Quinton Chandler, KTOO - Juneau
Quinton Chandler is a reporter at KTOO in Juneau.
On Kenai, bear management strives for happy medium
Striking a balance that provides ample living space for both humans and wild animals isn't always easy. A biologist with the Department of Fish and Game talked with Homer residents about the methods wildlife managers use to keep the peace between people and brown bears.
Download Audio
BlueCrest keeps pilot light on for shifting gas project
BlueCrest Energy plans to drill for oil in Cook Inlet’s Cosmopolitan oil fields from the shore just north of Anchor Point. There is also a chance the company will place a rig in the water to drill for natural gas. But debate over the state’s tax credits is making BlueCrest hesitate.
Troopers rework south Kenai area road kill list
The state is using a new application process to select recipients of big game killed on southern Kenai Peninsula roads as well as fish or game confiscated by authorities. The changes are supposed to improve the fairness and efficiency of the Road Kill Program.
Download Audio
Kenai Peninsula CASA progam seeks volunteers
The Kenai Peninsula CASA program is recruiting volunteers. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. The program assigns CASA’s to speak for children caught in the middle of cases often dealing with neglect and abuse.
Homerites pitch camp to bring attention to homelessness
A group of Homer youth and adults camped out in a city park Saturday night to force a light on the often overlooked problem of homelessness in the community.
Download Audio
Homer’s 32nd annual health fair is biggest ever
Homer’s 32nd Rotary Health Fair drew a record number of participants to the Homer High School Saturday. Residents took full advantage of blood screenings, flu shots, and information booths dedicated to healthy living and disease prevention.
Homer, state argue over gas assessments
The City of Homer wants the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to pay a little more than $26,000 in natural gas assessments for eight state-owned plots of land. DOT refuses. The city and DOT are negotiating a solution.
Download Audio
Alaska LNG representatives visit Homer Rotary
The Rotary Club of Homer-Kachemak Bay hosted representatives of the Alaska LNG Project Thursday. Alaska LNG is a co-venture between the state and other stakeholders: Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, BP and TransCanada. The project representatives said they want to give Alaskans a clearer picture of what Alaska LNG will mean for their communities.
Dip in Kenai brown bears linked to liberalized harvest quotas
A 2010 federally sponsored study is the first to deliver a reliable count of the Kenai Peninsula’s brown bear population.
Download Audio
Kenai Peninsula grocery tax takes another blow
Alaska Statute only allows general law cities to tax the same items taxed by their borough unless the borough makes an exception. Kenai Peninsula Borough voters repealed an ordinance this year that gave general law cities the power to tax non-prepared foods year round. The voter decision means the cities of Soldotna and Seldovia will be forced to deal with a decrease in tax revenue.
Unexplained gap impacts Kenai Peninsula rehab services
A state program that helps people convicted of drug and alcohol related crimes fight addiction says it’s seeing a decrease in court referrals for the cities of Homer and Kenai. But, local law enforcement reports there hasn’t been a significant drop in drug and alcohol related crime.
With rising heroin use, Peninsula doctor lobbies for an antidote
Nationwide prescription opioid pain relievers are killing twice as many people as heroin. A Southern Peninsula doctor is advocating an antidote for opioid overdose that she says will save lives if used correctly.
Download Audio:
Bird Death Reports Are Up In Homer, Food Sources Possibly To Blame
The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is receiving multiple reports indicating a significant increase in dead and dying birds found on beaches in the Homer area over the last two weeks.
Download Audio
In the Aftermath of the Card Street Fire, A Refuge Re-Opens
The Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area is just east of Sterling where the Card Street Fire first ignited. The area spans about 45,000 acres but only accounts for a little over 2 percent of the massive Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
Homer Feels the Squeeze of State Budget Cuts
The City of Homer holds a contract with the state to house prisoners arrested by the Alaska State Troopers outside city limits. The contract is still in place but to save money the state will stop paying about $350,000 to Homer. That is nearly 45 percent of the contract revenue.
Download Audio:
Busy fire season prompts influx of firefighting applicants
After an outbreak of wildfires across the state the Alaska Division of Forestry and the Bureau of Land Management’s Alaska Fire Service have seen a marked increase in the number of people looking for work in the firefighting effort. But, Division of Forestry spokesman Tim Mowry says both agencies already have a list of candidates to draw from.
Kenai Borough Re-Evaluates Controversial Fish Habitat Protections
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is considering an ordinance that would scale back habitat protections for anadromous waters throughout the Kenai Peninsula. Opponents of the ordinance claim these freshwaters salmon migrate to must be safeguarded. Supporters believe the protections impose on the rights of property owners.
Download Audio
Kachemak Residents Buck A Hatchery Proposal in Tutka Bay
The Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association is a salmon advocacy center fighting for an opportunity to temporarily move 80 million artificially bred pink salmon fry into Tutka Bay every year.
Download Audio:
Disaster Prep: Salvation Army Collects Emergency Supplies
To acknowledge National Safety Month the Salvation Army of Homer is taking up donations of emergency supplies to use in case of a disaster.
Navy Reps Hear Complaints on Northern Edge Exercises
Four representatives travelled to Homer to explain the purpose of Northern Edge. Captain Raymond Hesser is a naval officer with Alaskan Command. “We as a team were able to present a lot of information. I’m sure they learned something and the whole point was an information exchange. We gave them some information and then we were able to listen. I think we got a pretty good amount of feedback,” Hesser said.