Anchorage news

• North Korea threatens pre-emptive nuclear attack

  15-04-2017 22:15
  
  North Korea says it is “on the brink of war” with the U.S.
  In an interview with CBS News’ Ben Tracy, one of the nation’s senior officials has accused the Trump administration of wanting to “annihilate” his country and blamed the escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula squarely on the U.S. and South Korea.
  A U.S. Navy strike group, with the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in the middle, is heading toward the peninsula as the region braces for the isolated r
  
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• Last surviving person born in 1800s dies at age 117

  15-04-2017 21:57
  
  Emma Morano in 1900 (left) and again in the 1930s (right)Photos: left by Marcello.Sarica/Right by unknown (Public Domain)
  Emma Morano, at 117 the world’s oldest person who is also believed to have been the last surviving person born in the 1800s, died Saturday at her home in northern Italy, her physician said.
  Dr. Carlo Bava told The Associated Press by phone that Morano’s caretaker had called him to say she had stopped breathing in the afternoon while sitting in an armchair at her
  
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• Inside the Gates: New gate facility to improve security, comfort for personnel

  15-04-2017 21:43
  
  To get onto Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), visitors and residents alike have to go through security gates. One of those gates is getting a major upgrade.
  Post Road Gate is one of the places commercial traffic can be inspected before heading on base. Airman 1st Class Barry Johnson is among the security personnel who check over each vehicle.
  “We inspect commercial vehicles coming onto JBER, make sure nothing unauthorized is coming on, make sure everybody is safe,” he said.
  Joh
  
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• Alaska oil well leaking gas in northern part of state

  15-04-2017 21:43
  
  The site of the spillCourtesy Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation The site of the spillCourtesy Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation The site of the spillCourtesy Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation The site of the spillCourtesy Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
  A federal official says crews in Alaska are trying to shut down an oil well that is leaking explosive natural gas on the frozen North Slope.
  The Environmental Protection Agency says a crac
  
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• Alaska oil well leaking gas

  15-04-2017 21:43
  
  A federal official says crews in Alaska are trying to shut down an oil well that is leaking explosive natural gas on the frozen North Slope.
  The Environmental Protection Agency says a crack in a BP wellhead near Deadhorse sent up mist of crude oil Friday before it froze over and an initial leak stopped.
  However, agency spokeswoman Suzanne Skadowski says a second crack was discovered that’s releasing flammable, explosive gas.
  Site of the crude oil spill (Photo: Alaska Department of Environm
  
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• Fairbanks borough leaders vote to keep prayer at meetings

  15-04-2017 21:11
  
  The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly will continue to allow prayer at the beginning of assembly meetings after voting down a measure to stop the invocation.
  The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the measure failed in a 4-5 vote Thursday and came after hours of public testimony and debate.
  Three assembly members had introduced the proposal last month, saying it would make assembly meetings more inclusive and reflective of the community as a whole.
  But some residents who spoke out said they
  
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• Hillside opposition tanks Proposition 7, but still no solution for problem it aimed to solve

  15-04-2017 21:09
  
  Proposition 7, which would have greatly expanded the Anchorage Parks and Recreation service area, failed, according to unofficial election results released Friday. In order to pass, the ballot measure had to receive the majority of votes in both the current and proposed park service areas.
  It passed in the current service area — which includes nearly all of the Anchorage Bowl except Stuckagain Heights — by a 10-point margin. However, it failed in the proposed area, which includes the
  
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• Juneau camping ban goes into effect as new campground opens

  15-04-2017 20:54
  
  A new ordinance taking effect in Juneau will allow police to issue citations to people who have set up camp on private property in the city’s downtown.
  The Juneau Empire reports that starting Saturday, those caught camping in the area between midnight and 7 a.m. could be issued a citation. The Juneau Assembly approved the new law in February.
  The ban on camping on private property has sparked concerns about where homeless people will sleep at night.
  Deputy City Manager Mila Cosgrove says a
  
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• 2 wounded in Cabin Tavern shooting

  15-04-2017 20:41
  
  The Cabin Tavern
  Anchorage police say a “large disturbance” at a local bar led to a shooting that injured at least two people early Saturday morning.
  The incident occurred at the Cabin Tavern, located on Muldoon Road, police confirmed. Police were at the scene of the shooting around 2:30 a.m., and issued a statement at 4:32 a.m.
  Two people were shot, according to the statement. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, police said.
  No further information was immediately avail
  
