Iditarod Leaders Pull Into Manley Hot Springs
Girdwood's Nicolas Petit pulled into Manley Hot Springs just after 3 a.m. Tuesday, with Martin Buser, Hugh Neff, DeeDee Jonrowe and Aaron Burmeister less than two hours behind. The competition in this year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race can only be described as stiff. There are six returning champions and a handful of other mushers vying for a top-10 finish. But, mushers are all feeling a little new to the race as they travel down an unfamiliar, rerouted trail.
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Alaska News Nightly: March 9, 2015
Sullivan Removed From Military Assignment; GOP Previews Medicaid Reform Bill; Buser Takes Early Iditarod Lead; Swanson's Store Closing; Petersburg Processor to Test Shrimp Market; Sikuliaq Commissioned; Homeless Advocates Seek Solutions
Officer & Senator: Sullivan Cedes Command But Says Roles Jibe
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan's ongoing military service as a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Reserves was one of his strongest selling points as a Senate candidate. But now that he’s a senator, the Marines have removed him from his assignment as a commander, saying it’s incompatible with congressional office.
Senate Republicans Preview Medicaid Reform Bill
Senator Pete Kelly, a Fairbanks Republican, previewed a bill he's planning to introduce this week to reform the current Medicaid system. At a press conference this morning, he said the bill won't include a provision to expand Medicaid. A group of Anchorage religious leaders and lay people are in Juneau to try to convince him and other skeptical lawmakers to change their minds on the issue.
Buser Takes Early Iditarod Lead
Race Update 6:30: Past Iditarod champion Martin Buser and rookie Thomas Waerner were the first in to and out of Nenana Monday afternoon. They were trailed by Michelle Phillips and Jessie Royer. Buser arrived about 3:00 p.m. He took off shortly before 3:30 p.m. Waerner was bout 30 minutes behind Buser. DeeDee Jonrowe and Aliy Zirkle left Nenana minutes apart and were trailing the leaders Monday afternoon.
Swanson’s Store Closing in Bethel
OMNI enterprises is shutting down their large Swanson’s Grocery store in Bethel. The store occupies a brand-new building and is the only competitor for the Alaska Commercial store there. As they liquidate their inventory with a half-off sale, customers are swarming the store to take advantage of sales. Many also lament the loss to the community.
Tonka Seafoods Tests Out The Shrimp Market
One of Petersburg’s seafood processors is trying to make a go at shrimp. Tonka Seafoods, Inc. is starting small to see if the market is there for their limited operation. As Angela Denning reports, they should have their answer in a few weeks.
Petersburg Seafood Processor Testing Shrimp Market
One of Petersburg’s seafood processors is trying to make a go at shrimp. Tonka Seafoods is starting small to see if the market is there for their limited operation. They should have their answer in a few weeks.
Sikuliaq Commissioned, Ready to Begin Research
The Research Vessel Sikuliaq was officially commissioned Saturday in a ceremony at the boat’s home port in Seward. The commissioning marked the end of decades of efforts to design and build it; and the beginning of its mission to research the Earth’s rapidly changing and increasingly important polar regions.
Voices on Homelessness seeks solutions to region-wide problem
Treating people who experience homelessness like people could help solve the problem. That was one of the solutions discussed by a group of community members who met on Saturday for the Northern Voices on Homelessness conference in Anchorage.
“City Limits” explores development of Anchorage
As part of Anchorage's Centennial Celebration, the Anchorage Museum is hosting a new exhibit called "City Limits." It's a brief walk through Anchorage's past that helps visitors understand how the city developed.
Troopers Say Woman Injured In Fairbanks In Officer Shooting
Alaska State Troopers say a woman has been hospitalized with apparently non-life-threatening injuries in Fairbanks after a trooper-involved shooting. The woman was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Sunday evening after the incident at a Dale Road home.
Man Faces Murder Charge In Woman’s Shooting In Eagle River
A 32-year-old man is facing a murder charge in the shooting death of a 56-year-old woman in Eagle River. Police say James Andrew Baker also faces two attempted murder counts after two others were wounded early Sunday morning. He is being held without bail.
Iditarod Mushers Prepare For New Route Through Interior Alaska
The Ceremonial start of the 43rd Iditarod filled Downtown Anchorage with dogs, fans, and snow trucked in from Goose Lake. Unusually warm weather has hampered Southcentral Alaska's winter snowpack and led officials to move the race start to Fairbanks for only the second time ever. The new route through the Interior will challenge even the most tenured seasoned racers as long-held strategies are scrambled.
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Sled Dogs in Slow Motion
The dogs were ready to pull on this unseasonably warm day in downtown Anchorage at the ceremonial start of the 2015 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Alaska News Nightly: March 6, 2015
Plenty Of Work Left Before An Alaska LNG Pipeline Becomes A Reality; Bethel Prosecutor Chris Carpeneti Resigns; Unusual Weather Prompts Concerns Over Early Fire Season Possibilities; Walker Administration Renews Medicaid Push; Radio Stations Weigh Rural Impact of Proposed Public Media Cut; Traditional Chief Paul John Passes Away; AK: Women Who Mush; 49 Voices: Wilma Distor
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Plenty Of Work Left Before An Alaska LNG Pipeline Becomes A Reality
Next year, Alaska is supposed to move forward on the engineering and design work of a natural gas pipeline. The project would cost at least $45 billion, with that amount split between the state, Exxon, BP, ConocoPhillips, and TransCanada. If the project gets built, it would allow Alaska to sell North Slope gas to Asia, and and use the revenue to help pay for state government. But there are a lot of things that must happen before the state gets to that point.
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Bethel Prosecutor Chris Carpeneti Resigns
Prosecutor Chris Carpeneti has resigned from his position at the Bethel district attorney’s office. His resignation comes about two weeks after the firing of Bethel District Attorney June Stein.
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Unusual Weather Prompts Concerns Over Early Fire Season Possibilities
Alaska wildfire mangers are anticipating the possibility of an early season. This winter’s unusual weather is prompting concerns.
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Radio Stations Weigh Rural Impact of Proposed Public Media Cut
Public radio and TV in Alaska could lose $2.5 million next year if a proposed state budget cut goes through. It would be a small reduction compared to the overall deficit legislators need to close -- but it would eliminate more than half of the fundingpublic media gets from the state.
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