Alaska news

• 49 Voices: Dennis Ricker of the Mat-Su

  04-03-2016 23:52
  
  This week we’re hearing from Mat Su Valley resident Dennis Ricker. Ricker came to Alaska from Colorado in 1978 and was a wildland firefighter until he retired.
  Dennis Ricker of the Mat-Su (Photo by Wesley Early)
  RICKER: I went to school in Colorado. I came up here looking for a fisheries job and jumped into the wild-land fire game after that. Since about 1978, so a number of years over 30 years now.
  Great people. Kind of a remote setting, kind of an urban setting. We kind of split our time
  
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• Arctic Winter Games to start on Sunday with nine Nome athletes

  04-03-2016 23:26
  
  The Arctic Winter Games start Sunday in Greenland. Nine athletes from Nome are representing Team Alaska at the international tournament. They’ll compete in four events: Dene Games, Arctic Sports, Biathlon Ski, and Alpine Skiing.
  Nine athletes from Nome will represent Team Alaska at the Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk, Greenland. (Photo by Laura Kraegel, KNOM)
  Most of Nome’s athletes have competed in indigenous games since they were little kids. But at today’s practice, Coach Marjor
  
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• State faces tough questions in case over Native and federal land control in Alaska

  04-03-2016 23:04
  
  State faces tough questions in case over Native and federal land control in AlaskaThe state of Alaska got a rough reception from federal appeals court judges Friday in a case over state sovereignty and the ability of the federal government to create new sections of "Indian country" in Alaska.   March 4, 2016
  
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• Spring Fire Danger

  04-03-2016 23:00
  
  Photo courtesy: U.S. Department of Agriculture
  The strange winter we’ve had has already spawned wild fires. We could have a dangerous spring and, depending on the weather, a smoky summer. On the next Hometown Alaska, we’re joined by experts to learn more about the wildfire situation in Alaska, fire weather, and the practical steps you can take to protect your property from fire. KSKA: Wednesday, March 9 live at 2:00 pm and repeating at8:00 pm.
  
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• AK: Community fights back against Seldovia land buyouts

  04-03-2016 23:00
  
  Zane Henning, a friend of Greg Davis, with Backer’s Island in the background. (Photo by Quinton Chandler/KBBI)
   
  Over the last eight years, a California man has snatched up dozens of parcels of land in the small community of Seldovia, on Kachemak Bay.
  His work on that property has dragged him into legal disputes with the city of Seldovia and some of his neighbors.
  During Greg Davis’ first years in Seldovia, residents were concerned about the amount of pr
  
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• Kodiak fisherman launches new project: canning label-lined trash cans

  04-03-2016 22:48
  
  The next time you walk into a Kodiak business, you may notice a flailing salmon out of the corner of your eye. That’s one image that now decorates trashcans around town. It’s part of fisherman Bruce Schactler’s plan to turn historic canning labels into beautiful garbage cans – a project which he launched after he noticed the same trend in Oregon.
  Trash can with Watchman label. (Photo courtesy of Bruce Schactler)
  The trashcans feature images of historic Alaska canning labe
  
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• Turkey’s Role in the Shaping of a New Middle East

  04-03-2016 22:30
  
  Sinan CiddiDr. Sinan Ciddi is an expert on Turkish domestic politics and foreign policy. He obtained his Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London in 2007 in the field of Political Science. Dr. Ciddi continues to author scholarly articles, opinion pieces and book chapters on contemporary Turkish politics and foreign policy, as well as participate in media appearances. In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities at Georgetown, Dr. Ciddi also serves
  
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• Foster care and services for Native children now handled by largest tribal governent

  04-03-2016 22:29
  
  The largest tribal government in Southeast Alaska now has authority over foster care and other services for Native children facing abuse or neglect. An agreement signed Wednesday this week transfers state management, as well as funding, to the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
  The central council, which is headquartered in Juneau, lists more than 30,000 tribal members in and outside of the state.
  But tribal children removed from their parents due to abuse or neglect a
  
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• Bill introduced to require labeling of genetically engineered salmon

  04-03-2016 22:19
  Alaska’s congressional delegation has introduced bills that would require genetically engineered salmon to go by a market name that includes the terms “genetically engineered” or “G.E.”
  (Photo courtesy of AquaBounty Technologies)
  The makers of the AquaAdvantage fish hope to farm the product in Panama and import it to the United States. The fish is a modified Atlantic salmon designed for fast growth.
  In November, the FDA approved the fish as a safe food but imports a
  
