Rupert Delegation Lobbying for Continued Connections
Prince Rupert leaders are in Juneau this week to lobby for continued connections with Southeast Alaska. Budget cuts threaten to reduce state ferry sailings to and from the British Columbia port city. And policy differences have blocked construction of a new ferry terminal there. Rupert Mayor Lee Brain says the marine highway link helps economies on both sides of the border.
UAF Rifle Team Falls Short at Championships
The University of Alaska Fairbanks fell just short of a national title at the NCAA Rifle Champions on their home turf over the weekend. For the second year running, the Nanooks placed second to West Virginia University. The margin of victory was just 2 shots, with UAF taking Friday’s small bore match at the Patty Center, and the Mountaineers coming back Saturday, with just enough in the air rifle competition to nab the overall title in the 8 team competition. West Virginia’s Maren Prediger was the top individual shooter. UAF’s Tim Sherry was best Nanook in 8th place.
Weather Doesn’t Stop Emergency Responders from Training at Dutch Harbor
Chilly winds and whiteout conditions didn’t stop a team of emergency responders from mounting a unique exercise at the Port of Dutch Harbor on Friday.
Dallas Seavey First to White Mountain, Maintains Iditarod Lead
Dallas Seavey was the first musher to arrive in White Mountain Tuesday morning. It’s the second to last stop along the Iditarod trail. Teams will take an eight-hour mandatory rest there, before the make the final push for Nome.
I Am A Winter Cyclist
Winter weather doesn't stop Ellie Mitchell from hitting the road (or the trail) on her fat bike. She picked up cycling from her dad, and now she regularly competes against him and other cyclists in the Anchorage winter racing circuit.
Dallas Seavey First Iditarod Musher Into White Mountain
Dallas Seavey - the winner of the 2014 Iditarod - is the first musher into White Mountain. He checked in at 10:10 Tuesday morning. Mitch Seavey and Aaron Burmeister are running in second and third place, respectively.
Iditarod Front-Runners Headed For White Mountain
Front running teams are making their way for White Mountain Tuesday morning.
Dallas Seavey Leads Iditarod Mushers Out Of Elim
Dallas Seavey is the first musher out of Elim, as he heads to Golovin, then up to White Mountain, where he will take a mandatory 8-hour rest.
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Fresh, Drifting Snow Slowing Progress Along Iditarod Trail
In the final push for Nome, Iditarod mushers are making big moves and cutting rest, but fresh snow, and drifted trail isn’t only slowing the leaders – trail conditions have also slowed dog teams in chase mode.
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ASD asks legislature not to cut funds
The Anchorage School Board is asking the state legislature to restore one-time school grant funds to the state’s budget. The house passed a budget that removed $32 million late last week.
State Asks Court for More Time on Adoption Case
The state on Monday asked the Alaska Supreme Court for more time in a case involving the adoption of a Yup’ik child, a case that tribes say will determine how the Indian Child Welfare Act, or ICWA, will be implemented in Alaska, and show whether Governor Bill Walker is serious about campaign pledges he made to work cooperatively with tribes.
After Breaking Caucus Rule, Reinbold Stripped Of Committee Assignments
Last week, Rep. Lora Reinbold voted against the operating budget, breaking one of the House.e Majority caucus’ rules for membership. Now, the Eagle River Republican has lost her committee chairmanship, and her seat on all but one committee.
Proposed Arctic Drilling Regs Take Holistic Look At Safety
The heads of the two federal agencies in charge of off-shore oil and gas drilling visited Alaska last week to discuss proposed safety regulations for drilling in the Arctic. They spoke with stakeholders in Anchorage and around the North Slope, including hosting a town hall meeting in Barrow.
Seavey, Burmeister First to Koyuk; Zirkle, Royer Behind Leaders
Dallas Seavey and Aaron Burmeister were the first two into Koyuk Monday afternoon. Seavy led by only three minutes, though his 50-mile run from Shaktoolik was the fastest by far -- only seven and a half hours. Aliy Zirkle and Jessie Royer arrived later in the afternoon.
Lease Sale 193 Decision Expected Late March
Secretary of Interior will issue a Record of Decision on Chukchi Lease Sale 193 by the end of March. It will determine if Shell can proceed with its drilling plans for the region this summer.
Anchorage Homicides, Shootings A Spike, Not Trend Say Officials
Since the start of the year, Anchorage has seen eight homicides and a spate of shootings. Today, officials say the incidents in Alaska's largest city is a spike, (but) not an overall rise in violent crime. The press conference at City Hall was, just hours after a stabbing victim was pronounced dead following an early morning dispute.
Walker Names Two Fishermen to Management Council
Governor Bill Walker has named two Alaska fishermen as his top picks to serve on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. The 11-voting member council manages most fisheries in federal waters. The terms of two Alaska members were due to expire this summer.
Alaska News Nightly: March 16, 2015
State Asks for More Time on Adoption Case; Reinbold Loses Chairmanship; Feds Seek Feedback on Drilling; Interior Secretary to Decide Soon on Shell Leases; Seavey, Burmeister First to Koyuk; Anchorage Officials See Spike, Not Trend, in Crime; Two Named to Fisheries Council; Scrubbers to Cut Cruise Ship Pollution; Juneau Library to Launch Alaska Native Stories Project
“Scrubbers” to Cut Cruise Ship Pollution
Cruise lines that sail Alaska waters are installing new pollution-control equipment. It’s aimed at clearing the air — and meeting new regulations. But it’s also dodging some stronger, more expensive measures. The stuff that comes out of cruise ship smokestacks can cloud the air, leaving a haze over port cities, and plumes along their routes.
Juneau Library to Launch Alaska Native Stories Project
The Juneau Public Library system embarks on an oral history project this spring collecting Alaska Native stories on educational experiences. The capital city’s library is one of ten picked from more than 300 national applicants to bring StoryCorps to the community.