Anchorage news

• Celebrating Black History Month and the members of the military

  22-02-2017 23:42
  
  Because of the Brave is a photography project that recognizes military members, and celebrates Black History Month. The founder and person behind the project, Victoria Baldwin, said she got the idea while she was deployed to Kuwait in 2014.
  She’d snap a portrait of different service members, and ask them why they chose to join the military.
  “At first people were hesitant to have a stranger asking them those kinds of questions, and also made them kind of stop and think,” sh
  
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• AST: Deaths of 2 Soldotna people found dead in Bronco an accident

  22-02-2017 23:31
  The deaths of two people, found dead in a burned Bronco last year, have been ruled accidental, according to Alaska State Troopers.
  In an online dispatch, the agency wrote that impairment and carbon monoxide inhalation were factors in Daniel Duck and Joni Pearcy’s deaths.
  On Nov. 20, Soldotna troopers received a missing persons for Duck and Pearcy. They hadn’t been seen for about five days, and neither had their Bronco. When troopers were investigating at the last place the two had be
  
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• Sullivan urges Board of Game to repeal predator control regulations

  22-02-2017 23:21 via ktoo.org
  
  
  U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, at a press availability following his annual address to the Legislature, Feb. 29, 2016. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
  U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is urging the Alaska Board of Game to get behind legislation to repeal a rule regulating predator control on federal wildlife refuges in Alaska.
  Sullivan is sponsoring a resolution of disapproval similar to one already passed by the U.S. House that would turn back the Obama-era rule that specifically bans some
  
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• Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office hires new director

  22-02-2017 23:07 via ktoo.org
  
  
  Marijuana plants grow at Rainforest Farms’ facility in Juneau, Nov. 7, 2016. Co-owner James Barrett says these plants will provide the first legal marijuana for sale in Juneau. (Photo courtesy Rainforest Farms)
  The state announced Tuesday, Feb. 21, a new head for the office in charge of regulating alcohol and marijuana.http://media.aprn.org/2017/ann-20170221-04.mp3
  Erika McConnell has worked in Anchorage’s municipal planning department for more than a decade.
  More recently, she
  
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• New holiday would honor contributions of black soldiers to Alaska Highway

  22-02-2017 22:24 via ktoo.org
  
  The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but it remains vitally important to Alaskans.
  Yet, many are unaware of its unique history.
  State lawmakers are considering making a new holiday to honor the contributions of black soldiers who helped build what is still the only road connecting Alaska to the Lower 48.
  http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2017/02/21HIGHWAYHOLIDAY.wavReginald Beverly turned 102 two weeks ago. He is one of over 4,000 black s
  
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• Embattled Fishing Company sold to other seafood companies, but investigation continues for sunken trawler

  22-02-2017 22:04 via ktoo.org
  
  After more than 30 years in the seafood industry, the Fishing Company of Alaska was bought out last month, ending its long and often difficult presence at the Port of Dutch Harbor.
  The company is still under investigation, though, after one of its vessels sank off the Aleutian Islands last summer.
  Lt. James Daugherty said the U.S. Coast Guard’s probe has gone on, regardless of the sale.
  “We’re concerned with why the Alaska Juris sank,” Daugherty said. “There are big
  
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• DC-based for decades, Apollo 11 capsule to go on road trip

  22-02-2017 21:22
  
  CHANTILLY, Va. (AP) – The Apollo 11 command module, which traveled more than 950,000 miles to take Americans to the moon and back in 1969, is going on a road trip, leaving the Smithsonian for the first time in more than four decades.
  The capsule, named “Columbia,” went on a tour of U.S. capitals following its historic role in the mission to the moon. But since then it has made its home at the Smithsonian in Washington.
  On Wednesday, officials announced a four-city road tour ahe
  
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• Anger rises across the country at GOP congressional town halls

  22-02-2017 19:05 via ktoo.org
  
  Republican members of Congress aren’t exactly getting a warm welcome in their home districts during this week’s recess.
  Angry constituents have confronted legislators at town halls across the country, upset over everything from the GOP’s plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, the Trump White House’s travel ban, alleged Russian interference in the U.S. elections and more. New York Rep. Tom Reed, for example, faced these questions in a series of town halls he held over the w
  
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• Company plans more flights over leaking Cook Inlet pipeline

  22-02-2017 18:59
  
  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – A leaking underwater pipeline continues to spew natural gas into Cook Inlet.
  The gas is bubbling from an 8-inch Hilcorp Alaska, LLC, pipeline that supplies processed natural gas to four drilling platforms.
  The Department of Environmental Conservation says Hilcorp flew over the pipeline Saturday and Sunday but could not see bubbles from the gas because of pans of ice on the water.
  A helicopter crew spotted the leak Feb. 7. The pipe is in 80 feet of water about four
  
