Anchorage news

• CBJ Assembly Meeting – 12-19-16

  20-12-2016 23:35 via ktoo.org
  
  
  Regular meeting of the CBJ Assembly – 12-19-16http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2016/12/CBJ-12-19-16.mp3
  
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• Disney among 6 retailers stopping on-call shift scheduling

  20-12-2016 23:28
  
  ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Disney and Aeropostale are among six retailers that have agreed to stop using on-call scheduling following an inquiry by nine attorneys general.
  New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says about 50,000 workers nationwide will benefit.
  On-call scheduling requires employees to call before a scheduled shift to find out if they have to work that day. It affects workers who must arrange child care.
  A Disney spokeswoman says the retailer started phasing out on-call sched
  
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• Newscast – Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016

  20-12-2016 23:12 via ktoo.org
  
  
  http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2016/12/20161220-newscast.mp3In this newscast:
  President Barack Obama is expected to announce blocking oil and gas lease sales in much of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas,
  the Juneau Assembly adopts its long anticipated housing action plan, albeit in a squishier form than originally intended,
  local animal control officials will have new tools to deal with dangerous pets, and
  a drunk driver who ran his snow machine into dog teams during last year’s Idita
  
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• NTSB releases preliminary reports on 3 deadly Alaska crashes

  20-12-2016 23:00 via ktoo.org
  
  ANCHORAGE — An accident report says former state Rep. Mike Kelly was testing recently installed equipment on his small plane when he crashed in Alaska’s interior, killing the longtime Fairbanks resident.
  KTUU-TV said the preliminary report is among three released by the National Transportation Safety Board this week on recent fatal plane crashes in Alaska.
  Kelly was the only person on board the Bellanca Citabria 7GCBC on Dec. 7 when it crashed 17 miles south of Fairbanks. Army h
  
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• 2 former Flint emergency managers, 2 others face felony charges over water crisis

  20-12-2016 23:00 via ktoo.org
  
  Michigan’s attorney general has announced felony charges against two former emergency managers of Flint, Mich., and two other former city officials. The charges are linked to the city’s disastrous decision to switch water sources, ultimately resulting in widespread and dangerous lead contamination.
  “All too prevalent in this Flint Water Investigation was a priority on balance sheets and finances rather than health and safety of the citizens of Flint,” state Attorney Gener
  
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• Obama bans future oil leases in much of Arctic, Atlantic

  20-12-2016 22:03
  
  Last updated at 12:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20
  President Barack Obama has designated the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas in the Atlantic Ocean as indefinitely off limits to future oil and gas leasing.
  The move on Tuesday helps put some finishing touches on Obama’s environmental legacy while also testing President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to unleash the nation’s untapped energy reserves.
  Environmental groups hope the ban, despite relying on ex
  
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• Man arrested following Berlin truck attack is released

  20-12-2016 22:00 via ktoo.org
  
  Updated at 1:30 p.m. ET
  A day after a truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin killed 12 people and wounded 48 more, the only identified suspect has been released from custody due to a lack of evidence, according to German officials.
  No other arrests have been made in connection with the attack.
  The briefly detained man — a 23-year-old Pakistani asylum-seeker — denied any involvement with the attack, and police had said at a press conference earlier Tuesday that they were not ent
  
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• Fisherman who experienced seizure-like symptoms medevac’d this weekend

  20-12-2016 22:00 via ktoo.org
  
  The Coast Guard medevac’d a fisherman from Shelikof Strait this weekend.
  On Sunday morning, the captain of the fishing vessel Transit sent a request for assistance to Coast Guard sector Anchorage, saying that a crewmember was experiencing seizure-like symptoms.
  Watchstanders dispatched a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to the location. Once there, they hoisted the 37-year-old fisherman and flew him to Kodiak, where emergency medical services personnel took over
  
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• Recipe Box: Eggnog Monte Cristos

  20-12-2016 21:10
  
  Don’t let those holiday leftovers go to waste! We’re putting them to good use in this week’s Recipe Box.
  Amanda Cash, Anchorage mom and owner of The Magpie food truck, shows us how to make Eggnog Monte Cristos. It’s a triple-decker sandwich that you can fill with those holiday meats sitting in the fridge.
  “A lot of us might have leftover eggnog and maybe some leftover ham from Christmas dinner,” said Cash. “So this is going to combine the two and make a
  
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• State irked at feds’ new GPS survey method