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• Crime prevention through community outreach

  04-03-2016 22:00
  
  (Courtesy Anchorage Police Department)
  Public safety and crime prevention will be more challenging for the state’s department of law as budget cuts force closure of district attorney offices in some areas of Alaska. How will prosecutors handle increased caseloads and long distance court proceedings?Community Prosecution – A Guide for Prosecutors (PDF)
  HOST: Lori Townsend
  GUESTS:
  John Skidmore, director of the Criminal Division, State Department of Law
  Clint Campion, district att
  
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• Iditarod Sled Dog Race Lacks Snow, So Alaska Ships Some In

  04-03-2016 21:53 via nytimes.com
  Snow filling several train cars had to be shipped from Fairbanks to Anchorage this week to ensure a snowy start for the famous sled dog race.
  
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• Anchorage Police Department: Road Closures for Iditarod Event

  04-03-2016 21:22
  
  In preparation for the 2016 lditarod Sled Dog Races, the Municipality of Anchorage will be closing off several downtown streets for event set-up. In order to provide ample notice, ‘No Parking’ signs will be placed within the closure areas at least 48 hours in advance of the road closures. Any vehicles parked within the closure areas during the specified closure times will  be  towed at the owner’s expense.
  4th Ave. between I St. and Cordova St. and Cordova St. betwee
  
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• Preventing and Treating Colorectal Cancer

  04-03-2016 21:00
  
  Blue Ribbon Star courtesy: National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable
  The rates for new colorectal cancer cases have been falling over the last 10 years. Death rates for these cancers and 5 year survival rates are improving as well. On this program host Dr Thad Woodard and his guests will discuss prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment which will help listeners keep these statistics improving.
  HOST: Dr. Thad WoodardGUESTS:
  Kimberly Morgan, Health Systems Manager, Great West Div
  
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• UAA’s Eurydice

  04-03-2016 18:30
  
  
  L-R Todd Sherwood, Kimberly Allely
  The Greek mythological tale of lost love and a journey to the underworld takes a new turn in Sarah Ruhl’s play, Eurydice currently performing at the University of Alaska Department of Theatre and Dance. Join director Ty Hewitt along with actors Kimberly Allely and Angela Kolavecchio this week on Stage Talk to hear all about it. Eurydice performs this weekend at the UAA Fine Arts Building Friday through Sunday.
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  HOST:
  Steve Hunt
  GUES
  
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• Nowhere to Go Amid Alaska’s Melting Ice

  04-03-2016 09:00 via lens.blogs.nytimes.com
  With tides rising from climate change and with money tight, villagers on an Alaskan barrier island are unsure how, or when, they will relocate.
  
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• Alaska Senate takes up second abortion-related bill in two weeks

  04-03-2016 06:11
  
  Alaska Senate takes up second abortion-related bill in two weeks The Alaska Legislature on Thursday began its second battle in two weeks over a constitutionally questionable abortion bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla.March 3, 2016
  
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• For sale: Two Alaska State Troopers planes, lightly used

  04-03-2016 05:16
  
  For sale: Two Alaska State Troopers planes, lightly used Two Alaska Department of Public Safety planes are up for sale as the agency's aircraft division ponders how to proceed with a shrinking fleet.March 3, 2016
  
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• For sale: 2 Alaska State Troopers planes, lightly used

  04-03-2016 05:16
  
  For sale: 2 Alaska State Troopers planes, lightly used Two Alaska Department of Public Safety planes are up for sale as the agency's aircraft division ponders how to proceed with a shrinking fleet.March 3, 2016
  
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• Effort in place to revive Nome National Forest

  04-03-2016 03:48
  
  
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  Nome is a community surrounded on all sides by either treeless tundra or ocean. This time of year, sled dogs and a wave of tourists flood the city’s streets for the annual Iditarod Trail Race. It is also the only time of year visitors will have the opportunity to wander through a truly unique kind of evergreen forest.
  Cutouts in a Nome garage (Photo by Mitchell Borden)
  Three men repair and paint a variety of large plywood cutouts. There’s a duck, Mickey Mouse, and vari
  