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• State draw proposals are reasonable, Permanent Fund head says

  22-02-2017 18:41 via ktoo.org
  
  Alaska Permanent Fund Executive Director Angela Rodell at the corporate office, March 14, 2016. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
  There are three different proposals to draw money from Alaska Permanent Fund earnings to pay for part of the state government’s budget.
  Permanent Fund Executive Director Angela Rodell told the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday that officers don’t take an opinion on what the draw should be, but all of the proposals are reasonable.
  “All of those diffe
  
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• Juneau Afternoon – 2-23-17

  22-02-2017 11:00 via ktoo.org
  
  Thursday on A Juneau Afternoon, Joan Pardes will host,
  Jim Powell will be here to discuss the UAS School of Management;
  We’ll learn about ToastMasters with guest Jill Ramiel;
  Shari Paul will be here with details about the upcoming Girl Scout benefit event;
  And Nancy DeCherney will be here with art news during Arts Up.
  That, Writers Almanac, Bird Note, music and more, Thursday on A Juneau Afternoon, live at 3 on KTOO, repeated at 4 on KRNN, and available on demand via ktoo.org
  
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• Alaskans weigh in on new deportation rules from Trump administration

  22-02-2017 08:27
  
  New rules from the Department of Homeland Security regarding illegal immigration will allow for increased deportations. The rules, announced Tuesday by Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, outline a number of ways the government will speed up deportations.
  It requests the hiring of 10,000 new Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel, publicizing crimes illegal immigrants commit and enlisting more local law enforcement officers as immigration enforcers. The rules are separate fr
  
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• Lovers of Italian olive oil in for some sticker shock

  22-02-2017 07:59
  
  Courtesy Kezee/Creative Commons
  From specialty shops in Rome to supermarkets around the world, lovers of Italian olive oil are in for some sticker shock this year, with prices due to jump by as much as 20 percent.
  The combination of bad weather and pests hit the harvest in Southern Europe, most of all in Italy, where production is halved from last fall. That’s pushing up Italian wholesale prices by 64 percent as of mid-February compared with a year earlier, which translates to shelf price
  
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• Attorney: Some victims, witnesses of crimes may not feel safe coming forward under immigration changes

  22-02-2017 07:33
  
  Robin Bronen is an Anchorage attorney and the executive director of the Alaska Institute for Justice, which works to protect human rights, refugees and immigrants, among other things. She sat down with Joe Vigil to discuss recently released guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security regarding immigration and deportation.
  Bronen said one concern with the new directives is that witnesses or victims of crimes who do not have legal residency statuses will not be able to seek help for t
  
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• Meet the KTVA Iditarod team

  22-02-2017 07:17
  
  While mushers finish preparing their dog teams to take on the Iditarod, a KTVA team is gathering their gear and packing their bags to take on the trail, too.
  The KTVA crew won’t be traveling by sled, but by plane, helicopter and snowmachine. They’ll be documenting the historic race from the sky and by foot.
  So, who will be on the trail? A dedicated crew focused on sharing the unique stories only the Iditarod can serve up. Watch our coverage on KTVA CBS 11, on KTVA.com and across soci
  
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• Suspect arraigned on new charges related to deadly shooting

  22-02-2017 07:06
  
  Christopher Birotte in court on Tuesday
  A man accused of killing an Anchorage 19-year-old appeared in court Tuesday on two new charges in the case.
  Christopher Birotte, 23, was arraigned for first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder in connection to a Jan. 24 shooting that resulted in the death of Tiwan Johnson. Birotte was previously arraigned on other charges of second-degree murder and assault.
  Police say Birotte got into an argument with Johnson and Eric Miller over a marijuana
  
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• KTVA Weather Lab: Scenic Park Elementary School

  22-02-2017 06:33
  
  In this week’s KTVA Weather Lab, I visited Scenic Park Elementary School. The third-graders in Ms. Westfall’s class are learning that the sun is always shining, regardless of what the weather looks like outside their window.
  While I was there, they asked me the Weather Lab Question of the Week: How do clouds get their shapes?
  Every Tuesday, Melissa Frey will take the KTVA Weather Lab to a classroom in our community. If you have a weather question for Melissa or would l
  
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• Aces hit the road, and the timing may be right

