As Work Continues On Spending Plan, Walker To Revive State Of The Budget Address
It’s been almost a decade since a governor has delivered a State of the Budget address. With Alaska now in deficit-spending mode, Gov. Bill Walker plans to bring the speech back.
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Board Reverses Suspensions Of Former-Sen. Stevens Prosecutors
A review board has reversed the suspensions of two federal attorneys accused of withholding evidence in the prosecution of the late Sen. Ted Stevens. The Merit Systems Protection Board ruled this month that the Justice Department bungled the disciplinary process against the two prosecutors.
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Anchorage Democrats Push Bills Combating Sexual Assault, Retaliation in National Guard
Anchorage Democrats Chris Tuck and Bill Wielechowski introduced a packet of legislative measures revising reporting procedures, revamping the Guard's internal protocols, and creating a mechanism for private companies to give veterans hiring preference.
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Plunging Oil Prices Cast Doubt on Arctic Drilling
As oil prices continue to plummet, some corporations are scaling back on expensive exploration projects -- like drilling in Arctic waters. But, one company with a major stake in the region has yet to tip its hand.
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Anchorage tourism numbers up, expected to continue
2014 was a record year for tourism in Southcentral Alaska according to Visit Anchorage. The organization predicts 2015 might be just as good.
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Small Businesses Struggle To Comply With Health Insurance Requirement
Starting this month, businesses in Alaska with more than 100 full time workers have to provide health insurance. And under the Affordable Care Act "full time" is any employee who works more than 30 hours a week. Senator Lisa Murkowski is sponsoring legislation that would change that threshold to 40 hours. Many restaurants owners in Anchorage are watching the legislation closely.
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Landbank Lawsuit Aimed at USACE Regs
An obscure lawsuit filed by a Matanuska Susitna wetlands mitigation bank could have national implications. The suit, now in Federal Claims Court, alleges breach of contract by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and land developers are closely watching the outcome.
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Governor Names New Deputy Labor Commissioners
Gov. Bill Walker has named two new deputy commissioners at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
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UAS Closes Bookstore, Prepares For Tight Budget Times
The University of Alaska Southeast closed its bookstore in Juneau at the end of last year, because it hadn’t been profitable for years. As the school looks ahead, UAS will need to make more tough decisions about its budget.
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Klawock Couple Plans Halftime Wedding
A couple in Klawock has been engaged since 2001, but they couldn’t quite come to agreement about what kind of wedding ceremony to have. They finally settled on a unique venue: Center court at halftime during Friday’s home basketball game.
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Alaska News Nightly: January 15, 2015
Board Reverses Suspensions Of Former-Sen. Stevens Prosecutors; Anchorage Democrats Push Bills Combating Sexual Assault, Retaliation in National Guard; Plunging Oil Prices Cast Doubt on Arctic Drilling; Anchorage Tourism Numbers Up, Expected To Continue; Small Businesses Struggle To Comply With Health Insurance Requirement; Landbank Lawsuit Aimed at USACE Regs; Governor Names New Deputy Labor Commissioners; UAS Closes Bookstore, Prepares For Tight Budget Times; Klawock Couple Plans Halftime Wedding
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Grand Jury Hands Down 3 Murder Charges in White Mountain New Year’s Day Killing
The man accused of killing his girlfriend on New Year’s Day in White Mountain now faces a total of three murder charges in her death.
Making walking in Anchorage safer
Nearly 8 percent of Alaskans walk to work. It's the highest rate in the nation according to American Community Survey data. The national average is only 2.8 percent. But the state is also ranked #3 for the rate of pedestrian deaths. Three people have been killed in Anchorage the past month. So what's happening to help keep walkers safe?
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In Underground Rooms, Sullivan’s Senate Office Takes Shape
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, like other Republicans in Congress, is on a two-day retreat in Hershey Penn. Speakers include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Jay Leno. Meanwhile, Sullivan Chief of Staff Joe Balash provides a status report on new hires and how long he expects they'll work in their underground office.
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UAF Anticipates Cutting Over 200 Jobs
The University of Alaska Fairbanks anticipates cutting between 200 and 250 jobs this year. That from UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers, who in an address to the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce yesterday focused on the affect of slumping oil prices on state funding for the university.
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About 16,000 Alaskans Sign Up On Healthcare.gov
The federal government says about 16,000 Alaskans have signed up for health insurance on healthcare.gov. That's about 3,000 more than signed up during the initial open enrollment period.
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More Than 40,000 Earthquakes Detected In 2014
The Earthquake Information Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks logged more earthquakes in 2014 than in past years, a lot more. 40,000. An increase of about 10,000 from the average of the years before it. Michael West is the state seismologist at the center. He says part of the reason they counted more last year was because of better technology.
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New Regulations Unlikely To Change Coal Ash Disposal In Alaska
The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued the first ever federal standards for the disposal of coal ash by electric utilities. The toxin containing ash has gotten national attention in recent years due to spills in the Lower 48, but the situation is different in Alaska.
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Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race Postponed
Wind, heavy rain, and temperatures at times nearing 50 degrees on the Kenai Peninsula mean the Tustumena 200 sled dog race won’t be running February 7th as planned. And race coordinators aren’t even confident it will run at all this year.
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Alaska News Nightly: January 14, 2015
In Underground Rooms, Sullivan's Senate Office Takes Shape; UAF Anticipates Cutting Over 200 Jobs; About 16,000 Alaskans Sign Up On Healthcare.gov; Over 40,000 Earthquakes Detected In 2014; How Safe Are Alaska’s Pedestrians?; Anchorage Measure Will Tax Alcohol to Pay For Treatment and Services; New Regulations Unlikely To Change Coal Ash Disposal In Alaska; Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race Postponed
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