Alaska news

• Report questions reliability of Alaska missile interceptors - KTVA.com - Alaska News and Weather

  19-02-2016 23:38
  KTVA.com - Alaska News and Weather
  Report questions reliability of Alaska missile interceptors
  KTVA.com - Alaska News and Weather
  A new government report raises doubts about whether an Alaska-based missile defense system could protect the U.S. from a North Korean attack. Alaska Public Radio Network reports that the Government Accountability Office says the rush to expand the ...
  GAO report questions reliability of Alaska missile interceptorsMilitary Timesall 83 news articles »
  

• Rifle: Nevada places second in Alaska event - Reno Gazette Journal

  19-02-2016 23:02
  Rifle: Nevada places second in Alaska event
  Reno Gazette Journal
  The 13th-ranked Nevada rifle team placed second at the Alaska triangular meet Thursday at the University of Alaska. The fifth-ranked Nanooks shot 4,709 to win, followed by the Wolf Pack's 4,643 and UTEP's 4,614. The same three teams will compete ...and more »
  

• Board members address school goals and challenges

  19-02-2016 23:00
  
  Anchorage is getting a new superintendent of schools. What are the goals of the Anchorage School Board as it picks a new leader? Two school board members join us to talk about their vision for our schools, how we can improve academic performance, and finding the way through a period of economic uncertainty for the community they serve. We’ll also ask why they decided to change leadership now.
  HOST: Charles Wohlforth
  GUESTS:
  Kameron Perez-Verdia, president, Anchorage School Board
  
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• Arctic Entries: Where the Goods are Odd

  19-02-2016 22:30
  
  Arctic Entries this month brings you Where the Goods are Odd: Stories of Discovery, Heartbreak, and Just Plain Weirdness. In the spirit of This American Life, The Moth, and other storytelling events, Arctic Entries brings Alaskans to the stage to share their personal stories: funny, sad and sweet. At every performance, seven people each tell a seven-minute long true story about themselves relating to the show’s theme. Local musicians perform a few songs as well.&nb
  
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• Racial Equity

  19-02-2016 22:00
  
  What does it mean to have equity? Is it a simple measure of equal access to employment, housing and education, or something much deeper?
  HOST: Lori Townsend
  GUESTS:
  Jorie Paoli, First Alaskans Institute
  Mao Tosi, Anchorage community activist
  Statewide callers
  Participate:
  Call 550-8422 (Anchorage) or 1-800-478-8255 (statewide) during the live broadcast
  Post your comment before, during or after the live broadcast (comments may be read on air).
  Send email to talk [at] alaskapublic [dot] org (
  
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• Alaska House names Judiciary Committee room in honor of late Rep. Gruenberg

  19-02-2016 21:58
  
  Alaska House names Judiciary Committee room in honor of late Rep. Gruenberg Before voting, lawmakers took a break from proceedings to fix a few of the resolution’s components -- including a stray comma inserted on purpose to allow for a memorial amendment as a tribute to Gruenberg.February 19, 2016
  
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• What We Know About Human Aging

  19-02-2016 21:00
  
  
  S. Jay Olshansky, Ph.D., of the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Photo by Kevin J. Miyazaki/Redux
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  Humans all over the planet are living longer, but why this is true is often misunderstood. On this program Dr Thad Woodard and Dr S Jay Olshansky, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, discuss why we are living longer and what this means to research efforts to slow aging and prolong life.
  HOST: Dr. Thad WoodardGUESTS:
  S. Jay Olshansky rec
  
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• What We Know About Human Ageing

  19-02-2016 21:00
  
  S. Jay Olshansky, Ph.D., of the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Photo by Kevin J. Miyazaki/Redux
  Humans all over the planet are living longer, but why this is true is often misunderstood. On this program Dr Thad Woodard and Dr S Jay Olshansky, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, discuss why we are living longer and what this means to research efforts to slow aging and prolong life.
  HOST: Dr. Thad WoodardGUESTS:
  S. Jay Olshansky received his Ph.D.
  
