Assessor Says State Taxes Don’t Apply To Kulluk Drill Rig
After the grounding of Shell’s Kulluk drill rig in January, reports circulated that the company had been moving it from Unalaska to Seattle in order to avoid Alaska’s oil and gas property tax. But this week, as the Kodiak Daily Mirror first reported, the state decided that tax doesn’t actually apply to the offshore rig. That’s despite the Kulluk being grounding in Alaskan waters on Jan. 1, when the state’s oil and gas property tax rolls were drafted.
Alyeska Tram To Reopen Saturday
Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood says the tram will be running Saturday afternoon for the first time in six weeks. One of the tram cars was severely damaged New Years Eve, when a wind gust blew it into the tram tower. The tram car was impaled in the incident, and the five people aboard, including the tram operator had to be evacuated on ropes by ski patrol. One guest suffered a minor head injury.
USPS To Scale Back Hours At Douglas And Auke Bay Post Offices
The United States Postal Service will scale back hours at two Juneau post offices next month. Notices went up at the Douglas and Auke Bay post offices earlier this week. Starting March 4th, the Douglas station will only be open 1 to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, and 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Auke Bay will be open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays, and noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. That’s a reduction of three and half hours every weekday at Douglas, and an hour and a half at Auke Bay.
Vigils Planned To Mourn 13-Year-Old Kake Girl’s Death
As the investigation into her death continues, candlelight vigils are planned across Alaska tonight (Friday) in memory of Mackenzie Howard. The 13-year-old Kake girl is believed to be a victim of murder in the small, Southeast village on Kupreanof Island.
Senate Committee Advances Gov. Parnell’s Bill Cutting Oil Taxes
A special Senate committee on oil production has advanced Gov. Sean Parnell’s bill to lower taxes on oil companies without any amendments. But that does not mean the committee is in total agreement with the bill.
Troopers Investigating Kake Teenager’s Death As A Homicide
Alaska State Troopers are investigating the death of a 13-year-old girl in the small Southeast community of Kake as a homicide.
Public Turns Out For Eielson Meetings
The Air Force is wrapping up a series of public meetings in Alaska tonight in North Pole. The scoping sessions are to identify issues to consider in an environmental impact statement for the proposed downsizing of Eielson Air Force Base. The cost savings of moving an F-16 squadron from Fairbanks to Anchorage have faced a range of opposition and questions at meetings in both communities.
Effectiveness of Oil Spill Dispersants Challenged
This coming May, the Arctic Council will meet in Sweden to finalize an international agreement on oil spill preparedness. In the meantime, questions are multiplying about the adequacy of existing oil spill response technology to deal with arctic conditions. And one of the primary tools, dispersants, are coming under attack from the marine conservation organization, Oceana, in a scientific report that was released this week in Anchorage at the Alaska Forum on the Environment.
Lance Mackey Scratches From Yukon Quest
A demoralized and disappointed Lance Mackey pulled his dog team into Dawson this morning and voluntarily scratched from the Yukon Quest.
Cleveland’s New Lava Dome Increases Eruption Risk
After a few quiet months, Cleveland Volcano is waking up. Cleveland’s last recorded eruption was in November. Then, at the end of January, the Alaska Volcano Observatory’s satellites picked up warming temperatures on Cleveland’s surface. And they found a new lava dome growing in the summit crater. It’s 330 feet in diameter -- just shy of a football field.
After Repairs, Massive Cargo Ship Leaves Unalaska
The Shin Onoe cargo ship has left Unalaska ahead of schedule, and without incident. Coast Guard Lt. Jim Fothergill says the vessel passed its sea trials and a Coast Guard inspection, and left Summer Bay around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
13-Year-Old Girl Found Dead Inside Kake Church
Family members have identified the person found dead in the Southeast community of Kake Tuesday night as a 13-year-old girl, Mackenzie H. Howard of Kake. Alaska State Troopers say Howard was found by a member of the community inside the Memorial Presbyterian Church.
‘Stand Your Ground’ Bill Resurfaces In Legislature
Since 2010, the Alaska state legislature has debated the passage of a “Stand Your Ground” law. Versions of the bill have made their way through committee, passed in the House, and then ultimately stalled in the Senate. Now, the bill is back.
Obama Nominates REI Chief Exec To Lead The Department of the Interior
President Barack Obama nominated REI chief executive Sally Jewell to lead the Department of the Interior today. It’s a Cabinet position with incredible influence over Alaska. And by virtually every account, the pick surprised everyone.
Plane Crash Near Kalskag Injures Three
A Cessna 172 owned by the Kuspuk School District crashed on the Kuskokwim River on Tuesday. The pilot and both passengers were injured in the crash.
EPA’s Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment Goes Back To The Drawing Board
The EPA has taken their Bristol Bay watershed assessment back to the drawing board for revisions. When finished, the assessment could become a basis for the EPA to veto the proposed Pebble mine, but a final version of the controversial study now won’t likely be completed until the end of the year.
State Cracking Down On Cruise Industry’s Third-Party Contractors
The summer cruise ship season is like Christmas for a lot of coastal retailers, and they depend on the tourist income to stay open. But because the stakes are high, business has the potential to get dirty. For the first time, the State of Alaska is cracking down on third-party contractors that are allegedly treating local stores unfairly.
Palmer Man Charged In January JBER Incident
A Palmer man faces multiple charges for a wild incident last month on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. Kyle Hansen, 25, is charged with illegally entering a military base, destroying government property and assault.
King Cove Residents Still Hopeful For Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Road
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service came out against a controversial proposed road through the Izembek National Wildlife refuge today. Residents of the Aleutian community of King Cove are disappointed, but as KUCB’s Stephanie Joyce reports, they’re not giving up on the project.
EPA Plans Final Bristol Bay Assessment This Year
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to issue a final report this year on the impacts of large-scale mining in the Bristol Bay region. That’s according to regional director Dennis McLerran.