State Announces Pacific Cod Harvest Level for 2014
There will be about 17.86 million pounds of cod available for harvest, both in the Aleutian Islands state-waters fishery and in the new Dutch Harbor subdistrict.
Alaska Flu Cases Skyrocket In December
There's been a sharp increase in the number of flu cases reported to the state. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports there were 177 influenza infections in Alaska between Dec. 1-21.
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Army Corps Of Engineers Discuss Deep Water Port Options
The Alaska Army Corp of Engineers met with Army corp leaders in Washington D.C. on Monday, to discuss where the Corp will construct a deep draft port in Western Alaska. Three sites on the Seward Peninsula are potential locations for a new deep water port.
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Study Shows Military’s Impact On Alaska
A new study from the state shows how dependent Alaska is on the military. The state estimates the military will spend $486 million next year on Alaska projects.
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Fairbanks Residents Wake Thursday To Minus 41
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the low temperature Thursday morning at the airport was minus 41 degrees, three degrees colder than Christmas morning.
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Gambell Carvers Get Ivory To Work With
On St Lawrence Island, the tribal government of Gambell gave one walrus tusk to each household in the community of just under 800. The distribution is meant to provide ivory carvers with a bit of raw material to work with, in order to bring in a little extra cash amid the ongoing economic disaster from last spring’s poor walrus harvest on St. Lawrence Island.
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How Do The Lower 48s Same-Sex Marriage Rulings Affect Alaska?
Leaders in the state of Utah announced today they will challenge an appeals court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case involves a Utah state constitutional amendment that outlawed same sex marriage. A federal judge threw out the amendment saying it violated the U.S. constitution’s equal protection and due process clauses. The decision does not have a direct impact on Alaska’s amendment banning same sex marriage, but ACLU Alaska executive Director Joshua Decker says a Nevada case currently in the 9th circuit court of appeals will.
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Russian Mission Man Dies In Snowmachine Crash
A Russian Mission man died on Christmas Day after his snowmachine crashed. Alaska State Troopers say 35-year-old Jeremy Wigley died in what is believed to be a single-vehicle crash.
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Sitka Moorage Fee Hike Takes Effect Jan. 1
Moorage rates in Sitka’s harbors are going up next week. The Sitka assembly last night approved the rate hike on second reading, bumping the per-foot monthly charge for permanent berths from $2.64 to $2.80, an increase of a little over 6 percent effective New Year’s Day.
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ANB Harbor Replacement Moves Forward
In November, work began on Sitka’s ANB harbor. The $7.7 million project will demolish all of the existing structures and replace them with new floats and pilings by early spring. But a small invader in the harbor has added a wrinkle to the usual process.
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Potential Rare Earth Element Found In Arctic
I attended the American Geological Union (AGU) Fall Meeting this week in San Francisco. It’s billed as “the largest worldwide conference in geophysical science,” with over 20,000 attendants.
Woman Accused Of Ramming Trooper Vehicle
Dona Carnahan is charged with assault, failure to stop at an officer's direction, criminal mischief, driving under the influence and possessing a weapon while intoxicated.
Homer Neighbors Fight Proposed 160-Foot Microwave Tower
A proposal to build a 160-foot microwave tower atop the Homer bluff has residents in the area concerned about their property values and views of Kachemak Bay. The City of Homer Planning Commission has already signed off on the project but it could still get hung up in the legal system.
Grant Given to Improve Nursing in Alaska
A new program is scheduled to get started next year in Alaska to help prepare people to become nurses. The Alaska Nursing Action Coalition is slated to be part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s $4.5 million initiative called the “Future of Nursing State Implementation Program."
Draft Changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act Released
The Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee has released a draft of some proposed changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The Act was last reauthorized by Congress back in 2006 and its up for another review and re-authorization.
Learning to Deal with Cupcake Celebrity
Today we meet a cupcake champion.
Back in early November you may have heard about a born-and-raised Alaskan named Kastle Sorenson, who competed on the Food Network program Cupcake Wars. And won.
More Than 700 Alaskans Sign Up For Health Coverage
More Alaskans are signing up as the deadline to enroll in the government health care plan looms.
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Interior Gas Utility Lays Out Fairbanks LNG Plan
The Interior Gas Utility is laying out a plan of action, following the state granting the Fairbanks North Star Borough entity’s request to supply natural gas to currently un-served areas of town. Getting natural gas to more neighborhoods is a step toward lowering energy bills and reducing emissions.
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Kenai Groups Oppose Commercial Setnetting Ban
Two government bodies on the Kenai Peninsula have voted unanimously to oppose efforts to ban commercial setnetting in Cook Inlet.
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Selling A Small Business
A number of small businesses are for sale in Juneau right now. They’re all fairly successful and none have plans to close their doors, but due to life changes for their owners, they’re on the market. It’s part of the life cycle of a small business.
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