Individual news 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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Coast Guard Begins Kulluk Hearing

Steve Heimel, APRN – Anchorage

Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard began a week-long probe of the grounding of the drilling rig Kulluk last New Year’s Day on an island south of Kodiak.  The rig was being towed to Seattle when it broke loose in bad weather and ended up going aground.  APRN’s Steve Heimel was at the hearing today at the Anchorage Assembly chambers.

Circle Residents Clean Up After Flooding

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Residents of Circle are cleaning up after an ice jam on the Yukon River caused extensive flooding in the community on Sunday.

Fishermen Found Guilty, Although Court Agrees Subsistence Salmon Fishing Is Religious

Angela Denning-Barnes, KYUK – Bethel

The Kuskokwim fishermen trial resumed Monday in Bethel. Last June, about 50 fishermen were cited for illegal salmon fishing. Half of them pleaded not guilty and have been fighting it in court ever since.

Pavlof Ash Falls On Sand Point

Lauren Rosenthal, KUCB – Unalaska

Pavlof Volcano continued to erupt over the weekend, spitting a plume of ash that reached 22,000 feet into the sky.

State Proposes $50 Million For ANWR Development

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

Governor Sean Parnell says he’s willing to ask the state legislature for fifty million dollars in next year’s budget to discover the true volume of oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.

Joe Miller Ordered To Pay $85,000 In Alaska Dispatch Legal Fees

Steve Heimel, APRN – Anchorage

Former Republican U.S. Senate nominee Joe Miller has not yet said if he will appeal an award of court costs to an internet news organization that sued to get his personnel records in 2010.

Ketchikan Breaks World Rainboot Race Record

Leila Kheiry, KRBD – Ketchikan

Nearly 2,000 people turned out in Ketchikan Saturday afternoon to break to Guinness World Record for the largest rainboot race.

Alaska Cultural Connections: Cross Cultural Communication

Anne Hillman, APRN Contributor

Nuiqsut is both one of the newest communities on the North Slope and one of the oldest. The area was inhabited for centuries by the Iñupiat, and then abandoned for Barrow.

In 1973 former community members decided to resettle the area and build a village far from the bustle of the regional hub. But just 25 years later, the bustle came to them in the form of Alpine Oil field.

For our series on culture in Alaska, APRN contributor Anne Hillman found out how the oil company and the community have learned to communicate with one another.

Individual news 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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Interior Rivers Begin To Break Up

Emily Schwing & Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Break up is starting to happen on Interior rivers. The Yukon River ice began moving early this morning at Eagle. It jammed and caused some flooding of low lying homes and roads. Six homes and a handful of sheds have been hit by truck size chunks of ice. At least three homes have been picked up and moved off of their foundations. 15 miles downriver from Eagle a cabin and a summer home have been completely destroyed, sandwiched between enormous chunks of ice. The water levels receded quickly this morning and the immediate threat to homes appears to be over.

It’s the second largest flood on record after the devastating 2009 river break up. And the National Weather Service is worried snow melt in the mountains could increase the flooding potential again in the coming days.

National Weather Service hydrologist Ed Plumb says additional problems are expected as the break up front progresses downstream.

Plumb says colder air moving across the region will slow break up over the weekend, but an expected warm up into the 60’s next week could cause rapid melting and raise the potential for ice jams and flooding. There’s been ice jam flooding on the Tanana River at Salcha, pushing water into a flood prone neighborhood along the Old Richardson Highway.

State To Ask For $750,000 For Marine Debris Cleanup

The Associated Press

West Coast states affected by debris from the 2011 tsunami in Japan are about to receive an initial quarter million dollars each from a $5 million gift from Japan for cleanup.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is distributing the money and will allocate the remainder on an as-needed basis.

The pool of funds has taken a hit, with NOAA using half a million dollars to remove a dock that washed ashore on a remote beach on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.

The state of Alaska is preparing to ask for up to $750,000 in additional funds to help with clean up this summer. Unlike in other states, many of the beaches targeted for cleanup in the state are remote or difficult to access and there is a narrow window in which to conduct cleanup operations.

Wisconsin Man Hopes To Change Petition Rules

Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau

There are a lot of rules if you want to gather signatures to get something on the ballot. You have to be at least 18. You can’t share your petition booklet with other people. And you have to be a resident of the state of Alaska. Now, a man from Wisconsin wants that last part of the law struck down, and he’s taking his case to court.

Cybercrimes Increase In Alaska And Nationwide

Mike Mason, KDLG – Dillingham

A new report from the FBI’s “Internet Crime Complaint Center” shows an increase in the number of cybercrimes in Alaska.