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• Alaska News Nightly: Thursday Mar. 3, 2016

  04-03-2016 03:25
  
  
  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
  VA says it’s improving in Alaska; Murkowski calls it ‘chaos’
  Liz Ruskin, APRN – Washington D.C.
  Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she’s still hearing disaster stories about the VA’s Choice program. And, she says, some Alaska
  
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• Apache to pull out of Alaska, citing low oil prices

  04-03-2016 03:14
  
  
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  Apache Corp. is one of the largest leaseholders in Cook Inlet.
  The oil and gas company Apache Corp. is pulling out of Alaska, citing low oil prices.
  The company is one of the largest leaseholders in Cook Inlet, where it has been exploring for oil since 2010. In an emailed statement, a company spokesperson said Apache is slashing spending for the coming year by 60 percent — and halting work in several regions, including Alaska.
  “Due to the current downturn, Apache
  
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• Nuuk, Greenland prepares for Arctic Winter Games

  04-03-2016 03:10
  
  
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  A contingent of Alaskans is travelling to Greenland to participate in the Arctic Winter Games. Alaska’s is one of 9 regional teams descending on the northern nation’s capital of Nuuk  for next week’s games.  The remote arctic city is going all out to host them.
  Nuuk, Greenland’s has 17 thousand residents, and a lot of them are involved in putting on the 2016 Arctic Winter Games.
  “Four out of five people in Nuuk are involved in the games, eit
  
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• Village awarded money to improve hydropower replacement for diesel

  04-03-2016 02:54
  
  
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  The village of Igiugig has been awarded $392,500 from the U.S. Department of Energy to make improvements on a hydropower system that could replace the use of diesel fuel for the town of 70 on Lake Iliamna.
  
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• Legislators moving funds from all over to cover budget issues

  04-03-2016 02:50
  
  
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  As legislators make cuts to the state’s budget, they’re looking to draw money from various state funds to cover costs. But some of these changes are raising concerns.
  The House Finance Committee is considering a budget bill that would cut state government spending $418 million more than the 100 million in cuts Governor Bill Walker proposed.
  House Bill 256 would change the source of funding for two budget items. A $76.7 million payment to the Teachers’ Retirement
  
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• Winter is here, it’s just lurking up high

  04-03-2016 02:38
  
  
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  It may seem like another crummy winter in Southcentral. Too much pavement. Not enough snow and ice. But if you’re willing to head up — not north, but upward in elevation — there’s a different winter story playing out. 
  The road at Turnagain pass sits at about 1,000 feet of elevation. Up there, winter looks a lot different than it does in Anchorage. Photo: Monica Gokey/APRN.
  It’s a wet and windy Saturday up at Turnagain Pass. You can hear the high
  
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• VA says it’s improving in Alaska; Murkowski calls it ‘chaos’

  04-03-2016 02:33
  
  Sen. Lisa Murkowski (File photo: KTOO – Juneau.)
  Sen. Lisa Murkowski told a top VA official this morning that she’s still hearing disaster stories about the Choice program. And, she says, some Alaska vets who used Choice to get medical appointments in the private sector now find collection agencies are after them because the VA hasn’t paid their claims.
  VA undersecretary David Shulkin says his agency is doing a better job now, at least compared to last summer, when he visited t
  
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• Rep. Gruenberg’s widow seeks control of husband’s records, is blocked

  04-03-2016 02:15
  
  It’s been more than two weeks since Representative Max Gruenberg died, and his legacy lives on in the Capital: The House Judiciary Committee room was named after him. One area where his legacy is contested is what will happen to the legislative records he left behind.
  Rep. Max Gruenberg was respected for his devotion to the legislative process and to his district in Anchorage. (File Photo: Alaska Public Media.)
  Kayla Epstein, his widow, wants control of his records, but she’s been bl
  
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• Ban on Planned Parenthood teaching materials deemed ‘problematic’

  04-03-2016 02:08
  
  A bill that would impose penalties on affiliates of “abortion services providers” for providing teaching materials to Alaska public schools has been deemed “constitutionally problematic” by the Legislature’s Legal Services Division.
  Senate Bill 191 was introduced last month by Sen. Mike Dunleavy to accompany his proposal to ban groups like Planned Parenthood from providing sex ed curriculum in schools.
  Senate Minority Leader Berta Gardner requested the leg
  
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