Alaska News Nightly: June 20, 2011
House Rejects Special Session for Coastal Management Program, Alaska Dispatch Hosts Arctic Imperative Summit, Navy Officials Meet to Plan for Diminished Arctic Ice, Roadless Rule Exemptions Still Unclear, and more...
Alaska Sees Spike in STDs
There was an epidemic of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea in Alaska last year. The spike in numbers was the largest one year increase...
Joe Miller Wins Case Against Fairbanks North Star Borough
A legal dispute between the Fairbanks North Star Borough and 2010 U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller has been resolved. The borough and former Mayor Jim Whitaker have submitted to a judgment against them, and agreed to pay Miller $5,000. The case revolves around Miller’s past employment as a part time borough attorney.
Oprah’s short visit to Sitka and lasting impact on fans
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey set foot in Sitka today. She was ferried here on a Holland America cruise ship, with additional stops in Juneau and Ketchikan. On board were hundreds of loyal fans seeking adventure, inspiration and if they were lucky – a chance to chat with the queen of daytime television. Listen now
Ketchikan man arrested with bomb-making materials, semi-automatic rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition
What Ketchikan Police’s Andy Berntson says they found during the Jan. 24 search, though, was a small arsenal: a semi-automatic rifle with thousands of rounds of ammunition, plus bomb-making materials.
How the Princess Sophia grounded and sank with all aboard 100 years ago
What happened on Vanderbilt Reef in October 1918? And why was the sinking of the S.S. Princess Sophia quickly forgotten in Alaska and Canada? Listen now
Some Alaska summer camps prepare to reopen with new rules, reduced capacity
Others have called off camp completely this summer.
NPR-A and Sealaska Lands Bills Up for Vote in DC
Two bills related to Alaska sailed out of a House committee Wednesday in Washington. They can now go to the floor of the House of Representatives for a full vote.
Tourism advocates say proposed Roadless Rule exemption threatens industry’s growth
Tourism jobs outnumber timber industry jobs by more than 20-to-1. And tour operators say allowing more logging and land development in the Tongass directly threatens their businesses.
Medicaid looks to cut back on new disability program users
An Alaska Medicaid program that funds care for adults with developmental disabilities is looking to cut the number of people it enrolls each year by 75 percent.
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Ocean Rangers log potential cruise pollution, face axe by lawmakers
Over the past two years Alaska’s on-board cruise ship inspectors called Ocean Rangers have documented a pattern of potentially serious water pollution. But there’s been no apparent action by regulators, and Gov. Dunleavy’s administration wants to get rid of the program.
Cup’ik Yup’ik Guardsman Promoted
Alaskan Cup’ik Yup’ik military officer, Major Wayne Don, was recently promoted again in the Alaska Army National Guard.
BC Adds New Requirements for Proposed Mines
The British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office announced on Thursday that it’s adding new requirements for proposed mines undergoing environmental review. The changes are part of an effort to make mine tailings facilities safer in response to last year’s tailings dam collapse at the Mount Polley mine.
Investigators drop query into Zinke calls to Alaska senators
The IG's office issued a letter saying Alaska's U.S. senators declined to discuss the matter with investigators and further investigation would be pointless.
‘Idle No More’ Group Rallies In Downtown Juneau
About 30 adults and children called for equality and greater subsistence fishery protection Wednesday morning in the ‘Idle No More’ rally in downtown Juneau. Several wore Native regalia, chanted songs, and danced as people took turns talking over a megaphone.
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Amid growing global demand for aircraft mechanics, local training program opens in Y-K Delta
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta has a severe shortage of aircraft mechanics. A new Bethel training program wants to fill the gap with local workers.
Good Medicine exhibit at Anchorage Museum features Indigenous healers and medicine people
Good Medicine includes paintings, illustrations, a medicine wheel, a women’s house and a men’s house – which are traditionally used for healing, teaching and meetings.
New starting line for this weekend’s K300 races
The Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee moved the starting line from its traditional place in front of the Joe Lomack building near the river to the front of the small boat harbor.
Joe Bundrant Named Trident CEO by Father
Trident Seafoods founder and chairman Chuck Bundrant has appointed his son as the company’s new CEO. The appointment of Joe Bundrant had been expected, and became effective Monday.
Ex-Parnell revenue official chosen to head Permanent Fund
Angela Rodell has been selected to be the new CEO of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.
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