Tim Ellis, KUAC - Fairbanks
Tim Ellis is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
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
‘Forward-deployed’ Coast Guard helicopter crews help rescue 6 people in two searches
Coast Guard personnel based out of Kotzebue helped rescue six people Monday in two emergency operations in Northwest Alaska. Listen now
North Pole Council urges water-system expansion to help Moose Creek deal with tainted groundwater
Officials with the Air Force and other agencies are asking members of the public to weigh-in on several proposals to provide drinking water to Moose Creek residents who can’t use their wells because of groundwater contamination. The pollution came from Eielson Air Force Base’s use of firefighting foam in years past. Listen now
North Star Borough to close North Pole transfer site for cleanup, reopen with monitor
Fairbanks North Star Borough officials plan to clean up a North Pole transfer site the same way they cleaned up the Farmer’s Loop East Transfer Site last month. They plan close the North Pole facility Wednesday and reopen it Thursday with Solid Waste staff on-site to survey users and prevent unsafe or illegal activity. Listen now
Cleanup under way at sites along old pipeline that fueled Interior bases
Cleanup work began this month at a mothballed pump station near Delta Junction that was part of the old Haines to Fairbanks Pipeline. Listen now
Black bear that attacked workers near Pogo Mine was behaving like a predator
Experts with the state Department of Fish and Game say the black bear that attacked two workers last month near the Pogo Mine was hungry and showing predator-like behavior. Listen now
State seeks contractors to operate 5 Delta-area parks semi-closed due to budget cuts
The state Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division is turning to the private sector to manage five Delta Junction-area state parks that were partially closed last week due to cuts in the agency’s budget. The division has begun soliciting proposals from prospective contractors to operate the parks. Listen now