Nearly $1 Billion Needed To Modernize Rural Sanitation Systems
Members of the Legislative Bush Caucus were told last week in a “Lunch and Learn” session on rural sanitation almost a billion dollars is needed to build, replace, and maintain rural sanitation systems. But, the gap between the level of need and funding is widening.
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Drones Don’t Fly At Alaska’s Board Of Fish
The Alaska Board of Fisheries closed some waters near Angoon to purse seining in order to improve subsistence harvests, in action over the weekend. They also shot down the use of unmanned aircraft to aid in salmon fishing.
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Shell Will Limit Rigs to One Moorage, Say Port Officials
Local officials say Shell Oil has agreed to keep their drill rigs tied up in just one location each in Unalaska, as the company looks to return to the Arctic this summer.
Below Average King Salmon Run Expected on Kuskokwim
The state is expecting a bigger run of king salmon on the Kuskokwim this summer, but still well below average. State managers say they expect strong conservation measures to continue in 2015 to ensure enough fish make it up the river to spawn. Leading up to the season, managers are seeking early input to make the season a success.
Alaska Senators Split On Homeland Security Funding Bill
The U.S. Congress tonight approved a one-week continuing resolution to avoid a partial shut down of the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier today, Alaska’s two Republican senators split over a bill that would fund the department for the rest of the fiscal year.
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Judge Denies Stay In State Education Lawsuit
A superior court ruling that invalidates the State of Alaska’s longheld practice of requiring municipal governments to contribute a specific amount toward public education remains in place for now.
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With Medicaid Language Stripped From Budget, Path To Expansion Uncertain
A House subcommittee has stripped Medicaid expansion language from the state’s operating budget. The move is a setback for the Walker administration, which has made Medicaid expansion a top priority, but the fight may not be over yet.
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Powerful Storm To Push Across Interior Alaska
A powerful storm is forecast to push across the Interior from the west on Saturday.
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Sen. Lisa Murkowski Skeptical Of Forest Service’s Tongass Plan
Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell defended his management of the Tongass National Forest today to the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who chairs the panel, says the service isn’t allowing enough timber sales to keep what remains of the logging industry in Southeast Alaska in business.
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Arctic Barge Nears Russia After Months In Ice
An unmanned fuel barge that got stuck in Arctic sea ice last fall has now made it almost as far as the northern coast of Russia. It sounds like the makings of a children’s book: the long, unexpected journey of a little barge called the NTAL-2.
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Air Force Officials Say F-35 Program Back On Track, Eielson Remains Preferred Location
The F-35 aircraft, the new fighter the Air Force wants to keep at Eielson Air Force base, has been plagued by cost overruns and equipment failures, but Air Force brass told a U.S. Senate Committee this morning those problems are in the past.
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New Marijuana Bill Would Require Alaska Residency Of Sellers
The 25-page bill would require marijuana retailers and growers to be licensed by the state, instead of just getting business registrations.
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With Budget Recommendations, Early Education Programs On Chopping Block
Pre-kindergarten grants, Parents as Teachers, Best Beginnings -- all of these early learning programs were zeroed out in the budget recommendations offered by a House education subcommittee on Tuesday night.
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Bethel Man Charged With Murder
Bethel Police have arrested 27-year-old Mark Charlie Junior in connection with the suspected homicide of 26-year-old LeeAnn Berlin. Joe Corbett is a Lieutenant for the Bethel Police Department.
As Legislature Eyes Budget Cuts, Public Media Funding Targeted
Between operations and infrastructure, public radio and television were granted $5 million in state funds in the last budget. With the proposal offered by the House Finance subcommittee, funding would be reduced to $2.5 million.
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After Filing Bill To Limit Per Diem, Anchorage Democrat Pledges Some Of Her Own
A week after filing a bill that would prohibit legislators from collecting per diem when not in the capital, Rep. Harriet Drummond has pledged to return some of her own daily allowance. The Democrat will fly home for Anchorage caucus this weekend.
Diomede Enters More than One Month Without Flights
The aviation company flying to the island village blames a combination of mechanical issues and weather is keeping flights from resuming, but residents say they’re getting by despite just one delivery of mail and cargo in the last month.
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Bethel Reacts to Walker Administration’s firing of DA
Bethel Community members are reacting to the Walker Administration’s firing of District Attorney, June Stein. While working in the office Sunday, Stein received a letter, delivered from a Deputy Attorney General informing her of her quote “impending release.” The state so far is not explaining why she’s being fired.
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Sec. Jewell on the Hot Seat in Murkowski’s Committee
Sen. Lisa Murkowski confronted Interior Secretary Sally Jewell today at a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The subject was the president’s proposed budget for the Interior Department. But Murkowski used the occasion to bash Jewell for recent department decisions blocking oil development on the North Slope.
Murkowski, Jewell Spar Over North Slope Oil And Gas Development
Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell faced off in a Senate hearing Tuesday morning in Washington.