Bills Addressing Alaska Native Issues Get Mixed Reception
Two bills dealing with Alaska Native issues got different receptions from members of the Legislature on Thursday.
At least three House lawmakers were skeptical of a bill that would make 20 Alaska Native languages official state languages. About an hour later, they joined the rest of their House colleagues in voting unanimously for a bill honoring the late Rev. Walter Soboleff.
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Landmark Subsistence Decision Stands
The Katie John lawsuit over subsistence fishing rights is finally over. The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will not review a lower court’s decision to leave standing federal rules that provide a rural subsistence priority on 60% of Alaska’s inland waters.
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Alaska News Nightly: March 31, 2014
Landmark Subsistence Decision Stands; Judge Overturns Dillingham’s Annexation Of Nushagak Bay; Fish And Wildlife To Review Southeast Alaska Wolves; Mat-Su Considers Ordinance Allowing Borough To Pay For Ballot Proposition Ads; Herring Seiners Hit Target – And Then Some – In Quick Saturday Opener; Feeling Left Out: The Health Insurance Gap In Alaska; Fairbanks Approves Credit Line For Interior Gas Utility; Bills Addressing Alaska Native Issues Get Mixed Reception
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A Dragon Inside The Loussac Library
Ryan Anderson and his team of artists were recruited by the Loussac Library to turn the building into a unique light show.
Their final product? The illusion of a dragon inside the Loussac Library.
I Am A Water Taxi Captain
Year-round, no matter the conditions, Mako Haggerty takes his boat out across Katchemak Bay as a service to Homer's residents and visitors.
http://youtu.be/0_VujI7QZHo
Senate Passes Bill To Limit Access To Certain Court Records
If you've ever been charged with a crime in Alaska, it's documented in an online database called "Courtview" that anyone can check. Landlords use it. Employers use it. Some people even use it use it while dating to see if their romantic partner has a criminal history. Soon, those searches could be limited to only cases where a guilty verdict has been reached.
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Boost in B.C. Mining has Alaska Fishermen Nervous
The head of British Columbia’s government has pledged to spur mining development in the western Canadian province, and that has fishermen in Southeast Alaska nervous. A group from Southeast flew to Washington D.C. this week to see how it can raise its voice in Canada.
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Final Days To Enroll In Health Insurance
The deadline to enroll for health insurance is March 31. If you’re still uninsured after that, you’ll likely not be able to enroll until November. And you’ll also have to pay a tax penalty.
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Alaskan Author Reflects On ‘64 Quake
The 1964 earthquake caused immediate devastation in many communities in Southcentral Alaska. In Seldovia, on Kachemak Bay, the story was different. The town didn’t initially notice much damage from the disaster. But that changed when the spring high tides came in.
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AK: Disaster Response
The first responders in any disaster like the Good Friday Earthquake will likely be the firefighters and emergency medical technicians. But even the routine fire or medical call can be physically taxing and rely on months, perhaps even years of training. Capital City Fire and Rescue and the International Firefighters Association recently held a unique event in Juneau designed to demonstrate the rigors of the job to those unfamiliar with their routine.
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300 Villages: Shishmaref
This week, we’re heading to Shishmaref, on a barrier island in Western Alaska. The island is gradually sinking into the sea. Its 600 residents might be some of the first people in the world forced to relocate because of rising sea levels caused by global warming. Tony Weyiouanna Senior is President of the Shishmaref Native Corporation.
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Alaska News Nightly: March 28, 2014
Base Student Allocation Numbers Still Up For Debate; Senate Passes Bill To Limit Access To Certain Court Records; Boost in B.C. Mining has Alaska Fishermen Nervous; Final Days To Enroll In Health Insurance; Alaskan Author Reflects On ‘64 Quake; AK: Disaster Response; 300 Villages: Shishmaref
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Senate Panel Proposes $100 Million In One-Time Education Funding
While the Legislature is still hammering out how much money to put toward the base student allocation, the Senate Finance Committee has included a major injection of funds in their version of the operating budget.
AVO Puts Shishaldin Volcano On Higher Alert
After a week of unrest, Shishaldin Volcano in the Aleutians is being put on a higher alert level. The Alaska Volcano Observatory reported Friday that there have been explosions inside the volcano and elevated surface temperatures since March 18.
Fish And Wildlife To Review Southeast Alaska Wolves
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will review whether or not Southeast Alaska wolves should be listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The federal agency this month announced what’s called a “positive 90-day finding” on a petition to list the Alexander Archipelago wolf.
Health Insurers Brace For Confusion Over Deadline
March 31st is the deadline for signing up for health insurance. And insurance companies in Alaska are bracing for confusion over the deadline. They worry many Alaskans don't realize they won't be able to buy health insurance anywhere after that date.
Corporate Personhood
The issue of corporate personhood has been brought up repeatedly by callers to the show, and the chance to talk about it now arises with the creation of an organization that is asking political candidates to take a pledge to oppose it. The legal implications are of course obvious with the current Hobby Lobby case and the Citizens United and Boy Scouts of America rulings that preceded it.
APRN: Tuesday, 4/1 at 10:00am
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Seismologists, Lawmakers Call For Earthquake Early Warning System
In Congress today, a House subcommittee marked the 5oth anniversary of the Great Alaska Earthquake with a hearing focused on what scientists have learned from that event that can prepare the nation for the next big temblor or tsunami. Seismologists and several lawmakers said Congress needs to pony up for an earthquake early warning system.
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Gov. Parnell Asking For Investigation National Guard Sexual Assaults
Governor Parnell is asking the federal National Guard Bureau to investigate cases of sexual assault in Alaska’s National Guard. In a press release, Parnell wrote he is “deeply concerned by reports of sexual assaults and other behavior creating a hostile environment and culture within portions of the Alaska National Guard.”
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Choose Respect Campaign Marches Across State
Senator Peter Micciche was leading the crowd at Juneau’s Choose Respect march that started on the steps of the State Capitol on Thursday. Governor Sean Parnell’s Choose Respect campaign is geared towards eradicating domestic violence and sexual assault in the state.
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