Alaska Military Future Remains Uncertain
The U.S. military is in a time of transition and future mission status is uncertain. That was the message of U.S. Army Alaska commander Major General Michael Garret in Fairbanks yesterday. Garret says the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan means there are no combat deployments on the horizon, and the focus is on training.
Scientists Look For Ways To Kill Sitka Tunicate
Scientists have been monitoring an invasive species of sea squirt growing on the bottom of Whiting Harbor, in Sitka. It’s called D-vex. Reporter Ellen Chenoweth reports on the bizarre biology of this invasive species and how new research might help scientists get rid of it.
Alaska Health Care Leaders To Exchange Ideas on Industry Reform
Alaska’s Health care leaders will exchange ideas on industry reform at a one day conference Thursday in Anchorage. With full implementation of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act coming in just over a year, there is no shortage of topics to discuss.
Affordable Housing For Elderly Becoming Scarce
The senior citizen population in the Matanuska Susitna Borough is escalating, while affordable housing for older people is getting scarce. In the second of a series on senior issues in the Mat-Su, KSKA reporter Ellen Lockyer takes a look at what’s being done to meet the needs of Alaska’s aging baby boomers, and what challenges lie ahead.
Song Written To Celebrate New Arctic Research Vessel
An original piece of music has been written to celebrate the University of Alaska Fairbanks new Arctic research vessel, the Sikuliaq.
Anchorage Utilities Call for Plan B on Natural Gas
Utilities have been saying Anchorage is running low on natural gas for a while, but today they said it could happen sooner than expected. That was the message from utilities to the Municipality during a Mayor's task force meeting on energy today. The utilities called for a “Plan B” to address the situation.
Unalaska Has Loud Voice on Arctic Policy Commission
As the closest deepwater port to the Arctic, Unalaska is set to play a major role in the region’s economic development. Now, the city is positioning itself to influence Arctic politics, too.
FERC Turns Down Hydro Company Again
U.S. officials have once more ruled against a private company that wants to develop a controversial hydro-electric plant near Petersburg. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week re-affirmed its decision not to give Cascade Creek LLC another exclusive permit for the site.
Anchorage OKs Independent Home Plan Review
The Anchorage Assembly voted to allow builders to carry out their own inspections instead of waiting for the city on Tuesday night. The vote was 9-2. The Municipal Building Department said such a practice would be a conflict of interest, but Mayor Dan Sullivan said he would not oppose the change, which covers structural review for safety and earthquake and snow load stability, but not other aspects of the city code. The builders argued that it was taking too long to get municipal inspectors to do it and they would rather pay to hire it out and not have the delay.
Anchorage Assembly Repeals Sidewalk Sitting Ordinance
Last night the Anchorage Assembly repealed its ordinance that made it illegal to sit on city sidewalks. Mayor Dan Sullivan is saying he will veto it. The vote was 7 to 2. Eight votes would be needed to overturn a veto.
Taylor Bickford Leaving Alaska Redistricting Board
Taylor Bickford is leaving the Alaska Redistricting Board. Chairman John Torgerson says Bickford, and assistant director, Jim Ellis, will be moving on, effective Oct. 12, leaving an administrative assistant to manage day-to-day activities. The Board has to stand ready to respond if the Alaska Supreme Court does not let the temporary redistricting plan stand after the general election.
Department of the Interior Announces NPR-A Lease Sale
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced it will hold a lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska in November. The lease sale will take place in Anchorage Wednesday Nov. 7. Companies will be able to bid for drilling access to four and a half million acres of land.
False Pass Experimenting With Hydro Power
The tiny Aleutian village of False Pass is about to become a lab for cutting-edge renewable energy. If the experiment works, False Pass will be the first town in the country to be powered by ocean currents.
Brotherhood Bridge For Sale
Need a bridge? It’s not the usual thing to see in the classifieds, but the state of Alaska wants to unload the 47-year-old Brotherhood Bridge, which spans Juneau’s Mendenhall River.
Medical Examiners Work To ID Body Found Near Coastal Trail
Medical examiners are working to identify a body found near the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage on Monday. Anchorage Police Department Spokesman, Lieutenant Dave Parker says a person using the trail spotted the body in a heavily wooded area between the paved trail and Cook Inlet, just before 3 p.m. Monday afternoon.
Alaska Railroad to Resume Freight Service
The Alaska Railroad is planning to resume freight traffic between Anchorage and Fairbanks on Tuesday after repairs were made to 500 feet of track washed out by flooding.
USGS Tests Early Earthquake Warning System In California
Scientists can’t predict earthquakes yet. But the United States Geological Survey has been piloting a system in California for a year that gives early warning before an earthquake hits. The federal agency will update Congress on how it’s working later this week.
Cruise Ship Wastewater Handling Practices May Change
A report that could change the way cruise ships handle wastewater is nearly done. A state science advisory panel met last week in Juneau and shared some of its work with the public.
Historian Discovers Early Cartographer Technique
Every once in a while an historian makes a find that changes everything. Recently, a researcher combing through the National Archives made just such a discovery. In this case, while working on a project to scan some of the very first maps of Alaska, he learned how early cartographers so accurately depicted places they had never been.
Women in America: Changing Roles, Challenging Times, Defining the Future
While her story may be hidden from the history books, the first woman to run for President of the U.S. in 1872, Victoria Woodhull will finally be introduced to theater audiences when Anchorage Opera presents the world premiere of "Mrs. President" in October. In anticipation of the opera, "Mrs. President" composer Victoria Bond joined Alaskan trailblazers Arliss Sturgulewski, Senator Bettye Davis, Jane Angvik, Georgiana Lincoln and Cynthia Toohey for a panel discussion moderated by APRN's Lori Townsend on "Women in America: Changing Roles, Challenging Times, Defining the Future."
KSKA: Thursday 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm