Alaska News Nightly: July 28, 2014
YouGov Model Shows Treadwell Within Reach of Begich; Campaign Profile: For Joe Miller, 2010 Looms Large; Seismologists Uncertain if Southeast Quake Activity is Related; Coalition Forms to Address Downtown Juneau Problems; Fecal Bacteria Contaminates Many Anchorage Waterways; Clearwater Lodge Owners Opt to Rebuild After Devastating Fire; Inaugural Beringia Arctic Games Brings Indigenous People Together in Russia
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VA, Metlakatla Tribe Reach Housing Agreement
Alaska Native Veterans in Metlakatla will soon be able to get a direct loan from the Department of Veterans Affairs for housing.
Alaska News Nightly: July 25, 2014
Earthquake Rattles Southeast Alaska, Likely Damaging Communications Network; State Supreme Court Rules Same-Sex Partners Can Access Death Benefits; Complaint Filed Against Anti-Marijuana Campaign; Comments Sought on Possible Beaufort Lease Sale; Report Finds Beaufort Sea Oil Spill Response Inadequate; Officials Consider Proposed Federal Takeover of Kuskokwim Salmon Fishery; Usibelli Submits Coal Bed Methane Plan; AK: Welding; 300 Villages: Thorne Bay
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Earthquake Rattles Southeast Alaska, Likely Damaging Communications Network
Mother Nature rattled Northern Southeast this morning with and magnitude 5.9 earthquake and several dozen aftershocks. The quake appeared to have damaged internet and cell service to thousands of Southeast residents.
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State Supreme Court Rules Same-Sex Partners Can Access Death Benefits
The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex partners are eligible for death benefits, even though they are prohibited from marrying by the state Constitution.
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Comments Sought on Possible Beaufort Lease Sale
A federal agency is testing the waters on a possible new lease sale in the Alaska Arctic.
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Report Finds Beaufort Sea Oil Spill Response Inadequate
A report released today by the World Wildlife Fund in Canada finds the capacity for oil spill response in the Beaufort Sea is woefully inadequate, even as Canadian regulators consider relaxing safety standards for offshore exploration.
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Officials Consider Proposed Federal Takeover of Kuskokwim Salmon Fishery
After a summer of long Chinook salmon closures and a weak chum run on the Kuskokwim river, middle and upper river subsistence fishermen eagerly await word about whether the federal government will take control of the fishery.
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Usibelli Submits Coal Bed Methane Plan
Usibelli Coal has submitted a plan to drill coal bed methane exploration wells on state land near Healy. The company is licensed to look for shallow gas on over 200 thousand acres of state and private land in the area, and this is the first action the company has taken.
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“State of the Schools” shows progress for Anchorage students and need for innovation
The superintendent of the Anchorage School District presented his State of the Schools speech to a group of principals and community members Friday morning. New data shows that the schools are improving but still have a ways to go. New programs can help.
Primary Election: Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Joe Miller
It will soon be decision time for Alaska voters on which of three Republican should face incumbent U.S. Senator Mark Begich in November. The statewide public radio forum, Talk of Alaska has offered each of the three an hour-long live opportunity to answer phone calls from public radio listeners statewide. Mead Treadwell and Dan Sullivan have had their turn, and next up is Joe Miller.
APRN: Tuesday, 7/29 at 10:00am
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Earthquake Felt in Southeast Alaska, No Tsunami Expected
An early morning earthquake today is causing widespread communications problems in Southeast Alaska. Both Alaska Communications and AT&T wireless and internet services were affected.
300 Villages: Thorne Bay
This week we're heading to Thorne Bay, on Prince of Wales Island. Rochelle Huddleston Lorton is the district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service in Thorne Bay.
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AK: Welding
There are more than 100 people employed at Ketchikan’s Vigor Industrial Shipyard. Out of all of them, Cat Wong might have the most unusual story about how she got there. The 25-year-old is a pipe fitter and welder. She was born in the U.S., but grew up with her family in Singapore. When she was 21, Cat made an unusual choice, and moved to Ketchikan.
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Fecal Bacteria Contaminates Many Anchorage Waterways
Scores of rivers, creeks, and streams flow through Anchorage. People fish in them, play in them, and swim in them. But the city’s seemingly pristine watershed has a dirty secret: it’s largely contaminated with fecal bacteria.
Complaint Filed Against Anti-Marijuana Campaign
At issue is whether the owners of the anti-marijuana group's public relations firm are serving in volunteer capacity and whether the firm's time is being properly accounted.
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In U.S. Senate Race, GOP Rivals Lag Far Behind Sullivan
Campaign finance reports from Alaska’s U.S. Senate race show Republican candidate Dan Sullivan is increasing his financial lead over GOP rivals Mead Treadwell and Joe Miller.
Oil Tax Heavyweights Spar At Packed Debate
It was standing-room only at an Anchorage debate on whether to keep the new capped oil tax rate or to switch back to a system where the rate goes up along with the profits.
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Effort to Ban Commercial Set Netting Moves Forward
The push to ban commercial set netting moved another step forward this week. A Superior Court Judge in Anchorage ruled yesterday that the Alaska Fisheries Conservation Alliance can begin collecting signatures for a ballot initiative, so voters can decide about the value of commercial set net fishing in Cook Inlet.
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Investigation Continues Into Tourist Train Derailment
An investigation continues into what caused a tourist train to derail along a mountain pass north of Skagway yesterday, injuring 19 passengers.
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