Landing a lamprey: A fickle fishery opens on Yukon
The annual run of lamprey is headed up the Yukon River. Diverse commercial markets for the snake-like creature have opened up over the past few years… but actually catching them can be tricky. You need solid river ice and perfect timing.
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Recovering from addiction, helping others do the same
Alaska’s capital city is battling addiction. The Juneau community continues to face substance-related deaths and near deaths. Three women tell their stories about addiction, long-term recovery and a rally that gave them hope.
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Nome 4th-grader wins 2016 Iditarod button contest
While the last great race is still months away, the Iditarod button design contest already has a champion: Ayla Knodel, a fourth-grader at Nome Elementary School.
‘Simply Awesome’ – Kodiak family opens bakery from their home
There are a lot of small businesses in Kodiak, but few may be as small -- or smell as good -- as Simply Awesome Bakery.
Obama honors Alaskan who turned grief to service
President Obama has bestowed the Medal of Freedom on Alaskan Bonnie Carroll. She’s a military widow who founded a service organization to help family members of the fallen. Many of the 16 others awarded the medal today are household names or Hollywood icons. Carroll may not be as well known, but her life was already cinematic.
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After a health crisis, help navigating the complicated medical system
The road from illness to recovery is often difficult. In the middle of a major health crisis, patients are expected to navigate the complicated health care system. A pilot program called Alaska Innovative Medicine in Anchorage is rounding out its first year trying to improve that journey for patients while also spending fewer healthcare dollars.
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Study: Many Alaska teachers underpaid, but pay isn’t everything
Many Alaska school districts don’t offer high enough salaries to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers. That’s according to a new study that looks at a possible statewide teacher salary schedule. But researchers found that a statewide pay schedule would be too expensive, and wouldn’t do enough to solve Alaska’s teacher retention problem.
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Starving sea birds pop up in Anchorage, Mat-Su
An increase in dead or starving common murres has expanded beyond coastal communities and into urban areas in recent weeks. An Anchorage bird rehabilitation center that usually sees one or two murres a year has gotten 20 this month -- all were starving.
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Sitka tribal council pens FBI, alleging racism in police dept
Sitka’s tribal council wrote a letter last week to the Anchorage division of the FBI, regarding a tasing incident of a Native Alaska teenager in the Sitka jail last year. The letter alleges that prejudice exists within the Sitka Police Department and asks the FBI to consult the tribe during the investigation.
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Reviving an endangered language over social media
In Alaska, the number of fluent Haida speakers has dwindled down into the single digits. It’s been called an endangered language. But in Juneau, one group is trying to change that. Haida Language Learners is using YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram to reach a wider audience.
Fauske resigns as president of state gas line corporation
Dan Fauske has resigned as president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation. It follows other recent changes at the corporation, which is responsible for Alaska's share of the proposed $45 to $65 billion project to bring natural gas from the North Slope.
Chugach tree fulfills holiday destiny on Capitol lawn
A 74-foot tree cut from the Chugach National Forest near Seward nearly a month ago arrived at the U.S. Capitol today. It’s the first time the Capitol Christmas tree has come from the 49th state, and it had an entourage.
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Skipjack tuna, other warm-water fish turn up in Alaska
It’s unclear whether a developing El Niño in the equatorial Pacific is partially responsible for this year’s wayward skipjack.
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Totem pole returns to Southeast after 84-year journey
A Tlingit totem pole has returned to Prince of Wales Island after a more than 5,000-mile odyssey to Hollywood, Honolulu and back home.
FDA OK’s engineered salmon; lawmakers seek mandatory labels
It’s the announcement the Alaskan salmon industry has long feared: The FDA approved an application for genetically engineered salmon, declaring the product as safe to eat as natural salmon. Critics, including Alaska’s congressional delegation, are considering their next steps.
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Necropsy elucidates cause of Katmai brown bear death
A lab has identified a possible cause of death for one of the two brown bears that died in front of the high-traffic bear cams in Katmai National Park last month.
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Alaskan serves up her own brand of backcountry grub
Growing up in Bird Creek, Heather Kelly learned all about the challenges associated with carrying your own food into the backcountry. After studying sports nutrition Outside, Heather returned to Alaska to launch her own line of dehydrated backpacking food. She recently held a local tasting event as a fundraiser aimed at expanding her business.
FDA approves genetically engineered salmon
In a blow to Alaska’s salmon industry, the Food and Drug Administration announced this morning it has approved genetically modified salmon, finding it is as safe to eat as natural salmon. It's the first GM animal approved for human consumption in this country.
Sitkans gather for edible celebration at Wild Foods Potluck
Every year, the Sitka Conservation Society hosts a Wild Foods Potluck. It’s an edible celebration of all that can be picked, plucked, hunted, fished, grown, and gathered in Sitka. This year, over 150 people attended and brought dishes.
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Congressional delegation says no to Syrian refugees
Alaska’s congressman and U.S. senators are among the chorus of political leaders calling on President Obama to suspend his plan to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees.
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