Measure Would Increase Public Seats On Judicial Council
A group of Republican state senators want to change the make-up of a commission tasked with vetting judges for the governor. But some critics worry that could shift the balance of the judicial system itself.
AFN Asks For Help in Voting-rights Campaign
Alaska’s largest Native organization is challenging a Southeast group to lead the regional campaign to regain federal voting-rights protections.
Alaska Supporting Same-Sex Marriage Bans
Alaska has a constitutional amendment that bans same sex marriage and state attorneys have filed support briefs for states fighting to preserve their own constitutional bans.
Woman Claims Killing Dozens, Some in Alaska
A woman accused of murdering a man in Pennsylvania says she killed dozens of others in four states, including Alaska. The case, involves allegations of serial killing and Satanism.
VPSO Firearms Bill Moves Ahead
A legislative proposal creating a path for qualified Village Public Safety Officers to carry firearms has cleared another hurdle. SB 98 was passed on Thursday by the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee. But some serious concerns were raised about the proposal.
Not All Happy With Fish Board Decisions
The state's fisheries board wrapped up two weeks of meetings on Upper Cook Inlet commercial and sports fisheries late last week. This session, management changes were approved for Kenai River early and late king runs, and for the central district sockeye management plan. Supporters of the changes say that the new regulations are expected to allow more salmon to pass through the inlet. But those opposed to the changes say that commercial driftnetters and setnetters will be hurt, and that they have suffered a disproportionate hit in fishing time and area.
Legislation Would Reinstate Medevac Membership Programs
An Airlift Northwest Lear Jet waits for a medevac call at Juneau’s airport. Airlift is ending its medevac insurance program in Alaska after losing a regulatory exemption. An Airlift Northwest Lear Jet waits for a medevac call at Juneau’s airport. Airlift Northwest could bring back its popular membership program under legislation introduced in the Alaska House and Senate.
New Geese Habitat Emerging on North Slope
The US Geological Survey says melting Beaufort sea ice is creating new habitat for geese on the North Slope and that new habitat could have implications for conservation inside the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
Choosing Capital Projects
Tradition is an important part of politics. The Alaska Legislature has long followed the tradition of keeping the state's capital budget process confidential until the last minute, and then releasing and voting on it in the final days of the session. Some people think that leads to bad decisions. We'll talk about Anchorage's recent tennis court controversies, and other impacts of how the legislature does its job. Is there a better way?
KSKA: Wednesday, 2/19, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
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I Am A 98-Year-Old Bowler
Bettie Upright is a bowler. She picked up the game nearly 30 years ago, at the age of 70.
Now at 98 (and a half), Bettie continues to live an active lifestyle, both physically and socially.
http://youtu.be/RzgIjZDK_HI
John Kerry Creating Arctic Position at State
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he is creating a new Arctic position. In a letter to Sen. Mark Begich, Kerry says he will appoint a person of high stature to serve as “Special Representative for the Arctic Region” in order to elevate U.S. attention on the far North.
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Fuel Spilled In Dalton Highway Tanker Truck Rollover
A tanker truck rollover on the Dalton Highway near Deadhorse resulted in a substantial fuel spill. More than 2,100 gallons of diesel leaked from the tanker following Tuesday’s accident near mile 309 of the Haul Road.
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Former Alaska Territorial Governor Mike Stepovich Dies
Former territorial governor Mike Stepovich died early this morning, after being injured in a fall. Stepovich served as governor in the late 1950s and was a major advocate for Alaska statehood. He was 94 when he died. Stepovich was born into a Fairbanks mining family. Alaska Edition host and Anchorage Daily News columnist Michael Carey was a teenager when Stepovich was Governor. He says Stepovich was a strikingly handsome man who was Governor at at critical time in Alaska history.
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Former Juneau Olympian Reflects On Experiences
For the first time in Olympic alpine skiing history, two gold medals have been awarded in an event. Swiss skier Dominique Gisin and Tina Maze, of Slovenia, tied for the women’s downhill at the Sochi Olympics. Each woman skied the course in 1:41.57. The bronze went to Lara Gut of Switzerland. The Olympics continue through February 23rd on NBC television and online. A former downhill Olympian – Juneau’s Hilary Lindh – has been watching the games and recalling some of her experiences.
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Legislators Get Answers For Interior LNG Questions
Legislators got an update on the partially state financed North Slope to Fairbanks natural gas trucking project this week. The state is working with private company MWH to build a $185 million gas processing plant on the North Slope to feed tanker trucks that will move LNG to Fairbanks. The goal of the Interior Energy Project is to deliver first gas by late 2015, at a consumer cost equivalent of about half the price of fuel oil, but many questions remain about how the project will play out.
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Alaska News Nightly: February 14, 2014
John Kerry Creating Arctic Ambassador Position; Fuel Spilled In Dalton Highway Tanker Truck Rollover; Former Alaska Territorial Governor Mike Stepovich Dies; Legislators Get Answers For Interior LNG Questions; APD Policies Now Online; Former Juneau Olympian Reflects On Experiences; AK: Cooking; 300 Villages: Little Tutka Bay
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APD Policies Now Online
After 10 high profile officer-involved shootings over two years, the Anchorage Police Department has made their use-of-force policy public. Police Chief Mark Mew made the announcement Thursday night in response to a recommendation from the Anchorage Community Relation's Task Force.
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AK: Little Tutka Bay
This week we’re heading to Little Tutka Bay, a small community across the Kachemak Bay from Homer. Rick Harness owns a tourism business called Seaside Adventure; Rick is also a scuba diver.
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AK: Cooking
Homer’s youth resource and enrichment co-op, known locally as “The R.E.C. Room,” is giving teens a taste of what it’s like to work in a commercial kitchen. The after school youth-outreach program has been holding FORK Club Cooking Classes for the last few months providing kids tips on using healthy, local ingredients.
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Cook Inlet Fishing Rule Changes
The state's fish board has passed some new rules for commercial salmon fishers in Cook Inlet, but will the rules help salmon conservation in times of declining runs?
APRN: Tuesday, 2/18 at 10:00am
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