  20-12-2016 21:00 via ktoo.org
  
  
  At statehood, Alaska was promised more than 100 million acres of land.
  So far, the federal government has transferred just 65 percent of it.
  That’s because it takes time to survey the land.
  At the current pace, it will take another 20 years. Today, the federal Bureau of Land Management announced it’s imposing a new surveying method to speed things up.
  But the state is not happy about it.
  http://media.aprn.org/2016/ann-20161219-02.mp3The current method for surveying is hard work,
  
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• New Orleans to pay $13.3 million over police killings in 2005

  20-12-2016 21:00 via ktoo.org
  
  New Orleans has agreed to pay $13.3 million to settle lawsuits over injuries and deaths at the hands of police in the weeks before and after Hurricane Katrina.
  Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced the deal Monday, saying it represents the city taking responsibility after more than a decade. The settlement covers 17 plaintiffs who sued the city for wrongful death and personal injury, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.
  The city will pay people who were injured and the families of people killed in
  
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• Revenue department forecasts jump in oil prices, drop in production

  20-12-2016 20:24 via ktoo.org
  
  
  A crowd walks across a map of Alaska at the Alaska State Library, Archives & Museum on Dec. 19, 2016, in Juneau. The state released its revenue sources book, which will help lawmakers and Gov. Bill Walker work out a budget for the upcoming year.  (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Alaska’s Energy Desk)
  When it comes to the state’s bottom line, the tax division’s revenue sources book predicts a patchwork of good and bad news for the state.The good? Oil prices are forecast to go
  
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• Turkey, Russia launch joint probe of Russian ambassador’s assassination

  20-12-2016 20:05 via ktoo.org
  
  Turkey and Russia have launched a joint investigation into the assassination of Russia’s ambassador to Turkey at the opening of a photo exhibit in the capital, Ankara, on Monday.
  The ambassador, Andrei Karlov, was gunned down as he gave a speech at an art gallery. Turkey has identified the attacker as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old riot police officer, who shouted to the crowd, “Don’t forget Aleppo! Don’t forget Syria!” He was killed by Turkish special forces a
  
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• Group looks to establish Kenai Peninsula drug detox center

  20-12-2016 20:00 via ktoo.org
  
  KENAI — The operators of a residential drug treatment facility at a Soldotna hospital are seeking funds from the state to become central Kenai Peninsula’s first medical detox center.
  The Peninsula Clarion reports that coordinators from Serenity House have applied for a state grant to fund a new detox facility. Although Central Peninsula Hospital operates the drug treatment center, the area still doesn’t have a designated facility where people can go to safely detox from drug us
  
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• Juneau Assembly adopts housing plan, but excludes it from comp plan

  20-12-2016 19:37 via ktoo.org
  
  Coogan Construction’s 24-unit Island Hills apartment complex in West Juneau as it neared completion in February 2014. (Photo by Casey Kelly/KTOO)
  The Juneau Assembly has adopted its long anticipated housing action plan, albeit in a squishier form than originally intended.
  The assembly adopted the plan in a 7-1 vote on Monday with a resolution crafted specifically to exclude it from the city’s comprehensive plan. Planning commissioners and professional staff use the comp plan to guide
  
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• Preliminary report: Soldiers found former lawmaker after fatal crash

  20-12-2016 19:24
  
  Former state representative Mike Kelly was the pilot and only person onboard a plane that crashed miles away from Fairbanks in early December. A preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sheds light on the events that led up to the fatal incident.
  According to the report, in the morning of Dec. 7 Kelly had taken the ski-equipped Bellanca Citabria 7GCBC airplane out for a test flight, from which he never returned.
  During a interview with investigators &mdas
  
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• New rules for Juneau’s dangerous dogs take effect next month

  20-12-2016 19:00 via ktoo.org
  
  An animal control vehicle outside Gastineau Humane Society in Juneau on Nov. 19, 2016. The city contracts the humane society for animal control services. (Photo by Jeremy Hsieh/KTOO)
  Juneau animal control officials will have new tools to deal with dangerous pets beginning in mid-January, including a microchipping requirement.
  The Juneau Assembly adopted the dangerous pets ordinance Monday night in a 6-2 vote.
  Animal control officials requested the changes, which applies to about 16 dogs in Junea
  
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• NTSB: Plane carrying Port Alsworth family ‘sunk’ in Lake Clark

  20-12-2016 18:25
  
  The four people onboard a small aircraft traveling from a rural southwest Alaska community, inside of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, bound for Anchorage remain missing, along with the Piper PA-28-180 airplane they were traveling in. A preliminary report written by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says the aircraft is believed “to have sunk in the deep waters of Lake Clark.”
  Pilot Kyle Longerbeam, 25, as well as Scott Blom, 45, and his children Za
  
