Bethel Faces Big Decision on Local Liquor Licenses
Bethel residents are urging the city to protest a package store license that's before the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. The Bethel Native Corporation’s Bethel Spirits LLC application was officially filed Monday morning.
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Co-op Herring Fishery Means Fewer Boats, Quiet Year In Sitka
Most years, the sac roe herring fishery in Sitka means boats filling the harbor, crew members filling the bars, seiners jostling for position within sight of town, and spotter planes in close formation overhead. But this year fishermen voted to abandon the competitive fishery in favor of a co-op. That meant a much smaller footprint, with fewer boats, crewmen, tenders, and spotter pilots. The reason? Low prices for roe, for starters. And a strong US dollar that makes all American exports more expensive.
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Alaska Artist Rie Muñoz Dies At 93
Alaska artist Rie Muñoz has died. She was 93. A statement from her family says Muñoz was “active and independent until her last hours.”
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Historic Auk Totem Pole Being Restored
A 74-year-old totem pole that once stood at the Auke Recreation Area in Juneau is being restored for a second time. The Yax té pole had to be taken down in 2010 after it was damaged by woodpeckers and heavy rains. Now after being in storage for five years, it’s getting a new life.
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Alaska News Nightly: April 7, 2015
Juneau Prison Deals With Overcrowding By Housing Women In A Tent; Seaton Suggests Income Tax for Diversification of Revenue Sources; Villages Seek Yukon, Kuskokwim Salmon Management Change; Greenpeace Protestors Board Arctic Rig; Bethel Faces Big Decision on Local Liquor Licenses; Co-op Herring Fishery Means Fewer Boats, Quiet Year In Sitka; Alaska Artist Rie Muñoz Dies At 93; Historic Auk Totem Pole Being Restored
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House Passes Bill To Seize Federal Lands
Of the nearly 200 bills that have been introduced in the Alaska House of Representatives, fewer than 20 have been put to a vote. On Monday, a controversial bill that would seize millions of acres of land from the federal government joined that group.
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Anchorage School Board considers wide-ranging budget cuts
The Anchorage School Board is discussing the possible ways to cut $29.4 million from their budget for next year, and plan to prioritize protecting classroom instruction.
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School District Faces Potential Revenue Loss of $8 Million
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is facing a potential revenue loss of nearly $8 million, if current proposed budget cuts stand.
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Dalton Highway Closed South Of Deadhorse
The far northern end of the Dalton Highway will remain closed until Tuesday morning. The section south of Deadhorse, was also closed for two days last week as overflow from the Sag River continues to impact the only road supply route for North Slope oil fields.
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First Two VPSOs Graduate From Firearm Training
Two Village Public Safety Officers graduated from firearm training today (Friday, 4-3-15), becoming the first officers in the 40-year history of the program to be armed.
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New Version Of Erin’s Law Targets Teen Dating Violence
The latest, beefed up version of a law to mandate sexual abuse prevention education in public schools is unlikely to reach the governor’s desk this year. That’s according to Senate Rules Committee Chair Charlie Huggins, who said in a committee Thursday that an expanded version of Erin’s Law would likely be a two-year bill. Sen. Lesil McGuire’s rebranded Alaska Safe Children’s Act includes teen dating violence prevention.
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Chief Mat-Su Medical Services Official Resigns
A February union complaint has resulted in the resignation of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough's chief medical services official. Clint Vardeman handed in his resignation today Monday. Vardeman directs the Borough's emergency responders. His resignation is effective April 20.
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Haines School Restricts Yoga Pants And Saggy Pants
Haines School is now one of many around the US that have put restrictions on yoga pants and leggings. These rules have sparked discussions about appropriate school attire and personal choice.
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Cim Smyth Wins The Kobuk 440
In the early hours of Easter morning, the first mushers arrived into Kotzebue at the end of the Kobuk 440 sled dog race. The first place title and more than $11,000 purse went to Cim Smyth of Big Lake, who arrived just past 6 o’clock on Sunday morning – after 2 days 18 hours and 4 minutes on the trail.
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Alaska News Nightly: April 6, 2015
Bill To Seize Federal Land Goes To Vote In Alaska House; Anchorage School Board considers wide-ranging budget cuts; School District Faces Potential Revenue Loss of $8 Million; Dalton Highway Closed South Of Deadhorse; First Two VPSOs Graduate From Firearm Training; New Version Of Erin’s Law Targets Teen Dating Violence; Community Potluck Shows Support For Local Refugees; Chief Mat-Su Medical Services Official Resigns; Haines School Restricts Yoga Pants And Saggy Pants; Cim Smyth Wins The Kobuk 440
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Early Voting in Anchorage Mayor’s Race Poised to Break Record
The Clerk's Office gathered 7,283 early in-person votes and requests for absentee ballots by midday Monday, which is about 10.2% of the total number of voters who came to the polls for the last mayoral election.
Update: Hyder Border Closure Keeps Emergency Access
Canadian officials say the small Southeast Alaska town of Hyder will continue to have 24-hour-a-day access to emergency health care.
Report Highlights Huge Cash Flow Problem at Nome’s Utility
Nome Joint Utility is working on a broken budget—a financial plan that is unbalanced and unrealistic. That’s the takeaway from the Rural Utility Business Advisor report, or RUBA—delivered to the Nome City Council and utility board this week.
Troopers Investigate Death of Lower Kalskag Woman
State Troopers are investigating the death of a Lower Kalskag woman. Early saturday morning, troopers received a report that 27-year-old Marcia White was found dead in her home in Lower Kalskag. Megan Peters is a spokesperson for the Alaska State troopers.
Former Seafood Processors Accept Plea Deal in Homicide Case
Two former seafood processors have pleaded guilty to fatally beating their co-worker in Unalaska. Instead of going through another trial, Denison Soria and Leonardo Bongolto, Jr., will serve 40 to 70 months in prison for the death of Jonathan Adams. He passed away after a fight at the Bering Fisheries bunkhouse in 2012.