No White Christmas in the Aleutians?
Winter usually has a different feel in Unalaska compared to the rest of the state. The days aren’t as short, and the temperatures are nowhere near as cold. But as Alaska faces yet another year of below-average snowfall, the Aleutians are beginning to look a lot less exceptional.
Local Organizations Pitch In to Help Haines’ Homeless
Haines doesn’t have a shelter or official service for people who are homeless. There are local organizations that do what they can to help – a lot of the time that means providing a one-way ferry ticket to Juneau, the closest town with a homeless shelter. So what happens when a homeless couple shows up in Haines, determined to find a place to stay? That happened with 48-year-old Roger and 45-year-old Judy Kley, who slept in shelters and on the streets for three years and just recently found a home in Haines.
Fish Skin Art Combines Past with Present
Native Alaskans and other people of the north have tanned fish skins for centuries to make bags, shoes, and other useful items. Now fish skin leather is appearing on high-end products from Prada, Nike, and Dior. Commercially produced salmon leather is made in mass in Europe and Chile, but in Alaska, it’s still made by hand, one fish at time.
Fire Marshal Releases Report on Bethel Fire
A report from the State Fire Marshals’ office has ruled the cause of a fire that burned the new Phillip Ayagnirvik Treatment Center, or PATC, in Bethel as ‘undetermined’. The building is owned by the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation and was fully insured. The report, completed December 10th, according to state fire officials, was released to KYUK on Wednesday.
Gov. Walker Signs MOU With Resources Energy, Inc.
Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday with Japan-based Resource Energy, Inc. for liquefied natural gas development and export out of Cook Inlet.
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Origins Of The Endangered Species Act
Humpback whales may be coming off the endangered species list soon - federal officials are expected to announce a decision within the next few weeks.
Regardless of what they decide, one thing is clear: without whales and other marine mammals, there might not even be an endangered species list.
In the first of a series exploring humpback whales and the Endangered Species Act, KCAW reporter Rachel Waldholz and biologist Ellen Chenoweth explain how one of the nation's most enduring environmental laws emerged from the office of one of its least revered presidents.
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Minimum Wage Measure Could Boost Bus Driver Pay
A decision by voters to increase Alaska's minimum wage could bring a bump in the minimum that must be paid to the state's school bus drivers.
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‘Arctic Fiber’ Project Delayed into 2016
The backers of an ambitious project to build a fiber optic cable between England and Japan beneath Arctic waters—and in the process bring high-speed internet to remote corners of western Alaska—say undertaking has seen delays that will push the arrival of service back until at least 2016.
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Juneau Assembly Committee: Scale Back Senior Sales Tax Exemption
A package of sales tax recommendations that could take a big bite out of the city’s anticipated $7.2 million budget deficit is headed for public hearing.
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Juneau Assembly Honors JPD’s “Rock Star”
The Juneau Assembly last night honored a city police officer who recently received a statewide award as the top local government employee in Alaska. Then for good measure, the Assembly recognized the entire Juneau Police Department.
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Alice’s Champagne Palace to Open Solstice Weekend
The Homer icon, Alice’s Champagne Palace, will open for the first time under new management on December 19th.
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Alaska News Nightly: December 23, 2014
Gov. Walker Signs MOU With Resources Energy, Inc.; Origins Of The Endangered Species Act; Minimum Wage Measure Could Boost Bus Driver Pay; ‘Arctic Fiber’ Project Delayed into 2016; Juneau Assembly Committee: Scale Back Senior Sales Tax Exemption; Shop with a Cop highlights family homelessness in Anchorage; Juneau Assembly Honors JPD’s “Rock Star”; Alice's Champagne Palace to Open Solstice Weekend
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Goodbye, Campaigns. Hello, New Campaign Contributions
The campaign for U.S. Senate is over, but the accounting is not. The latest batch of campaign finance reports show Democrat Mark Begich spent nearly $10 million, and Sen.-elect Dan Sullivan spent$7.6 million, pushing the total spent on the race above $60 million. For some of the big contributors, the giving doesn't end with Election Day.
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Canada Approves Controversial Mine Plan in Southeast
A controversial mine near Southeast Alaska’s border has won approval from Canada’s federal government. That worries critics, who say the development could pollute salmon-bearing rivers.
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Anchorage Forms New Committee To Navigate Pot Legalization
Just a week after a vote shooting down a controversial proposal to ban commercialization of marijuana within Anchorage, the city Assembly is forming a new committee to handle local implementation in the months ahead.
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Orphan Bear Cubs Find A Home Outside
A permanent home has been secured for two black bear cubs rescued last month. The animals are being temporarily housed at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, but they’ll soon be headed Outside.
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Do I Need to Rinse This? A Look Inside City Recycling
The rules about what you can and can't put into a recycle bin can be confusing, but they have a reason. Here's a quick primer on the basics of recycling.
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Alaska News Nightly: December 22, 2014
FEC Report Sheds New Light On Campaign Contributions; Canada Approves Controversial Mine Plan in Southeast; Anchorage Forms New Committee To Navigate Pot Legalization; Doctors Aim to Reset Alaska Heathcare Model; Orphaned Bear Cubs To Head South; Bethel Receives An Unusual Winter Visitor - A Robin; Do I Need to Rinse This? The Inner Workings of City Recycling
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Doctors Hope To ‘Reset’ Healthcare Model In Alaska
A group of doctors in Anchorage hopes to do a better job caring for some of the sickest patients in the city. It may cost more money initially, but in the long run, the goal is also to save health care dollars. The new group is called Alaska Innovative Medicine and the idea is based on a kidney dialysis clinic.
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Christmas Music with Spencer Shroyer, aka DJ Spencer Lee
Today we’re playing Christmas music. Now, we could spend time talking about the songs you’ve already heard a hundred times, or we could do something different. Don’t get me wrong we like the classics, but today we’re going to uncover some Christmas gems. And to do that I’ve brought in Town Square 49 regular Spencer Shroyer, aka DJ Spencer Lee.
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