NOVA: Mystery of Easter Island
A remote, bleak speck of rock in the middle of the Pacific, Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, has mystified the world ever since the first Europeans arrived in 1722. How and why did the ancient islanders build and move nearly 900 giant statues, or moai, weighing up to 86 tons? And how did they transform a presumed paradise into a treeless wasteland, bringing ruin upon their island and themselves?
TV: Wednesday, 11/7 at 8:00pm
Bond Proposition Passes, Constitutional Convention Loses Big
Voters approved Bond Proposition A Tuesday night. It would provide $453-million in bonds for transportation projects throughout the state. However, voters defeated the proposal for a constitutional convention convention.
Republicans Pick Up AK Senate Seats
Republicans picked up seats in the Alaska Senate in Tuesday's election. Fairbanks-area Republicans John Coghill and Pete Kelly won their bids for Alaska Senate. Anchorage Democrat Bettye Davis lost her bid to keep her seat to Republican Anna Fairclough. And Bert Stedman, a Republican from Sitka, beat Democrat Albert Kookesh of Angoon.
Less Than 100 Votes Separate House District 34 Contenders
With 100 percent of House District 34's precincts reporting in, Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins (D) leads Bill Thomas (R) by under 100 votes. Many other races are still waiting on precincts.
Don Young Wins Another Term
Incumbent Don Young easily won another term in Congress Tuesday night, grabbing 65 percent of the vote in a multi-candidate field. The Republican veteran easily defeated Democrat Sharon Cissna of Anchorage and Libertarian Jim McDermott of Fairbanks.
Cause Of Downtown Juneau Fire Remains Unknown
Fire officials are still working to determine the cause of last night’s fire at an apartment building in downtown Juneau. The four-story Gastineau Apartments will be written off as a total loss. But fire crews were able to keep the blaze from spreading to other buildings along South Franklin Street.
Taskforce Addresses Sex Trafficking In Alaska
The lure of the big city can be irresistible for a young person leaving home. But danger awaits many teens and young adults who are led into a life of drugs and prostitution by sex traffickers on city streets. The State of Alaska Task Force on the Crimes of Human Trafficking held its initial public hearing in Anchorage on Monday to hear from experts on sex crimes in an effort to determine how widespread sex trafficking is in the state.
North Slope Drilling Lease Winners To Be Announced Tomorrow
There will be two lease sales in Anchorage on Wednesday. The state will announce the winning bids for its annual North Slope drilling lease sale in conjunction with a federal lease sale for drilling rights in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
Voter Turnout Varies Around State
Workers with the Alaska Division of Elections called around the state this afternoon to get a sense of how voter turnout was going. Gail Fenumiai is the Director of the division of elections. She says turnout is varying across the state.
Effort Could Close Down Togiak Fishery For 3 Years
An effort is underway to close down the Togiak sac-roe herring fishery for the next three years.
Candlelight Vigil To Mark National Homelessness Awareness Month
A local organization marks National Homelessness Awareness Month with a candlelight vigil Wednesday night in Fairbanks. The annual downtown walk is put on by Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption’s Street Outreach and Advocacy Program or “SOAP.” SOAP supervisor Randy Lewis says the event is aimed at raising awareness of homeless youth.
Anthropologist Says Salmon Are State’s Long-Term Investment
Salmon are Alaska’s long-term investment. That view was voiced by cultural anthropologist and writer Richard Nelson during the final day of Sitka’s WhaleFest. The event includes a symposium addressing trends and developments in marine and coastal science.
HooDoo Brewing Company Opens In Fairbanks
After two years of planning and 12 years of dreaming, the HooDoo Brewing Company is officially open to the public in Fairbanks. Twenty people gathered just after the doors opened last week as the first kegs were tapped. HooDoo is Alaska’s 23rd micro-brewery.
Fire Burns Over 10 Miles Of Tundra Near Dillingham
Fueled by strong winds and dry tundra, an accidental fire is burning outside of Dillingham. The fire started Friday afternoon on the edge of the city and has quickly consumed more than ten miles of open tundra. Now the Forestry Division’s Fire Management Office in McGrath is coordinating resources to respond.
John N. Marvin, Jr. Found Guilty In Hoonah Double Homicide
John Marvin Junior will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing two police officers in Hoonah. A Juneau jury returned guilty verdicts Saturday. The sentence will be no less than 119-years once it’s handed down in February.
Third Parties Seek Popular Votes in Alaska
Alaskans voting for president have four, not just two, choices. Green Party and Libertarian Party candidates qualified for spots on Alaska's ballot and could siphon popular votes away from the major parties.
Public Support For Big Projects In Bond Prop A Is Limited
Voters will also decide tomorrow whether the state should sell more than $450 million in bonds to pay for transportation and economic development projects. It’s one of the largest Bond Propositions in Alaska history. And one Fairbanks area project on the list does not have support from the local community.
It Takes A Village To Prevent Youth Suicide
While recent reports show the suicide rate falling slightly within the state, Alaska still has the highest rate in the nation – especially among Alaska Native young men. One community in Southeast had nearly the highest rate in the nation back in the 1980's, but today they see almost no suicide in their village. In the next installment of our “Being Young in Rural Alaska” series, Sarah Gonzales goes to Kake to learn about what it means to successfully prevent suicide.
Wrangell’s Garnet Grit Betties Are Recruiting
Women in Wrangell are strapping on roller skates and heading to the rink. Wrangell’s Garnet Grit Betties meet Wednesday and Sunday evenings at the skating rink inside Hope Community Church. Ten women showed up during a recent practice. They took a few spins around the track, practiced skating fundamentals and learned some derby techniques.
Reminder: Check Your Polling Place!
Before you head to your polling place, you may want to double check the location. That's because redistricting may have changed where you vote. If you voted in the primary election, then you may have already figured out that your voting location changed. If you didn't, then you could be in for a surprise. Gail Fenumiai is the Director of the division of elections. She says since there was low turnout for the primary, around 25 percent, voters may be confused come election day. But no need to fear, Fenumiai says it's as easy as going to the Division of Elections website.