Alaska news

• Anchorage Folk Fest

  08-01-2016 22:00
  
  Over the last two weekends of January, the Anchorage Folk Festival presents an explosion of music and dance in many venues around town. It’s a fun opportunity for families to get out of the house in the winter, hear music and dance. And if you play, there are few better times to carry your instrument around for the chance of an impromptu jam session. On this edition of Hometown Alaska, we’ll try to capture the fun of the folk fest through conversation and live music in the studio.
  HO
  
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• Richard Nelson Speaks on Salmon

  08-01-2016 21:30
  
  Alaska anthropologist and radio producer Richard Nelson keynotes the 2015 Mat-Su Salmon Symposium. He shares more on his new project: “Salmon World.”
  Sockeye salmon. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game photo)
  SPEAKERS:
  Richard Nelson, producer, “Encounters”
  Vern Halter, Mat-Su Borough mayor, offers an introduction
  Jessica Speed, Nature Conservancy
  LINKS:
  “Salmon World,” a new multimedia project by Richard Nelson
  “Encounters“
  “Make Praye
  
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• High court sides with state in challenge to education funding formula

  08-01-2016 21:30
  
  The Alaska Supreme Court announced Friday morning that it has ruled in favor of the state of Alaska in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough’s lawsuit challenging the state’s required local contribution for education.
  The long-awaited Supreme Court ruling partially reverses a lower-court decision that had agreed with the borough’s argument that the state’s required local contribution violates the Constitution’s prohibition against dedicated funds – or earmarks.
  The Su
  
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• Alaska Supreme Court sides with state in case challenging education funding formula

  08-01-2016 21:30
  
  The Alaska Supreme Court announced Friday morning that it has ruled in favor of the State of Alaska in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough’s lawsuit challenging the state’s required local contribution for education.
  Friday’s ruling partially reverses a lower-court decision that had ruled the state’s required local contribution violates the Constitution’s prohibition against dedicated funds – or earmarks. The Supreme Court ruling also allows the Legislature
  
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• Alaska Native veterans to receive federal housing assistance

  08-01-2016 21:19
  
  Three Alaska Native organizations are receiving federal funds to provide permanent housing to Native veterans at risk of homelessness.
  The funds totaling slightly more than $1 million are being distributed among the Cook Inlet, Tlingit-Haida and Association of Village Council Presidents’ housing authorities. The grants were awarded Friday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  The money is among $5.9 million in grants distribute
  
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• Ketchikan City Council temporarily bans retail pot sales

  08-01-2016 21:07
  
  Cannabis Plant. (Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
  Despite nearly an hour of strong public comment in opposition, the Ketchikan City Council voted Thursday to move forward with a temporary ban on retail marijuana within city limits.
  The vote was split, though. Three members voted for the ban – Dick Coose, Janalee Gage and Bob Sivertsen – and three voted no – Judy Zenge, KJ Harris and Dave Kiffer.
  Mayor Lew Williams III broke the tie in favor of moving forward with the or
  
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• What’s causing Alaska’s sea bird die-off?

  08-01-2016 21:00
  
  Common Murres, like the one held by Wildlife Biologist Leslie Slater on the beach along the Spit in Homer, are turning up along beaches all around the Kachemak Bay area.
  Sea birds are having a tough time in Alaska. Thousands of dead murres have been washing up on beaches in coastal communities and even found inland. biologists are working to pinpoint what’s causing this massive die off. Is it El Nino? The warm water blob? Or something else entirely?
  HOST: Lori Townsend
  GUESTS:
  Rob Kal
  
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• Alaska hockey fans love their Red Wings, too - Detroit Free Press

  08-01-2016 20:50
  Detroit Free Press
  Alaska hockey fans love their Red Wings, too
  Detroit Free Press
  Hockey fans in Michigan love their Detroit Red Wings. So do hockey fans in Alaska, apparently. Tickets site Vivid Seats used data from NHL ticket sales, looking at the billing address on all orders, to determine that Detroit Red Wings games produced ...and more »
  

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• Leaked documents point to misallocation of federal funds at tribal group

