China Lifts Ban on AK Shellfish
China has lifted a five month-long ban on live shellfish from U.S. West Coast waters. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) released a statement Friday saying the ban had been lifted. The ban had particularly affected the Washington and Alaska shellfish industry.
Feds Updating Development Scenarios for Chukchi
The federal government on Friday released a status update on the court ordered revision of an Environmental Impact Statement for Lease Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found in an April ruling that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) had underestimated how much oil may be recoverable in Arctic Ocean development.
New Fisheries Might Be Headed to Unalaska
Next year will likely bring new fisheries to the western Aleutian
Islands, now that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued its final report on the way commercial fishing affects an endangered populationof Steller sea lions.
Label Certifies Much of AK Salmon
The leading global seafood sustainability label currently certifies much of Alaska’s salmon harvest as sustainable. But only a few companies can use the label.
Crews Continue to Battle Funny River Fire; Rain Forecasted
Video by Sonya Wellman - Alaska Public Media
The Funny River Fire continued to burn the central Kenai Peninsula this week. As of Monday afternoon, it’s estimated to have burned more than 158,000 acres with 30% containment. Funny River Road from Mile 7 to the end was evacuated on Sunday afternoon. The Kenai Keys were put on evacuation alert.
Alaska News Nightly: May 26, 2014
Crews Battle Funny Fire, Anchorage Air Affected by Fires, Tyonek Fire Almost Contained, China Lifts Ban on AK Shellfish, Feds Updating Chukchi Scenarios; New Fisheries Possible for Unalaska, StoryCorps: Paratrooper
Anchorage Air Quality Affected by Funny River Fire
Smoke from the Kenai Peninsula wildfire drifted into Anchorage and Eagle River this weekend. The Anchorage Municipal air quality hot line reported Monday afternoon that conditions in Anchorage were considered moderate, but for Eagle River residents, the index was 110, which means the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Crews Fighting to Keep Funny River Fire Away from Homes
Firefighting crews battled to keep the Funny River fire from expanding toward homes and cabins on the Kenai Peninsula. People evacuated from about 1,000 households waited it out through Sunday night at shelters, and homes of friends and relatives. The fire has been spotted at times across the Kenai River.
Conditions Challenging As Funny River Fire Grows to More Than 140,000 Acres
Amid strong winds and dry conditions the Funny River fire has continued to advance through the weekend. State Fire Information officer Michelle Weston said this evening the fire has grown well past 140,000 acres although she did not have a new estimate.
Wild Alaska Devil’s Club Buds
We all have our quirks. Some wear an apron while they cook. Some still drink Shirley Temples when they're 36.
One quirk I embrace: I'm a forager, and I embrace my inner hunter & gatherer.
See the recipe.
Justin Connaher and John Pennell
Justin Hayward Connaher was named after the lead singer of the 1960s rock group, Moody Blues. At age 5, he knew he was going to be a paratrooper. At 38, he knows he's a survivor. As part of StoryCorps at JBER, Justin spoke with his friend John Pennell about one of his earliest jumps.
Listen now:
DNA sample leads to arrests for sexual assault in 2003 cold case
The Anchorage Police Department arraigned two suspects on Thursday in a sexual assault case from 2003. They say they re-opened the case after a DNA sample from one of the suspects matched the sample taken from the victim nearly 11 years ago when she reported the crime soon after it happened.
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Funny River Fire Hits 67,000 Acres
The Funny River fire on the Kenai Peninsula has topped 67,000 acres. The combination of Memorial Day weekend and extreme fire conditions have firefighters concerned.
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Tyonek Fire Holds At 1,800 Acres
The Tyonek fire on the western side of Cook Inlet is holding steady at just over 1,800 acres. Sam Harrel, a public information officer with the Alaska Division of Forestry, says winds Thursday pushed the fire back onto itself.
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Ousted GOP Leader Plans Run For Governor
Russ Millette, who was ousted as leader of the state Republican party following a contentious election, plans to run for governor.
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Union Leader Files Complaint Against Anchorage Mayor Sullivan
The head of the state’s biggest labor union has filed a complaint against Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, who is running for lieutenant governor.
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Pebble Partnership Files Suit To Stop EPA’s Halt On Development
The Pebble Limited Partnership filed suit Wednesday in Federal Court seeking to halt to the process underway by the EPA to stop development of the proposed Pebble Mine.
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Discretionary Voting Before Sealaska Shareholders
A measure before Sealaska shareholders could alter the way board elections are held. And that could bring leadership changes.
The measure comes as 13 shareholders compete for four board seats in the Southeast Alaska regional Native corporation’s annual election.
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Kito: Will There Be Enough Return On Juneau Access To Justify Investment?
The draft supplemental environmental impact statement for a road out of Juneau is now under review by the Federal Highway Administration. That’s the last step in the process before federal highways names a preferred route and issues a Record of Decision.
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AK: Scavenger Hunt
Small towns like Unalaska can be pretty close-knit. Grown-ups take care of kids who aren’t their own, and teenagers have adults to turn to when they need them.
One local high schooler wanted to make those relationships stronger. So she planned something special: She put students and adults into teams, and sent them on a town-wide scavenger hunt.
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