  22-02-2017 06:31
  
  It has not gone well of late for the Alaska Aces. Uncertainty over their future, combined with a slide on the ice has the team reeling.
  Perhaps a road trip will do them some good—a long one. 
  Tuesday was their final skate at Sullivan Arena for a while. On Wednesday, they’ll depart for the East Coast on a 10-game, three-week trek.
  “We go from New York City to Elmira, Elmira to Manchester, New Hampshire to Utah, Utah to Colorado, Rapid
  
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• DHS issues memos meant to crack down on illegal immigration

  22-02-2017 06:15
  
  The Department of Homeland Security issued two memos Tuesday morning that could expand the number of immigrants detained or deported as part the administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
  The memos are intended to implement President Trump’s immigration actions from last month and enforce existing immigration law. CBS News’ Jeff Pegues previewed some of the memos’ details on Monday.
  The Dreamers
  The memos don’t overturn the Obama 2012 immigrat
  
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• Alaska Weather Forecast – Feb. 21, 2017

  22-02-2017 06:01
  
  Winter weather advisories are in place for parts of the state, including Bristol Bay, according to meteorologist Carlos Faura. He explains what the rest of the state can expect in the coming days, including whether there will be more snow, and how much.
  Follow KTVA 11’s Weather Team on Facebook and Twitter. Got a weather-related photo or story idea? Email the team at [email protected].
  The post Alaska Weather Forecast – Feb. 21, 2017 appeared first on KTVA 11.
  
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• For fourth year in a row, Alaska Legislature considers bill to make all workplaces smoke-free

  22-02-2017 05:46
  
  Only about half of Alaskans are guaranteed a smoke-free workplace. That’s because Alaska is one of just 15 states that does not have a statewide ban. The American Cancer Society has been pushing to change state law for years. Now, a proposal introduced in the Senate Friday has given the organization new hope.
  “It’s kind of a plea for help ultimately for a number of Alaskans,” said Dean Gustafson of Fairbanks, a city that still allows smoking in bars and restaurants.
  
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• Frank Woodford’s mom faces son’s suspected killer in court for the first time

  22-02-2017 05:37
  
  Michelle Woodford admits she didn’t get much sleep Monday night as she prepared to come face to face with the man accused of killing her son.
  “It got harder knowing that this court date was today,” she said. “I mean, I knew it was coming, but it just got harder.”
  Damien Peterson was arraigned in Palmer Tuesday morning. The 19-year-old faces four charges in 16-year-old Frank Woodford’s June 2016 death, including second-degree murder.
  When Peterson was esco
  
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• Watch Sen. Murkowski address Alaska Legislature live at 11 a.m. Wednesday

  22-02-2017 05:00 via ktoo.org
  
  U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R- Alaska, delivers her annual address to the Legislature, Feb. 17, 2016. Behind her  are Senate President Kevin Meyer, left, and Speaker of the House Mike Chenault. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
  U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski delivers her address at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, to the Alaska Legislature Joint Session.
  Come back to this post at 11 a.m. for a live stream of Gavel Alaska coverage. Or watch on 360 North television, which is available in Juneau over the a
  
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• Watch Sen. Murkowski address Alaska Legislature live at 11 a.m. today

  22-02-2017 05:00 via ktoo.org
  
  U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R- Alaska, delivers her annual address to the Legislature, Feb. 17, 2016. Behind her  are Senate President Kevin Meyer, left, and Speaker of the House Mike Chenault. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
  U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski delivers her address at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, to the Alaska Legislature Joint Session.
  Come back to this post at 11 a.m. for a live stream of Gavel Alaska coverage. Or watch on 360 North television, which is available in Juneau over the a
  
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• Watch Sen. Murkowski address Alaska Legislature

  22-02-2017 05:00 via ktoo.org
  
  U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R- Alaska, delivers her annual address to the Legislature, Feb. 17, 2016. Behind her  are Senate President Kevin Meyer, left, and Speaker of the House Mike Chenault. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
  U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski delivers her address at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, to the Alaska Legislature Joint Session.
  Come back to this post at 11 a.m. for a live stream of Gavel Alaska coverage. Or watch on 360 North television, which is available in Juneau over the a
  
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• Recalled cheeses sold in Alaska, state officials say

  22-02-2017 03:33
  
  Recalled Biery Cheese Co. Products. Courtesy Alaska DEC
  The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation announced on Facebook Tuesday that recently recalled cheese products have been sold in Alaska.
  The Biery Cheese Co. voluntarily recalled its specialty Longhorn Colby cheese products because of a potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to a notice on the Food and Drug Administration’s website. The company was notified of the possible contamination on Feb. 15 by
  
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• South Anchorage High students wear green to honor classmate who died

