Tourists spent more in Southeast this season
About a million cruise-ship passengers from around the world sailed through Southeast’s Inside Passage this season. Some ships continued on to Whittier, Kodiak and even Unalaska. The overall numbers are around the same as the previous two years. But destinations and businesses saw visitors willing to spend more, due to the improving national economy.
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Protesters flood Capitol steps in support of Planned Parenthood
A crowd gathered in the drizzle on the capitol steps Tuesday to show their support for Planned Parenthood. In recent weeks, Republican lawmakers have tried to strip the organization of its federal funding.
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Anchorage passes LGBT anti-discrimination measure 9 to 2
The ordinance extents protection from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual identity, the first such measure passed in Alaska.
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Sullivan calls in Corps to bash EPA over water rule
The controversial “Waters of the U.S.” rule took effect in most states this summer, redefining which bodies of water are covered by the Clean Water Act. While legal challenges progress, the WOTUS rule remains a political hot button. Sen. Dan Sullivan pushed that button at a hearing this morning.
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Survey scans for elodea spread in Interior, finds naught
A variety of agencies in the state are working to eradicate the invasive aquatic plant elodea. This summer, elodea was detected and treated in Anchorage’s Lake Hood, and a survey to search for elodea along the Tanana River downstream of Fairbanks has just concluded.
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Red and blue king crab fishery closed again in Southeast
Commercial fishing for red and blue king crab will be closed again this year for Southeast Alaska.
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With Medicaid expansion, the chance for a fresh start
Alaskans have been able to sign of for Medicaid expansion for one month. Nearly 2,000 people have enrolled during that time.
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In Unalaska, some feel the pinch of Shell’s withdrawal
The news that Shell Oil was abandoning its quest for oil in the Arctic Ocean came as a shock in Unalaska and around the state. Unalaska officials said the move won’t hit the city’s budget too hard. But local companies doing business with Shell are scrambling to figure out what it will mean for them.
AK: Southeast dairy goat business presents unique challenges
Buying fresh dairy produce in Southeast Alaska isn’t easy. The rugged, mountainous landscape doesn’t lend itself well to farming. Now a farming couple in Petersburg are trying to change the way people consume milk in town. For the past year they’ve been selling raw milk processed by their own herd of dairy goats. But, producing – and selling – dairy products in Southeast Alaska comes with a unique set of challenges.
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More cops, fewer consultants in Anchorage’s opening budget volley
The administration introduced its 2016 budget, which is $1.8 million less than last year's, but saddled with $11 million less in revenues.
Obama announces global fishing enforcement, new sanctuaries
President Obama today unveiled a package of global initiatives aimed at cracking down on illegal fishing. He also announced two new marine sanctuaries, and they are not in Alaska.
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‘I thought he was safe,’ brother says of man found dead in wetlands
John Knudson, 56, is one of at least eight people who have died outside in Juneau over the past three years. His body was found in the Mendenhall Wetlands in mid-September.
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Volcano farts: Scientists look to gas for beta on atmosphere, geothermal resource
In September, a team of scientists crawled around the summit of seven volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands. They updated seismic sensors, replaced 8,000 pounds of batteries and visited one summit that geologists hadn't been to since the 1940s.
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Drilling for gold: Inside the KSM’s exploration project
British Columbia’s Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell mining project wrapped up its 2015 exploration season in late September. The KSM, about 30 miles east of the Alaska border, is the largest of 10 or so such projects near waterways that flow into Southeast. The mine's owner has spent close to $200 million searching for ore. In this segment, we take a boots-on-the-ground tour of the exploration process.
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Looking for love: Newspaper diversifies revenue stream with dating website
A new dating website with a familiar parent company familiar is an attempt at diversifying revenues, shedding light on the unconventional ways media groups are trying to find money to pay for the news.
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Arctic no rival to Suez, not this century, says shipping expert
As the ice retreats, Arctic shipping is expected to increase. But if your idea of “Arctic shipping” is cargo carriers plying a shortcut between Europe and Asia, you may want to choose a different image.
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Anchorage advances purchase plan for Conoco gas leases
As state officials ready for a special session, Anchorage is moving one step closer to expanding ownership over nearby gas fields in upper Cook Inlet.
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Warming ocean temps may bode poorly for pollock
On Tuesday researchers wrapped up a month-long cruise through the unusually warm waters of the Bering Sea. They’re investigating how the second year of a warming pattern is affecting the ecosystem, including the nation’s largest fishery, pollock.
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Bethel voters back liquor store, sin taxes
Unofficial results for Bethel’s municipal election are in.
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At the Anchorage Museum, Van Gogh gets a digital makeover
A new exhibit at the Anchorage Museum is using light and sound to help patrons experience familiar art work in a new way. It's part of the museum's experiment with technology, and different ways of engaging visitors.
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