Feds Oppose Smaller Sealaska Land Bill

Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau

A new, smaller Sealaska land-selection measure faces opposition from the federal government. The legislation would transfer 3,600 acres of the Tongass National Forest to the Southeast-based regional Native corporation.

Anchorage Residents Partake In Bike To Work Day

Evan Erickson & Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage

Bike to Work Day in Anchorage was soggy and cold this morning. But that didn’t stop hundreds of hearty Alaskans from participating.

Those who did hit the trail were rewarded with several “treat” stations at key bike commuter spots around the city. APRN intern Evan Erickson staked out a spot at the popular “bacon station” at the intersection of the Seward Highway and the Chester Creek Trail.

AK: Exploding History

Lauren Rosenthal, KUCB – Unalaska

It’s been more than 70 years since Unalaska came under attack during World War II. But you don’t have to look hard to find the remnants. The community is littered with old gunnery installations, battered quonset huts, and bunkers — some of which are being preserved for posterity.

300 Villages: Tuluksak

This week, we’re going to Tuluksak, a community of almost 400 people near the Kuskokwim River. George Lamont is a resident of Tuluksak.

Individual news 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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Arctic Council Adds Six Observer Seats

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

The Arctic Council – the association of the world’s polar countries – has agreed to grant observer status to six non-Arctic nations.

ConocoPhillips Reviewing Spending In Alaska

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

ConocoPhillips says it’s reviewing spending in Alaska, a month after the legislature passed Governor Sean Parnell’s oil tax reform. The tax cut is worth billions of dollars to oil companies in Alaska. ConocoPhillips executives talked about the state’s new tax regime during their annual meeting and an analyst presentation earlier this week.

Agency To Consider Alaska Lake Seals As Threatened

The Associated Press

A federal agency says it will consider a petition seeking to list a population of harbor seals living in a freshwater Alaska lake as a threatened or endangered species.

The National Marine Fisheries Service says it has accepted a Center for Biological Diversity petition to list seals that live in Iliamna Lake 200 miles southwest of Anchorage.

The agency has a Nov. 19 deadline to perform a status review of the seals, estimated to number 250 to 350 adults.  The agency can propose a listing or reject it.

A listing would present a potential environmental hurdle to the Pebble Mine.

The proposed open-pit copper and gold mine would require a 140-mile road to Cook Inlet.  About 50 miles would pass along the lake shore, where seals hunt for salmon.

Report Shows Mineral Values Tripling Since 2001

Joaqlin Estus, KNBA – Anchorage

A state report shows the value of minerals produced in Alaska more than tripled between 2001 and 2011. Mining industry wages have also surged as employers seek skilled workers.

Tanana River On Track For Record Late Break Up

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Tanana River ice is on track for a record late break up at Nenana.  Later than normal break ups are expected at many interior river communities, due to this year’s cold spring, but there’s special significance for the Tanana at Nenana, where an over 318 thousand dollar jackpot is at stake in the annual Nenena Ice Classic guessing game. Classic manager Cheri Forness says most of the 261 thousand break up time guesses entered by ticket buyers this year, have gone by.

Late Season Snow Expected In Southcentral

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

The National Weather Service is predicting an “extremely unusual late season snowfall” for the Southcentral Alaska area on Friday through Saturday morning.

Anchorage Farmers Markets Prepping To Open Despite Possible Snow

Daysha Eaton, KSKA – Anchorage

It may not feel like spring yet in Anchorage, but that’s not stopping the Farmer’s Markets from opening.

Yakutat To Celebrate Return Of The Terns

Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau

Yakutat is gearing up for an influx of birders. They’re coming to the northern Southeast Alaska community to celebrate the return of a somewhat rare seabird.

Stu Ramstad Relives Memorable Moments In The Air

Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage

Alaska is celebrating 100 years of aviation this year. And aviator Stu Ramstad is an important part of that history. He grew up in a gold mining family. And became a pilot at age 14 in 1954. He says he didn’t goof off in the air. He considered the plane a tool that you loaded up and used to deliver supplies. But he told APRN’s Lori Townsend, he did have scary times as a pilot and survived two in-flight fires.

Individual news 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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Great Bear Undecided On 2013 Drilling Season

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

A few years ago, executives from start up oil company Great Bear Petroleum told Alaska legislators they’d drill some two hundred North Slope wells per year for fifteen years.

Activity Increases At Pavlof Volcano

Stephanie Joyce, KUCB – Unalaska

Pavlof Volcano put on a light show for residents of several communities on the Alaska Peninsula on Tuesday night. Activity at the volcano has increased, and it’s spewing ash up to 20,000 feet.

