Legislation Would Reject Pay Raise For Governor
House Democratic lawmakers plan to introduce legislation rejecting proposed pay raises for Alaska's governor and other top state officials.
Susitna Dam Funding Cut In Proposed Budget
Governor Parnell’s state budget totals $12.4 billion, and includes drawing $1.1 billion from reserves. Many capital projects saw significant cuts in the proposed budget, including the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project.
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Bethel Man Remembers Growing Up In Apartheid South Africa
Nelson Mandela’s funeral is Sunday. The well-known African leader passed away at 95. He fought Apartheid or racial segregation, which kept him in prison for decades by the country’s government, run by the white minority. One Bethel resident was deeply moved by his passing.
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Without Medicaid Expansion, Alaska’s Poorest Get Nothing From Health Law
For low income Alaskans who want to buy health insurance on the federal marketplace, there's a magic number to keep in mind: $14,350. That's the amount of yearly income they have to earn to qualify for a subsidy to purchase coverage. With the subsidy, they have to pay very little for health insurance. But below that mark, it's full price.
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Holiday Greetings Statewide
Many Alaskans make a point of listening to the radio on that very special Tuesday before Christmas when they can have the unique and uplifting experience of hearing holiday greetings from friends and relatives across the state on “Talk of Alaska.” It’s your chance to reach out to people near and far with your good wishes for the holiday and the new year.
APRN: Tuesday, 12/12 at 10:00am
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AK: Ancient Shorelines
Most of us like to know something about our family history. And we might want to get some idea of who was here before us.
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300 Villages: Shaktoolik
This week we travel to the native village of Shaktoolik, a coastal village about 125 miles east of Nome on Norton Sound. Shaktoolik mayor Eugene Asicksik tells us more.
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Legislators Consider State Takeover Of School Health Plans To Lower Costs
School districts currently manage their own health insurance plans. They pick their own providers, they decide how much of the premium they want to cover, and their employees can bargain for better benefits. But now, a senator from the Mat-Su Borough is pushing for the state to take over management of school health plans, and a report commissioned by the Legislature backs that proposal up as a way of saving money.
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Presidential Adviser Pete Rouse Maintains Alaska Roots
One of President Obama’s closest advisers is leaving. Pete Rouse has been at Obama’s side since his first days in the Senate and at the White House, serving at times as chief of staff. But Rouse shuns the spotlight, so few people know of his Alaska roots, or the pull he’s had on the 49th state.
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Savoonga Whales Fulfill Musical Needs
Savoonga, a community on St. Lawrence Island, harvested two bowhead whales last week, both of them female. While the island is praising the immense intake of muktuk and meat amid an economic disaster, Theodore Kingeekuk, a drummer on the island, is celebrating another part of the anatomy — the uterus.
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Warming Arctic Likely Contributing To Erratic Worldwide Weather Patterns
A federal agency says the Arctic continued to warm in 2013 and may have entered a "new normal" of diminished sea ice and wilder swings in weather that affect lower latitudes.
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Revisions Required For Shell’s 2014 Chukchi Exploration Plan
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is seeking more information from Shell about their 2014 Chukchi Exploration Plan. Until Shell provides the agency with the answers for dozens of requested revisions, BOEM will not consider their application complete.
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Bethel Homeless Shelter To Open By Christmas
As temperatures drop in Bethel, a grassroots organization is opening a shelter to provide a safe and warm place to the city’s homeless. The Bethel Winter House will be open every night from December 24th through the three coldest months of the year.
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Eaglecrest In Finals Of Ski Town Throwdown
Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau is in the finals of a Powder Magazine poll of favorite North American ski areas. Called the Ski Town Throwdown, Powder Magazine runs the contest and people from all over Canada and the U.S. have been casting votes. The contest ends Friday at 4 p.m.
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US Women’s Nordic Team Entering Third World Cup Week
The U.S. Women’s cross country ski team will take part in their third weekend of World Cup racing Saturday.
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Parnell Proposes ‘Belt-tightening’ State Budget
With oil revenues expected to decline, Gov. Sean Parnell wants to cut the state's budget by $1 billion next year and draw on savings to balance the rest.
Tumultuous Times in the Coop
In the past couple of weeks, my chicken house looks like several chickens have spontaneously combusted… it’s a cloud of feathers. But every chicken is, luckily, accounted for.
It’s just my Easter-egger going through a late-season molt.
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Big Outside Money Expected For US Senate Race
Outside money is expected to pour into the race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Mark Begich, and the first of it is making a splash across Alaska’s TV sets.
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Study Investigates Two Decades Of APD Officer-Involved Shootings
A study released today of Anchorage police shootings over the past 20 years has produced conflicting data. Although minority citizens are disproportionately involved in police shootings, the majority shot by officers were white. The study attempts to show the recipe for officer-involved shootings and says vehicles are used as weapons in many cases.
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Department of Administration Gets New Acting Commissioner
The Department of Administration has a new acting commissioner. Curtis Thayer has been promoted from his deputy position, and he will be taking over for Becky Hultberg, who left the position for a job with the state hospital association.
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