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• Senate committee grills state over inaccurate oil production forecast

  15-04-2017 08:30 via ktoo.org
  
  Sen. Anna MacKinnon, R-Anchorage, speaks during a Senate Majority Press Availability on April 3, 2017.  MacKinnon is the chair of the Senate Finance committee. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
  Alaska’s Department of Revenue faced criticism during a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Friday after it put out its spring forecast. It predicts an unprecedented 12 percent drop in oil production next year.That prediction came from the state’s Department of Natural Resources, which took
  
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• EPA retiree has advice for Scott Pruitt on his way out the door

  15-04-2017 08:16 via ktoo.org
  
  Michael Cox was planning on retiring from the EPA, but sending a letter to Scott Pruitt? That wasn’t always part of the plan. (Photo courtesy of John Ryan/KUOW)
  For most people, the last day on the job before retiring is a celebration. But Michael Cox capped off his career at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a scathing letter to agency head Scott Pruitt.
  Since 1987, Cox has worked for the EPA. Most recently he served as climate advisor for Region 10 — which covers Alask
  
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• Man who killed caretaker in 2015 sentenced to 60 years in prison

  15-04-2017 05:35
  
  A man who called police to say he’d killed his caretaker at an Anchorage assisted living home in November of 2015 was sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday.
  Gilbert Nashookpuk, 26, admitted to strangling and beating 57-year-old Glenna Wyllie after she made him angry, he told police. Nashookpuk pleaded guilty to first degree murder as part of plea deal.
  At the sentencing hearing Nashookpuk told family members he was sorry and would work to resolve his anger issues. Nashookpuk’s
  
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• Kenai plane crash survivors meet rescuers who saved their lives

  15-04-2017 05:20
  
  When a plane crashed and went missing in January on a flight from Anchorage to Kenai, the three survivors had faith people were looking for them.
  They were right. After eventually being rescued, they were surprised to hear just how large the search effort to find them became. Recently, the survivors got the chance to meet and say thank you to one of the many groups responsible for saving their lives.
  Standing in the highly secure room where the 176th Air Defense Squadron is t
  
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• Senator says poll shows Alaskans support an income tax

  15-04-2017 05:09
  
  The Alaska House of Representatives is preparing to vote on an income tax, but the Senate majority says it won’t stand.
  Now, one senator says a new poll shows Alaskans actually prefer a tax.
  Senate minority member Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) presented the poll results at a press conference Friday. He called it one of the most comprehensive polls done on the issue in the state’s history.
  The survey was commissioned by a group called the Economic Security Project, of which Wie
  
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• Anchorage sexual assault case highlights dangers of online dating

  15-04-2017 04:51
  
  Before Jim Persey, accused of sexually assaulting 10 women, was arrested a year ago, Anchorage police say he was on MeetMe, an online dating app, talking to a woman who later turned him into police for sexual assault.
  Charging documents show their offline relationship began with consensual sex, but then Persey’s behavior turned violent. The woman told the Anchorage Police Department Persey slapped her, choked her and forced her to have sex with him again, among other offenses.
  Po
  
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• BP working to contain well on North Slope

  15-04-2017 03:58 via ktoo.org
  
  Prudhoe Bay. (Photo courtesy of BP)
  BP is working to contain an out-of-control production well at the Prudhoe Bay oil field on the North Slope. The well is currently venting natural gas and has released at least some crude oil into the environment.
  State regulators say they don’t yet know how serious the incident is, or what amount of oil or gas has been released.
  In an emailed statement, BP said nobody was near the well at the time of the release, and there have been no injuries.
  Reg
  
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• Bill would make it easier to pass on information about contaminated sites in Alaska

  15-04-2017 03:24 via ktoo.org
  
  
  Contaminated snow-covered tundra on April 29, 2014, from a BP Exploration Alaska spill in Prudoe Bay, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation)
  From leaking pipelines and polluted aquifers, to broken septic tanks and abandoned military equipment, there are more than 2,200 open cases of contaminated sites in Alaska. A new bill that that is making its way through the state House, would require full disclosure of contamination on the deed of a property before it can b
  
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• Navy bans vaping on ships after explosions, burns

