Seeking investment, Alaska goes open source with oil & gas data
Alaska’s Oil and Gas division is releasing valuable oil exploration data from leases on the North Slope and Cook Inlet. Listen now
Seafood Trade Relief Program offers help to fishermen hurt by U.S.-China trade war
USDA will provide cash to Alaska fishermen based on last year's catch: 16 cents a pound for salmon, 4 cents a pound for herring and a whopping 76 cents per pound for geoduck clams.
Ask a Climatologist: Should we be worried about methane hydrates on the sea floor?
What are methane hydrates and what role could they play in global warming? That’s the question a listener posed this week for the segment Ask a Climatologist. Listen now
The lure of John McPhee’s “Coming into the Country,” 40 years later
“Coming into the Country,” John McPhee’s book about Alaska, was published in 1977, introducing readers across the country to a wild place, less than 20 years into its statehood. The book quickly became a best-seller and is still popular with tourists and Alaska residents alike. Listen now
State gasline corporation raises specter of eminent domain
The rumor mill in the Kenai Peninsula community of Nikiski is up and running again after the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) mailed letters to landowners last week. Listen now
Revenue commissioner outlines a new direction for Alaska’s gas pipeline project
That direction looks a lot like a previous version of the project: one that was led by the oil companies on the North Slope.
Gas line team reshuffle puts scrutiny on high salaries
As the state prepares to take a larger role in the Alaska LNG gas line project, its leadership team is once again in flux. The changes are bringing new attention to the salaries involved -- including one negotiator who has been paid about $120,000 a month since June.
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Federal researchers open formal investigation into gray whale deaths, including Alaska’s
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Friday that the 70 dead whales seen this year it constitutes an "unusual mortality event."
Alaska’s latest climate policy is still offline. So these students made a delivery to the governor.
Shortly after Gov. Michael Dunleavy was sworn into office, the website with the state’s latest plan to address climate change went down. It was created with months of planning by a team appointed by former Gov. Bill Walker.
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...
Alaska’s congressional delegation sticking by Sea Grant
When President Donald Trump’s blueprint budget came out in March, it included eliminating funding for the Sea Grant program for next year. But Alaska’s congressional delegation doesn’t want it to go away. Listen now
Chinese tariffs hit Southeast Alaska’s struggling timber industry
Tariffs will be placed on trees shipped to China: a response to President Donald Trump’s latest wave of tariffs on Chinese goods. Listen now
State agencies at odds over new law to address ‘orphan’ oil wells
This month, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission started requiring oil and gas companies to put up substantially higher bonds to cover the wells they have drilled. But a different state agency -- the Department of Natural Resources -- is criticizing the new law and asking for it to be rescinded.
National labs to field test microgrid tech in Cordova
Several national labs and universities will partner with the Alaska community of Cordova to field test new technologies on the city’s power grid. 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’s warming waters could slow coral growth, impacting fish
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said warming ocean temperatures, due to climate change, could slow the growth of some Alaska coral. In a study released Thursday, scientists warned about the potential impact to fish, which take refuge in thickets of coral. Listen now
Start-up gambles time is right for Alaska solar power
Alaska’s solar industry lags far behind many other states. But with prices dropping dramatically around the world, some entrepreneurs see a new opportunity. Listen now
Climate change hits Alaska’s rural water and sewer systems
For decades, Alaska has struggled to get running water and sewer systems to its rural communities. An estimated 3,000 households — or about 10,000 people — still lack both. Now, that job may be getting harder, as climate change exacerbates old problems and creates new ones. Listen now
State report details potential health impacts of climate change
How will climate change affect health in Alaska? Dangerous travel conditions could cause more accidents, warmer temperatures could spread new diseases and the topsy-turvy weather could worsen mental health. Those are some conclusions from a new state report released Monday.Listen now
Southcentral Alaska sees most destructive spruce beetle outbreak in over two decades
Spruce beetles damaged nearly 600,000 acres of forest in 2018, and the damage continues to grow.