News

Shell Oil wrapped up its exploratory drilling season in the Arctic today. As promised, not a drop of oil was spilled in the process – but not a drop was drilled either.

Long lasting mega storms, like Hurricane Sandy, are likely tied to a warming Arctic. Dr. Jennifer Francis, a researcher with the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University, says rising Arctic temperatures have changed the jet stream that drives weather in the northern hemisphere.

The Anchorage Police Department is seeking more help from the public to find witnesses to Sunday morning's fatal shooting that took place outside of the downtown club Platinum Jaxx.

Trials began yesterday for two dozen Kuskokwim subsistence fishermen who allegedly fished with salmon nets when they were restricted this past summer. The first three fishermen were found guilty at the Bethel District Court House today. The politics of subsistence rights versus state restrictions weighs far heavier on the trials than the violations themselves, worth $250 each

Gathering information about the scale of the problem of sex trafficking in Alaska will be the focus of a state hearing on the issue next week. The lengthily titled State of Alaska Task Force on the Crimes of Human Trafficking, Promoting Prostitution and Sex Trafficking will hold hearings in Anchorage and Bethel. Cori Badgley is an assistant Attorney General with the state. She says domestic violence and sexual assault of children are usually in the backgrounds of victims of sex trafficking. She says it's important for Alaskans to weigh in on this crime.

Trials began today for fishermen who allegedly fished with salmon nets when they were restricted this past summer. Seats were full at Courtroom 4 at the Bethel Court House. Representatives with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were present along with several staff from the Association of Village Council Presidents, other tribal leaders, and seniors from the Bethel Senior Center.

A new report finds that alcohol and drug abuse cost Alaska’s economy $1.2 billion in 2010. That number includes direct, immediate costs, such as the $217.7 million spent on criminal justice and protective services and $237.3 million on health care costs. But the report, which was commissioned by the Alaska Mental Health Board and the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, says the largest impact comes from lost productivity. What that means is the number of hours in which a person could have been working and producing goods and services that contribute to the economy, but didn’t.

The CEO of Anglo American, the company that makes up half of the Pebble Partnership, has resigned. Cynthia Carroll was the first woman to head the international mining conglomerate. Shareholders asked her to resign after a 55 percent drop in profits for the first half of 2012. She's credited with improving safety agendas in the company.

The National Weather Service has eliminated its tsunami advisory for Alaska. It had issued a warning and then an advisory Saturday night after a 7.7 earthquake was detected about 25 miles south of Sandpit, British Columbia.

Prosecution witnesses continued testimony today in Juneau in the trial of Hoonah resident John Marvin junior. Marvin is accused of shooting police officers Matthew Tokuoka and Sergeant Anthony Wallace on Aug. 28, 2010.

Congress will debate whether to extend a whole host of tax credits when it returns a week after the election. One key tax provision could affect the future of wind energy in Alaska.

A 60-year-old Palmer man died of burn injuries earlier this week becoming the state’s 19th fire fatality this year. The man was severely injured while burning trash on Oct. 3.

The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation has completed the final Environmental Impact Statement for a standalone gas pipeline project in Alaska. The EIS was added to the Federal Register today. Scoping meetings on the project's environmental impact have been ongoing since 2009. If built, the 24 inch, high pressure pipeline will span nearly 740 miles between Prudhoe Bay and Port Mackenzie.

Attorneys gave their opening arguments today in the trial of a Hoonah man accused of killing two police officers in 2010. John Marvin Jr. faces murder and weapons charges in the deaths of Sergeant Anthony Wallace and Officer Matthew Tokuoka of the Hoonah Police Department. The two were gunned down in front of Marvin’s home in August 2010.

In a span of two days, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, officers with the Western Alaska Alcohol and Narcotics Team, or WAANT, seized some 30 bottles of alcohol bound for dry villages in five separate incidents.

A recent episode of the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch could be used as evidence in a criminal case. The crew of the F/V Northwestern is under investigation by the state and they may have unintentionally ratted themselves out on camera.

Fairbanks North Pole area air quality is degraded due to winter like weather, and emissions from heating and vehicles. The fine particulate pollution is happening unusually early.