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• Thompson: Panel working to get budget to floor by March 9

  19-02-2016 20:17
  
  A co-chair of the House Finance Committee says the panel is working hard to get the state operating budget to the House floor by March 9.
  Republican Rep. Steve Thompson of Fairbanks says budget cuts are needed before looking at other sources of revenue.
  But he says continuing with the current spending rate without looking at other ways to balance the budget would threaten the state’s dividend program and reserves.
  Thompson says once the budget gets to the floor, lawmakers can concentrate o
  
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• Fishermen, lawmakers weigh in on proposed fish tax increase

  19-02-2016 20:10
  
  Fishing industry and lawmakers puzzled over the origins of a proposed one percent tax increase in fisheries business taxes and fishery resource landing taxes.
  During the third hearing on the bill by the House fisheries committee, fishermen testified that they did not understand the origins of the increase. It is expected to raise $18 million in new revenue for the state annually, according to the Department of Revenue.
  The director of the department’s Tax Division, Ken Alper, says the depa
  
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• Investigation continues into walrus deaths on Alaska shore

  19-02-2016 20:03
  
  A spokeswoman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the agency continues to investigate the deaths of 25 Pacific walrus found dead five months ago in northwest Alaska.
  Andrea Medeiros says the investigation is ongoing and the agency’s law enforcement officials may have information to share in the next couple of months.
  The carcasses in mid-September were photographed by a person connected to an Air Force radar station at Cape Lisburne about 230 miles northeast of the Bering Strait.
  S
  
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• Perseverance’s Our Voices Will Be Heard

  19-02-2016 19:13
  
  L-R Erin Tripp, Erika Stone
  Vera Starbard, playwright for Perseverance Theatre’s production of Our Voices Will Be Heard along with actor Erin Trip and Anchorage General Manager for Perseverance, Josh Lowman, drop by the studio this week to talk about this exciting new play that runs in the Sydney Laurence Theatre February 19-28.
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  HOST:
  Steve Hunt
  GUESTS: 
  Vera Starbard, Playwright, Our Voices Will Be Heard
  Erin Tripp “Kutaan”, Our Voices Will Be Heard
  Josh Low
  
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• Reporter's roundtable: Energy in Alaska - Alaska Public Radio Network

  19-02-2016 19:01
  Alaska Public Radio Network
  Reporter's roundtable: Energy in Alaska
  Alaska Public Radio Network
  Alaska had some important visitors this week along with a few major announcements. Federal Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Senator Lisa Murkowski led an entourage of Washington, DC officials to Bethel and Oscarville to see firsthand the energy ...and more »
  

• Reporter’s roundtable: Energy in Alaska

  19-02-2016 19:00
  
  
  Alaska had some important visitors this week along with a few major announcements. Federal Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Senator Lisa Murkowski led an entourage of Washington, DC officials to Bethel and Oscarville to see firsthand the energy challenges faced by Alaska’s rural residents. State Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Myers announced his retirement on Tuesday and on Wednesday,Governor Walker announced some important changes regarding the Alaska LNG line.On this week’s A
  
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• University of Alaska Regents hear testimony on restructuring plan

  19-02-2016 18:41
  
  (Creative Commons photo by Jimmy Emerson)
  The University of Alaska Board of Regents heard public testimony Thursday morning on its plan to restructure the University system in light of state budget cuts.
  The draft Strategic Pathways plan, released Tuesday, is meant to cut costs by focusing each of the three main UA campuses into certain disciplines.
  The proposal defines UA-Anchorage as the “metropolitan university,” responsible for health, policy and social sciences. UA-Fairbanks wou
  
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• Memorial services for Rep. Gruenberg set for Sunday and Thursday

  19-02-2016 18:37
  
  Rep. Max Gruenberg addresses the Alaska House of Representatives, March 17, 2014. (Skip Gray/Gavel Alaska)
  Memorial services are set in Juneau and Anchorage for longtime Alaska lawmaker Max Gruenberg.
  Juneau services will be held at 3 p.m. this Sunday at Resurrection Lutheran Church on 10th Street downtown. In Anchorage, services will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at Temple Beth Sholom on East Northern Lights Boulevard.
  Gruenberg, a family lawyer by trade, died Sund
  
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• How to salvage a huge tugboat without spilling 9,500 gallons of fuel and oil

