Conservative Political Action Conference Cruise Picketed over Labor Dispute
Unions chose to picket the a cruise ship full of well-known conservatives when it docked in Juneau yesterday. The Westerdam is carrying Donald Rumsfeld, Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed and other political conservatives and their fans through Alaska waters.
Wrangell ATV Trails to Close
The National Park Service is out with a final plan for managing off road vehicle use on popular trails in Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park. The plan and environmental impact statement cover trails in the northern part of the park and preserve, along the Nabesna Road, east of Glennallen.
Hydro Potential Seen in Western Alaska State Park
A Bristol Bay area power utility co-operative is looking at the possibility of hydro-electric generation from local lakes. Consultants are at work on engineering tests for the potential hydro projects.
Journal Article Shows Grizzly Bears May Be Suffering Under Predator Control
Intensive management, or lethal predator control, of bears and wolves is mandated by a 1994 law adopted by the state Legislature. But the authors of an article in the August issue of the Journal of Wildlife Management say the state isn’t doing the research necessary to know if its causing long-term, perhaps even permanent damage to Alaska’s grizzly bear population.
Petersburg Volunteers Free Whale from Fishing Gear
A team of volunteers from Petersburg freed a young grey whale that was tangled in what appeared to be foreign gillnet gear Friday. The animal was 20 to 25 feet long and looked to be in bad shape but rescuers are hopeful it will at least be able to feed again, now that it’s no longer entangled.
Bethel Loses a Major Landmark
Residents in Bethel have lost a major landmark. On Friday afternoon the Civil Engineer Corp brought down the White Alice radar. The radar towered over the city and much of the low lying region before it came crashing down.
Delta Junction May Need a Hospital
A group in Delta Junction is working to establish a hospital to help area residents who currently have to travel to Fairbanks or Anchorage for treatment.
Fairbanks Port Authority Out of Gas Trucking Proposal
Fairbanks Borough voters will not decide whether the Alaska Gasline Port Authority pursues a plan to truck North Slope Natural gas to Fairbanks. The Borough Assembly last week rescinded an ordinance putting the question on the ballot in light of Golden Valley Electric and Flint Hills refinery’s recent announcement they are moving ahead with their own gas trucking plan. So Port Authority chairman Jim Whitaker said they are bowing out.
State Task Force on Arctic Meets in Aleutians
The Northern Waters Task Force met in Unalaska this week. The group was created by the state legislature, and it’s tasked with coming up with recommendations on Arctic policy that work for Alaska.
Entangled Whale out of Usual Habitat
A team of four, trained volunteers from Petersburg has been trying to free a young grey whale that’s tangled in some sort fishing net and line.
Crews Make Progress in Containing Moose Mountain Fire
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
Substantial progress has been made on corralling a Fairbanks area wildfire. The Moose Mountain Fire has burned more...
Kobuk Cleaning Up After Weekend Flooding
People in Kobuk are cleaning up after high water flooded village streets with ice over the weekend. The water started rising on Friday. By Saturday morning, residents of one home, including children and an elder of 94 years, were evacuated by boat to the village clinic. They reported their house was shaking as large chunks of ice crashed into it.
Customs Officials Seize $1.2 Million Worth of Heroin
Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
U.S. Customs officials have seized more than $1.2 million worth of heroin in three different shipments through Anchorage’s...
BOEMRE Releases Environmental Impact Statement of Chukchi Lease
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
The Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, Regulation and Enforcement or BOEMRE released today a draft supplemental environmental impact...
Senate Republicans Block Vote to Confirm 9th Circuit Court Judge
Libby Casey, APRN – Washington DC
U.S. Senate Republicans blocked moving forward on voting whether to confirm a 9th Circuit Court judge Thursday. ...
Law of the Sea Treaty Remains Top Priority for Coast Guard
Casey Kelly, KTOO – Juneau
The new commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s 17th District says ratification of the Law of the Sea...
Anchorage Woman Charged with Abuse of Foster, Adopted Children
Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
A 50-year-old Anchorage woman, Anya James, is in custody charged with the abuse of her adopted and foster...
Five Men Die in Cook Inlet Clamming Accident
Aaron Selbig, KBBI – Homer
An all-night search turned to tragedy Wednesday morning as the bodies of two missing clam diggers were found...
Officials Cite Lack of Customer Commitments for Denali Project Abandonment
Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage
BP and Conoco Phillips are abandoning their joint effort to build a gas pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope...
Interior Secretary Pushing for Quicker Oil Lease Development
Libby Casey, APRN – Washington DC
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar pushed Tuesday for new laws that would encourage energy companies to develop oil...