  08-01-2016 20:48
  
  The week before Christmas the Association of Village Council Presidents abruptly laid off 30 employees — about 7 percent of its workforce. In a press release, AVCP cited current economic trends. But the lay-off put scrutiny on the organization’s finances.
  Confidential documents shared with KYUK-Bethel show a pattern of financial mismanagement. They show federal funds that were supposed to help disadvantaged families were instead used
  
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• Gynecologic Cancer

  08-01-2016 20:00
  
  Dr. Christian Hinrich joins us for the next Line One program airing Monday, Jan 11.Each year, approximately 71,500 women in the United States are diagnosed with a cancer of the reproductive organs. One cancer, cervical cancer, can now be significantly prevented and the rates for this cancer are declining as the use of a vaccine against infection with HPV, the human papilloma virus, increases. For those with cervical cancer treatment is advancing in some amazing ways thanks to
  
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• Theresa Vail pleads guilty in Alaska bear hunting case - Fox News

  08-01-2016 19:22
  Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
  Theresa Vail pleads guilty in Alaska bear hunting case
  Fox News
  JUNEAU, Alaska – A former beauty queen who hosted an adventure TV show has pleaded guilty to killing an Alaska grizzly bear without a state tag. The sentence for Theresa Vail, issued Wednesday, includes one year of probation and a $750 fine.
  Adventure show hosts pleads guilty in illegal Alaska grizzly huntFairbanks Daily News-Minerall 164 news articles »
  

• Viral videos and the role of citizen reporters

  08-01-2016 18:00
  
  
  Whether it’s viral videos about kayak-eating bears, or footage of alleged police brutality–some of Alaska’s biggest stories in the last year started as clips on social media. This week’s Alaska Edition looks at how video and new media are shaping the way we get our news.
  Listen Now:
  HOST: Zachariah Hughes
  GUESTS:Kyle Hopkins, Reporter, KTUU
  Julia O’Malley, Atwood Chair of Journalism,KSKA (FM 91.1) BROADCAST: Friday, Jan. 8, at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday,
  
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• Low oil prices likely leading to Alaska's 1st annual jobs loss since 2009 - Alaska Dispatch News

  08-01-2016 17:18
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Low oil prices likely leading to Alaska's 1st annual jobs loss since 2009
  Alaska Dispatch News
  On top of a fiscal crisis and dropping oil prices and production, Alaska is on track for its first year of job losses in seven years, according to an economic trends report released Thursday by the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development ...
  

• Alaska Air Group December Traffic Up on Route Expansion - Zacks.com

  08-01-2016 17:16
  Alaska Air Group December Traffic Up on Route Expansion
  Zacks.com
  Alaska Air Group, Inc.'s (ALK - Analyst Report) air traffic – measured in revenue passenger miles (RPMs) – in Dec 2015 stood at 2.97 billion, up 9.9% from 2.7 billion a year ago. On a year-over-year basis, consolidated capacity (or available seat miles ...
  Alaska Air Group (ALK) Spotted As Roof Leaker TodayTheStreet.com
  Credit Suisse Downgrades Alaska Air (ALK) to NeutralStreetInsider.comall 5 news articles &raqu
  

• USGS Researchers Reveal First-Ever Digital Geologic Map of Alaska - Sci-News.com

  08-01-2016 16:35
  Sci-News.com
  USGS Researchers Reveal First-Ever Digital Geologic Map of Alaska
  Sci-News.com
  Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have released a new geologic map of Alaska. Geologic map of Alaska, part 1: generalized geologic map of the western part of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. Image credit: U.S. Geological Survey / U.S. ...
  First Ever Digital Geologic Map of Alaska PublishedThe Arctic Journalall 4 news articles »
  

• Fairbanks Borough Assembly OKs trans-Alaska oil pipeline settlement - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

  08-01-2016 10:07
  Fairbanks Borough Assembly OKs trans-Alaska oil pipeline settlement
  Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
  FAIRBANKS — The assembly approved a settlement Thursday between the borough and its biggest taxpayer, the owners of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. The agreement puts the pipeline's tax value at $8 billion through 2020, and all pending litigation gets ...
  