  19-02-2016 18:36
  
  Imagine a small, but very busy high school science fair, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what it was like at the Coast Guard’s open house on Tuesday to explain the imminent salvage of the wrecked tug Challenger. The neglected 96-foot World War II era vessel sank last September in Gastineau Channel just across from the Juneau Yacht Club.
  An open house for the proposed removal of the sunken tug Challenger was held at the Douglas Island Pink and Chum facility on Tuesday. (Pho
  
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• Nome’s port commission confronts near-empty bank account

  19-02-2016 18:31
  
  Aerial view of Nome’s port. (Photo: Joy Baker/Nome Port Director)
  Nome’s Port & Harbor finances are not looking good. The city’s Finance Director Julie Liew broke the news at the most recent Port Commission meeting.
  The port’s net margin, or rainy day fund, dropped to just $32,000 at the end of last year. That’s down from a quarter of a million dollars two years ago.
  This worries Commissioner Charlie Lean.
  “It sets off red flags all over the place for
  
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• Anchorage School Board passes preliminary $768M budget

  19-02-2016 08:51
  
  Image from the Anchorage School District
  The Anchorage School Board passed the district’s preliminary budget on Thursday evening, but it could still change depending on state funding.
  The proposed $768.4 million budget for the 2016-2017 school year is slightly smaller than this year’s budget. It increases the pupil-teacher ratio by one student in every grade level, and cuts about 52 full-time teaching positions and three assistant principals.
  “We have always prioritized our cla
  
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• Alaska lawmakers, governor still undecided on 'right size' of government - KTVA.com - Alaska News and Weather

  19-02-2016 08:13
  KTVA.com - Alaska News and Weather
  Alaska lawmakers, governor still undecided on 'right size' of government
  KTVA.com - Alaska News and Weather
  It's become a slogan during the current legislative session – the need to “right-size” government. But lawmakers and Governor Bill Walker still have different opinions about the end goal for the delicate balancing act. Walker is now proposing $135.5 ...
  

• Alaska must change laws that enable rapists and afflict victims - Alaska Dispatch News

  19-02-2016 04:34
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Alaska must change laws that enable rapists and afflict victims
  Alaska Dispatch News
  OPINION: This Senate bill will give both fair play and protection for victims of sexual assualt. Illustration: A graph depicting the FBI's reported rapes in Alaska from 2003-2013, according to its annual Uniform Crime Report. Pamela Dunlap-Shohl ...
  

• Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016

  19-02-2016 03:56
  
  
  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
  In a day, Murkowski changes her tone on court nominee
  Liz Ruskin, APRN – Washington D.C.
  Yesterday, Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she believes it’s “important” that the Senate hold a hearing on President Obama’s nominee to the
  
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• Alaska needs to make sure we have teeth in "fish-first" policy - Alaska Dispatch News

  19-02-2016 03:52
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Alaska needs to make sure we have teeth in "fish-first" policy
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Alaskans have every reason to take pride in our fisheries. We have what many can only dream of elsewhere around the world. Anglers descend upon our state from all over the world and many of us call this great state home because of our opportunity to ...
  Alaska governor's proposal would charge fees for paper tax returnsFairbanks Daily News-Miner
  Fishermen, lawmakers weigh in on proposed fish
  

• State leaders look to fix Alaskan health issues

  19-02-2016 03:36
  
  
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  Medicaid is one of the biggest drivers of Alaska’s state spending.
  At the same time, Alaska has the nation’s highest suicide rate, and a growing problem with opioid addiction.
  There is a new effort to address both issues. State leaders believe they can lower the long term growth in Medicaid costs – and make Alaskans healthier mentally and physically.
  They plan to do that by better coordinating behavioral health care – the treatment of mental health and addi
  
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• In a day, Murkowski changes her tone on court nominee

  19-02-2016 03:04
  
  
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  Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she believes it’s “important” that the Senate hold a hearing on President Obama’s choice to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.
  “I do believe that the nominee should get a hearing,” she said, while taking questions from reporters in Juneau.
  Late this afternoon, in a series of five Twitter posts, Murkowski essentially said there should be no nominee.On both days, she said it’s u
  