Interior Rabies Cases Prompt Animals Vaccinations

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

The recent detection of two cases of rabies in wolves trapped south of the Brooks Range has prompted concern about whether the deadly disease has re-emerged in the interior.  Many pet owners in Fairbanks are getting their animals vaccinated as a precaution.

Marine Highway Dropping Discounts To Save Money

Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau

Say so long to summer drivers riding the ferry for free. Wave goodbye to the winter roundtrip discount. And printed schedules? Those are on their way out too. The changes are some of the ways the Alaska Marine Highway plans to address a $3.5-million spending cut mandated by the Legislature.

Atka Searches For Funds To Replace Aging Health Clinic

Lauren Rosenthal, KUCB – Unalaska

The remote village of Atka, in the western Aleutians, is home to just 71 people. But that’s about to change. The local processing plant wants to quadruple its workforce – and with that, the city of Atka is ramping up a campaign to replace its dilapidated clinic.

Officials Close Kotzebue-Area Subsistence Musk Ox Hunt

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

State wildlife officials have closed a subsistence musk ox hunt near Kotzebue because of evidence of wanton waste of the animals.   Area biologists say five cow musk oxen from the Cape Thompson herd were killed sometime during January or February of this year.

According to Jim Dau a biologist with the state office in Kotzebue,  wildlife officials were tipped off to the killings when two musk oxen bodies were spotted by census takers last month.

On further investigation, Wildlife Troopers found 5 more cow moose bodies that had apparently been shot, and left unsalvaged.

Dau says the illegal harvests exceeded the harvest quota for the unit. The hunt was scheduled to open July 1. The closure does not affect a similar musk ox hunt on the Seward Peninsula.

State Keeping Close Eye On Mat-Su Flood Conditions

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

State officials are keeping an eye on anticipated flood conditions in the Interior of the state, but in the Matanuska Susitna Borough flooding is already starting. Borough officials say the ground is saturated with rain from last fall’s heavy storms, and that, coupled with the lack of snow this winter is causing conditions that give melting ice runoff nowhere to go.

Fisherman Recovers Over Half Of Group’s Lost Canoe Paddles

Matt Lichtenstein, KFSK – Petersburg

A Petersburg fisherman has recovered more than half of the hand-carved cedar paddles that were lost by the One People Canoe Society late last month.

Female Alaska Native Rapper Finding Worldwide Success

Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage

There are not great numbers of female rappers and Alaska Native female rappers probably number in the single digits. But one such artist is finding great success in the state and around the world as a woman with a passion for raising awareness of the struggles of Native people.

Individual news 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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Bill Could Ease Way To Arctic Port

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

The U.S. Senate is expected to a pass a sweeping bill authorizing dozens of water projects on Wednesday.

A provision is included that Alaska’s senators say could ease the way to an Arctic port.

Cruise Ship Waste Referendum Won’t Be On Ballot

Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau

When voters head to the polls next year, they could be faced with questions on oil taxes, the minimum wage, and the use of recreational marijuana. But one thing that won’t be on the ballot is a referendum on a controversial bill concerning cruise ship waste.

An Anchorage Doctor Learns How To Talk About Death

Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage

Doctors deal with death all the time. But they often struggle to help patients live with a terminal disease. A specialty called Palliative Care is trying to change that. It’s been around since the early 1990s. But a lot of people, even in the medical profession, don’t know it exists.

Rescued Polar Bear Cub Heads To New York’s Buffalo Zoo

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

Kali, the orphaned male polar bear cub that has been kept at Anchorage’s Alaska Zoo, spent Tuesday afternoon waiting patiently in his carrier for boarding on a  UPS cargo jet bound for the East Coast. Kali is heading to his new permanent home at New York’s Buffalo Zoo.

Musk Ox Herd Spotted Along Kuskokwim River

Angela Denning-Barnes, KYUK – Bethel

A herd of musk oxen was seen on the frozen Kuskokwim River recently. It’s a sign that the population is expanding in the region.

Two Bering Sea Catch Processors Accused Of Tampering With Scales

Stephanie Joyce, KUCB – Unalaska

Two Bering Sea groundfish catcher-processor vessels have been accused of tampering with the scales used to weigh their harvest. As KUCB’s Stephanie Joyce reports, the alleged violations carry hefty penalties for the vessels’ parent company, American Seafoods.

Parnell Meets In New York About State’s Economic Outlook

The Associated Press

Governor Sean Parnell is in New York meeting with banks and rating agencies about Alaska’s budget and economic outlook.

