Industry Chafes at Relief Rig Rule for Arctic Drilling
The safety of drilling in Arctic seas was debated at a congressional hearing this morning. Advocates of development say requiring a relief rig isn't necessary for blowout response.
Bristol Bay fishermen prep for a busy salmon season
Fishing communities across Bristol Bay are pulsing with action these days as armies of fisherman work to ready their vessels for the extra-large return of salmon this year.
Small Fire Around Old Sterling Power Pole Quickly Extinguished
Power was out for residents from Diamond Ridge to the Old Sterling Highway for about an hour on Monday afternoon. The incident, which took place on the Old Sterling, also caused a small fire.
Road Deterioration Hindering Copper River Access
A dipnetter’s group is seeking state assistance to repair a sketchy stretch of trail used to access the popular personal use fishery on the Copper River near Chitina. The old section of the Copper River Highway has deteriorated due to past year’s landslides.
Hot Shot Fire Crews Expected in Kenai Tonight
Five Hot Shot crews are expected in Kenai tonight to assist with the Card Street Fire in Sterling. Division of Forestry spokesperson Terry Anderson says the fire slowed down a bit in the early morning hours after rapidly growing to more than 1,200 acres.
Wood Bison Arrive on the Kuskokwim
North America’s largest land animal has made it to the Kuskokwim. Most of the wood bison released in early April are still in the area around Shageluk, but one group of twenty-five broke off to explore southward and have scattered over an 80-mile area. One of the larger groups can be seen in the area around Holy Cross while one lone wanderer was seen in the area between Aniak and Kalskag.
Card Street Fire Grows To 1,500 Acres
The Card Street Fire near Sterling on the Kenai Peninsula doubled in size overnight. Now at more than 1,200 acres, the fire has destroyed at least six structures.
Sockeye Map Shows Modest Fire Growth For Monday
The fire grew modestly on Monday, to 7,555 acres. (A previous estimate of 8,500 acres was revised downward.) Today's forecast calls for warm, dry weather with possible dry thunderstorms. The Type 1 Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team takes command of the firefighting effort at 7 a.m.
Card Street Fire Grows On Kenai Peninsula
A wildfire burning on the central Kenai Peninsula had consumed about 150 acres and destroyed six structures near the community of Sterling by Monday evening.
Pilot Cars Assist Traffic on Parks Highway
Update: 11:25 p.m. Monday, June 15th.
Pilot cars are assisting traffic on the Parks Highway. Incident Management team information officer Sarah Saarloos says as long as the fire is moderate through the night, traffic will be allowed through.
Mat Su information officer Vickie Lee Fenster says officials recommend that residents who live between miles 63 and 78 should evacuate.
Sockeye Fire Continues to Burn; Walker Declares Disaster
The Sockeye Fire near Willow is now the state's number one fire-fighting priority. Governor Bill Walker personally viewed the burned area by air Monday, while forestry officials are bringing in help from the Lower 48 and British Columbia. Meanwhile, about 50 people in a Houston shelter are waiting to find out if they can go home again.
Special Report Into National Guard Calls For More Accountability
A new inquiry into the Alaska National Guard reaches many of the same conclusions as last year’s federal investigation into the force. It finds that sexual assault and harassment claims were mishandled, and calls for increased accountability and transparency to prevent future abuses.
Crowd-Sourcing Alaska’s Fiscal Future
Most models show all of the state's reserves will be used up by 2021, if not sooner. The solution? You decide. The governor is crowd-sourcing possible answers through an interactive budget model that turns the problem into a game.
Newspapers in Fairbanks, Kodiak for Sale
The chief executive officer for two Alaska newspapers says the publications are for sale. William Dean Singleton says the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and the Kodiak Daily Mirror are both available. Employees were informed Monday.
Miners Bid Farewell To West Beach
Today marks the final deadline to vacate one of Nome’s more infamous housing projects.
Out-of-Service Fuel Tank Sprung a Leak in Wales
Diesel fuel leaking from a storage tank along a road in Wales has been contained, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
Tradition, Fellowship and Season’s First Fish
Celebrating the first salmon of the season is a long and important tradition in Bristol Bay. Last Thursday, we turned Hannah Colton around on her way to work because we heard some boys had caught theirs on the beach and were going to take one to an elder. She followed along, and brought this report.
Sockeye Wildfire Threatens Willow
The Sockeye fire near Willow has jumped to more than 6,500 acres, consumed structures, closed the Parks Highway and is headed south. How the fire started has not been determined yet, but officials say it is human caused.
"We just know it was a human caused fire and it is under investigation," said Tim Mowry, an information officer with the Alaska Division of Forestry.
Sockeye Fire: More than 4,000 Acres; Prompts Evacuations; Parks Highway Closes
Update: 10:18 p.m. The Division of Forestry now estimates the size of the Sockeye Fire at over 4,000 acres.
Willow residents from Sharen Road south to Nancy Lake Parkway are evacuating, and many people are stuck on one side or the other of the fire, which has closed the Parks Highway.
Legislature’s Per Diem Expenses Approach $200K
Some rank-and-file members collected per diem while the Legislature was meeting in near their districts. Sen. Lesil McGuire collected more than $7,300, and Sen. Cathy Giessel received $5,000.