Davis Talks Money with Absentee Ballots Yet to be Counted
The Alaska primary election Tuesday saw the defeat of both ballot measures and a couple of very close races between Democrats in Anchorage. In House District Seventeen in Airport Heights, Democrat Geran Tarr came out about a hundred votes ahead of Cal Williams. And in Senate District M, in East Anchorage, including the military base and Eagle River, there are still hundreds of absentee ballots to count, and Bettye Davis holds a slim lead.
Stoltze Routs Connelly
The Republican primary race for Matanusaka Valley's state House District 11 ended with incumbent Republican Bill Stoltze easily defeating challeger Tom Connelly. Stoltze, who has served in the legislature since his 2002 election, came out of Tuesday's primary with 82% of the vote.
Valley Upset Unseats Menard
Republican upstart Mike Dunleavy is heading to Juneau. Dunleavy's upset of incumbent Wasilla Senator Linda Menard has big implications for next year's legislature.
Young, Cissna Win; Ballot Measures Fail
Incumbent U.S. Representative Don Young easily won the Republican nomination for Congress on Tuesday. He will face Sharon Cissna who handily defeated a field of Democrats and Jim McDermott who ran unopposed for the Libertarian nomination.
Two statewide ballot measures failed. One would have created a coastal zone management program (38% yes, 62% no) and the other would have allowed local governments to create additional property tax relief (49.45% yes, 50.55% no).
Alaska Primary Election 2012: Unofficial Results
Southeast Primary Results: 10 Candidates, 5 Races
Wrangell Representative Peggy Wilson knocked out two Ketchikan opponents to win the Republican nomination for the new House District 33. Ketchikan is the largest community in the district, which also includes Saxman, Coffman Cove, Thorne Bay and several other Prince of Wales Island communities.
Wilson Wins District 33 Republican Primary
Incumbent Wrangell Representative Peggy Wilson won the Republican party’s nomination Tuesday, with 986 votes, or about 46 percent. Ketchikan’s Agnes Moran was second in the GOP race, with 683 votes, and Patti Mackey finished the night in third with 476.
Statoil Moves Closer To Exploratory Chukchi Drilling
Statoil is inching closer to exploratory drilling in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea, although the company says not before 2015.
Doyon Has Ambitious Interior Oil, Gas Exploration Plans
The Doyon Native Corporation has ambitious Interior Alaska oil and gas exploration plans – seismic work in the Yukon Flats and drilling in the Nenana Basin, both this winter.
Buccaneer Energy Drill Rig Enters Kachemak Bay
Residents of Homer have had a few days to get used to an unusual sight on Kachemak Bay – the presence of an enormous, 400-foot-tall jack-up drilling rig. The rig belongs to Buccaneer Energy, which plans to put it to use in Cook Inlet in the coming weeks.
Arctic Imperative Summit Addresses Future Bering Strait Activity
The Bering Strait is known as the gateway to the Arctic. Increased global interest in the resources of the region is beginning to attract investment, but access and infrastructure remain the big challenges. Monday at the Arctic Imperative Summit in Girdwood a panel of Alaska Native leaders discussed their communities’ readiness to handle increased commercial activity in the Bering Straits region.
Sen. Begich To Introduce Legislation Creating Arctic Port Authority
The state of Alaska is working with the US Army Corps of Engineers to locate a site for a deep water port. Alaska Senator Mark Begich says he plans to introduce legislation creating an Arctic Port Authority to facilitate Alaska’s future international shipping needs. Begich made the announcement over the weekend at Arctic Imperative Summit.
Fish & Wildlife Director Hears Sea Otter Concerns
The head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was in Sitka over the weekend to hear concerns about sea otters.
Grant Funds Battle of Wrangell Research
Did you know the United States Army and Stikine Tlingits fought a battle in Wrangell almost 150 years ago? If you didn’t, you’re not alone. CoastAlaska’s Ed Schoenfeld reports on an effort to find out more about the clash.
Gas Is Transferring to Cook Inlet Storage
Marathon says it is not violating its agreement and has already begun transferring gas to the facility.
Bear Kills Hiker In Denali National Park
This weekend marked a tragic first for Denali National Park. On Friday, three hikers near Toklat road camp made a discovery that would lead to the first bear mauling fatality in the Park’s history.
Sea Ice Melts Back To New Record
The sea ice in the Arctic has melted back to a new record. The National Snow and Ice Data Center says Sunday their satellite could see even less ice than it saw in September of 2007.
Stoltze, Connelly Face off in House District 11
Republican State House incumbent Bill Stoltze has served Matanuska Valley area voters for ten years. Now, Tom Connelly is challenging Stoltze for the District 11 House seat in the upcoming primary, and the Chugiak resident plans to do it without spending a penny.
UPDATED STORY: Near Riot Goes Unreported, to be Discussed at Community Forum
UPDATE: Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew now says that additional police reports have surfaced regarding the fight and what he characterized as a near riot that took place at Lyons Park in the Mountainview neighborhood on July 28.
Couple Admits to Planning Judge’s Murder
An Alaska couple has admitted to buying a gun, silencer and hand grenades, and having maps to a federal judge's homes, in what prosecutors say was a murder plot that developed from a dispute over paying taxes.
Second Shell Drill Ship Leaves Unalaska for the Arctic
After weeks of delays and public mishaps, Shell is making some progress on its Arctic drilling expedition — and they’re asking the federal government to meet them halfway.