Clearwater Lodge Burns Down
The Clearwater Lodge near Delta Junction burned to the ground this morning. The rustic lodge was a popular gathering place for fishermen, birders and others who come to the Clearwater River.
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Sealaska Reports $35 Million Net Loss Last Year
Southeast Alaska’s regional Native corporation says it had a net loss of $35 million last year. Sealaska’s 2013 annual report says three-quarters of the loss came from its construction subsidiary. It badly underestimated the cost of two building projects in Hawaii.
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Diesel Fuel Spilled Into Nushagak River
A vessel transiting the Nushagak River apparently hit something overnight that punctured a fuel tank. An estimated 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from the vessel.
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After Growing to 50,000 Acres, Officials May Recharacterize Prescribed Burn As Wildfire
A prescribed burn on the Oklahoma Range in the Donnelly Training near Delta Junction has grown to more than 50,000 acres. The burn was ignited in dry grass last Saturday. Alaska Fire Service Spokesman Mel Slater says officials are considering whether to change its characterization from a prescribed burn to a wildfire.
As State Advances Unprecedented Mining Road to Ambler, Local Support in Question
The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, AIDEA, meets in Kotzebue today with a game management group to discuss a proposed 220-mile road to a copper deposit in the Northwest Arctic Borough that’s potentially valuable.
Shishaldin Volcano Rumbling To Life
Shishaldin Volcano is rumbling to life in the Aleutian Islands. The Alaska Volcano Observatory detected long tremors and an increase in surface temperatures at Shishaldin earlier Tuesday.
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Managers May Close Kuskokwim to King Salmon Fishing Earlier than Planned
The waters of Kuskokwim River are free of ice and at the moment open to subsistence king salmon fishing, but that could quickly change, depending on how many fisherman are targeting and catching king salmon in a year that managers believe is crucial for viability of the run.
Unalaska Tallies Cost of Blasting Issues at Wastewater Plant, Landfill
It's been a year since Unalaska started uncovering big problems with a major construction project in town. Work is moving forward on the city’s new wastewater treatment plant. But, staff are still trying to put a price on the damage done.
Fish and Game Expects Low Yukon Chinook Run
The run size for Yukon River Chinook, or king salmon, is likely to be lower than last year’s. Fishermen saw the lowest run of kings on record in 2013.
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Bethel City Council Fires City Manager Lee Foley
The Bethel City Council voted unanimously to fire City Manager Lee Foley during a special meeting Monday.
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Pacific Walruses Removed From Unusual Mortality Event In North Pacific
Pacific walruses have been removed from the unusual mortality event declared in the North Pacific for several marine mammal species.
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Panel Discussion Addresses Effects Of British Columbia Mines
Over the weekend, the Western Mining Action Network held a panel discussion in Anchorage on the development of large scale mines in British Columbia that could impact the Taku, Stikine and Unuk rivers. All are prolific salmon producers for Alaska.
Chris Zimmer is the Alaska Rivers without Borders campaign director. He says there are a number of mines proposed for BC and two of the most concerning are the Tulsequah Chief mine and the much larger Kerr Suphurets Mitchell or KSM prospect which is half the size of the Pebble mine proposal and 50 times larger than Tulsequah.
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Concerns Raised Over Alaska’s Lack Of Standing To Address Canadian Mining
Robert Sanderson is first vice president of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes and was at the mining conference. He also is concerned that Alaskans don’t have legal standing to address Canadian mining.
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Banking Error Delays State Payroll
About 15,000 state of Alaska employees will wait another day for their paychecks, due to a banking glitch. Direct deposits were not processed as expected by U.S. Bank on Monday, according to the Administration Department.
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Juneau Birders Photograph Rare Long-Billed Curlew
A Juneau couple has likely made the first verified sighting of a Long-billed Curlew in Alaska. North America’s largest shorebird, rarely seen in this part of the country, may become No. 502 on the Checklist of Alaska Birds.
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Two Bethel Establishments Reportedly Were Operating as Bottle Clubs
The Alaska Alcohol Beverage Control Board says two Bethel establishments have been illegally allowing patrons to bring in and consume their own alcohol, operating as what’s known as “bottle clubs.” But two conflicting statutes in the state alcohol law put certain clubs in a gray area.
Ambler Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges for Shooting at VPO
An Ambler man is facing attempted murder charges after Alaska State Troopers say he tried to shoot a village police officer through the door of his home.
YKHC CEO Releases Layoff Details
Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation Officials announced layoffs this week due to a $12 million budget shortfall. It’s the second round of cuts in less than a year.
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Tacoma Climber Dies On Denali
Just days into climbing season, a mountaineer has died in an an accident high on Denali. Sylvia Montag, 39, of Tacoma Washington, became separated from her climbing partner around May 5th.
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Apache Selling Gulf Of Mexico Offshore Interests
The oil and gas company exploring the west side of Cook Inlet is getting a cash infusion. Apache is selling off some of its Gulf of Mexico offshore interests to a mining company - Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold - for $1.4 billion.