  15-04-2017 02:47
  
  The U.S. Navy is banning vaping on ships after at least a dozen reports of explosions and injuries.
  Naval commanders said in a statement Friday that the temporary electronic cigarette policy aims to protect sailors and the fleet. It starts next month.
  Officials cited overheated batteries in vaping equipment as the problem. Explosions have led to fires, first-degree burns and facial disfigurement. During a recent eight-month stretch, 12 incidents put sailors out of work for a combined 77 days. In
  
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• Alaska Airlines expanding statewide infrastructure

  15-04-2017 02:26 via ktoo.org
  
  
  Alaska Airlines is expanding and updating infrastructure in the state.
  Alaska Airlines regional vice president Marilyn Romano outlined plans for the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
  http://media.aprn.org/2017/ann-20170413-06.mp3”We’re getting ready to invest over $100 million, well we’re already doing it, in the state of Alaska,” Romano said.
  Romano said the biggest project, is construction of a new a $40 million hangar in Anchorage.
  “It will hold two
  
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• Haines Assembly gives official approval for $55,000 settlement with former manager

  15-04-2017 02:23 via ktoo.org
  
  
  Then-City Manager Bill Seward was fired by the Haines Borough Assembly in December. The Assembly OK’d a settlement of $55,000 and in return Seward must release the municipality from further legal action . (File photo by Emily Files/KHNS)
  On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly officially approved a $55,000 settlement with the former manager they fired in December. Some of the background about why the assembly made that decision came to light this week.
  http://khns.org/wp-content/uploa
  
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• Bakery offers year’s supply of macarons for return of stolen delivery vehicle

  15-04-2017 02:21
  
  Macarons, the tasty reward offered by Sweet Caribou. (Photo courtesy of Sweet Caribou)
  The Sweet Caribou bakery in Anchorage is offering a tasty reward for anyone who can help find their stolen delivery car.
  The shop’s owner James Strong says one of their “Macaron Mobiles” disappeared from their parking lot near 36th Ave and Arctic Blvd sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning.
  (Courtesy of Sweet Caribou)
  To make matters worse, Strong says deliveries make up about 70
  
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• Juneau Afternoon – 4-17-17

  15-04-2017 02:00 via ktoo.org
  
  Monday at 3 on a Juneau Afternoon, Scott Burton will be your host.
  Find out what some local Girl Scouts have been up to;
  We’ll get a preview of the Mini-Con, with Pat Race;
  And Rebecca Soza will be here to highlight the STEM Summer camps.
  That, Writers Almanac, Bird Note, Music & more, live at 3 on KTOO, re-broadcast at 4 ON KRNN, and available on line via ktoo.orgAt 4, tune in to KTOO for All Things Considered, followed at 6 by Alaska News Nightly. At 6:30, it’s Marketplace.
  
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• Yukon cowboy shares love of old country songs at folk festival

  15-04-2017 01:33 via ktoo.org
  
  
  Yukon country singer Art Johns, 84, backed up by Skagway fiddler Nola Lamken, performs April 4, 2017, at the Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau. (Photo by Brian Wallace Photography)
  Art Johns has been playing at the Alaska Folk Festival since 1995.
  But his musical roots go way back, almost 80 years.
  http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2017/04/14Johns-L.mp3Johns grew up in the rural Yukon towns of Carcross and Tagish, about 60 miles northeast of Skagway, in northern Southeast Alaska.
  Johns&rs
  
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• Oil spill reported on North Slope, volume unknown

  15-04-2017 01:11
  
  A subsidiary of BP is reporting a crude oil spill on Alaska’s North Slope.
  BP Exploration Alaska Inc. told state regulators Friday that oil is spraying from a well onto a pad and possibly onto the snow-covered tundra.
  The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation says the spill is ongoing and the volume is unknown.
  Aerial map of the spill location. (Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation)
  BP employees discovered an uncontrolled natural gas leak that was accompanied by the spray o
  
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• Daybreak Adopt-A-Pet: April 14, 2017

  15-04-2017 00:00
  
  From Anchorage Animal Care and Control:
  Buddy:
  Even at the dignified age of 13 Buddy still thinks he is a great lion and he’s ready to prowl your home in search of love (and food).  He’ll repay you with head rubs and a gentle purr.
  Abalone:
  Are you looking for an instant friend? Well, here she is. Abalone the cat says that when you’re 14 years old there is no time to waste so she burrows right into your lap and purrs happily. She loves to be with people so much we are just
  
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