Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015
Pilot killed after plane crashes in downtown Anchorage; 4-year-old fatally shoots himself in Bethel trooper housing; High wind warnings persist in Southcentral; High winds trigger power outages in Fairbanks; Alaska IDs good for air travel, for now; Fisheries coastal change committee to convene in January; Basketball teams converge on Anchorage for tourney; Would-be drone entrepreneur thwarted by regs; Drones to monitor endangered Cook Inlet belugas; Murre die-off hits Kachemak in the thousands; State committee looks to improve, economize jury selection
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Pilot crashed into Anchorage building where wife worked during unauthorized flight
One person is confirmed dead after a small plane struck an office building in downtown Anchorage at 6:18 a.m Tuesday morning. Investigators say the pilot was not sanctioned to fly the aircraft.
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4-year-old fatally shoots himself in Bethel trooper housing
A 4-year-old died in an Alaska State Trooper housing unit in Bethel on Monday evening, Officials believe the child was playing by himself in the living room when he got hold of a handgun and fatally shot himself.
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High winds stall Tustemena; More gusts on horizon
Forecasts calling for continued high winds in Southcentral Alaska have forced cancellation of the state ferry Tustemena's sailing between Homer and Kodiak.
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High winds trigger power outages in Fairbanks
Mother Nature is triggering power outages across Fairbanks. Golden Valley Electric Association saw multiple areas west of Fairbanks robbed of power Monday.
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Alaska IDs good for air travel through at least October 2016
The state of Alaska has been granted an extension until October 2016 to meet the requirements of the federal Real ID Act.
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New coastal change committee to meet in January
The Board of Fisheries’ new coastal change committee will hold its first meeting next month. The committee is helping the board develop some guidelines for how it deals with commercial fishing boundaries that change along with Alaska’s coastline.
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Basketball teams converge on Anchorage for tourney
Tournament organizer Heath Day said the Alaska Fellowship of Christian Athletes organized the tournament to give teams from across Alaska a chance to play each other before the state tournament in region.
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Would-be drone entrepreneur grounded by regs
A Homer business owner wants to use a drone to take pictures and shoot video of properties in Homer. But, restrictions on drone piloting hurt his chances of making the business work.
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Drones to help monitor endangered Cook Inlet belugas
Federal scientists will begin using drones to monitor beluga whales in Cook Inlet as part of an effort to restore the endangered animals.
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State committee looks to improve, economize jury selection
More than 30,000 Alaska residents were called for jury duty last year. Were you one of them? The state court system relies on a steady stream of jurors to fairly try cases across the state. A Jury Management Committee including judges and court administrators is currently examining ways to improve the overall jury selection process and to contain rising costs.
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National Guard works to revive rural Alaska presence
Most villages in the region have old National Guard armories. There was a time when they were all manned by guardsman from the community but now they are mostly vacant. A statewide effort is underway to strengthen the dwindling guard presence in rural Alaska villages.
Alaska News Nightly: Monday, Dec. 28, 2015
Bacterial infection to blame in Kachemak otter die-off; With gov's support, Bethel to be seat of new scout battalion; Conoco withdraws from Russian Arctic; Colorado guide charged with game waste violations; Alaska's pot cafes to give patrons a taste of cannabis; Governor may release video of St. Michael man who died in prison; Anchorage Chamber announces 2016 legislative priorities; High winds close Whittier tunnel; More high wind on horizon in Turnagain Arm; High winds imperil travel along Richardson, Parks Hwys; Strong El Nino, 'Blob effect' may mean more winter precipitation; After 15 years of closure, Rampart school seeks teacher
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Bacterial infection to blame in Kachemak otter die-off
Tests results are back on dead sea otters from Kachemak Bay. About 82 percent of them had streptococcus syndrome, which is caused by a bacterial infection, according to biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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With gov’s support, Bethel to be seat of new scout battalion
With National Guard recruit numbers at a low in Alaska and concerns for Arctic security at a high, Gov. Walker wants to start a new line of defense across the state.
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Conoco withdraws from Russian Arctic
American oil titan ConocoPhillips has sold its 50 percent stake in the Polar Lights drilling project in the Russian Arctic, according to Russian news media. The sale marks Conoco's complete exit from Russia.
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Alaska’s pot cafes will give patrons a taste of cannabis
Alaska is about to become the first state to have pot cafes where people can buy and consume marijuana, similar to Amsterdam. Right now, that’s not legal in other states that have recreational marijuana.
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Governor may release video of St. Michael man who died in prison
Almost a year after Larry Kobuk’s death, a special assistant to the governor traveled to St. Michael last week and met with the late man’s family.
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Anchorage Chamber announces 2016 legislative priorities
The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce this week released its legislative priorities for the upcoming session.
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Extreme winds force Whittier tunnel shutdown
High winds in the Portage area and along Turnagain Arm Monday morning closed the Anton Anderson Tunnel to vehicular traffic. The tunnel links Whittier to the Seward Highway.
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