Anchorage Daily News reports that the company could be on the hook for billions more as the federal government plans to pursue a civil claim for violations of the Clean Water Act. More than 4 million barrels of oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico from the blowout.
Food Bank Director Reflects On Time In Alaska
In 11 years as executive director at the Food Bank of Alaska, Susannah Morgan has helped feed more than 800,000 people. Despite her hard work, the hunger problem in Alaska has only gotten worse. When she started about 9 percent of the state’s residents needed the food bank’s services. Now that figure has increased to 14 percent.
‘Almost Home’ Profiles Homeless Young People
The new book “Almost Home” profiles the lives of six young people who experienced homelessness and found help and a path toward a brighter future through Covenant House, a national network of shelters for homeless teens.
Alaska Innovates First Program To Subsidize Housing For Victims Of Violence
The need for safe housing for women and children in Alaska who have suffered from domestic violence has sparked a first in the nation program to help meet the demand. The Empowering Choice Housing program was created with 1.3 million in Governor Sean Parnell's 2013 budget plus another million from the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's federal moving to work program.
Former Whaling Commission Director Sentencing Continues
The sentencing of the former director of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission continued today in federal court in Anchorage. Ahmaogak was director of the commission for 17 years until she was fired in 2007 from the commission, which receives federal funds. She pleaded guilty in May to two counts of theft and misapplication of funds.
Scientists Study Earthquake Intricacies
Ten years ago this week, the Denali Fault earthquake shook Interior Alaska. On November 3, 2002 the 7.9 magnitude quake caused extensive damage to infrastructure along the fault line, including bridges, roads and even an airport. Scientists and engineers have spent the last decade studying the intricacies of the earthquake, hoping to learn how to prevent damages from future earthquakes.
CEAAC To Acknowledge Settlement Of Education Lawsuits
This evening Citizens for the Educational Advancement of Alaska’s Children or CEAAC will acknowledge the settlement of two education lawsuits against the state with the presentation of two funds. One for $18 million will help pay for new programs for struggling schools and another for $300,000.
Task Force to Gather Testimony on Sex Trafficking in Alaska
Gathering information about the scale of the problem of sex trafficking in Alaska will be the focus of a state hearing on the issue next week. The lengthily titled State of Alaska Task Force on the Crimes of Human Trafficking, Promoting Prostitution and Sex Trafficking will hold hearings in Anchorage and Bethel. Cori Badgley is an assistant Attorney General with the state. She says domestic violence and sexual assault of children are usually in the backgrounds of victims of sex trafficking. She says it's important for Alaskans to weigh in on this crime.
Interview: New Book Highlights Life Of Statesman Vic Fischer
In 1924, Vic Fischer was born in Berlin, Germany, as a citizen of both the U.S. and Russia. That complicated- worldly start in life is a small glimpse into the extraordinary childhood of one of Alaska’s most loved statesmen.