Anchorage Family’s 50-Year-Old Secret Revealed
This is the time for big family gatherings. And for Bill Popp’s family in Anchorage, those celebrations will be even sweeter this year. Last fall, Popp found out he had a younger sister, who his mom had given up for adoption in 1961. Yesterday, we heard how that family secret was revealed after 50 years. Today, Julia O’Malley tells part two of the story – why Bill’s mom Mary Lou had to put the baby up for adoption.
Coast Guard Finds Safety Violations On Shell Rig
Shell’s Noble Discoverer drill rig has had several high-profile mishaps in 2012. Now, the Coast Guard says it found problems with the rig's on-board systems during an emergency inspection in Seward.
Federal Unemployment Benefits Will End If No Stop-Gap Measure Reached
If Congress doesn’t pass a stop gap measure that includes it, federal emergency unemployment compensation will end for thousands of jobless Alaskans on Monday. President Obama would like to see federal unemployment benefits as part of a stop-gap measure to avert the so called fiscal cliff.
Top of the World 350 Kicks Off in Tok
Some well known names in the Alaska mushing world are heading toward Eagle today as the inaugural running of the Top of the World 350 kicked off in Tok. Lance Mackey, Gerry Willomitzer and Dan Kaduce are among the 22 mushers racing toward the Yukon river community near the Canadian border. The race is in honor of Eagle elder Issac Juneby who passed away last summer. Shyanne Beatty is Juneby’s niece. She’s helping with the organization of the race and spoke to me today from the Tok Dog Musher’s association headquarters. She says mushers came from across the state.
No Deal In Sight To Avert Federal Spending Cuts
The nation is just five days away from the New Year. And as we’ve all heard more than a year now, the New Year will bring tax increases and federal spending cuts. There is no deal in sight, though leaders may try and push a pared back plan to avert the fiscal cliff.
Law Enforcement Looking for Leads on Mailbox Theft
View Mail Box Thefts in a larger map The U.S. Postal Service is offering a reward for information about a man who allegedly stole mail collection boxes in Anchorage over the Christmas holiday.
Sitka Man Dies After Car Crash
A young Sitka man crashed his car into an other vehicle and was killed in the crash Sunday night. Police say Lane Marlin Robinson, 22, took off on Halibut Point Road after failing to stop for an officer's lights and siren. He crossed the center-line at high speed and hit a sports utility vehicle driven by an 18-year-old woman. Robinson was declared dead at the scene.
Cargo Vessel Crew Member Falls Overboard In Gulf of Alaska
A crew member fell overboard from a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Alaska Tuesday night and was not found. The "Aqua Splendor" was on its way to Asia from Washington state and was about 300 miles south of Kodiak when the crew member fell. They threw flotation gear to him and put out a distress call. The Coast Guard sent out a C-130 but it was forced by the weather to turn back. A second vessel also searched, but found no sign of the man.
Army Identifies JBER Soldier Found Dead In Barracks
The Army has identified the man found dead of a gunshot wound at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Tuesday morning as Private Grant Wise, age 25, of Fairport, New York. Wise was assigned to Alaska duty with the 4-25th in September, after serving at Fort Bragg. The Army says he was found dead in another soldier's barracks room and investigation continues.
Web Search Reveals Painful, 50-Year Secret For Anchorage Family
Bill Popp thought he knew his family. Popp is president of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation. And his family is a close-knit, longtime Alaska clan who talk and text and gather often at Bill’s house in east Anchorage. But last year, everything Bill thought he knew about his family changed. And all it took was one random Google search. Anchorage Daily News columnist Julia O’Malley has the first story in a three part series.
Avalanche Danger High in Southcentral
After little snow, Southcentral Alaska finally saw accumulation with the Christmas Eve storm. But with the new snowfall comes avalanche danger.
Body of Missing USCG Hiker Recovered on Christmas Day
On Kodiak Island, the body of a Coast Guardsmen missing since Saturday was recovered Monday on Barometer Mountain.
Silver Bay Seafood’s Coming To Bristol Bay In 2014
Another seafood processor is planning to operate in Bristol Bay.
Alaska Native Arts Foundation Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
The Alaska Native Arts Foundation is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. The foundation’s gallery is in downtown Anchorage but Trina Landlord, the executive director, says they now have a registry of more than 1,100 Alaska Native artists from across Alaska. She says beyond showcasing art and helping build economies in rural Alaska, the foundation offers training in both art and in business training for artists.
Volunteers Create 5,000 Yukon Quest Trail Markers
Volunteers gathered in south Fairbanks last weekend for the first in a handful of events leading up the start of the 30th running of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race on February second. They were tasked with cranking out 5,000 trail markers for the event.
Juneau Youth Draws Attention Of John F. Kennedy Center
Eight-year-old violinists and arts in Juneau schools have drawn the John F. Kennedy Center to the capital city. Representatives from the nation’s performing arts center are scoping out Juneau as a finalist for the Any Given Child program. It honors communities that provide high quality arts education to all children.
The Rest of The Story…
You read part 1 and part 2 in the Anchorage Daily News. For part 3, ADN's Julia O'Malley and APRN's Annie Feidt collaborate to bring you the last and final chapter in the intriguing story about a well-known Anchorage family who happened upon a lost sister via Google search.
Hear the rest of the story in a 3 parts on Alaska News Nightly Wednesday - Friday at 6:00 pm on KSKA. You can also hear the full 30-minute series on A Closer Look Saturday at 6:00 pm, repeating Sunday at 7:30 pm on FM 91.1.
JBER Soldier Found Dead In Barracks Tuesday Morning
Not much information available yet from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where the Army says a soldier was found dead in the barracks Tuesday morning of an apparent gunshot wound. The name has not yet been released. The Army says an investigation is being done.
NOVA: Building the Great Cathedrals
Carved from a hundred million pounds of stone, soaring effortlessly atop a spider web of masonry, Gothic cathedrals are marvels of human achievement and artistry. But how did medieval builders reach such spectacular heights? Consuming the labor of entire towns, sometimes taking a hundred years to build, these architectural marvels were crafted from just hand tools and stone. Many now teeter on the brink of catastrophic collapse. To save them, an international team of engineers, architects, art historians and computer scientists searches the naves, bays and bell-towers for clues to how the dream of these heavenly temples on earth came true.
TV: Wednesday, 12/26 at 8:00 p.m.
Downton Abbey Revisited
Watch Downton Abbey Revisited - Preview on PBS. See more from Downton Abbey Revisited.
In this riveting special, DOWNTON ABBEY REVISITED, savor great moments from the series’ first two seasons, along with cast interviews, rare behind-the-scenes footage and a sneak peek at what’s in store for the Crawleys as they enter the Roaring Twenties. What will become of Bates? What new mischief will villainous footman Thomas and scheming lady’s maid O’Brien instigate? Will wedding bells finally ring? And how will the formidable Dowager Countess (Dame Maggie Smith) handle the arrival of Lady Grantham’s American mother (Shirley MacLaine)? TV: Saturday, 12/1 at 9:30pm TV: Sunday, 12/2 at 7:30pm and 9:00pm