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• NTSB: Plan carrying Port Alsworth family ‘sunk’ in Lake Clark

  20-12-2016 18:25
  
  The four people onboard a small aircraft traveling from a rural southwest Alaska community, inside of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, bound for Anchorage remain missing, along with the Piper PA-28-180 airplane they were traveling in. A preliminary report written by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says the aircraft is believed “to have sunk in the deep waters of Lake Clark.”
  Pilot Kyle Longerbeam, 25, as well as Scott Blom, 45, and his children Za
  
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• Family members of Aniak couple grieve over tragic plane crash

  20-12-2016 18:00 via ktoo.org
  
  
  A couple in their 60s died in a plane crash last week at Marvel Dome, an area northeast of Bethel.
  Law enforcement officials identified the bodies of Mark Matter, 62, and his wife Cecilia Matter, 63, of Aniak. The two were longtime residents of the small Alaskan village, and leave behind an impossible-to-fill void for friends and family.
  https://cpa.ds.npr.org/kyuk/audio/2016/12/161219_crash_pkg.mp3Mark and Cecilia Matter, married 41 years, were never apart for long. They couldn’t be.
  &ldq
  
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• 2 Alaska Airlines flights hit by lightning in Alaska

  20-12-2016 17:00 via ktoo.org
  
  JUNEAU — Two Alaska Airlines flights were struck by lightning Monday, causing them to be removed from service so they could be inspected for any damage.
  The Juneau Empire reports the first strike occurred as a plane from Juneau prepared to land in Sitka.
  The second strike occurred on a flight from Anchorage to Cordova. That flight typically continues from Cordova to Yakutat, Juneau and Seattle, but Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Ann Vininovich says the remaining legs were canceled so the plan
  
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• Feds plan to hasten transfer of Alaska land using GPS

  20-12-2016 16:57
  
  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – The federal government has announced plans to speed up the transfer of about 35 million acres of land to Alaska.
  The Alaska Public Radio Network reports that the federal government has only transferred about 65 percent of the 100 million acres of land Alaska was promised at statehood. The delay has been blamed on the time it takes to survey land, which involves surveyors flying into remote areas, clearing through brush and placing brass markers.
  The federal Bureau
  
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• Anchorage Assembly will take public testimony on potential spending limit Tuesday

  20-12-2016 08:21
  
  The Anchorage Assembly will hear public comment on the topic of adding a spending limit to the Anchorage municipal charter, in addition to the existing tax cap, at Tuesday’s meeting.
  There’s already an ordinance that limits spending, but south Anchorage assemblyman John Weddleton says that because it’s not in the charter it often times gets ignored. He argues that if it had been applied this year, a spending limit would have shaved off about $9 million from the total
  
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• Anchorage post offices prepare for deluge of last-minute holiday packages

  20-12-2016 07:04
  
  Time is running out to get your gifts and holiday cards delivered to love ones by Christmas.
  The U.S. Postal Service says Monday Dec. 19 is the busiest shipping day of the year. The rush is on to get holiday gifts delivered across the country.
  “It’s a lot of extended work hours and they work really hard,” USPS Alaska spokesperson Dawn Peppinger said.
  Still, many are dealing with the long lines.
  “Last minute is the only way to do it,” John Johnson said as h
  
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• Alaskan NORAD Region prepares to track Santa on Christmas Eve

  20-12-2016 06:30
  
  You can follow along as Santa and his reindeer make their annual trip around the world Saturday night.
  The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), have tracked Santa’s flight for more than 60 years after a misprinted advertisement for Sears and Roebuck gave children a telephone number to call Santa.
  Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD commander-in-chief&rsquo
  
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• Point Woronzof double-murder suspect pleads not guilty

  20-12-2016 05:32
  
  The Anchorage man charged with killing two young people in January was arraigned in superior court Monday.
  Jamal Hall faces two charges each of first and second-degree murder. He also faces robbery, assault and theft charges for allegedly robbing a Midtown Walgreens in late November. An attorney for Hall entered not guilty pleas for both cases in Nesbett Courthouse Monday.
  Hall is being held on $1 million for the murder charges. No bail was set for the robbery charges.
  Police found 20-year-
  
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• Mat-Su Special Santa program in need of last-minute donations

