Tim Ellis, KUAC - Fairbanks
Tim Ellis is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks mayor: as state ends funding, borough must address $400M building-maintenance backlog
Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Karl Kassel says most of the borough’s 250 or so buildings are badly in need of maintenance. He said many are so old that they just need to be torn down and replaced. And he said it’ll cost nearly $400 million to catch up on that backlog. Listen now
AK: Anthropologists excavate 13,000-year-old secrets near Fort Greely
Anthropologists with the University of Alaska Fairbanks say a site they’re excavating near the Delta River west of Fort Greely was first inhabited by people some 13,000 years ago – not long after humanity crossed over a now-submerged land bridge that connected Asia and North America. Listen now
Alaska DEC moves to replace section of contaminated highway from January fuel spill
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and a Fairbanks-based trucking company have come to an agreement on a cleanup of diesel fuel spilled in an area along the Richardson Highway south of Paxson. Listen now
Fairbanks borough mayor sets meetings to explain funding cuts’ budget impact
Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Karl Kassel says state officials have cut funding to the borough for three straight years now, and it appears likely that’ll continue in the years ahead. Listen now
Eielson’s F-35s will ‘save our bacon’ by offsetting economic slump, Fairbanks Mayor Says
Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Karl Kassel said the buildup associated with two squadrons of F-35 warplanes that’ll be coming to Eielson Air Force Base in a couple of years will offset decreases in population and state funding that are both being driven by Alaska’s recession-wracked economy. Listen now
Eielson showcases F-35 as Alaskan command chief emphasizes its lethality, deployability
Eielson Air Force Base opened its doors Tuesday to local, state and federal officials to give them a chance to see an F-35 fighter up close and to learn about its capabilities. The Air Force sent the warplane there for a few weeks for testing in anticipation of the arrival of two squadrons beginning in 2020. Listen now
Three IGU candidates’ top priority: speeding efforts to bring natural gas to Fairbanks
Three candidates seeking election to an open seat on the Interior Gas Utility board all agree it’s taken far too long to bring natural gas into the Fairbanks area. All three say if elected they’d push to accelerate the IGU’s efforts to bring gas here and build a system to deliver gas to its customers. Listen now
Fairbanks voters to decide on outlawing local pot businesses on Tuesday
Voters in Fairbanks and outlying areas will consider ballot measures Tuesday to outlaw marijuana businesses in the city and borough. Listen now
Fairbanks Council OKs Stipend, anticipates further legal, financial fallout over contaminated water
The Fairbanks City Council approved an ordinance Monday that’s intended to help provide drinking water for property owners in an area on the city’s south side who’ve lost the use of their wells due to groundwater contamination. Listen now
Commercial pot growers paid GVEA more than $500,000 over the past year
The commercial marijuana industry is increasing demand for electricity in the Interior. Golden Valley Electric Association membership includes 47 licensed marijuana growers, who paid the co-op more than a half-million dollars for power over the past year. Listen now
Fairbanks’ anti-commercial marijuana ballot measures likely to boost turnout for October election
Local elections like the one coming up on Oct. 3 in Fairbanks are notorious for drawing low voter turnout. But observers say this year’s city and borough elections may be different, because the two marijuana-related propositions on the ballots are likely to draw more voters to the polls in what observers say will likely be a close election. Listen now
Two killed in highway accident near North Pole
Two drivers were killed last night in a two-vehicle accident on the Richardson Highway near North Pole. Listen now
Arctic climate change researchers still conflicted over UAF’s coal-fired powerplant
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is building a heat-and-power plant to replace the old facility that went into service in 1964. The new $245 million powerplant, scheduled to come online next year, will feature updated technology that’ll reduce most pollutants – but it will continue to emit greenhouse gases blamed for warming the planet. Listen now
Repairs on stretch of Dalton Highway damaged by flooding nearly done; next project: paving
Work is wrapping on a project to rebuild the northernmost stretch of the Dalton Highway that was badly damaged two-and-a-half years ago by flooding from the overflowing Sagavanirktok River. Listen now
GVEA board voices concerns, but allows spending up to $20 Million to fix Healy 2
Golden Valley Electric Association’s board of directors approved a multimillion-dollar plan Monday to repair the Healy 2 power plant. Two board members voted against the proposal, saying they’ve got concerns about the coal-fired plant design and cost. Listen now
Several inmates charged with assault, rioting at Fairbanks prison
Alaska State Troopers say they’ve charged several inmates at Fairbanks Correctional Center with rioting and assault for their roles in a disturbance reported at about noon on Thursday. Listen now
With F-35 squads set for Eielson, thousands of people may come up with them
More than 5,000 people may come to the Fairbanks area over the next four years as part of the move to base two squadrons of F-35 fighters at Eielson Air Force Base. The latest estimate announced Monday is well above the previous estimate of 3,500. The bigger population increase is expected to place a greater burden on local services. Listen now
Tularemia reported around Fairbanks, Palmer; vets urge quick diagnosis, treatment for pets
The state Department of Fish and Game is warning pet owners in the Interior and Southcentral Alaska about a recent spike in reports of tularemia – sometimes called “rabbit fever.” Listen now
As Fairbanks police deal with spike in violent crime, low pay complicates filling vacancies
The Fairbanks Police Department remains understaffed, despite a recently approved hiring bonus. Police Chief Eric Jewkes told City Council members this week the substandard pay is driving high turnover and making recruiting difficult. Listen now
Climate expert predicts warmer-than-normal fall, continuing 10-year trend
National Weather Service climate expert Rick Thoman said there’s a good chance that all of Alaska will be warmer than normal in August and the next couple of months. But he said there’s near-certainty that coastal areas along the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering and Beaufort seas will be warm through October. Listen now