Alaska news

• $768M Anchorage school budget gets chilly reception

  23-03-2016 06:56
  
  The Anchorage Assembly passed the school district’s FY2016-17 budget by a 7-to-4 vote.A budget to fund the Anchorage School District passed Tuesday, but not without serious criticisms raised by liberals and conservatives alike.
  The preliminary budget passed by the Anchorage Assembly totals $768,401726, a decline of $4,935,000 from what was approved last year.
  Funding at that level means a reduction of 49 positions from the district, which Superintendent Ed Graff told the Assembly could hap
  
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• Attorneys fight over lease 'extension' as oral arguments heard in LIO lawsuit

  23-03-2016 05:13
  
  Attorneys fight over lease 'extension' as oral arguments heard in LIO lawsuit Anchorage Superior Court Judge Patrick McKay said he may issue a decision by early next week in a case arguing that the Legislature’s lease for renovated office space in Anchorage should be voided.  March 22, 2016
  
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• Gas line project in flux as lawmakers wait for update from Gov. Walker

  23-03-2016 03:26
  
  Gas line project in flux as lawmakers wait for update from Gov. Walker Alaska lawmakers are trying to keep the state’s proposed $55 billion natural gas pipeline project on track even as low oil prices weigh down its three oil company partners, BP, ConocoPhillips, and ExxonMobil.March 22, 2016
  
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• Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, Mar. 22, 2016

  23-03-2016 02:58
  
  
  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
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  Supreme Court sides with Sturgeon in case challenging NPS authority
  Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
  In a decision released Tuesday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court sided unanimously with moose hunter John Sturgeon in his case against the National Park
  
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• Plan to replace tanker escort in Prince William Sound raises concerns in Valdez

  23-03-2016 02:41
  
  
  As of July 2018, Crowley Marine Services will no longer provide oil tanker escort tugs or oil spill response in Prince William Sound. Screenshot March 22, 2016Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, which runs the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, is splitting with its longtime provider of oil spill prevention and response services in Prince William Sound.
  In a region where the memory of the Exxon Valdez oil spill remains fresh, that decision is raising concerns.
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  Crowley Marine Services currently
  
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• Knik Crossing loan denied

  23-03-2016 02:09
  
  
  Opponents of the Knik Arm Bridge project are claiming a victory. Federal transportation officials have turned down the state’s request for a loan for the seventh time.
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  A February letter from the US Department of Transportation explains the federal government is putting on hold its consideration of the state’s current bridge plan.
  The letter also indicates that the state needs to reduce it’s estimates of traffic and revenue concerning the bridge.
  Jeremy Woodrow, a
  
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• Haines Freeride 2016: ‘It’s been a powerful competition’

  23-03-2016 02:04
  
  
  Extreme skiers and snowboarders sped down Haines mountains Monday in the fourth stop of the Freeride World Tour. The international alpine sports tournament made the long trek back to Haines after its Alaska debut last year. It hasn’t been totally smooth sailing – Haines poses challenges athletically and logistically.
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  A skier pulls off a flip during the Haines competition. (Photo courtesy of Freeride World Tour)“Hello and welcome to the fourth stop of the Freeride
  
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• Officials meet in Anchorage to discuss Susitna Dam

  23-03-2016 01:52
  
  
  State and federal officials are meeting in Anchorage this week on a study plan for the proposed Susitna Dam. Emily Ford, a spokesperson for the Alaska Energy Authority, says the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC must approve every aspect of the study plan before further action can be taken.
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  Ford says the study plan is based on information gathered in 2013 and 2014. The Susitna Dam project was put on hold shortly after Governor Walker was elected, but last summer the hold
  
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• Senator’s bill to draw from Permanent Fund earnings advances

  23-03-2016 01:42
  
  
  A proposal to allow state government to dip into Permanent Fund earnings is advancing in the Legislature.
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  Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage (File Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)The Senate Finance Committee heard details Tuesday from Anchorage Republican Senator Lesil McGuire.
  Similar to a plan from Governor Bill Walker, McGuire’s bill would pay for much of state government using fund earnings.
  “In my opinion, we have to continue strategic cuts to the budget, but we can&rsq
  
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• Legislature proposes dipping into PFD

  23-03-2016 01:42
  
  
  A proposal to allow state government to dip into Permanent Fund earnings is advancing in the Legislature.
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  Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage (File Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)The Senate Finance Committee heard details Tuesday from Anchorage Republican Senator Lesil McGuire.
  Similar to a plan from Governor Bill Walker, McGuire’s bill would pay for much of state government using fund earnings.
  “In my opinion, we have to continue strategic cuts to the budget, but we can&rsq
  
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• Blessing of Herring Rock: A yearly ceremony to bring fish to Sitka

  23-03-2016 01:38
  
  
  While commercial fishermen were on the water anxiously awaiting the next herring opening in Sitka, some residents gathered on land for a traditional Tlingit ceremony. The Blessing of Herring Rock happens every year to get the fish to come back to the Sound to spawn.
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  John Duncan looks on as Roby Littlefield pours salt water over Herring Rock. (Photo by Brielle Schaeffer, KCAW – Sitka)For centuries, the Kiks.adi clan has honored the beginning of herring season in the spring by
  
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• Blessing of Herring Rock: A yearly ceremony to bring fish back to Sitka

  23-03-2016 01:38
  
  
  While commercial fishermen were on the water anxiously awaiting the next herring opening in Sitka, some residents gathered on land for a traditional Tlingit ceremony. The Blessing of Herring Rock happens every year to get the fish to come back to the Sound to spawn.
  Download Audio
  John Duncan looks on as Roby Littlefield pours salt water over Herring Rock. (Photo by Brielle Schaeffer, KCAW – Sitka)For centuries, the Kiks.adi clan has honored the beginning of herring season in the spring by
  
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• Defense expert: Senators blocked JBER cut with logic

  23-03-2016 01:09
  
  
  The Army’s decision this week not to proceed with a planned troop cut at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson is unusual. For at least the next year, Anchorage won’t have to face the economic hit it’s been expecting since the Army announced it would be part of a 40,000-soldier troop reduction last year. But there’s no relief for communities in the Lower 48 who were told they’d lose troops in the same decision.
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  Michael O’Hanlon (Photo courtesy of the
  
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• Cancelled troop cut at JBER contrary to cuts in Lower 48

  23-03-2016 01:09
  
  The Army’s decision this week not to proceed with a planned troop cut at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson is unusual. For at least the next year, Anchorage won’t have to face the economic hit it’s been expecting since the Army announced it would be part of a 40,000-soldier troop reduction last year. But there’s no relief for communities in the Lower 48 who were told they’d lose troops in the same decision.
  Michael O’Hanlon (Photo courtesy of the Brookings Insti
  
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