• Alaska Board of Fisheries to meet in Fairbanks - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

  08-01-2016 10:07
  Alaska Board of Fisheries to meet in Fairbanks
  Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
  FAIRBANKS, ALASKA — The statewide Alaska Board of Fisheries comes to Fairbanks next week for a five-day meeting to discuss fish regulations for the Arctic, Yukon and Kuskokwim regions. The meetings start on Tuesday and are scheduled to continue ...
  

• Alaska focusing on 60 full minutes of hockey against Alabama Huntsville - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

  08-01-2016 09:53
  AL.com
  Alaska focusing on 60 full minutes of hockey against Alabama Huntsville
  Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
  FAIRBANKS—The Alaska Nanooks three times held one-goal leads in the third period during their two-game series against Bemidji State last weekend at the Carlson Center. They're aiming to end that trend when they take on Alabama Huntsville today and ...
  UAH Hosts Alaska Fairbanks for WCHA Weekend SeriesUAHChargers.comall 4 news articles »
  

• Jordan Wilson drops 35 points, Alaska women win first conference game - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

  08-01-2016 09:51
  Jordan Wilson drops 35 points, Alaska women win first conference game
  Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
  Nanooks Jaylee Mays fights Cavaliers Keesha Sarman for the ball during a game against Concordia University at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Patty Center on Thursday, January 7, 2016. Nanooks Women's Basketball. Nanooks Kaillee Skjold dribbles ...
  

• State judge sides with defendants in LIO case

  08-01-2016 08:07
  
  A state judge handed down a significant ruling Thursday on a case involving the controversial lease for the state’s Legislative Information Office in downtown Anchorage.
  Read Judge Patrick J. McKay’s order denying the motion for summary judgement.
  The case centers on claims made by attorney James Gottstein, who owns the building next to the LIO, and alleges the lease agreement between Legislators and developers is illegal. There are also allegations of threats and damages he suffered
  
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• North Korea weapon test measured in Alaska -- but was it an H-bomb? - Alaska Dispatch News

  08-01-2016 08:01
  Alaska Dispatch News
  North Korea weapon test measured in Alaska -- but was it an H-bomb?
  Alaska Dispatch News
  The Alaska Earthquake Center says its equipment picked up seismic activity after North Korea's claimed detonation of a hydrogen bomb Tuesday. But the seismic reaction is almost the same as the seismic reaction that followed an explosion in the North ...
  Seismic activity from N. Korea bomb test detected in AlaskaKTUU.com
  Alaska seismologists delve into North Korea's reported hydrogen bom
  

• Alaska sergeant getting Soldier's Medal for fishing rescue - Stars and Stripes

  08-01-2016 06:29
  Stars and Stripes
  Alaska sergeant getting Soldier's Medal for fishing rescue
  Stars and Stripes
  An Army staff sergeant serving in Alaska will receive the highest honor a soldier can be awarded for an act of valor in a non-combat situation during a ceremony Friday. Joshaua J. Schneiderman, with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th ...
  Alaska soldier earns prestigious medal for heroic fishing rescueAlaska Public Radio Networkall 3 news articles »
  

• Vaping advocates butt heads with Alaska health officials over e-cigs - Alaska Dispatch News

  08-01-2016 06:16
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Vaping advocates butt heads with Alaska health officials over e-cigs
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Greg Conley, the president of the American Vaping Association, said he doesn't like the way Alaska health officials have portrayed electronic cigarettes. “It is clear that for an adult smoker these products are far, far less hazardous and they can help ...
  Vaping enthusiasts say proposed e-cig regulations from FDA will 'decimate ...KTVA.com - Alaska News and Weatherall 5 news art
  

• Northern Alaska Environmental Center announces new hires - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

  08-01-2016 05:47
  Northern Alaska Environmental Center announces new hires
  Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
  FAIRBANKS—The Northern Alaska Environmental Center has hired a new program director and created a new position for a clean water and mining program coordinator, which it has also filled. The environmental center's new program director is Jessica ...
  

