Behind the Scenes of Alaska’s Film Industry
Over the past few years Hollywood has taken a keen interest in Alaska. Big budget films are being shot here, and it seems like new Alaskan reality TV programs pop up every week. The bustling industry isn’t growing on its own. The state spends a lot of money courting out of state productions. While it’s a boon for the economy, some think the resources would be better spent elsewhere.
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NOAA Considers State’s Petition To Delist Humpback
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will look into whether to take the Central North Pacific humpback whale off the Endangered Species list.
The State of Alaska submitted a petition to remove the whale from the list at the end of February. NOAA announced today it has enough information to warrant further research. This is the second petition NOAA has received to take endangered protections away from the humpback whale.
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Pavlof Volcano Downgraded To Lowest Alert Level
Pavlof Volcano’s latest eruption appears to be subsiding. The Alaska Volcano Observatory has downgraded Pavlof to the lowest alert level.
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Questions Remain Despite Successful Missile Defense Test
A physicist with the Union of Concerned Scientists is calling the Ground Based Midcourse Missile Defense System, less than proven, despite Sunday’s successful test over the Pacific Ocean.
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Clean-Up Continues for Norton Sound Hospital Fuel Spill
Clean-up efforts continue beneath Norton Sound Regional Hospital after a spill of hundreds of gallons of heating fuel.
Community Leaders Flying to Kotzebue for Meeting on Ambler Road
Starting Wednesday, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority—or AIDEA—is holding two days of meetings in Kotzebue about a proposed 200-mile road through the interior to the Ambler Mining District.
New Placer Mining Permits Proposed
Interior miners aren’t happy with changes proposed to federal permits for small scale placer operations that impact water resources, including wetlands. Dozens attended an Army Corps of Engineers public meeting in Fairbanks last week on the proposals.
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Groups Ask Seek Endangered Species Protection For Yellow Cedar Trees
Conservation groups are asking for endangered species protection for yellow cedar trees in Alaska. The trees have been dying off in portions of Southeast over the past century. Scientists say it’s likely due to a warming climate and lack of snow cover for vulnerable roots.
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Lobbying Efforts Galvanize Unalaska Hospital Project
Tribal and federal officials say the plan to build a regional hospital for the Southwest in Unalaska is closer than ever to reality.
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All Hope for Knik Bridge Rides on Federal Decision
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell on Friday signed a bill to finance a $900 million bridge across Knik Arm. A decade ago, bridge proponents hoped to fund the project entirely with federal earmarks. But then Congress banned earmarks, in part due to public outrage over this bridge and another in Ketchikan, both derided nationally as “bridges to nowhere.” Now, the Knik project all depends on winning a low-interest from a federal program known as TIFIA.
8.0M Quake Puts Aleutians on Tsunami Watch
The tsunami advisory in Unalaska has ended, after a powerful underwater earthquake in the Western Aleutians triggered tsunami alerts for parts of the Aleutian Islands Monday afternoon.
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Medicare Will Penalize Alaska Hospitals For Patient Safety
The four largest hospitals in Alaska are facing Medicare payment penalties for the quality of their care. Providence, Alaska Regional, Alaska Native Medical Center and Fairbanks Memorial are all in the bottom 25% nationally for the number of infections and serious complications patients get in their hospitals, according to data analyzed by Kaiser Health News.
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Tsunami Warning In Effect From Attu to Nikolski
A tsunami advisory is in effect for Unalaska. The advisory stretches from Unimak Pass to Nikolski. Public Safety says people do not need to evacuate to high ground at this time. They say residents should avoid shore areas, but don't need to take any other action.
Convicted Killer Joshua Wade Claims Three More Murders
The Anchorage Police Department and FBI are investigating claims by convicted Anchorage killer Joshua Wade that he is responsible for three additional murders.
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Family of Wade’s Alleged New Victim Demands Justice
As Wade promises details about additional murders he claims to have committed, the family of one of his alleged new victims says they’re feeling their loss once again… and they’re angry Wade won’t face new charges or a trial for the murders.
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Ethics Panel: Rep. Young Misused Campaign Funds, Took Improper Gifts
The House Ethics Committee today issued a letter of reprimand to Alaska Congressman Don Young for spending campaign money on trips to hunting lodges and improperly accepting gifts, many of them from lobbyists and related to travel.
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House Ethics panel: Young Misused Campaign Funds, Accepted Improper Gifts
The U.S. House Ethics Committee today issued a letter of reproval to Alaska Congressman Don Young for accepting multiple hunting trips as gifts in violation of the House Gift Rule. The committee says he should repay $59,000 for gifts and expenses related to 15 hunting trips between 2001 and 2013.
Former Haines Police Dispatcher Speaks Out On Alleged Harasser
Gov. Sean Parnell wants the hiring process for state employees examined after it was revealed a former police officer hired with the ferry system has a checkered past. Several people who talked about Jason Joel’s job performance for a previous story did not want to share their identity, including a former Haines Police Dispatcher who alleges Joel harassed her on the job. Now she is speaking out.
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U.S. Senators Work to Allow Foreign Students Back in Fish Plants
In Congress today, a bill that would allow foreign students to work in Alaska fish processing plants cleared a major committee. The provision is part of a spending bill now headed to the Senate floor. Both Alaska senators say they pressed for the return of the J-1 visa program to help meet demand for seasonal seafood processors. But, the program is controversial.
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Army Changes Training Procedures In Wake Of Stuart Creek 2 Fire
It’s been one year since the Stuart Creek 2 Wildfire was reported burning in the Yukon Training area northeast of Fairbanks. The blaze, ignited during an Army artillery training exercise, burned more than 87,000 acres. It was one of the largest wildfires in the United States in 2013.
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