  22-02-2017 02:55
  
  Students at an Anchorage high school went to class in green on Tuesday in memory of a classmate who died Monday.
  Trevor Noble, 18, died in his south Anchorage home Monday morning. Police say he and his family were overcome by carbon monoxide in the home, likely caused by a boiler in the garage below where Noble slept. The rest of the family is undergoing treatment, including one of Noble’s siblings, who police said is in critical condition.
  Anchorage School District spokeswoman H
  
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• Sitka author’s ‘Alaskan Laundry’ wins statewide award

  22-02-2017 02:21 via ktoo.org
  
  
  Brendan Jones, pictured with his daughter Haley, has won the Alaskana Award for his debut novel, “The Alaskan Laundry.” The book’s protagonist, like Jones, refurbishes a tugboat. (Photo by Emily Kwong/KCAW)
  Sitka author Brendan Jones has won a statewide award for his book “The Alaskan Laundry.”https://kcaw-org.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/17Alaskana.mp3
   Created in 1994, the Alaskana Award recognizes one work of fiction or nonfiction that gives &
  
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• Study sees U.S. life expectancy falling further behind other countries

  22-02-2017 02:03
  
  Life expectancy in the United States is already much lower than most other high-income countries and is expected to fall even further behind by 2030, new research published today predicts.
  According to the most recent government figures, life expectancy at birth in the United States is 76.3 years for men and 81.2 years for women.
  Using a number of forecasting models, researchers from the U.K. predict life expectancy in the U.S. will improve to 83.3 years for women and 79.5 years for men by the y
  
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• Juneau Afternoon – 2-22-17

  22-02-2017 02:00 via ktoo.org
  
  Wednesday at 3 on A Juneau Afternoon,Heather Mitchell will be here to highlight this coming weekend’s Juneau Cabaret tribute to Duke Ellington;
  We’ll get an update on The Learning Connection classes with Jeffrey Smith;
  We’ll talk with a toy designer, Cass Holman, guest speaker for the Wednesday Alaska Design Forum presentation;
  Sue Baxter will be here to discuss this weekend’s Juneau-Whitehorse hockey games;
  And we’ll get an update on all things Eaglecrest.
  That, W
  
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• Behind this year’s Fur Rondy Melodrama

  22-02-2017 01:22
  
  For the past 27 years, the Fur Rondy Melodrama has become a wild and wacky tradition. In those nearly three decades, there have been multiple themes. This year’s theme is the History of Fur Rondy, or Fur Rendezvous, and will be produced by Alaska Sound Celebration (ASC).
  According to Melanie Cross with ASC, the melodrama is an interactive theatre experience, not a “quiet show” at the Performing Arts Center.
  “We have a lot of audience cheering,” she said. &ldquo
  
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• Winter weather advisories issued for southcentral Alaska as snow returns to the forecast

  22-02-2017 00:45
  
  Snow returns to the forecast for southcentral Alaska beginning Tuesday evening, and will continue through the Wednesday morning commute. Winter weather advisories have been issued for Anchorage, the Valley, and the western Kenai Peninsula where snowfall totals are expected to be the highest.Snow will begin moving into the southern and western Kenai Peninsula by the evening commute on Tuesday, and will push into Anchorage and the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys sometime after 9 p.m. The snow could
  
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• After comments on pedophilia, Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos resigns

  22-02-2017 00:43 via ktoo.org
  
  Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos has resigned amid a social media backlash over comments he made that appeared to condone pedophilia.
  In a news conference Tuesday, Yiannopoulos said his resignation was effective immediately and praised the website as “a significant factor in my success.”
  He also explained his views on sex with minors, insisting that he does not condone statutory rape.
  “I do not believe any change in the legal age of consent is justifiable or desirable,&r
  
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• McConnell to head Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office

  22-02-2017 00:41
  
  A former planner with the municipality of Anchorage will be the new director of the state Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office.
  Erika McConnell will join the state office March 20 after 14 years with the municipality, where she oversaw special land use permits for alcohol and wrote Anchorage’s marijuana land use regulations.
  She replaces acting director Sara Chambers.
  Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Commissioner Chris Hladick announced the appointment Tuesday.
  Hl
  
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• Alaska board, prompted by lawsuit, proposes new abortion rules

  22-02-2017 00:35
  
  The Alaska State Medical Board has proposed new abortion regulations, prompted by a lawsuit from abortion-rights advocates who argue that existing rules restrict second-trimester abortions.
  Debora Stovern, the board’s executive administrator, says the lawsuit flagged for the board the fact that some existing rules were more than 30 years old and perhaps due for review.
  The proposed new rules, among other things, would repeal a requirement that a physician consult with another doctor before
  
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