Petit First Out of Taknota, Heads Iditarod Field
Nicolas Petit took the Iditarod lead Tuesday evening when he was the first to dart out of Taknota about 8:35 p.m. He spent just a few minutes in Taknota and headed towards Ophir.
Iditarod Leaders Leave Nikolai
The Iditarod race leaders left the checkpoint of Nikolai around mid day today. Sonny Lindner, Hugh Neff, Aliy Zirkle and Nicolas Petit pulled out of Nikolai within an hour of each other. But five mushers, including DeeDee Jonrowe and Jake Berkowitz scratched today, because of broken equipment that was damaged on the extremely rough trail out of Rainy Pass.
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Burned Bald Eagles Draw Federal Scrutiny In Adak
It’s common practice to burn trash in the Aleutians, to keep landfills from overflowing. But it’s not that simple in Adak, where flaming waste has killed or injured at least ten bald eagles in the last few months. It’s now the subject of a federal investigation.
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Should Humpbacks Lose Endangered Status?
State officials want the federal government to remove some protections for Southeast and Southcentral humpback whales. But a noted researcher says it’s too early to do that.
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Panel To Discuss Possibility Of Marijuana Legalization
As Alaskans weigh how to vote on a ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana, the University of Alaska Anchorage is holding a forum on Wednesday evening debating the issue. Tonight we bring you the perspective of one of those panelists. Lance Buchholtz is a retired Midwestern Sheriff who joined Law Enforcement Against Prohibition or LEAP in 2013. He is also an ordained minister. He says the war on drugs isn’t working.
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Juneau Athlete Representing U.S. At Paralympic Winter Games
Juneau’s Joe Tompkins will represent the United States in the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Tompkins and Andrew Kurka of Palmer are among 26 athletes named to the U.S. Paralympic Alpine Ski Team. Tompkins has had a successful World Cup career, but has never medaled in the Paralympics.
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Dust-up in U.S. House Hearing over Bypass Mail
Alaska’s Bypass Mail system took some punches in Congress today. The chairman of the House Government Oversight Committee is renewing his attack on the postal system that delivers everything from lettuce to lumber in the Bush. Alaska’s congressional delegation told him, essentially, to butt out.
Alaska News Nightly: March 4, 2014
Bypass Mail System Under Attack Again; Bill Would Allow Guns To Be Carried On Campus; Iditarod Leaders Leave Nikolai; Burned Bald Eagles Draw Federal Scrutiny In Adak; Should Humpbacks Lose Endangered Status?; Panel To Discuss Possibility Of Marijuana Legalization; Juneau Athlete Representing U.S. At Paralympic Winter Games
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Two Race Veterans Scratch In Rohn
DeeDee Jonrowe and Linwood Fielder, both of Willow, scratched this morning at the Rohn checkpoint at 6:00 a.m. and 6:21 a.m., respectively, both citing problems in Dalzell Gorge.
Fast Trail Forces Mushers To Ride The Brakes
Iditarod mushers are working hard to hold back teams on what has been an icy, hard packed trail. A snowless, rocky stretch of trail through a burn will slow them down, but most mushers are riding their brakes.
Buser Reaches Nikolai, Keeps Iditarod Lead
Martin Buser maintained his lead in the 2014 Iditarod reaching Nikolai early Tuesday morning several hours ahead of Nicolas Petit. Buser reached the checkpoint about 1:09 a.m. Petit followed at 5:36 a.m. The leaders were followed by Aliy Zirkle, Sonny Lindner and Hugh Neff. All three were out of Rohn Monday night. Dallas Seavey, who won the race in 2012, had jumped into 7th place, two spots ahead of his father, Mitch, who won last year.
Bill Would Allow Guns To Be Carried On Campus
Down in Idaho, college students are protesting a bill that would allow guns on campus. Here in Alaska, they’re drafting the legislation.
Buser Regains Iditarod Lead, First Out of Rohn
Martin Buser retook the lead in the 2014 Iditarod, leaving Rohn about 1:45 Monday afternoon. Kelly Maixner was the first musher into Rohn, checking in at 11:26 a.m. Buser was being chased by Aliy Zirkle, who finished second in 2013 and 2012. She left Rohn about 5:22 Monday evening. Right behind her was Sonny Lindner. Hugh Neff and Jeff King trailed Lindner.
Alaska News Nightly: March 3, 2014
Municipality Sues for Port Damages; Norwegian Contingent Prepared For For Iditarod Challenge; Bringing Money to Politics: A Job for a Pro; Begich Calls For Increased Education Funding; Kikkan Randall Wins World Cup Sprint Race; State Suing Over Flint Hills North Pole Refinery Contamination; Outrage And Praise For The EPA Over 404-C; Gov. Parnell Responds To EPA’s 404-C Decision Regarding Pebble Mine; Alaska Zoo Polar Bears To Get New Home
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Municipality Sues Feds for Port Damages
The Municipality of Anchorage is suing a federal agency over problems with a port expansion project. This is the second lawsuit that the administration of Mayor Dan Sullivan has initiated to try to recover funds spent on the troubled port project.
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Bringing Money to Politics: A Job for a Pro
Alaska’s U.S. Senate race is shaping up to be a big-money affair. One hidden asset the campaigns deploy is the professional fundraiser. Sen. Mark Begich and the Republican front-runners hoping to unseat him all list professional fundraisers in their campaign finance reports, but they declined to talk about it. That’s not unusual, says fundraiser Kirsten Borman. She says there’s too much at stake for a campaign to pull back the curtain.
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Begich Calls For Increased Education Funding
Sen. Mark Begich chastised state lawmakers for their approach to education during his annual legislative address.
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Kikkan Randall Wins World Cup Sprint Race
Kikkan Randall is back on top. Following disappointing races at the Sochi Olympics, Randall of Anchorage, won a World Cup sprint race in Finland over the weekend.
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State Suing Over Flint Hills North Pole Refinery Contamination
The State of Alaska will sue over contamination from the Flint Hills North Pole Refinery. Historic sulfolane spills have resulted in the industrial solvent migrating through ground water.
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Outrage And Praise For The EPA Over 404-C
Friday’s announcement by the EPA to seek a 404-C designation for the proposed Pebble Mine has drawn praise and outrage.
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