State calls a truce in Prudhoe Bay dispute
Gov. Bill Walker’s administration has called a truce in its dispute with the big three North Slope oil producers over plans for Prudhoe Bay.
For third year in a row, Alaska seabirds wash up dead
For the third year in a row, seabirds are washing up dead along the coastline in Alaska. Hundreds of birds have been discovered along a stretch of the Bering Sea, on the Pribilof Islands and as far north as Deering.Listen now
Two Interior Energy Project proposals under consideration
The Interior Energy Project remains focused on getting natural gas to the region at long targeted price point. IEP team leader Bob Shefchik says proposals being considered from 2 vying project partners would provide gas to customers at a price equivalent to 2 dollar heating oil.
For Quinhagak, climate change means they may have to move
In Western Alaska, accelerating erosion is forcing several villages to consider moving. In Quinhagak, a village on the Bering Sea, erosion is threatening the sewer lagoon and the building that houses its washeteria and health clinic.
Tillerson gets earful on climate change from Arctic governments
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson got an earful from governments around the Arctic today — on the topic of climate change. Listen now
Stand for Salmon ballot initiative has big implications for Donlin mine
In the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, the stakes are especially high for the controversial Stand for Salmon ballot initiative because it could kill one of the biggest proposed gold mines in the world — the Donlin Mine.
BlueCrest gets a break from the state on $30 million loan
A state corporation has agreed to change the terms of a multi-million dollar loan to a Cook Inlet oil company. Texas-based BlueCrest asked for the loan modification to help the company deal with construction delays and the loss of oil tax credit payments from the state. Earlier this year, Gov. Bill Walker vetoed $430 million in oil tax credits, delaying payments to companies, including BlueCrest. Listen Now
If cruise ships aren’t behind Ketchikan’s beach bacteria problem, what is?
For the fourth year in a row, weekly summer water quality tests show that most Ketchikan beaches have elevated levels of bacteria that could...
NASA keeps watch of shrinking Arctic ice
The future of monitoring Arctic ice begins in space. Listen now
Cook Inlet’s white whales are vanishing. Scientists still don’t know why.
In 2008, Cook Inlet belugas were listed as endangered. Still numbers continue to drop. With new analysis methods today there are even fewer whales than previously thought — less than 300, and steadily declining from there.
Here’s how a Kenai Peninsula wildfire could cause higher electric bills in Anchorage and Fairbanks
The wildfire damaged transmission lines that carry power from a major hydroelectric dam near Homer, officials said. And it could be months before the lines are fixed.
Ask a Climatologist: Bitter cold makes a comeback in Alaska
Alaska has settled into a notable stretch of seriously cold weather. Communities around the state are enduring low temperatures they haven’t seen in a few years. And for more than a week, the average statewide temperature index has registered below normal- by far the longest stretch this year. Listen Now
Caelus Energy announces major cuts, sharply criticizes Walker oil tax bill
The North Slope oil producer announced Friday it will lay off 25 percent of its 80-person work force and suspend drilling at the Oooguruk oil field, potentially affecting hundreds more contractor jobs.
Alaska’s leaders got more than they bargained for from Interior’s offshore drilling proposal
The Trump administration recently proposed a vast expansion of federal waters available for oil development. Many U.S. states were not pleased — states like California, Oregon and Florida don’t want oil development off their coastlines. Alaska is a different story. Alaska’s leaders got what they wanted in the plan — and then some. Now the question is: will Alaska ask the Trump administration to cut back? Listen now
State approves pipeline lease for Donlin Gold, another step toward building the mine in Southwest Alaska
The state of Alaska approved a right-of-way lease for Donlin Gold’s proposed 315-mile gas pipeline on Jan. 17. The lease is an important step forward in the company’s quest to build the Donlin Gold Mine, which could be one of the largest in the world if completed.
Alaska Christmas trees: backyard charm or out-of-state beauty?
This year, the Governor’s Mansion is decorated for the holidays with a Sitka spruce tree from the Tongass National Forest. But Alaskans in the capital city aren’t just decking the halls with local greenery. Listen now
Cuts to state jobs prompt union outcry
In a class action grievance filed Tuesday, the Alaska State Employees Association says the governor overlooked a crucial detail in its contract agreement. Listen Now
Donlin gold mine needs to move a mountain. How close is that to happening?
There isn’t much at the proposed mine site right now: just a long airstrip, with clusters of sturdy buildings in the middle of green mountains close to the Middle Kuskokwim River. But if completed, the Donlin gold mine would be one of the biggest in the world. Listen now
A potential neighbor to the Pebble Mine sees both sides
At least one resident who lives in a community near where Pebble would be developed is still deciding whether the mine is a good idea. Listen now
Alaskans rally in support of youth climate lawsuit, currently in limbo
“This is no longer a scientific issue, it’s not a scientific question. It’s a moral and spiritual issue,” said Tom Baring of Fairbanks, the father of one of the plaintiffs. Listen now