Alaska news

• State lawmakers don Alaska native garments to honor culture - SFGate

  07-04-2016 23:00
  SFGate
  State lawmakers don Alaska native garments to honor culture
  SFGate
  JUNEAU, Alaska — Every Friday during the Alaska legislative session, a growing group of state lawmakers trades suit coats and sweater sets for a loose-fitting traditional Alaska native garment commonly called a kuspuk (KUH'-spuhk). The kuspuk cuts ...and more »
  

• Steve Lindbeck announces run for Congress against Don Young

  07-04-2016 22:46
  
  Steve Lindbeck announces run for Congress against Don Young Former public radio executive Steve Lindbeck is running for Alaska’s sole congressional seat as a Democrat, hoping to unseat long-serving Republican Don Young in the U.S. House of Representatives.April 7, 2016
  
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• Top-30 Class of 2018 hoops recruit transfers from Alaska to Oregon - USA TODAY High School Sports

  07-04-2016 22:43
  USA TODAY High School Sports
  Top-30 Class of 2018 hoops recruit transfers from Alaska to Oregon
  USA TODAY High School Sports
  Four-star sophomore power forward Kamaka Hepa has transferred from his school in Alaska to Portland (Ore.) Jefferson for his junior season, according to The Oregonian. Hepa just took home his second consecutive Gatorade Alaska Boys Basketball Player ...and more »
  

• What Alaska Air's acquisition of Virgin America means for Alaskans - Alaska Dispatch News

  07-04-2016 21:43
  Alaska Dispatch News
  What Alaska Air's acquisition of Virgin America means for Alaskans
  Alaska Dispatch News
  The big aviation news of the week is Alaska Air's takeover of Virgin America. The spunky San Francisco-based airline was inspired by Sir Richard Branson because of his frustration with America's aviation experience. Branson's involvement, though ...
  Alaska Airlines: Eliminating The CompetitionSeeking Alpha
  Despite Branson's threat to launch competing airline, Alaska has exclusive access
  

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• INDIE ALASKA: Archiving Alaska's History - Alaska Public Radio Network

  07-04-2016 21:10
  INDIE ALASKA: Archiving Alaska's History
  Alaska Public Radio Network
  When old Alaskan film reels find their way from dusty basements to the Alaska Film Archives in Fairbanks, Angie Schmidt's job is to restore and maintain the footage. Having found her own Alaskan adventure through her role as head archivist, Angie holds ...
  

• INDIE ALASKA: Archiving Alaska’s History

  07-04-2016 21:09
  
  When old Alaskan film reels find their way from dusty basements to the Alaska Film Archives in Fairbanks, Angie Schmidt’s job is to restore and maintain the footage. Having found her own Alaskan adventure through her role as head archivist, Angie holds a deep understanding of Alaska’s history and is committed to restoring a collection of 2,000 “Alaska Review” raw tapes.
  Video: Hanna Craig and Kaysie EllingsonMusic: Starship Amazing
  
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• DOJ Denies Alaska's Bid for Sex-Crime Probe - Courthouse News Service

  07-04-2016 19:45
  DOJ Denies Alaska's Bid for Sex-Crime Probe
  Courthouse News Service
  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CN) - U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said she won't allow Alaska prosecutors to investigate allegations of sex crimes involving the former chief of an oil field services company. "I have concluded that it would undermine the ...and more »
  

• 5 reasons to consider an Alaska cruise (beyond escaping the Southern California heat) - Los Angeles Times

  07-04-2016 15:59
  Los Angeles Times
  5 reasons to consider an Alaska cruise (beyond escaping the Southern California heat)
  Los Angeles Times
  If you're tired of the 80-degree weather that dogged us all winter, you're probably not looking forward to what summer will bring: more of the same, if slightly hotter, with a dusting of smog. Here's one antidote: an Alaska cruise. Not only will you ...
  

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• Poll: More Alaskans are worried about the budget, and more are open to taxes

  07-04-2016 07:20
  
  Poll: More Alaskans are worried about the budget, and more are open to taxes Alaskans are growing increasingly concerned about the state budget crisis that threatens jobs, government services and Permanent Fund dividends, a new Rasmuson Foundation poll says.April 6, 2016
  
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• Girdwood police vote undetermined

  07-04-2016 04:47
  
  
  Girdwood voters are split on paying for local police protection.  The unofficial outcome of Tuesday’s municipal election indicates that about half of the community’s voters are willing to pay additional property taxes to cover the costs of law enforcement, while the other half are not.
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• Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, Apr. 6, 2016

  07-04-2016 04:45
  
  
  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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  Budget talks entering final phase
  Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
  State budget talks are entering their final phase. The House and Senate have appointed members to a budget conference committee.
  Feds refuse state request to prosecute Bill Allen
  L
  
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• Peninsula spruce threatened by aphid

  07-04-2016 04:39
  
  
  Spruce trees are under attack in the Kachemak Bay area. Tiny insects called spruce aphids are draining sap from the trees leaving tell-tale signs of damage. Spruce aphids are not usually found on the Kenai Peninsula and their sudden appearance is making residents worry for the health of their trees.
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  Spruce aphid (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)
  Spruce trees with uncharacteristically brown colored needles line the road leading up to Meghan Gervais’ home on the East
  
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• North Slope mayor recalled by voters

