Tourist Train Derails in Skagway; Injuries Minor
A tourist train derailed Wednesday afternoon north of Skagway and initial reports stated some passengers received minor injuries. The White Pass Yukon Railroad runs scenic train tours between Skagway and Carcross, Yukon. Railroad president John Finlayson confirmed the derailment and said the company was still investigating the cause. He said did not want to comment on any injuries while passengers were being treated and evaluated.
Canadian Environmental Officials Give OK to Mine NE of Ketchikan
Canadian environmental officials just gave provisional approval to a controversial mine planned for an area northeast of Ketchikan. Their counterparts in British Columbia have done the same.
New App Out for Cup’ik Language
The Cup'ik language is about to get its biggest audience yet. A new app has been developed to help Cup'ik students learn their language and show it off to the world.
DOL Leader: Alaska Model for Job Training
Alaska has model job training and employment programs, according to the head of the U.S. Department of Labor. Earlier this week Secretary Tom Perez visited facilities in Fairbanks and Southcentral Alaska. He said the Alaska Job Corps Center in Palmer stands out. There, young people learn job skills in areas such as accounting, construction, and nursing.
Dee Daniels Vocal Jazz Workshop Gets Underway
The Dee Daniels Vocal Jazz Workshop is underway this week in Sitka. For the last two years, Daniels has interrupted her touring and teaching schedule to live at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, and coach a half-dozen students of widely-ranging ages and ability.
Number of Tourists Visiting the Last Frontier Sets Record
Alaska has set a record for the number of tourists visiting the nation’s northernmost state. The State Division of Economic Development in a release says Alaska had 1.96 million visitors between May 1, 2013, and April 30, 2014. That beats the previous mark by 5,000 visitors set during the 2007-2008 year.
Same-Sex Marriage Arguments Scheduled
Arguments are scheduled for October in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Alaska's ban on same-sex marriage. Five same-sex couples, four married outside of Alaska and one unmarried couple, sued to overturn the ban in May. Alaska voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1998 defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
Assembly approves tax abatement for Fairview
Anchorage’s Fairview neighborhood now has a new tool to encourage development – a tax abatement incentive. The Assembly voted unanimously to approve the measure on Tuesday night.
Alaska News Nightly: July 22, 2014
Former Foster Parent Sentenced; Fundraising Reports Released; Canadian Mining Projects Worry Critics; Friends Mourn Friend Killed in Biking Accident; Denali Climbing Season Ends; Dipnetters Converge on Kenai
Former Bethel Foster Parent Sentenced 66 Years for Child Sex Abuse
Former Bethel foster parent Peter Tony will spend the rest of his life in prison. Tony was sentenced Tuesday to 66 years in jail with no parole for three consolidated child sex abuse counts in which he pleaded guilty.
Mallott Raises Most Funds, But Parnell Maintains Biggest Bank Account
Democratic candidate for governor Byron Mallott was the top fundraiser this reporting period, but Republican incumbent Sean Parnell maintains the most money going into the general election.
Critics Say Canadian Mining Projects Could Damage Regional Fisheries
Canadian investors are putting millions of new dollars into mining projects near the Southeast Alaska border. They include the KSM and Tulsequah Chief prospects, which critics say could damage regional fisheries.
Cyclist Death Investigation Underway While Friends Mourn
Three bicyclists have been killed by vehicles in Anchorage this year. The most recent was Fifty-one-year-old Jeff Dusenbury, who was hit by a pickup truck in South Anchorage Saturday. Fellow cyclists are mourning his death and waiting for the outcome of the District Attorney's investigation.
Denali Climbing Season Ends, Summits Down
Denali climbing season has ended, and the numbers are not impressive. This year had the lowest summit percentage in over 25 years. A number of factors played into the lack of summits.
Dipnetters Try Their Luck On The Kenai River
The state's largest personal use fishery is happening on the Kenai river. Dipnetters from across the state are crowding onto the north and south beaches at the mouth of the river hoping to fill coolers with sockeye salmon.
Services Held for Bethel Woman
A Bethel woman who had a baby while in a coma, then passed away was laid to rest over the weekend. The young woman was clinically brain dead for most of her pregnancy.
Alaska News Nightly: July 21, 2014
Campaign Profile: Senate Candidate Dan Sullivan; Companies Seek LNG License; Scientists Looking for Dinosaur Remains; AK Bat Population Probed; Students Inspired by GeoForce, Oil Spill Drill Conducted; Services Held for Bethel Woman
Companies Apply for LNG Export License
The companies pursuing a major liquefied natural gas project in Alaska have applied for an export license with the U.S. Department of Energy. The application requests authorization to export up to 20 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas a year for 30 years. Participants in the project include BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil Corp., TransCanada Corp. and the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., or AGDC.
Scientists in Denali Looking for Dinosaur Remnants
Scientists are back in Denali National Park for another year of Dinosaur hunting. They are taking more measurements on a hillside not far from the park road that contains thousands of tracks laid down in what was an arctic lake bed about 70 million years ago.
Alaska’s Bat Population Probed
Not much is known about the bat population that live in Alaska. And until recently, there was no pressing need to study the nocturnal mammal. But with bats being decimated across much of the country by the fungal disease White Nose Syndrome, state and federal researchers are working to learn as much as they can about the animal.