Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015
Pebble withdraws more third party subpoenas; Obama honors Alaskan who turned grief into service; UAF scientist pioneers anti-collision systems for space; High-risk avalanche conditions stall search for missing skier at Hatcher Pass; After a health crisis, help navigating the complicated medical system; Study: Many Alaska teachers underpaid, but money isn't everything; Thanksgiving Blessings offers food, hope and exercise plan; Reviving an endangered language in the age of social media
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Pebble withdraws more third party subpoenas
The Pebble Partnership has dropped many of its subpoenas to individuals and organizations it believes may have communicated with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding protections for the Bristol Bay watershed as part of Pebble’s lawsuit alleging the agency acted improperly.
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Obama honors Alaskan who turned grief to service
President Obama has bestowed the Medal of Freedom on Alaskan Bonnie Carroll. She’s a military widow who founded a service organization to help family members of the fallen. Many of the 16 others awarded the medal today are household names or Hollywood icons. Carroll may not be as well known, but her life was already cinematic.
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Avalanche shuts Hatcher Pass Road; Skier missing
Recent warm temperatures and rain on top of snow has created unstable snow conditions at Hatcher Pass, resulting in numerous slides.
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After a health crisis, help navigating the complicated medical system
The road from illness to recovery is often difficult. In the middle of a major health crisis, patients are expected to navigate the complicated health care system. A pilot program called Alaska Innovative Medicine in Anchorage is rounding out its first year trying to improve that journey for patients while also spending fewer healthcare dollars.
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Study: Many Alaska teachers underpaid, but pay isn’t everything
Many Alaska school districts don’t offer high enough salaries to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers. That’s according to a new study that looks at a possible statewide teacher salary schedule. But researchers found that a statewide pay schedule would be too expensive, and wouldn’t do enough to solve Alaska’s teacher retention problem.
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Thanksgiving Blessings offers food, hope and exercise plan
For the 31st year in a row, Central Lutheran Church in downtown Anchorage is providing Thanksgiving dinners for people in need. They started with 39 families -- and now, through a partnership with the Food Bank of Alaska -- they serve 1,400. But it takes a lot to get a complete turkey dinner back home.
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Reviving an endangered language in the age of social media
In Alaska, the number of fluent Haida speakers has dwindled down into the single digits. It’s been called an endangered language. But in Juneau, one group is trying to change that. Haida Language Learners is using YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram to reach a wider audience.
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UAF scientist pioneers anti-collision systems for space
In Alaska we understand how forecasting weather is important. But it turns out, in space, it plays a critical role as well. A University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist is helping satellite jockeys avoid collisions.
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Sitka museum weeds out collection
The Sitka Historical Society and Museum has been acquiring objects, documents and photos for more than 50 years. And, like any collector, there comes a time to clean house.
Tesoro to buy Flint Hills assets in Anchorage, Fairbanks
Tesoro Corp. has announced that its Alaska affiliate will purchase a portion of Flint Hills Resources assets in Fairbanks and Anchorage.
Troopers suspend search for missing Unalakleet woman
Alaska State Troopers have suspended the search for a Unalakleet elder missing for six days, according to a dispatch released Monday afternoon.
Kenai Peninsula CASA progam seeks volunteers
The Kenai Peninsula CASA program is recruiting volunteers. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. The program assigns CASA’s to speak for children caught in the middle of cases often dealing with neglect and abuse.
Budget and birth control before Anchorage Assembly
After two rounds of public testimony and Assembly amendments, The Berkowitz Administration's $481 million budget goes up for a vote.
With replacements and resignation, Walker consolidates control of gas line project
You don't normally associate "state gas line corporation" and "drama" - but this weekend, the state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corporation was the source of all kinds of drama.
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Alaska News Nightly: Monday, Nov. 23, 2015
With leadership overhaul, Walker consolidates gas line power; Costco won't sell genetically engineered salmon, for now; Starving sea birds stranded in Anchorage, Mat-Su; Sitka tribal council pens FBI, alleging racism in police dept; Fairbanks building awaits demolition... or revitalization?; Juneau high school sleep-out raises $3K for homeless youth; Family remembers man who died at AFN; Ailing Coast Guard cutter gets replacement with same name
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Costco won’t sell genetically engineered salmon ‘at this time’
Costco has been the target of a massive consumer campaign opposed to genetically engineered salmon.
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Starving sea birds pop up in Anchorage, Mat-Su
An increase in dead or starving common murres has expanded beyond coastal communities and into urban areas in recent weeks. An Anchorage bird rehabilitation center that usually sees one or two murres a year has gotten 20 this month -- all were starving.
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Sitka tribal council pens FBI, alleging racism in police dept
Sitka’s tribal council wrote a letter last week to the Anchorage division of the FBI, regarding a tasing incident of a Native Alaska teenager in the Sitka jail last year. The letter alleges that prejudice exists within the Sitka Police Department and asks the FBI to consult the tribe during the investigation.
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Fairbanks building awaits demolition… or revitalization?
A group of Fairbanks city leaders are working to find money to demolish the Polaris building. They’ve grown frustrated awaiting action on the deteriorating downtown high rise.
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