• Alaska Prep Shootout: Wins for West Valley, Galena - Alaska Dispatch News

  08-01-2016 05:38
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Alaska Prep Shootout: Wins for West Valley, Galena
  Alaska Dispatch News
  The Alaska Prep Shootout boys basketball tournament continued Thursday at Dimond with West Valley edging Mt. Edgecumbe and Galena getting in the win column over Soldotna. No Anchorage teams played Thursday because it was Orthodox Christmas, ...and more »
  

• REPORT: Alaska oil revenue dwarfs earnings from other state industries - KTUU.com

  08-01-2016 04:47
  KTUU.com
  REPORT: Alaska oil revenue dwarfs earnings from other state industries
  KTUU.com
  With the low price of oil spurring a major budget deficit in Alaska, a recent report shows that no other industries in the state could come close to filling the shortfall left by missing oil revenues. Researchers at the University of Alaska Anchorage's ...and more »
  

• Low oil prices likely leading to Alaska's 1st annual jobs loss since '09 - Alaska Dispatch News

  08-01-2016 04:32
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Low oil prices likely leading to Alaska's 1st annual jobs loss since '09
  Alaska Dispatch News
  On top of a fiscal crisis and dropping oil prices and production, Alaska is on track for its first year of job losses in seven years, according to an economic trends report released Thursday by the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development ...and more »
  

• Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016

  08-01-2016 03:39
  
  
  Stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn.Download Audio
   
  North Slope Crude tanks along with other oil prices
  Josh Edge, APRN – Anchorage
  Brent Crude hit an 11-year low after dipping below $33 per barrel Thursday morning. And Alaska North Slope crude isn’t far behind, coming in at $34.82 pe
  
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• Patterson catches Holmes in all-Alaska finish at US nordic ski championships - Alaska Dispatch News

  08-01-2016 03:08
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Patterson catches Holmes in all-Alaska finish at US nordic ski championships
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Anchorage skier Caitlin Patterson (middle) celebrates her gold-medal finish Thursday atop the podium at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships in Houghton, Michigan. On her left is silver-medalist Chelsea Holmes of Girdwood; on her right is ...and more »
  

• Scott McMurren: Climbing the ranks of the Alaska Airlines' frequent-flier program - Alaska Dispatch News

  08-01-2016 02:43
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Scott McMurren: Climbing the ranks of the Alaska Airlines' frequent-flier program
  Alaska Dispatch News
  This is a difficult time for ardent frequent fliers. At the beginning of each year, travelers look at the status bar in their frequent-flier account. There's a big zero next to the qualifying miles bar. That's the number of elite qualifying miles ...and more »
  

• North Slope crude hits 3rd-lowest mark since 2009

  08-01-2016 02:40
  
  
  Crude prices continue to fall across the United States — with Brent Crude Oil setting an 11-year low, dipping below $33 per barrel Thursday morning.
  Download Audio
  Alaska North Slope crude is following a similar track, coming in at $34.82 per barrel on Jan. 5 – the most recently-reported price.
  That’s it’s third-lowest mark since Jan. 20, 2009 when, according to data from the Alaska Department of Revenue, ANS West Coast hit $34.49 per barrel.
  Though prices have recovered
  
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• Anchorage puts forth port as top legislative priority

  08-01-2016 02:39
  
  
  Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz addressed a group of legislators today, presenting them with the city’s one big funding priority.
  Download Audio
  Anchorage Port, 1999. Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  “So our proposed Legislative program is fairly straightforward this year: we’re gonna focus on making sure that there’s money so that we can move ahead with port modernization.”
  The Administration won’t have a specific dollar amount in its request until later
  
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• Alaska soldier earns prestigious medal for heroic fishing rescue

  08-01-2016 02:38
  
  
  A soldier stationed at Joint-Base Elmendorf-Richardson is set to receive one of the nation’s highest military awards on Friday. The Soldier’s Medal is given for heroic actions taken by military personnel in civilian life, far away from combat zones. According to Army officials, it’s the first time a soldier in Alaska has been awarded the honor for a rescue that happened in state. And it started with a fishing trip.
  Download Audio
  Staff Sergeant Joshua Schneiderman, a forward ob
  
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• Citizens apprehend man who broke 2 out of jail

  08-01-2016 02:37
  
  
  Pilot Station community members thwarted an escape after two men were briefly on the run following an armed jailbreak.
  Download Audio
  Alaska State Troopers say Dale Fancyboy, 22, reportedly went into the Pilot Station Jail with a shotgun Tuesday just before midnight. Fancyboy held up the unarmed jail guard and removed two prisoners from the cell, 19-year-old Thomas Heckman and 22-year-old Dion Joseph.
  The men were booked on theft, burglary and assault charges.
  Troopers say&nb
  
