Alaska Fire Crews Heading South
More Alaska crews are heading south to help battle wildfires in the western lower 48, including the Rim Fire near Yosemite, California. Alaska Fire Service spokesman Mel Slater is tracking the state and federal fire fighter deployments.
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Jewell Considers Human Safety, Wildlife Trade-Off For Izembek Road
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has a difficult decision ahead of her. She was in King Cove Friday to visit with residents about a road they want to build through the heart of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. Residents say the road is necessary to access emergency medical treatment, but a road has never been built through a wilderness area and environmental groups say it would set a bad precedent.
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Talkeetna ‘Mayor’ Begins Recovery After Dog Attack
Talkeetna’s honorary mayor is recuperating after a dog attack over the holiday weekend. Stubbs the cat gained worldwide notoriety last summer when his story went viral on a number of news agencies. He is currently recovering from surgery to repair a punctured lung, but has numerous other injuries that still need to be treated.
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Budding Local Market For Local Blooms
The local food market in Alaska is well established. But there’s a quieter movement gaining momentum in Alaska agriculture: flowers. Peonies make up the largest share of flower farming in the state, and they’re exported around the world. And at Anchorage farmers markets zinnias, sunflowers and dahlias have moved in alongside the kale and potatoes.
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Ongoing Fixes Delay Arrival Of UAF’s New Arctic Research Ship
Next month marks a year since the launch of the National Science Foundation’s new Arctic research vessel Sikuliaq. The 261-foot ice class ship, to be operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, remains at dock at a shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.
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Denali Loses A Few Feet, Remains North America’s Tallest Peak
The tallest peak in North America is not as tall as previously thought. That’s according to new data from a federal and state effort to provide more detailed topographical maps of Alaska. Denali was measured at 20,237 feet – 83 feet shorter than maps indicate today.
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Photo Collection Sheds Light On Denali Explorer Belmore Brown
A collection of photographs by turn of century Denali explorer Belmore Brown is on display in Fairbanks. The exhibit at the Fairbanks Community Museum was put together by longtime Talkeetna climbing guide Brian Okonek, whose describes Brown as a multi talented pioneer.
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AVTEC To Offer Nation’s First Ice Navigation Course
Recent federal and state focus on Alaska's role in Arctic Ocean shipping has raised concerns over regulations, safety and oil spill response, among other issues. But, one teaching institution in our state is already dealing with the most basic question: who's going to be driving the boats? Seward's Alaska Vocational Technical Center plans to start the nation's first ice navigation training course next spring.
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Initiative Repealing Labor Law Could be Heading for Ballot Box
In Anchorage, it looks like supporters of a ballot measure that would repeal a controversial labor ordinance passed by the Anchorage Assembly earlier this year have gathered the signatures needed to put the issue before voters.
Minnesota Man Completes 5,000 Canoe Trek
Minnesotan Bob Vollhaber has just accomplished what many Alaskans said wasn’t possible. He paddled a canoe, 5000 in 5 months, alone, through Alaska. He left the Washington coast in March and arrived in West Chester Lagoon in Anchorage on Sunday.
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2013 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Checks Will Be $900
The 2013 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend will be $900, according to acting Revenue Commissioner Angela Rodell.
Thalattosaur Fossil Discovered Near Kake May Be New Species
The fossil of a Thalattosaur discovered near Kake two years ago is a complete specimen, the first to be found in the western hemisphere. Scientists speculate it could be a new species of the prehistoric marine reptile.
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Thousands Of Dinosaur Tracks Discovered Along Yukon River
A trip down the Yukon River this summer yielded big results for one University of Alaska paleontologist.
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AK: Salvage
For more than 30 years, Dan Magone has run around Alaska bailing out vessels in distress. In the process, he’s developed a multimillion-dollar marine salvage business – and a reputation. Magone is a daredevil to some, and a savior to others. But now, he’s the one being saved. Facing rising debt, Magone is selling his shop in Unalaska to a larger company. It’s enough to keep the lights on, but it’s going to be a big adjustment for the man at the center of Alaska’s salvage industry.
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Judge Dismisses Emissions Control Area Lawsuit
By 2015, every ship that operates on Alaska's southern coast will be required to drastically cut their sulfur emissions. The State has been fighting that policy in court, and this week a federal judge threw out their case.
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Arctic Ocean Sea Ice Hits Seasonal Low
As cold weather dips down into Southcentral Alaska, word comes that the Arctic Ocean has begun freezing up. The sea ice low was hit on Friday the 13th of September, according to a press release today from the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
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A Bear Walks Into A Bar…
Throwing out visitors who overstay their welcome is a common late night practice in downtown bars. But one guest last night was particularly unwelcome at the Alaskan Hotel & Bar.
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A Week Later, Shelter Still Home for Mountain View Fire Victims
It's been about a week since fire ripped through Glynwood Manor, a 38-unit apartment complex in the Mountain View neighborhood of Anchorage. Investigators are still trying to figure out the cause. Meantime, 32 people are still living at a Red Cross Shelter at the Fairview Recreation Center.
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AK: Baby Boost
As in many small towns in Alaska, there are no babies delivered in Wrangell’s hospital. Expectant mothers have to leave town to give birth. When they return, there aren’t many services to help them adjust to life with a new baby. Hannah’s Place is a non-profit that provides free courses for expecting couples and new parents. In exchange for taking these classes, parents have access to a “free” store that has nearly everything an infant needs.
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Hotel Impossible Wraps Up Filming At Alaskan Hotel
Travel Channel’s reality show Hotel Impossible wrapped up filming at Juneau’s famed Alaskan Hotel this weekend. KTOO’s Lisa Phu caught up with the show’s host and designer during their third day of shooting and has this story.
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