5.8-Magnitude Quake Rattles Mainland Alaska
The earthquake was centered 64 miles west of Willow. Alaskans from a large section of the state -- from Seward, Fairbanks, Denali and the Mat Su Valley reported the shaking.
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KSM mine targets richer ore while seeking investors
A Canadian mining company says it’s found richer deposits of gold and copper ore at its controversial KSM project. It’s spending $16 million to continue to explore for more at its site, upriver from Ketchikan, this summer.
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Crews continue containment work on Kenai Peninsula fires
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. But in this case, smoke from the Card Street Fire on Tuesday was from an intentional burn, one meant to prevent the fire from coming any closer to recreational facilities in the Skilak Lake area.
Enviros: Shell’s Arctic Plan Violates Walrus Rule
Environmental groups say they’ve found a fundamental flaw in Shell’s plan to drill in the Chukchi Sea this summer. They say Shell’s plan to use two drill rigs at once violates a 2013 Fish and Wildlife regulation aimed at protecting walruses.
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Interior Alaska Ablaze With Lightning-Ignited Fires
Smoke is spreading over a large area of the state, as wildfire activity grows. There were 56 new wildfires Monday statewide, and 238 active, mostly in interior and southwest Alaska.
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Crews Stage in Kalskag to Quell An Upshot in Wildfires
Fire officials are moving crews off the Whitefish Lake fire to Lower Kalskag as a staging area for protecting homes and other communities threatened by fires. Crews had been working to establish a fire line on the northern edge, but are now changing strategy.
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55 Homes Destroyed by Sockeye, According to New Estimate
The figure is double assessments from last week when officials were unable to survey areas within the fire zone.
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Two Volcanoes Under Watch in the Aleutians
Two volcanoes in the Aleutian chain have been showing signs of activity for years, but recent satellite images prompted the Alaska Volcano Observatory to raise its alert level and aviation color code.
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Fire Threatens Tanana; Voluntary Evacuations Underway
A 25,000-acre fire burning near the interior village of Tanana has prompted voluntary evacuations in that community for elders and people sensitive to smoke.
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‘Fairbanks Four’ Suspect Paroled
One of four Fairbanks men fighting for exoneration from murder convictions was paroled last week. The Alaska Native community gathered in Fairbanks over the weekend to welcome home Marvin Roberts.
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Economic Report Assesses Potential for A Recession in Alaska
The state released a report last week with the ominous title, "The Great Alaska Recession." It's written by Juneau economist Greg Erickson, who was commissioned by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority to produce a report on the economic impact of Medicaid Expansion.
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GOP Presidential Candidate Announces Alaska Team
Of the throng of Republicans known to be running for president, the state party says Marco Rubio is the first to announce an Alaska team. Anchorage political consultants Art and April Hackney have signed on to lead the Alaska campaign.
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Wildfire Threatens Nulato; Village Evacuates Upriver
The village of Nulato is beginning evacuations as the Nulato fire is approaching the new town settlement. The fire started on Sunday just a mile from the village. According to the Alaska fire service it was caused by lightning.
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Conflicting Water Rights at the Heart of Chuitna Mining Debate
PacRim Coal is proposing a strip mining operation on the west side of Cook Inlet, in the Chuitna watershed. It proposes removing the water completely from a tributary of the Chuitna River, which is a salmon stream.
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Breaking the Link Between Childhood Trauma And Suicide
Close to 200 people in Juneau joined forces Thursday to break the link between childhood trauma and suicide. They’re taking part in a two day suicide prevention conference. Day one focused on establishing the trauma-suicide link.
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Ready… Set… Net! Bristol Bay Setnet Fishery Opens
Setnetters in the Nushagak Section had their first opportunity to put their nets in the water Sunday night.
Lightning Strikes Ignite Nearly 50 New Fires
Dozens of new wildfires are burning around interior and western Alaska, as widespread lightning continues to cause new starts. An Alaska Interagency Coordination Center report listed 47 new fires Monday morning, with 186 active blazes state-wide.
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Disaster Prep: Salvation Army Collects Emergency Supplies
To acknowledge National Safety Month the Salvation Army of Homer is taking up donations of emergency supplies to use in case of a disaster.
Kenai Peninsula fires slowly coming into containment
The Card Street fire near Sterling and two fires near Cooper Landing continue to burn on the Kenai Peninsula. As of Sunday morning, the Card Street fire was estimated to be around 7,700 acres.
Silver Bay Seafoods to pay $75k environmental fine
Sitka-based fish processor Silver Bay Seafoods has agreed to pay a $75,000 penalty for environmental violations at its plant in Valdez.