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• Petersburg asks for smaller pot business setback

  08-01-2016 02:36
  
  
  Petersburg is asking the state to relax limitations on where marijuana businesses can open their doors this year. Petersburg’s assembly approved a resolution Monday asking for a smaller setback for pot businesses.
  Download Audio
  Petersburg seal. File photo: KFSK/Petersburg.
  New state regulations say a marijuana business must be at least 500 feet from a school, youth center, church or jail, which would put most of downtown Petersburg off limits.
  Petersburg’s assembly considered a reso
  
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• Petersburg Cold Storage diversifies its clientele

  08-01-2016 02:35
  
  
  Petersburg’s nonprofit cold storage plant is serving a wider group of customers than it did when it began about 10 years ago. It’s still mostly freezing fish for big processors but it’s also taking in groceries and sport anglers’ catches.
  Download Audio
  Seafood is frozen at Petersburg Community Cold Storage, which is in its 10th year of operation. The plant is serving different customers than it did when it was built. (Photo courtesy Petersburg Economic Development Counci
  
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• Juneau vets other options as sending sludge south gets spendy

  08-01-2016 02:35
  
  
  The Juneau Utility Advisory Board has new recommendations on how the municipality should deal with its waste. Right now, about 7,000 tons of the city’s sludge is barged to Oregon — costing about $2 million a year.
  Download Audio
  City engineer Rorie Watt said the advisory board met multiple times over the past year to discuss solutions.
  “What the utility board essentially found is that indeed that they agree the dryer is our best option.”
  Watt said think of the dryer as a
  
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• Fairbanks Montessori school buys old rail depot

  08-01-2016 02:33
  
  
  An abandoned downtown Fairbanks landmark will see new life as a private school. Spruce Tree Montessori School has purchased the old Alaska Railroad Depot from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
  Download Audio
  The depot located behind the newspaper’s building has sat idle since the railroad  sold it to the paper and relocated to a new Fairbanks station in 2005. The school plans to transform the languishing property.
  The aging metal and glass front former Railroad Depot will get some love
  
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• During Orthodox Christmas, old traditions stay strong

  08-01-2016 02:30
  
  January 7th is Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated in many communities across Alaska. And the celebration is in full swing in the Alaska Native village of Nanwalek on the Southern Kenai Peninsula.
  Photo: Daysha Eaton/KBBI
  Download Audio
  People in Nanwalek spent Christmas Eve singing in celebration of Orthodox Christmas at the Saint Sergius and Herman church in Nanwalek. In the community of about 300 people of Alutiiq and Sugpiaq descent, they sing in S
  
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• 1300-year-old Alaska carving part of surprise bequest to Canadian gallery - Alaska Dispatch News

  08-01-2016 02:11
  Alaska Dispatch News
  1300-year-old Alaska carving part of surprise bequest to Canadian gallery
  Alaska Dispatch News
  This Haida mask of a woman with a labret is part of the Vancouver Art Gallery's George Gund III collection. A Yup'ik mask and ancient ivory figure from St. Lawrence Island are two of the pieces recently acquired by the museum from Gund. According to ...and more »
  

• Borough eyes emergency dispatch upgrade

  08-01-2016 00:51
  
  Emergency dispatch operations in the Mat Su could be put out to bid, if a Requests For Proposals outlined at  Tuesday night’s Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly meeting is successful.
  The Borough’s 911 system is split into two call centers, and that has occasionally caused confusion when emergency calls come in. Matanuska Sustina Borough manager John Moosey says a study done three years ago pointed out deficiencies in the system, but was not successful in bringing about changes.
  
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• Borough eyes emergency dispatch upda

  08-01-2016 00:51
  
  Emergency dispatch operations in the Mat Su could be put out to bid, if a Requests For Proposals outlined at  Tuesday night’s Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly meeting is successful.
  The Borough’s 911 system is split into two call centers, and that has occasionally caused confusion when emergency calls come in. Matanuska Sustina Borough manager John Moosey says a study done three years ago pointed out deficiencies in the system, but was not successful in bringing about changes.
  
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