Steve Heimel, APRN Contributor
sheimel (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8454 | About Steve
FEC Dismisses Joe Miller Complaint Against Alaska Native Corporations
The Federal Elections Commission has dismissed Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller's complaint against the Alaska Native corporations. Miller contended that the corporations should not have been contributing money to Senator Lisa Murkowski-s write-in campaign because under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act they were receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in no-bid, no-ceiling federal contracts.
Two Arraigned in Deadly Robbery Attempt
Anchorage police have two suspects set for arraignment Friday in a Muldoon robbery attempt that left two young men dead when they were shot by Larry James, age 55, the man who says they were trying to rob him.
Escopeta Oil Claims Early Success in Cook Inlet
There was an announcement over the weekend of what looks like the biggest natural gas discovery in Cook Inlet in 25 years.
Two Drown While Trying to Skip Snowmachine on Kobuk River
Two Ambler men setting a fish trap drowned in the Kobuk River early Tuesday. Reports are that Roger Cleveland, 29, and Brandon Cleveland, 21 were trying to skip their snowmachine across open water and were swept under while trying to retrieve it.
Two Dead After Trying to Rob Anchorage Man
Wednesday night two teenagers tried to rob a 55 year old man in Anchorage' s Muldoon neighborhood and ended up dead. A third suspect is said to have fled. Larry James called police and told them the two entered his home, pulled a gun on him and ordered him to open a safe in his bedroom. James said he had a gun of his own and he shot them both.
One Dies in Minivan, School Bus Collision Near Willow
Tuesday afternoon a minivan piled into the back of a stopped school bus near Willow. The minivan driver, Richard Pride, 63 of Willow, was killed. 14 students were on the bus, one was reported injured. The Parks Highway was closed for six hours.
Missing UAA Runner Found Alive
University of Alaska Anchorage track star Marko Cheseto walked into a campus hotel a few hours ago extremely hypothermic.
Storm Continues to Lash Alaska’s West Coast
A powerful storm continues to lash the west coast of Alaska, but so far there are no casualties reported, though damages are mounting.
Western Alaska Braces for Big Storm
They're preparing for a big storm in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. The National Weather Service says it will likely hit this evening and hit hard. Forecasters say near-hurricane force winds will generate 20-foot seas over the Chukchi Sea and 15-to-25-feet seas over the northern Bering Sea.
UAA Runner Cheseto Missing Since Sunday
A University of Alaska Anchorage track star is missing. Marko Cheseto, from Kenya, hasn't been seen since Sunday night. Cheseto was doing well in school but decided not to compete last spring after his team-mate, William Ritekwiang, who came from the same village in Africa, committed suicide. Cheseto's winter gear was found in his locker, along with cellphone and keys.
Obama Administration Announces Five-Year OCS Plan
It is showtime for the Obama administration, which this morning is announcing its five year offshore oil and gas leasing schedule. While Environmentalists were pressing hard to eliminate sales in the Arctic Ocean, they are still in the plan - sales in both the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, placed late in the schedule, officials say, for when we know more about the environment and the geology there, and are better prepared to respond to spills.
Sitka Hit by Small Quake
Sitka had an earthquake Saturday. Measured at Magnitude 4-point-34, it was centered southwest of the city offshore.
Two Hospitalized After Seward Highway Head-On Collision
There was a head-on collision on the Seward Highway south of Anchorage near Beluga Point on Sunday afternoon, closing parts of the highway.
Sport Charter Halibut Catch Drops Dramatically
The state Fish and Game Department reports the Southeast sports charter fleet Halibut catch dropped dramatically this season, no doubt due to severe size restrictions imposed by international and federal regulators.
Ketchikan Newspaper Founder Passes Away at 93
A founder of Ketchikan's newspaper is dead. Pat Charles was 93. She and her husband Bud started a paper called the Alaska Fishing News in 1945, which became the Ketchikan Daily News a couple of years later. The Charles family sold the paper to Lew and Dorothy Williams in 1976.
Woman Found Dead in Midtown Anchorage
Another street person has died outdoors in Anchorage. It happened behind a supermarket in midtown, and determination of the cause of death awaits toxicology test results. Lena Theresa Joseph, 44, didn't wake up Tuesday morning.
Transportation Secretary Meeting With Aviation, Construction Communities
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is taking a train ride in Alaska on Tuesday. The Secretary will ride the Alaska Railroad to the Spencer Glacier from Anchorage, stop at Girdwood for a meeting about safety concerns on the Seward Highway, and then on to the whistle stop at the glacier.
White Powder Causing Federal Building Evacuation Determined to be Harmless
The arrival of an envelope containing white powder caused a shutdown in federal offices again on Friday. The federal building was evacuated after the envelope was opened in the federal court system office.
Public Comment Period for ANWR Plan Extended to November
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is stretching out its planning process for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
F-22 Fighter Jets Back in Service
The nation’s F-22 fighter jets are back in service, four months after they were grounded over pilot complaints about a lack of oxygen.
Air Force officials began flying the stealth planes again Wednesday following a...