Officials Propose Change To Medicaid-Funded Abortion Regulations
Alaska is one of 17 states that helps pay for medically-necessary abortions. More than half of the over 1,600 performed last year in Alaska were paid by Medicaid adding up to about 900 state-funded abortions. Right now the Health and Social Services Department is proposing to change the regulations for Medicaid-funded abortions, resurrecting a contentious debate about low-income women and abortion.
Many Rural Villages Getting Broadband Access
Dozens of rural villages are getting broadband Internet access for the first time, opening the door to new economic, employment, tele-health, and educational opportunities, and creating demand for technicians to service the computers, servers, and other equipment needed to maintain high speed connections.
Study Aims To Determine Feasibility Of Tanana Road To Fairbanks
This month, the Department of Transportation begins a reconnaissance and feasibility study as part of an effort to offer the Interior community of Tanana road access to Fairbanks. It’s part of Alaska Governor Sean Parnell’s ‘Road to Resources Initiative.’ The initiative aims to increase access to natural resources and reduce fuel and supply costs to Alaska’s rural communities. If built, more than 35 miles of road will be the first link in a longer road that could stretch between the interior and the Bering Sea coast.
Wrangell Suing Former Hospital CEO
The Borough of Wrangell is suing the hospital’s former CEO Noel Selle-Rae and six of the re-called board members. They are seeking the return of the $520,000 given to Selle-Rae as a portion of his severance package.
Pitbull’s Kodiak Appearance Likely Before End Of Month
Walmart has made it official – Kodiak has won a visit from Miami singer Pitbull, and he may be coming here in less than two weeks.
Backbone Comes Back Together to Support Senate Bi-Partisan Majority
The public interest group wants to keep fractious partisan politics from becoming a part of the Alaska political scene.
Alaska-Based Soldier Killed In Afghanistan
An Alaska-based soldier from Arizona has been killed in an attack in Afghanistan. U.S. Army Alaska officials identified the soldier as 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Carl Eric Hammar of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Officials say in a release that he died Saturday from injuries he received when his dismounted patrol was attacked by a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire in the Khost Province.
Senators Say More Money Needs To Be Allocated For Debris Cleanup
The federal government is allocating a quarter of a million dollars to Pacific states to deal with debris washing ashore from the Japanese tsunami. Alaska’s senators say the amount is astonishingly low, and more needs to be on the way.
Divers Determine Noble Discoverer Did Not Ground
Divers inspected the hull of Shell’s drill ship, the Noble Discoverer, Monday night and determined that the rig never touched bottom when it drifted towards shore in Unalaska on Saturday. Coast Guard Lieutenant Jim Fothergill says investigators watched a live feed of the hull inspection from aboard the ship.
‘Law of the Sea’ Opponents May Have Enough Votes To Block Ratification
Opponents of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea believe they have the necessary votes to block ratification. Supporters say election year politics are slowing the process.
Anchorage Baptist Church Fined Back Taxes
Anchorage Baptist Temple will be receiving bills totally around $60,000 this week. The bills are from the Municipality, for back taxes. The Municipality's Chief Financial Officer, Lucinda Mahoney, says the Assessor investigated 14 homes claimed as exempt by the church.
History Detectives, Season Premiere
Watch Season 10 Preview on PBS. See more from History Detectives.
In the season premiere episode, Elyse Luray and Wes Cowan investigate whether they have found rock’s Holy Grail, the long-lost electric Fender Stratocaster Bob Dylan plugged in at the ’65 Newport Folk Festival, changing rock ‘n’ roll forever. Tukufu Zuberi tracks down some autographs allegedly signed for two brothers in Miami Beach during the Beatles’ legendary 1964 “British Invasion” tour of the United States. Finally, Gwendolyn Wright investigates a $5 thrift store find and unearths a little-known artistic side of musical iconoclast Frank Zappa. Alaska Public Television. Tuesday, July 17. 8:00 pm
USCG Opening Temporary Base In Barrow
The Coast Guard is launching a temporary base in Barrow beginning July 16 in a response to increased Arctic shipping. The Coast Guard calls it a Forward Operating Location and it will remain in place through October. It’s the largest presence the Coast Guard has ever had in the Arctic, although it has been conducting arctic outreach in Alaska since 2008.
Bering, Chukchi Sea Subsistence Polar Bear Hunters To Follow International Quota
Under a treaty with Russia, subsistence polar bear hunters in the Bering and Chukchi Seas will follow a quota for the first time. On Friday, the Alaska Nanuuq Commission and the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife were in Shishmaref to detail the new international quota.
Kuskokwim Subsistence Fishermen Going To Trial For Fishing With Illegal Gear
About two dozen Kuskokwim River subsistence fishermen will go to trial in the Bethel Court House after pleading not guilty to fishing with illegal gear. Federal and State wildlife managers closed the Kuskokwim to salmon fishing for an unprecedented 12 days this summer in order to protect the low Chinook salmon run.
Felt Soled Waders: A Slippery Slope Toward Contamination
As the salmon make their way up stream, and the rivers bustle with eager anglers, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game wants to remind sport fishermen about the ban on footgear with felt-soles. Anglers have used felt soles on their boots for years to provide better traction and stability on slippery rocks.
Family Calls Off Search For Missing Mount Marathon Runner
The family of missing Mount Marathon runner Michael LeMaitre of Anchorage is calling off its search after more than a week of continuously looking for him on the mountain. The Seward Fire department also has suspended its search over the weekend because of depleting resources and poor weather conditions.
Community Makes Effort To Memorialize Southeast Fisherman
It’s been just over a week since the Haines commercial fishing fleet and community lost a longtime resident and fisherman. But already a unique effort to honor and memorialize him has taken hold in the community.
Late-Senator Ted Stevens Inducted Into US Olympic Hall Of Fame
The late Senator Ted Stevens received a posthumous honor last week when he was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Stevens is credited with leading the congressional effort to pass the Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. It was later re-titled to include his name.
141 More Ballots Found in Closet at Anchorage City Hall
Just when everyone thought the messiest chapter in recent Anchorage voting history was closed, Municipal Leaders confirm that they have found more than 100 uncounted ballots leftover from the flawed April 3 Municipal election.