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• Traveling Music 2-28-16

  19-02-2016 03:01
  
  Traveling Music
  Shonti Elder
  2-28-16
   
  Format:
  Song TitleArtist / Composer
  CD Title
  Label
  Duration
   
  Overjoyed
  Esther Golton / Christine Kane
  Stay Warm
  www.esthergolton.com
  4:01
   
  Hangin’ By A Wire
  Robin Dale Ford / Robin Dale Ford
  Ain’t That Skippin’ & Flyin’
  10th Planet Records
  4:58
   
  Some of These Days
  Grant Dermody, John Miller, Orville Johnson / Shelton Brooks
  Deceiving Blues
  Orb Discs
  3:42
   
  Lonesome Dog
  Steve Durr / Steve Durr
  Pancake B
  
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• 2016 Iron Dog Race projected to be faster and riskier

  19-02-2016 02:42
  
  
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  The 2016 Iron Dog Snowmachine Race gets underway this weekend.  The ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage begins Saturday morning, and then the green flag officially drops at the Big Lake starting line on Sunday at 11 am.
  Joe Cleaver and the team’s snowmachines on a recent training run near Puntilla Lake. (Photo courtesy of Bobby Frankson)
  Iron Doggers are expecting a better trail than last year.
  A lack of snow on the north slopes of the Alaska Range and Farewell Burn
  
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• Yukon Quest rookies help each other on the trail

  19-02-2016 02:39
  
  
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  The Yukon Quest is winding down. The last musher, Canadian rookie Gaeton Pierrard is expected to cross the finish line early Friday morning. Running at the back of the pack can be just as trying and rewarding as racing at the front. That was the case for rookie mushers Andy Pace and Laura Neese.
  Laura Neese leaving Braeburn (Photo by Molly Rettig, KUAC – Fairbanks)
  Neese, the youngest musher in the Yukon Quest, finished the race on Wednesday night in thirteenth place. E
  
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• Palmer heroin dealer to face federal charges

  19-02-2016 02:20
  
  
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  A 26-year-old Palmer man is facing federal charges on distribution of heroin resulting in a death.
  Heroin powder. (Photo courtesy Drug Enforcement Administration)
  Acting US Attorney Kevin Feldis announced the charges today in Anchorage.
  Hiram Luis Ducasse, Jr.  is the only defendant named in the three – count indictment. Ducasse is being charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, distribution of heroin resulting in a death and possession with intent to distribute. Fe
  
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• Feds charge Palmer man in heroin death

  19-02-2016 02:20
  
  
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  A 26-year-old Palmer man is facing federal charges on distribution of heroin resulting in a death.
  Heroin powder. (Photo courtesy Drug Enforcement Administration)
  Acting US Attorney Kevin Feldis announced the charges today in Anchorage.
  Hiram Luis Ducasse, Jr.  is the only defendant named in the three – count indictment. Ducasse is being charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, distribution of heroin resulting in a death and possession with intent to distribute. Fe
  
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• UA opposes bill that would allow for concealed carrying on campus

  19-02-2016 02:11
  
  
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  The University of Alaska is opposing a bill introduced by a Fairbanks state senator. SB 174 would remove restrictions for the carrying of concealed firearms on college campuses. The bill received a vetting yesterday in by Senate Education committee.
  Sen. Pete Kelly who introduced SB 174 (Photo by Skip Gray/Gavel Alaska)
  State Senator Pete Kelly told the Alaska Senate Education committee yesterday that his SB 174 would remove a Constitutional wet-blanket that UA policy pu
  
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• GAO: Rush imperils missile defense

  19-02-2016 02:04
  
  
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  File photo by Missile Defense AgencyA new report raises doubts about whether the missile defense system housed largely at Fort Greely can protect the U.S. from a North Korean attack.
  The Government Accountability Office says the Missile Defense Agency is compromising reliability with a rushed schedule as it expands the number of ground-based interceptors in Alaska to 40.
  Cristina Chaplain, the report author, says the problem is the missile agency’s acquisition process.
  
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• I Am An Ice Truck Racer

  19-02-2016 01:00
  
  Chris Lamson built his first truck when he was seventeen, and now spends winter weekends racing trucks on Big Lake, Alaska with a community of four-wheeling enthusiasts. He is dedicated to racing and hopes to see the sport grow in Alaska.
  
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