  07-04-2016 04:28
  
  
  Residents of the North Slope Borough have voted to recall Mayor Charlotte Brower.
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  Charlotte Brower. Photo: North Slope Borough.62 percent of voters backed Brower’s ouster in a special election Tuesday.
  The mayor was not available to comment.
  Brower came under fire after revelations that borough money had been spent on purchases from and for her family members, including sending her grandchild to a basketball camp.
  The Alaska Public Offices Commission in September approved a
  
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• Budget talks entering final phase

  07-04-2016 04:21
  
  
  State budget talks are entering their final phase. The House and Senate have appointed members to a budget conference committee.
  The committee will work out differences between the operating budgets passed by both bodies.
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  Mark Neuman (R-Big Lake) and Steve Thompson (R-Fairbanks), two of the House members of the conference committee.  (File photo Rachel Waldholz, APRN – Anchorage)The House budget would cut 280 million dollars from the part of the budget under the Legisla
  
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• A little-known Anchorage campaign consultant went four for four in Tuesday's city Assembly election

  07-04-2016 03:46
  
  A little-known Anchorage campaign consultant went four for four in Tuesday's city Assembly election Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz needs to send a thank-you to John-Henry Heckendorn and his partners. They gift-wrapped the Assembly.April 6, 2016
  
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• Taking a field trip to the moon, sort of

  07-04-2016 03:10
  
  
  Students at Aquarian experience Google Expeditions using Google Cardboard. (Hillman/KSKA)Today, we’re taking you on a school field trip. First we’ll stop by a shark tank before heading up to the moon. What? You want to swing by the Eiffel Tower on the way? No problem. Some Anchorage schools are experimenting with virtual reality.
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  A group of fifth and sixth graders sit in the Aquarian School library. At least their physical bodies are there. What they see is outer space
  
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• What Don Young really thinks about Alaska's weed ('great stuff'), Trump ('the biggest joke') and more - Alaska Dispatch News

  07-04-2016 02:17
  Alaska Dispatch News
  What Don Young really thinks about Alaska's weed ('great stuff'), Trump ('the biggest joke') and more
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Rep. Don Young speaks at a Native issues forum sponsored by the Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and Sealaska Corporation in Juneau on April 5, 2016. Alaska's sole congressman, Don Young, spoke at a Native issues forum in ...and more »
  

• Offshore drilling plan draws protests

  07-04-2016 02:17
  
  
  Molly, Penelope and Simon Whitlock, ages 5, 10 and 7, joined protesters opposed to offshore drilling outside the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s public meeting in Anchorage on April 5, 2016. Photo: Rachel Waldholz/APRNThe Interior Department wants the public to weigh in on its plans for offshore drilling over the next five years. The tentative proposal would allow lease sales in the Arctic Ocean and Cook Inlet.
  That plan has drawn opposition from environmentalists, who s
  
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• Rep. Young blames ‘bunch of idiots’ for Trump phenomenom

  07-04-2016 02:13
  
  
  U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, speaks at a Native Issues Forum in Juneau, April 5, 2016. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)Donald Trump may be the leading Republican candidate for president, but Alaska Congressman Don Young is no fan.
  At a forum in Juneau Tuesday, Young was asked the Republican candidates for president, specifically “which you can support and which you expect will be the eventual nominee.”
  Young said he has long been dissatisfied with the nomination process. He call
  
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• Rep. Young blames ‘bunch of idiots’ for choosing Trump

  07-04-2016 02:13
  
  U.S Rep. Don Young (2016 file photo by Jennifer Canfield/KTOO)Donald Trump may be the leading Republican candidate for president, but Alaska Congressman Don Young is no fan. Young says he supports Ohio governor John Kasich.“He happens to have one of the best brains. Got the experience. Knows how to do that job. (But people say) ‘Oh, he’s not exciting enough,'” Young lamented at a forum in Juneau Tuesday. “Now, who do I blame? The people! A bunch of idiots
  
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• Feds say state can’t prosecute Allen; AG Richards sees end

  07-04-2016 01:40
  
  Alaska Attorney General Craig Richards. (Photo by Josh Edge/APRN)U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has declined to let the state act as federal prosecutors to pursue former VECO owner Bill Allen.
  Lynch, in a letter to her state counterpart, says the Department of Justice spent two years investigating Allen for alleged child exploitation before it decided it couldn’t bring charges, due to the weakness of admissible evidence.
  Because the feds decided the case did not meet their standards f
  
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• Lawmakers question legislative leaders' decision to buy Anchorage offices

  07-04-2016 01:12
  
  Lawmakers question legislative leaders' decision to buy Anchorage offices Several rank-and-file lawmakers said this week that they oppose the $32.5 million purchase offer made by legislative leaders to the landlords of the Legislature’s Anchorage office building — calling into question whether the deal can be sealed.April 6, 2016
  
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• Alaska editorials - TBO.com

  07-04-2016 00:36
  Alaska editorials
  TBO.com
  As the Legislature focuses on establishing a new mechanism to pay for state government, opposition to plans involving the use of Alaska Permanent Fund earnings has ramped up. While we encourage a vigorous debate on an issue that affects all Alaskans, ...and more »
  

• More than 5,000 ballots still to be counted in Anchorage election

  07-04-2016 00:14
  
  More than 5,000 ballots still to be counted in Anchorage electionOfficials said there are still more than 5,000 ballots to be counted in Anchorage's Tuesday city election, a situation that could affect several tight races. April 6, 2016
  
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