Long-Term Unemployment Benefits To Experience Cuts

Joaqlin Estus, KNBA – Anchorage

As federal agencies are beginning to furlough employees because of sequestration, the long-term unemployed in Alaska are about to see a reduction in their unemployment benefits.

Dillingham Volunteer Monitors For Invasive Beetles

Dave Bendinger, KDLG – Dillingham

Some invasive species of bark beetles, if they make it to Alaska, could pose a serious threat to our trees and forests. In ten years of surveys, none have been detected, but state and federal forestry officials are coming to rely on volunteers to help monitor for them across the state. KDLG’s Dave Bendinger reports on one such volunteer who’s keeping an eye out the beetles around Dillingham.

Individual news 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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Couple Escapes As Landslide Destroys Cabin

Robert Woolsey, KCAW – Sitka

Two Sitkans are safe after a massive landslide destroyed the cabin they were camping in Sunday morning. An air taxi pilot rescued the pair from a debris field estimated to be 20 feet deep. All their belongings were buried in the slide. Their dog remains missing.

Scientists Detect Eruption At Peninsula Volcano

Stephanie Joyce, KUCB – Unalaska

Alaska’s most active volcano appears to be erupting. Mount Pavlof, on the Alaska Peninsula, started rumbling this morning, according to Alaska Volcano Observatory scientist-in-charge John Power.

Man Dies After Bulldozer Falls Through Ice Near Stephan Lake Lodge

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

A fatal accident that took the life of a bulldozer driver near Stephan Lake Lodge north of Talkeetna on Friday occurred only hours after a state Department of Natural Resources team had flown over the site on an inspection tour.  The work is being done to build an airstrip to support studies on the Susitna Dam project.

Wildfire Season Expected To Start Later Than Normal

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

The federal government is predicting a normal wildfire season in Alaska this year, but it could be later than normal.

Kenai Peninsula Razor Clams Appear To Be Declining

Aaron Selbig, KBBI – Homer

Alaskans who make an annual habit of digging for razor clams on the Kenai Peninsula may have noticed something odd over the last few tears – there just doesn’t seem to be as many clams on the beaches as there used to be. Scientists have also noticed the trend.

Mining Company Pulls Out Of Exploratory Project Near Tok

Tim Ellis, KUAC – Fairbanks

A Canadian mining company is pulling out of an exploration project near Tok.  The move comes as the price of gold has fallen about 15 percent from unprecedented highs in recent years, and may signal a slowdown in the mining industry.

Cold Returns To Interior Alaska

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Break up will slow down this week as cold air returns to the Interior.  National Weather Service meteorologist Scot Berg says a cold front is rapidly moving across the region.

Denali National Park Expected To Open On Time Despite Lingering Snow Cover

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

The start of the tourist season in Interior Alaska is coming up, and Denali National Park will be ready, despite lingering snow cover.

Alaska Cultural Connections: Food And Culture

Annie Hillman, APRN Contributor

Some people crave ice cream or fresh vegetables or pasta. Others prefer dried fish or caribou. As part of our series exploring culture in rural and urban Alaska, APRN’s Anne Hillman found out how strong links between food and culture are common throughout the state.

Individual news 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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White House Releases Arctic Strategy

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

The White House released its National Strategy for the Arctic Region today. The document lays out the country’s plans for future business in the high north, as well as environmental protection and international planning.

APICDA Searches For Ferry To Serve Pribilof Islands

Stephanie Joyce, KUCB – Unalaska

The Pribilof Islands of St. Paul and St. George are just 45 miles apart, but getting between them can be challenging because of limited flight service, and the area’s notoriously foggy weather. This summer, a regional community development group is hoping to solve that problem by contracting a ferry to run between the islands. But, finding a suitable vessel has proved challenging.

Copper River School District Shutting Down

Tony Gorman, KCHU – Valdez

The oldest school in the Copper River School District is officially closing down.  The Copper River School Board voted unanimously this week to shutdown the Copper Center School due to low enrollment.  The District is seeking approval from the Alaska Department of Education to move forward with its closure plan.

Some Legislators Assisting Effort To Repeal New Oil Tax Bill

APRN News

Two Anchorage lawmakers stood outside Barnes & Noble in Midtown Anchorage today, gathering signatures for the referendum to repeal Gov. Sean Parnell’s oil tax overhaul. The bill narrowly passed at the end of this year’s legislative session. It’s expected to lower taxes on oil companies by hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

BBNC, Millrock Agree To Mineral Exploration On BBNC Land

Dave Bendinger, KDLG – Dillingham

The Bristol Bay Native Corporation and the mineral exploration company Millrock Resources have signed an agreement to look for copper and gold prospects on BBNC land near the Chigniks, down the Alaska Peninsula.

