Alaska news

• Alaska Aerospace Corp. lands big federal contract for Kodiak launch site - Alaska Dispatch News

  01-07-2016 23:45
  
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Alaska Aerospace Corp. lands big federal contract for Kodiak launch site
  Alaska Dispatch News
  The Missile Defense Agency on Thursday announced it is awarding a sole-source contract to the Alaska Aerospace Corp. for as much as $80.4 million. That money will go toward supporting flight tests at the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska in Kodiak, ...and more »
  
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• Aviation threat level bumped up for Alaska's Pavlof Volcano - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

  01-07-2016 22:41
  
  Tech Times
  Aviation threat level bumped up for Alaska's Pavlof Volcano
  Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Volcano Observatory is again raising the threat level for a remote volcano near the Aleutian Islands. The observatory says seismicity at Pavlof Volcano increased Thursday. Web camera images Friday showed minor ...
  Is Alaska's Pavlof Volcano Ready To Blow Its Top?Tech Times
  Threat level for Alaska's Pavlof Volcano raisedyouralaskalinkall 10 news article
  
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• New California law could jeopardize Alaska’s ivory market

  01-07-2016 22:06
  
  The ivory market in America just got a lot smaller, or at least that’s how it seems. A new law goes into effect today in California that bans the sale of all ivory products, including walrus ivory.
  An ivory walrus on display at Maruskiya’s in Nome. (Photo by Emily Russell, KNOM – Nome).Alaska Natives are protected under a federal law, but confusion and inconsistency between state and federal legislation has many concerned.
  John Kokuluk, Sr., is sitting at his carving booth at t
  
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• Glacier-Dammed Lake Drains, Triggers Outburst Flooding In Juneau, Alaska | The Weather Channel - The Weather Channel

  01-07-2016 21:45
  
  The Weather Channel
  Glacier-Dammed Lake Drains, Triggers Outburst Flooding In Juneau, Alaska | The Weather Channel
  The Weather Channel
  Since installing a camera at Mendenhall in 2007, Extreme Ice Survey says the glacier has retreated more than 1,830 feet or about one-third of a mile. Its abnormally fast retreat and deflation shows the effects of climate change in action.
  Glacial flooding prompts closures at popular Southeast Alaska tourism spotKTUU.com
  Juneau's Mendenhall Lake fills to record l
  
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• State loses another round in fight against feds over Alaska tribal lands - Alaska Dispatch News

  01-07-2016 21:32
  
  Alaska Dispatch News
  State loses another round in fight against feds over Alaska tribal lands
  Alaska Dispatch News
  WASHINGTON — Alaska Native tribes can now petition the federal government to take their land into "trust," an action previously barred in Alaska that could result in greater federal support for village efforts to ban alcohol and prosecute some crimes ...
  Tribes in Alaska can now take lands into trustAlaska Public Radio Network
  Alaska Natives win major land rights caseFairbank
  
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• Seattle tug deckhand dies in Naknek River barge accident - Alaska Dispatch News

  01-07-2016 20:34
  
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Seattle tug deckhand dies in Naknek River barge accident
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Spencer V. Brewer, 20, died in an accident in the mouth of the Naknek River on Wednesday. (Facebook profile photo courtesy KDLG). DILLINGHAM — A Seattle man died Wednesday after he was crushed between two barges in the Naknek River in ...and more »
  
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• U-Med road money stay with Muni after Walker vetoes reappropriation to university

  01-07-2016 20:32
  
  The proposed preferred route for the U-Med District Northern Access Road.Among Governor Bill Walker’s vetoes announced earlier this week is the re-appropriation of nearly $19 million meant for the controversial Northern Access Project in Anchorage’s U-Med District.
  But, that doesn’t mean the money can be used for other projects.
  The legislature in May opted to reallocate funding for the Northern Access Project – otherwise known as the U-Med Road – to the University
  
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• The ripple effect of losing oil jobs

  01-07-2016 20:08
  
  The loss of high paying oil industry jobs has economic impacts that ripple throughout the state’s economy. From industry support service jobs to engineering firms and even the local coffee shop, further job losses are not only possible, but likely. How are Alaskans dealing with these cuts and how much might industry job loss affect the broader economy?HOST: Lori Townsend
  GUESTS:
  Rachel Waldholz – Alaska’s Energy Desk reporter
  Neal Fried – State labor e
  
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• Blue Chair Productions Presents Constellations

  01-07-2016 19:25
  
  Ryan Buen and Aneliese PalmerDirector Colby Bleicher and Actor Ryan Buen have come together to form a new theatre company called Blue Chair Productions and along with actor Aneliese Palmer are presenting Nick Payne’s intriguing play, Constellations. Join Colby, Ryan and Aneliese this week on Stage Talk to hear all about it. Constellations performs at Out North Contemporary Art House July 1st through July 9th.
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  HOST:
  Steve Hunt
  GUESTS: 
  Colby Bleicher, Producer and Director, Bl
  
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• MDA plots return to Kodiak, packing launchers

  01-07-2016 17:55
  
  A THAAD missile launches in 2015. File photo: MDAThe Kodiak launch complex has some repeat business from a big customer: the Missile Defense Agency. MDA announced yesterday it’s awarding a contract worth up to $80 million to the Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test its THAAD interceptors at Kodiak.
  The agency launched missile targets from Kodiak a decade ago, but Alaska Aerospace CEO Craig Campbell says this work will be very different.
  “That was done all by contractor
  
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• Alaska Air unveils special 737 painted to honor Boeing's centennial - USA TODAY

