Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media
Lori Townsend is the chief editor, senior vice president of journalism 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. Read more about Lori here.
USGS Tests Early Earthquake Warning System In California
Scientists can’t predict earthquakes yet. But the United States Geological Survey has been piloting a system in California for a year that gives early warning before an earthquake hits. The federal agency will update Congress on how it’s working later this week.
Fairbanks Militia Member Coleman Barney Sentenced In Federal Court
Federal judge John Bryan sentenced former Fairbanks Peacemaker’s militia member Coleman Barney in Anchorage today to five-year sentences for each of the two counts he was convicted of. The judge said the sentences will run concurrent and there will be credit given for time served. Barney has already been in jail for about a year and a half. Following his release from prison, he will be on probation for three additional years.
Kenai Peninsula Waters Remain At Flood Stage
The information below is from an interview with David Streubel, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service.
The Little Susitna River crested overnight. Water levels are still above flood stage but are going down today and tomorrow, although it will take time for those waters to recede.
Longtime APRN Legislature Reporter Retires
Very few people know the ins and outs of the state legislature in Juneau as well as APRN’s Dave Donaldson. He was hired in 1991 to cover state politics for APRN and has now logged an impressive 22 legislative sessions. He arrived in Juneau from North Carolina, thinking he would only stay one year. But like many Alaskans, he fell in love with the state, and Juneau, almost instantly.
Scientists Connect Record Arctic Sea Ice Loss With Unusual Weather
The Arctic sea ice will hit its minimum any day now and freeze up will begin again. But the extent of this summer’s melt has already smashed the previous record set in 2007. Scientists are starting to draw a link between Arctic ice retreat and unusual weather around the world.
Seafood Summit Wraps Up In Hong Kong
The 10th annual Seafood Summit wrapped up last week in Hong Kong, Alaskan freelance reporter and publisher of the newsletter Laws of the Sea, Bob Tkacz was there. Tkacz says he spent four days touring aquaculture facilities, both for fin fish and shrimp. He says as demand grows from India, China, Brazil and other countries, wild fish stocks will not be enough.
Citizen Storm Reports from Anchorage Hillside
Citizen reports from the upper hillside area of Anchorage: Jordan Shay an upper Bear Valley resident reports wind gust Saturday evening of 120 miles per hour.
Anchorage High Wind Warning Lasting Into Monday Morning
Another large wind storm is moving toward Anchorage and surrounding areas. The storm is across the southern Bering Sea but is expected to hit Southcentral Alaska and particularly Anchorage late Saturday night. National Weather Service meteorologist Bob Hopkins says the storm will mainly hit three areas of the city, starting with the Upper Hillside.
Anchorage Police Prepare For Budget Cuts
Anchorage mayor Dan Sullivan is asking for budget cuts and one of the departments being targeted is the Anchorage Police department. The mayor says the city is facing a $30 million shortfall for next year’s budget.
Anchorage Construction Firm Owner Pleads Guilty To Fraud
An Anchorage commercial property builder pleaded guilty today in U.S. District court to 12 counts of making false statements to a credit union for more than $4 million in construction loan draws. Lee E. Baker, Jr. was the owner of Discovery Construction, Inc.
Newtok Moves Forward With Relocation Plans
Two representatives from the village of Newtok and an immigration specialist are traveling to the Carteret Islands in Papua New Guinea this week to meet with islanders there and share information about how to take charge of plans for relocating communities vulnerable to coastal erosion.
Scientists Search For Reason Of Cook Inlet Beluga Decline
Scientists studying Cook Inlet Belugas have watched the dramatic decline of their numbers from 1,300 in the 1970s to only 300 now. Biologists, state and federal officials, commercial fishermen and oil and gas developers all speculate about why the belugas haven't rebounded after they were put on the endangered species list in 2008. But there are no concrete answers.
Thousands of Anchorage Residents Without Power
Last night Anchorage residents experienced extremely high winds resulting in tree loss and structural damage to homes, but the distribution was erratic.
Cost Will Play Major Part in Beluga Recovery Plan Success
Because the Cook Inlet whales are listed as Endangered, the Endangered Species Act mandates that critical habitat be identified and a recovery plan must be developed
Crews Work To Clear Anchorage Roads
State and municipal transportation crews are working to clear roadways after last night's storm. State department of Transportation spokesman Jeremy Woodrow says all road crew workers have been pulled off regular maintenance and are out with chainsaws clearing downed and leaning trees in the Anchorage area.
Storm-preparedness links and contact information:
- 511.alaska.gov
- Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
- Municipal Light and Power ML&P hotline for power outages/downed lines & trees: 279-7671 or toll-free at 1-888-999-5340
- Chugach Electric Chugach Electric numbers to report power outages/downed lines & trees: 762-7888 or toll-free at 1-800-478-7494
Yearly Cook Inlet Beluga Count Wraps Up
The annual summer effort to determine the number of endangered whales that exist in Cook Inlet is underway with one count completed in June and another finished this month.
Footprint Sheds More Light On Prehistoric Alaska
A recent discovery of an enormous, ancient footprint in Denali National Park is being seen as another indication of how busy the Alaskan landscape was with prehistoric animals coming and going for seasonal food hunting.
Election Results Impact Alaskans
APRN’s Dave Donaldson joins us from Juneau, answering questions on what the defeat of Ballot Measure 2, and other primary election results, will mean for Alaskans.
Five Democrats Vie For Chance to Run Against Don Young
Next Tuesday 5 Democrats are running against each other, hoping to garner the most primary votes to be able to challenge Republican Don Young for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House.
Young Faces Two Primary Election Challengers
In next Tuesday’s primary race Congressman Don Young will be defending his 40 year tenure as Alaska’s lone U.S. House member against two Republican challengers and five Democrats also vying for the seat.