Project To Restore Herring, Starting In Sitka
Before statehood and the advent of scientific management, Southeast Alaska’s herring populations were harvested – and depleted – without much thought for the future. Many believe the herring population in Sitka Sound now is a fraction of what it was in those days, and wonder if herring stocks – like salmon – can be restored.
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Peggy Wilson Ending Long Legislative Career
One of Southeast’s longest-serving lawmakers is retiring. Peggy Wilson says she will not seek re-election to her Wrangell-based House district.
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Historical Photo Collection Being Made Available Online
In 1897 the American Museum of Natural History sent a team of anthropologists to the Pacific Northwest and Siberia. Six years later, they had confirmed the theory that humans migrated across the Bering land bridge. And they brought back thousands of photographs – many of which are now available online for the first time.
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Ballot Initiatives Could Boost Younger, Liberal Voter Turnout
When the Republican-led Legislature went into overtime last week, they knocked a set of citizen’s initiatives onto an already packed November ballot. In the process, they changed the playing field in a fight for a U.S. Senate seat that their party needs to pick up if they want to take control of Congress. But the shift might not be in their favor.
Alaska News Nightly: May 1, 2014
NTSB Recommends Safety Review Of Ravn Alaska; Major General Thomas Katkus Responds To National Guard Sexual Assault Allegations; Initiative-Packed November Ballot Expected To Influence Voter Turnout; Flint Hills Begins Shutting Down Fairbanks Refinery; Project To Restore Herring, Starting In Sitka; Peggy Wilson Ending Long Legislative Career; Historical Photo Collection Being Made Available Online
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Making of a Refuge: Kanatak Lagoon to McNeil
In the 1970s biologists did reconnaissance of offshore islands throughout Alaska's coastal areas to determine abundance and distribution of marine mammals and birds to help select lands for new refuges, parks, and monuments that would be created under the 1980 Alaska Lands Act.
Their arduous trip used a 15-foot inflatable Zodiac with two 25 hp outboard motors.
Policy Change Could Could Create “Indian Country” in Alaska
The U.S. Department of Interior has proposed a rule change that would allow Alaska tribes to ask the federal government to take their lands into trust. The request isn’t always granted, but Wednesday’s announcement is a legal turn that could vastly expand the recognition and authority of tribal sovereignty in Alaska.
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Sikuliaq Research Vessel Nears Completion
The National Science Foundation’s new Arctic research vessel Sikuliaq is nearing completion. The $200 million project has experienced delays, but final work is taking place at a Wisconsin shipyard.
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13,000 Alaskans Enrolled With Healthcare.gov
About 13,000 Alaskans signed up for health insurance on healthcare.gov during the open enrollment period that closed March 31st. The two insurers offering plans on the exchange in Alaska shared their enrollment figures today with APRN.
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Skagway Ferry Dock Is Floating Again
The Skagway ferry dock is floating again after a contractor hired by the state brought the sunken dock to the surface. But it’s still not ready to host Alaska Marine Highway ferries.
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Sexual Abuse Prevention Bill Falls Through The Cracks
A bill requiring school districts to implement sexual abuse education seemed poised to become law during the recent Alaska legislative session. Governor Sean Parnell supported Erin’s Law, the Senate passed it, and the House version had 21 co-sponsors. But, House Bill 233 got stuck in Finance.
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Gubernatorial Candidates Answer Student Questions
Middle schoolers from across Anchorage had a chance to hear from Gubernatorial candidates on Wednesday about a variety of issues the state is facing.
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Crews Set Up Denali Base Camp
Thursday marks the unofficial beginning of climbing season on Denali, when base camp gets set up for the thousand-plus climbers that will make an attempt to summit North America’s highest peak.
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‘Arctic Sun: Fulfilling The Dream’ Chronicles Family’s Wilderness Adventures
A documentary showing statewide on 360 North this evening, chronicles the wilderness adventures of Jean Aspen and Tom Irons. "Arctic Son: Fulfilling the Dream" is the story of Jean, her husband Tom and their son Luke as they spend a year in the Brooks Range, out of contact and building their own cabin. When she was in her 20s, Jean went into the arctic with her first husband, living off the land for four years.
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UAA Students Cope With Finals Week
It’s finals week at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and that means many students are crunching a very large amount of work into a very short amount of time. An Anchorage woman has found a creative way to help students beat the stress of the week.
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Alaska News Nightly: April 30, 2014
Proposed Rule Change Could Allow Alaska Tribal Land Trusts; Sikuliaq Research Vessel Nears Completion; 13,000 Alaskans Enrolled With Healthcare.gov; Skagway Ferry Dock Is Floating Again; Sexual Abuse Prevention Bill Falls Through The Cracks; Gubernatorial Candidates Answer Student Questions; Crews Set Up Denali Base Camp; ‘Arctic Sun: Fulfilling The Dream’ Chronicles Family’s Wilderness Adventures; UAA Students Cope With Finals Week
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Gov. Parnell Says He Took Immediate Action On Sexual Assault Allegations
Governor Sean Parnell is defending his decision to wait four years to request a federal investigation into reports of a sexual assault problem in the Alaska National Guard. Anchorage Daily News columnist Shannyn Moore wrote Sunday that Parnell first learned about misconduct in the Guard in 2010, when he was approached by three guard chaplains. Parnell says he took those charges seriously, but lacked the details to prompt an investigation until February.
He says after the initial concerns were raised, he went to Major General Thomas Katkus to make sure the systems were in place to protect guard members. Then in February, Parnell says he was able to talk with a guard member who provided specifics.
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Chamber comes out anti-Begich. That’s the U.S. Chamber
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the latest Outside group to launch campaign ads in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race. The national business lobby has a 30-second video spot running this week that hits Begich and supports one of his Republican challengers, former Attorney General Dan Sullivan.
Prudhoe Bay Flowline Springs Leak, Sprays Oil
A flowline to a well operated by BP at Prudhoe Bay leaked on Monday. Before the spill was under control high winds resulted in a spray of natural gas, crude oil and water that covers an area of tundra larger than 20 football fields.
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Breakup Creating Havoc For Ice Dredgers
The early break-up of sea ice has left winter gold-dredging operations scrambling to haul equipment back to shore – and not everyone has fared well so far.
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