  20-12-2016 03:58
  
  Time is running out for a charity in the Mat-Su which donates to families in need during the holiday season.
  The Mat-Su Special Santa program has been around for 20 years, according to founder Mari Jo Parks. In 2015, they served more than 3,200 children. This year, she said, the number is expected to be higher.
  The program is seeing more large families who are struggling. Most are referred to the program by social service agencies and each child is allowed to make a short list of
  
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• Walker proposes stable Fish and Game budget

  20-12-2016 03:19 via ktoo.org
  
  A state Department of Fish and Game staffer works on sampling fish for a study on toxic metal concentrations in Tulsequah and Taku river fish. (Photo courtesy Department of Fish and Game)
  Gov. Bill Walker proposed cutting about 45 positions and $3.5 million from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s 2018 budget last week, significantly smaller than the $11.5 million in cuts over the last two years.
  But, Walker’s proposal calls for no additional changes to the agency’s Southe
  
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• Native Americans in Oregon say Kennewick Man is one of them

  20-12-2016 02:58 via ktoo.org
  
  A reconstruction of Kennewick Man sculpted to resemble the Ainu people of Japan, considered by some at the time to be his closest living relatives. Now, a link to Native Americans has been confirmed. (Photo by Brittney Tatchell/Smithsonian Institute)
  Kennewick Man is an ancient skeleton found along the banks of the Columbia River by students in 1996. The discovery caused a legal battle between Northwest tribes and scientists.
  But now, President Barack Obama has signed a bill that requires t
  
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• Obama brought attention to threatened Arctic villages, but little funding so far

  20-12-2016 02:08 via ktoo.org
  
  Waving goodbye to Kotzebue from the doorway of Air Force One. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
  It’s been more than a year since President Barack Obama visited Alaska, and became the first sitting president to travel above the Arctic Circle.
  The trip was designed to draw attention to climate change in the lead up to last year’s international conference in Paris. And the president went out of his way to highlight Alaska villages threatened by rapid erosion.
  But as Obama prepa
  
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• Juneau Afternoon – 12-20-16

  20-12-2016 02:00 via ktoo.org
  
  Today on A Juneau Afternoon,We’ll talk Travel Tuesday with guest Liz Perry from the Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau;
  That, Writers Almanac, Bird Note, music and more, live at 3 on KTOO, repeated at 4 on KRNN, and on demand via ktoo.org
  
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• Town hall meetings to discuss trooper vacancy in Haines postponed

  20-12-2016 01:00 via ktoo.org
  
  Two meetings scheduled this week to discuss an Alaska State Trooper vacancy in Haines have been postponed.
  One town hall meeting was scheduled for Tuesday at the Haines Public Library. The other, the Mosquito Lake Community Center.
  Police Chief Heath Scott was planning to hold the meeting to give the public a chance to ask questions and raise concerns about the recent loss of trooper service in the Haines area.
  December 15 was the last day for Haines’ only non-wildlife, or “blue-shir
  
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• Shots fired overnight near Cheney Lake, APD investigating

  20-12-2016 00:47
  
  Shannon Riddle / KTVA Shannon Riddle / KTVA Shannon Riddle / KTVA
  Anchorage police say a house in a neighborhood near Cheney Lake was struck with multiple bullets in a shooting late Sunday night, but that no one was harmed.
  Spokesperson for the Anchorage Police Department, Anita Shell, said in an email Monday that just before 11:30 p.m. Sunday, a caller reported gunfire in the area of Baxter Road and Prosperity Drive. APD reported that one house was hit with several rounds along with a vehicle.
  
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• Alaska’s Electoral College members vote Trump amid controversy

  20-12-2016 00:12
  
  Alaska Electors (seated from left) Jacqueline Tupou, former Gov. Sean Parnell and Carolyn Leman.Image by Rik Pruett
  There was only one name for president on Alaska’s Electoral College ballot: Donald Trump.
  All three of Alaska’s electoral votes went to the Republican Party nominee. Former Gov. Sean Parnell, Carolyn Leman and Jacqueline Tupou were chosen by the Alaska GOP at its April convention to cast the votes Monday morning at the State Library, Archives and Museum in Juneau.
  Befo
  
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• Kodiak borough awards contract to replant Chiniak land burned in Twin Creeks fire

  20-12-2016 00:00 via ktoo.org
  
  The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly recently agreed to award a contract for the planting of spruce tree seedlings on Chiniak land burned in the Twin Creeks fire.
  At last week’s regular meeting, the assembly OK’d the agreement with Alaska-based Carter & Carter Enterprises and, before the assembly passed that contract, the borough staff explained measures it took to ensure that the company carries out the work as expected.
  Borough Manager Michael Powers said staff included a monitor
  
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