  01-07-2016 17:53
  
  USA TODAY
  Alaska Air unveils special 737 painted to honor Boeing's centennial
  USA TODAY
  Alaska Airlines took delivery of a specially painted Boeing 737 on Thursday that's part of an effort to help Boeing celebrate its 100th anniversary. The Boeing 737-900ER, officially dubbed "Celebration of Boeing," sports a paint scheme that pays homage ...
  Boeing birthday bash gets its own special Alaska planeThe Seattle Times
  Alaska Airlines kicks off Boeing centennial celebration in hometown style - a flyo
  
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• Firefighting jobs increasingly in demand in Alaska - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

  01-07-2016 10:07
  
  Firefighting jobs increasingly in demand in Alaska
  Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
  FAIRBANKS — If you're smart, brave, and physically fit, firefighting may be an apt career move since firefighters are in demand across Alaska. The number of Firefighters in Alaska has doubled to almost 1,800 since 2001, according to a new report from ...and more »
  
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• Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, June 30, 2016

  01-07-2016 04:24
  
  
  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
  Kodiak Spaceport lands big customer
  Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.
  The Missile Defense Agency is bringing some business to Kodiak’s missile launch facility. The Agency announced Thursday it is awarding a sole-source c
  
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• Walker: Oil companies suggested state take over gas line project

  01-07-2016 04:22
  
  
  Gov. Bill Walker spoke to reporters on June 29, announcing $1.29 billion in budget vetos, including a $1,000 cap on the PFD. Photo: Rachel Waldholz/APRNGov. Bill Walker says the state’s three oil company partners told his administration this winter they weren’t sure they could move ahead with efforts to build a natural gas line — and suggested the state take over.
  Walker’s comments came a day after lawmakers grilled his point person on the Alaska LNG project.
  Meanwhi
  
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• The pulses overhead: remote radars still tie together Alaska’s air defense

  01-07-2016 03:58
  At the height of the Cold War, the military built secretive radar sites all over Alaska. Most of them are still operating, doing essentially the same thing: scanning the sky for anything that's not supposed to be there, particularly Russian long-range bombers. Download Audio
  
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• Kodiak Spaceport lands big customer

  01-07-2016 03:29
  
  A THAAD missile launch in 2015. File photo: MDAThe Missile Defense Agency is bringing some business to Kodiak’s space launch facility. The MDA announced today it is awarding a sole-source contract to the Alaska Aerospace Corporation that could be worth as much as $80 million over the next six years.
  U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, says the contract will require new construction at the complex.
  “Potential housing, sewer
  
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• Substance abuse programs, Office of Children’s Services get boost in funding

  01-07-2016 01:58
  
  Among Governor Bill Walker’s list of vetoes yesterday is what looks like $6.5 million in cuts to the Department of Health and Social Services. One is slated for substance abuse treatment pilot programs. Another for children’s services. But here’s the catch — even with those cuts, the department will still be getting extra money for those services next year.
  When setting the FY17 budget, the Legislature included some additional funds over FY16. Eleven million dollars were
  
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• TLMP amendment draft decision announced

  01-07-2016 01:47
  
  The U.S. Forest Service moved forward Thursday with plans to transition to second-growth harvest on the Tongass National Forest within 16 years. The draft record of decision represents a compromise that won’t leave anyone completely happy.
  A Tongass National Forest clearcut is shown in this 2014 aerial view. (Photo by Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska News)Tongass Forest Supervisor Earl Stewart has chosen Alternative 5 for the proposed Tongass Land Management Plan amendment.
  What does that mean?
  
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• Day four of search for missing hiker begins

  01-07-2016 01:29
  
  In Nome, the search for Joseph Balderas is starting its fourth day. Other than his abandoned car near mile 44 on the Nome-Council Highway, there has been no sign of him.
  According to Alaska State Troopers, three dog teams found some indication Wednesday, but the scent was quickly lost.
  The search has been tiring for the members of Nome’s Search and Rescue team. Erica Wieler has spent the majority of the search in a spotter helicopter looking for any clues to Balderas’ whereabouts. Sh
  
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• Linda Behnken to represent Alaska on halibut commission

  01-07-2016 01:21
  
  Longtime Sitka resident Linda Behnken has been appointed to the six-member International Pacific Halibut Commission.
  Linda Behnken with her sons, Rio and Hahlen. Behnken lives the small-boat fishing life she advocates for, but she’s no stranger to IPHC politics. She’s chaired the 84-member IPHC Conference Board for the last several years. (ALFA photo by Mim McConnell)Behnken, whose name has been under consideration for the international panel for some time, was appointed on June 22,
  
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• Observing the fast of Ramadan in the land of the midnight sun

  01-07-2016 00:55
  
  The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sun up until sun down, is drawing to a close. Since Islam follows the lunar calendar, the dates of the fast change every year. This time around, it falls on the longest days of summer in Alaska, when the sun hardly sets. But for some local Muslims, that’s not the obstacle they worry about.
  Women pray at the masjid in Anchorage. (Hillman/KSKA)As soon as the call to prayer begins at the masjid, or mosque, in Anchorage, Faten Najjar off
  
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• Southcentral Alaska braces for heavy rains, rising water levels

  01-07-2016 00:19
  
  A fast-moving storm is set to move through the Copper River Basin, Mat-Su, Anchorage and the Northern Kenai Peninsula in the evening of Thursday, 6/30/16. (Image courtesy National Weather Service)A fast-moving storm is set to hit a wide swath of Southcentral Alaska starting Thursday evening.
  It’s expected to start in the Copper River Basin and spread through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Anchorage and the northern Kenai Peninsula.
  Andy Dixon, a hydrologist for the National Weather Service,
  
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