Assembly Says No On Tennis
After two months of back and forth about whether a rec center with public tennis courts should be built with grant money from the state legislature, the Anchorage assembly voted the idea down at their regular meeting Tuesday night.
Strong Sockeye Run Predicted
Alaska state fishery managers are predicting a strong sockeye salmon run in Upper Cook Inlet next year.
Musk Oxen Make Bethel Appearance
Alaska State Troopers say musk oxen have been seen in and around the Bethel area, and people should keep their distance. Troopers say the musk oxen have been seen near homes, on winter trails and near the local waterfront.
Sitka Sea Salt Makers Win National Taste-Test Award
What do the Space Needle, Sitka Sound Science Center, and Cafe Juanita in Kirkland, Washington have in common? They all carry artisanal salt made by Alaska Pure. The Sitka company’s sea salts are designed around flavors reminiscent of Southeast Alaska. In 2013 their wild blueberry sea salt captured a national taste-test award.
Juneau Issues First Winter Air Alert
The City and Borough of Juneau has called the first air emergency of the winter. For residents of the Mendenhall Valley, that means wood stove burning is banned until the alert is lifted.
Grant Funding to Promote Success Toward Higher Education
The Youth Action Committee (YAC), of the Juneau Community Foundation, requests proposals from Juneau non-profit organizations and schools to promote success in high school by increasing awareness of the range of Post Secondary opportunities available for high school graduates.
With the help of the Juneau Community Foundation and local organizations, YAC members strive to improve the lives of their peers.
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Democratic Legislators Push For Stricter Campaign Disclosure Rules
Over the next year, millions of dollars are expected to enter Alaska in the form of campaign spending. The Alaska Senate race could end up being one of the more expensive races in the country, because Republicans need to unseat Democrat Mark Begich if they want to take control of Congress. Since much of the money is going to be spent on political ads, some state legislators would like to see stronger federal disclosure laws, so voters know who's paying for the airtime.
Alaska Groups Give Passing Grade To Reworked HealthCare.gov
Groups in Alaska working to sign people up for health insurance on the federal marketplace say the website is working much better. The Obama Administration re-launched an improved healthcare.gov marketplace yesterday. Now insurance agents and navigators have three weeks to help Alaskans enroll in insurance plans that start offering coverage January 1st.
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Dead Birds Wash Up On St. Lawrence Island
Hundreds of dead birds washed up on the shores of St. Lawrence Island towards the end of November. And though the cause of the die off isn’t yet known, the quick response demonstrates a mounting capacity for dealing with unexpected environmental events in the region.
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Frog Abnormality Research Finds Location is a Key Factor
Increasing reports of deformed frogs and toads in the mid 90s, prompted Congress to mandate studies to look into the problem. Amphibians are sort of the canary in the coal mine for gauging the environmental health of land and surface water. The study was released in November, and looks at amphibian abnormalities on 152 wildlife refuges across the country, including five in Alaska.
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Plucky Delta Farmer Undaunted, Determined to Rebuild Poultry Barn Razed by Fire
A Delta Junction-area farmer is rebuilding a barn fire that killed 500 chickens and other livestock last spring. Despite that and other adversity, Brandy McLain is determined to restore her poultry operation.
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Crews Rescue Woman From Fairbanks High Rise Window
Fairbanks emergency responders rescued a woman from a window of a downtown Fairbanks high rise yesterday.
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Late Start for Flu Shots Causes Concern
The Lower 48 has been on the offensive against the flu virus for weeks. But in Unalaska, most people didn’t have access to vaccines until late November. An attempt to tailor flu prevention around Unalaska’s unique population didn’t go over well with locals.
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How To Save An Endangered Language
Speaking an endangered language at home is the essence of language revitalization, according to author Leanne Hinton. She’s written the book Bringing Our Languages Home and was recently in Juneau for the Tlingit Tribes and Clans Conference.
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CLARIFICATION: Bragaw Extension May Cost More Than Initially Planned
A consultant says that the Bragaw Street extension into Anchorage's UMed district could cost more than originally planned.
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Alaska Communities Join Forces To Prevent Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault
Community members from Alaska towns as large as Anchorage and as small as Allakaket are in Juneau for the second annual Prevention Summit sponsored by the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
Alaska Searching For Methane Hydrate Research Partners
The state of Alaska is looking for partners to research a new source of natural gas called methane hydrates. It could bring in new revenue for the state far down the road, but some environmentalists worry the risk of releasing that much methane is too great.
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Survey Says Alaska Has Poor Business Climate
A survey of oil company managers and executives has given Alaska poor marks for its business climate. The annual report by the Fraser Institute, a conservative Canadian think tank, stacks Alaska up against other states and countries in an effort to develop a “policy perception index.” The respondents weren’t kind to the 49th state.
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Officials Documenting Wreckage of St. Marys’ Crash
The chief of the agency's Alaska office, Clint Johnson, said an investigator with the NTSB and another from the Federal Aviation Administration on Sunday reached the site where a single-engine aircraft went down near the village of St. Marys.
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Premera Won’t Increase Rates On Plan Extensions
Premera Alaska won't increase premium rates for Alaskans who decide to extend their plans for another year. The company previously had to cancel plans that didn't meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act for 5,400 members in the state.
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