AK: Wave Energy
The northern Southeast city of Yakutat is gearing up for a wave-energy experiment. If it’s a success, the community of about 650 residents could lower its high, diesel-fueled power costs. The system could also be a model for some other isolated Alaska cities.
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300 Villages: Tok
This week, we’re heading to Tok, where the community is coming together to rebuild a home for a family that lost everything in a recent fire. John Rusyniak is President of the Tok Chamber of Commerce.
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Alaska News Nightly: March 7, 2014
Controversial Permitting Bill Back For Consideration; HB 77: Gauging Public Sentiment; DEC Commissioner Says Future Sulfolane Spill Liability Shouldn’t Preclude Sale Of Flint Hills’ Refinery; Buser In The Lead As Racers Approach Nulato; GCI Recieves $41 Million To Build 3G, 4G In Rural Alaska; Petersburg Sweeps Education Technology Awards; Bill Stoltze Announces Run For New Senate Seat; AK: Wave Energy; 300 Villages: Tok
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Education Funding Activism
Gov. Sean Parnell has declared this year the education session the legislature, but if you are involved in schools in Anchorage you already know that education funding and policy are hot topics. On the next Hometown Alaska, host Charles Wohlforth will be joined by education activists to lead a community discussion on school funding and school choice. Should state funding increase, and should it be available to private and religious schools?
KSKA: Wednesday, 3/12, 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
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Growing Food Near the Kitchen
During the Second World War, household “Victory Gardens” produced almost half the food the nation consumed. Now home gardens produce about two percent. Could the path to food security run though a garden plot in your front yard?
APRN: Tuesday, 3/11 at 10:00am
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Mushers Anticipating Tough Run Up Bering Sea Coast
Some mushers are still trying to hold dog teams back despite the fast Yukon River miles ahead. The most experienced mushers know the river miles can be fast, but there’s still a tough run up the Bering Sea Coast ahead.
Iditarod Strategies Make for Some Head Scratching
As dogs teams drop onto the Yukon River, Iditarod mushers will find out how their race plans are playing out. The next 140 miles of long, flat river will shine some light on who has the most speed and who needs a little more rest. No one is quite sure exactly what’s going on with race strategies this year. In fact even the most experienced mushers are scratching their heads.
Alaska Edition Friday March 7, 2014
Legislation that would provide for state participation in the gas line moves forward. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a scourge. Some of those affected explain why. Gov. Parnell "absolves" a future buyer of the Flint Hills refinery of cleanup costs. Parnell sues past and current owner over the cleanup. Alaska public life and policy is different if not unique - here's some of the reason why. The emerging problem of scarcity. Idaho compared to Alaska.
KSKA: Friday, 3/7 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, 3/8 at 6 p.m.
KAKM: Friday 3/7 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday. 3/8 at 4:30 p.m.
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Zirkle Bolts Ruby With Iditarod Lead; Buser Follows
Aliy Zirkle took the lead in the 2014 Iditarod early Friday morning leaving Ruby almost two hours ahead of Martin Buser who also took off from Ruby Friday. Both mushers dropped dogs at the layover and were racing with 14 dogs.
Buser Joins King and Lindner in Ruby
Jeff King was first to Ruby on Thursday in the 2014 Iditarod but Sonny Lindner was not far behind. The two leaders were joined by Martin Buser later Thursday night.
EPA Settles Over Lead Dust Violations At Governor’s Mansion
Throughout his administration, Gov. Sean Parnell has accused the Environmental Protection Agency of “overreaching” on Alaska affairs. Now, it looks like the EPA may have reached into Parnell’s own home. The Governor’s Mansion appears on a list of construction projects requiring EPA intervention for lead violations.
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Former Crime Lab Employee Charged With 6 Felonies
A former employee of the State Crime Lab in Anchorage has been charged with six felonies, including drug misconduct and tampering with evidence.
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Mayors Seek Assurances On Gas Line Project
Borough mayors are asking to be part of the discussions on terms related to a mega-liquefied natural gas project that will affect local communities.
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King Resting At Ruby, Competitors Close In
Jeff King is resting at the Yukon river checkpoint of Ruby. The four time Iditarod champion is technically in the lead at this point, but Martin Buser, Aliy Zirkle and Robert Sorlie are closing in, and they’ve already completed their 24 hour layovers. Once teams leave Ruby, they’ll have a chance to take advantage of any remaining speed they have on the flat river miles ahead.
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Five Nations Tentatively Agree To Arctic Fishing Ban
The United States and four other Arctic nations have tentatively agreed to prevent commercial fishing in the high Arctic.
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Dipnets May Be Allowed On Kuskokwim
Kuskowkim fisherman are expected to face serious restrictions on subsistence salmon fishing this summer in efforts to bring more king salmon to the spawning grounds. With fishing closed possibly all of June, the working group is asking that dipnets be used selectively to harvest non-Chinook salmon.
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Delta Western’s Pro-Union Fuelers Strike Again
For the past month, a group of fuel supply workers in Unalaska have been trying to unionize. And they’ve also accused their employer, Delta Western, of mistreating them for it. The workers took to the picket line on Tuesday to protest with other local union members.
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State Bans Importation, Sale Of Certain Elodea Plants
The state has taken steps to ban the importation and sale of some aquatic plants that are commonly found in aquariums. Elodea is a plant used in fishbowls that has become a big problem in Alaska, and is considered an invasive species. Last year, the state began working to eradicate the plant from areas in Fairbanks and in Anchorage.
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Kikkan Randall Secures World Cup Sprint Title
Kikkan Randall has a lock on her 3rd straight World Cup sprint title. Randall did not make the finals in a classic technique sprint in Drammen Norway Wednesday, but her seventh place finish there mathematically clinches the season title. Just one sprint race remains. Retaining the title as the world’s top woman sprinter is some consolation for Randall who struggled at last month’s Sochi Olympics, where she’s d hoped to medal.
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Cyclist Obliterates Iditarod Trail Invitational Record
Most speed records are broken by seconds or minutes. Wednesday, a Fairbanks cyclist demolished the Iditarod Trail Invitational record by almost a full week.
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