Gov. Walker visits Sitka, meets with families of those presumed dead
Governor Bill Walker was in Sitka today to assess the damage from a series of landslides that hit the city after heavy rains Tuesday (August 18). He also met with the families of three people missing since Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, the search for the three men was proceeding slowly, hampered by fears of further landslides.
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Small-scale hydro project comes online in Iguigig
A prototype in-river hydropower system is currently in operation at Igiugig in southwest Alaska. It’s part of a recent surge of research that has pushed in-river hydro power closer to becoming a reality for rural communities seeking an alternative to diesel-based electricity.
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Pebble asks to subpoena former EPA official
The Pebble Limited Partnership is asking for a former Environmental Protection Agency official to be subpoenaed as part of the lawsuit over the agency’s alleged violation of federal regulations. The case is in front of Federal District Court Judge H. Russel Holland, who denied the EPA’s motion to dismiss the case in June.
Sitka landslides: Part of a larger landscape change?
The landslides that struck Sitka early Tuesday morning are the latest in a series of similar events that started in 2011. Although these slides are triggered by a combination of wind and rainfall, forecasters believe it’s too early to correlate these incidents with changing weather patterns -- but that may change.
Legislative panel votes to spend $450K to stop Medicaid expansion in court
A legislative panel has voted to sue Gov. Bill Walker to stop Medicaid expansion. The Legislative Council made the announcement after a closed door meeting in Anchorage on Tuesday morning.
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Yukon king run shows signs of recovery
Chinook salmon continue to swim up the Yukon River, the latest indication that the long ailing run may have turned a corner toward recovery.
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5 youths, ages 10 to 13, suspected in Bethel school vandalism spree
Bethel police have identified five juveniles age 10 and 13, suspected of vandalizing preschool classrooms and smashing windows in more than a dozen cars owned by the Lower Kuskokwim School District. Charges are being sent to the division of juvenile justice.
Sitka diesel spill now estimated at 2500 gallons
Officials are now estimating that about 2,500 gallons of diesel spilled into Sitka Sound this weekend, after a fuel tank failed at the city’s Jarvis Street Power Plant. That’s significantly less than the 7,000 gallons feared on Sunday.
24 Apache Choppers To Nest At Ft. Wainwright
The first U.S. Army apache helicopters to be based in Alaska are scheduled to arrive at Fort Wainwright this week. They're part of a new unit that will include 24 helicopters and 400 soldiers.
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Staffing the Grill & State: Walker’s First Governor’s Picnic
Bill Walker hosted his first Governor’s Picnic in Juneau on Friday at the University of Alaska Southeast.
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LGBT discrimination claims still not valid in Alaska despite federal ruling
The U.S. Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission ruled in late July that sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace is illegal because it is a form of sex discrimination, which is already prohibited. Some of the most common types of discrimination LGBT people face are in the workplace and in housing. Despite this, Alaska’s statewide and Anchorage anti-discrimination commissions don’t offer protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people.
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Earthquake swarm hits Yakutat
About 30 earthquakes have hit the Yakutat area this week. The Gulf of Alaska city, about 250 miles northwest of Juneau, is in a fault zone and quakes aren’t unusual.
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University of Alaska defines consent in new student code of conduct
The University of Alaska system has defined “consent” for the first time when it comes to sexual misconduct terminology. The definition is in the university’s new student code of conduct, which is the basis of university disciplinary proceedings. One expert calls the definition good, but thinks it could go further.
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Bethel Council Nixes City-Run Liquor Store Vote in October
There will not be a vote this October for Bethel to go into local option status and pursue opening a city-run liquor store. The Bethel City Council by a vote of five to one rejected sending the vote to citizens.
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Earthquake swarm hits Yakutat
About 30 earthquakes have hit the Yakutat area this week. The Gulf of Alaska city, about 250 miles northwest of Juneau, is in a fault zone and quakes aren’t unusual.
Out With the Summer Chum, In With the Fall Chum on the Yukon
After a slow start to the fall fishing season on the Yukon, fall chum are finally making their way up river. That’s good news for subsistence fishermen, who say they’re busy along the banks of the river, both fishing and fending off unwanted visitors.
M/V Challenger and barge overturned in Nushagak near Kokwok
A Ridge Contracting vessel and barge are overturned and sunk in the Nushagak River near the outlet of the Kokwok. The M/V Challenger with two onboard went down Sunday around 3 p.m.; both onboard are fine with no reported injuries. The cause of the sinking has not been determined yet.
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Visa-free travel to Russia reinstated for eligible Alaska Natives
The Bering Straits Regional Commission says travel restrictions for Alaska Natives to Chukotka have been lifted—leaving many with relatives on the Russian side of the strait feeling relieved.
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Juneau Assembly relaxes child care facility restrictions
Attendance was thin at Monday's Juneau Assembly meeting, but at least one parent and one prospective child care provider in the audience were elated.
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Hull Crack Forces Ferry Aurora Out of Service Early for Repairs
The ferry Aurora is out of service a week earlier than expected. A small crack was found last week in its hull. The Coast Guard ordered repairs be made before it resumes passenger service on its Prince William Sound route.
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