Tag: Alaska
300 Villages: Coldfoot Camp
This week 300 Villages takes us on a road trip up the Dalton Highway. 260 miles north of Fairbanks is a small settlement- really just a big truck stop- called ColdFoot Camp. This time of year, just a small crew of workers live there to provide services to the truckers on their way to Prudhoe Bay.
Bethel Jury Finds Two Guilty of Second Degree Murder
Jeffrey Hout, age 47 of Bethel, and Harry Williams, age 33 of Kwethluk, were found guilty of second degree murder of 19-year-old Benjamin Kaiser of Hooper Bay. The jury turned in their verdicts this (Thursday) morning. The jury also found both men guilty of kidnapping.
No Bond for Three Men Accused in Bribery Scandal
The men accused in a massive government contracting bribery case involving Alaska Native Corporation EyakTek are staying behind bars – three of them until trial and the fourth at least through the weekend. At a hearing in Washington D.C. today (Thursday) the lawyer for EyakTek executive Harold Babb asked for a few more days before making his argument as to why Babb should be released on bond.
Few Studies Track PFD Impact
The state is sending out nearly 650 thousand Permanent Fund Dividends today. Its the 30th dividend paid to Alaskans. In all that time, there have been very few studies on how Alaskans spend the extra cash and how that spending affects the state’s economy. But retailers say their sales around dividend time take a big jump.
Dividend Checks Pay for Fuel in Rural Alaska
In rural Alaska, dividend checks do more than pay for new sofas. Meera Kohler is the President and CEO of the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative or AVEC. Kohler says, many people in village pre-pay their winter electric bills with their PFD. She says the day checks get deposited is the busiest day of the year for AVEC.
Orcas Caught Miles Upriver from Dillingham
Three Killer Whales, or Orcas have been spotted between the villages of Ekwok and New Stuyahok, about 60-70 river miles up the Nushagak River from Dillingham. Scientists from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service say it is not unusual for the whales to head upriver after salmon, but it is odd that they’ve gone so far up this late in the season and that they’re lingering so long.
Plastic Bag Fight Isn’t Over
A Juneau-based nonprofit that aims to curb the use of plastic shopping bags in the Capital City won’t be deterred by voters’ rejection this week (Tuesday) of a citizen’s initiative to tax those bags at certain retailers.
One Newspaper will serve Bristol Bay and Dutch Harbor
It’s been just about two months since the residents of Bristol Bay and Dutch Harbor have seen an issue of their community newspapers. The new owner pushed back the publication dates of the papers and announced that when they do come out they will be combined into one newspaper.
Conoco May Get Access to NPRA
The state and Conoco-Phillips are getting federal support for drilling plans in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska – NPRA. Conoco-Phillips has several leases in the area, but has so far been blocked from developing them by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ refusing to allow the construction of a bridge over the Colville River.
BC Gold Mine Plan Irks Ketchikan Residents
A Canadian mining company is hoping to launch a major gold mine near the headwaters of a tributary of the Unuk River, which flows into Behm Canal near Ketchikan. Toronto-based Seabridge Gold says the KSM deposit is one of the largest in the world, second only to the proposed Pebble Mine in Western Alaska.
Dive Fisheries see High Prices
Southeast Alaska’s commercial dive fishing seasons are underway this month (October) for red sea urchins, sea cucumbers and geoduck clams. The dive fisheries continue to see impacts from the region’s expanding population of sea otters.
History of Public Art in Anchorage and Alaska
This week on Addressing Alaskans, Jocelyn Young, curator of public art for the Municipality of Anchorage presents "A History of Public Art in Anchorage and Alaska."
KSKA: Thursday, 10/6 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Palin Won’t Run for President
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin says she will not run for president. Her announcement today left little doubt that the eventual Republican nominee will come from the current field of contenders.
Congress Considers Hearings on EyakTek Investigation
The arrest yesterday (Tuesday) of an executive at the Eyak Alaska Native Corporation’s subsidiary EyakTek and two Army Corps of Engineers employees has some members of Congress clamoring for hearings, and has Alaska’s delegation worried about the fallout.
Jury Deliberates Bethel Murder Case
The fate of two men accused of torturing and beating a man to death now rests in the hands of a jury. Jeff Hout of Bethel and Harry Williams of Kwethluk are facing first degree murder charges at the Bethel Courthouse for the killing of 19 year old Benjamin Kaiser of Hooper Bay last October.
Poll Finds Support for Mid Level Dental Providers
A concept based on an Alaskan program to make dental care more accessible is gaining support across the nation.
Statewide Election Results
Elections were held in municipalities across the state yesterday except for Anchorage.
Crab Fleet Won’t Have as Much to Catch This Year
It looks like the Deadliest Catch production crew won’t have all too much to film this year. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced how much king crab the fleet can take this year, and compared to previous years, it’s not very much.
Biomass Heat Catches on in Southeast
More and more Southeast government buildings and businesses are turning to woody biomass for heat. Some experts say the region is close to having enough demand to justify building a pellet mill. But it won’t be easy.
Video Contest Highlights Bristol Bay
The Bristol Bay Native Corporation is running a video contest. It’s called, ‘Day in our Bay’. They’re giving away video cameras and teaching people how to use them.