Final Piece Of Steel In Place At The Alaska Airlines Center

Josh Edge, APRN – Anchorage

Students, staff, coaches, politicians and other onlookers gathered at the construction site for the “topping out” ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage on Friday.  Now the final piece of steel for the structure has been hoisted into place.

UAF Cancels Popular Recycling Program

Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks

In June, the University of Alaska Fairbanks will discontinue its recycling program.  It’s a cost cutting measure, but, it comes in response to what the University sees as a lack of action by the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

AK: Going Bald

Anne Brice, KCAW – Sitka

When you’re a teenager, looks really matter. But a girl in Sitka recently decided that those concerns weren’t as important as a cause. So she shaved off all of her long wavy hair to support childhood cancer research across the U.S.

300 Villages: Arctic Village

This week, we’re heading to Arctic Village, on the edge of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Margorie Gemmill is Tribal Administrator for the Arctic Village Council.

Individual news 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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How Much Are Hospitals Charging? How Much Is Medicare Paying?

Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage

How much does a hospital charge for a certain procedure? That information can be difficult for consumers to access before they get a bill in the mail. Now for the first time, the federal government is publicly sharing what hospitals charge Medicare for the 100 most common procedures. And the information shows hospitals across the country, and across Alaska, charge dramatically different prices for the same procedure. At least one hospital in the state is considering adjusting their prices after reviewing the data.

Arctic Scientists Take On ‘Emerging Research Questions’

Steve Heimel, APRN – Anchorage

Environmental changes from climate warming are hitting the Arctic harder and faster than anyone predicted.  This week, top arctic scientists have been meeting in Anchorage looking for better ways to investigate and even track the changes…and what they could mean.

City, Borough Officials Of Juneau Keeping Track Of Marketplace Fairness Act

Casey Kelly, KTOO – Juneau

Juneau officials are keeping an eye on legislation making its way through Congress that would allow states to collect sales tax on online purchases. The U.S. Senate this week voted 69-27 in favor of the Marketplace Fairness Act.  While Alaska does not have a statewide sales tax, the City and Borough of Juneau is one of many municipalities with a local tax on the sale of goods and services.

Alaska Native Fisheries Group Wants Fair Share

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

An Anchorage based Community Development Quota group wants a greater share of Alaska’s deep sea fisheries.  The Coastal Villages Region Fund, which represents 20 villages in Western Alaska, has asked the state’s Congressional delegation to make changes in how the fisheries quotas are allocated,  but critics call the plan “reckless” and say it could endanger the entire CDQ program.

Land Exchange Between Fairbanks Borough, Local Resort Hits Snag

Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks

For nearly a decade, the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Chena Hot Springs Resort have been working on a land sale. Last fall, the Assembly passed an ordinance to approve the sale.  But, the deal is at an impasse, because neither side can agree on the value of the property.

Biologists Release Numbers For Spring Wolf Count In Denali National Park

The Associated Press

Biologists at Denali National Park released numbers today from their spring season wolf survey this year.  In March, they observed 49 wolves in and around Denali National Park and Preserve.  That number is down slightly from last fall, when 57 wolves were counted in the region.  This spring’s is the lowest count since the park started monitoring wolves in the park in 1986. In the fall, the Park Service observed nine wolf packs in the area.  That number increased to eleven this spring.  It’s unknown whether the two packs are new or if they split off from existing wolf packs.  The Park Service was able to collar a wolf from one of those two packs.

Police Break Up Eagle Party At Unalaska Safeway

Stephanie Joyce, KUCB – Unalaska

A flock of eagles descended on the Safeway parking lot in Unalaska last week, prompting police intervention.

King Island Community Members Hope To Return To Bering Sea Island

Laureli Kinneen, KNOM – Nome

It’s been more than 50 years since there were year-round permanent residents on King Island. And today, most King Island community members who now live in Nome, Fairbanks or Anchorage have never been to their homeland. But one person is raising money to bring members of her community to the island in the Bering Sea.

Individual news 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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Bethel Cop Charged With DUI At Police Shooting Scene

Angela Denning-Barnes, KYUK – Bethel

The state is charging a former Bethel police officer with being drunk on the scene of a police shooting last fall.

State Leases Nearly 150,000 Acres To Oil, Gas Developers

Shaylon Cochran, KDLL – Kenai

The state of Alaska leased nearly 150,000 acres to oil and gas developers in a sale on Wednesday. The sale represents a continued interest in development in Cook Inlet that could focus on oil drilling in the coming years.

Federal Government Targets 50 Legacy Wells For Clean-Up

Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau

Across the North Slope, there are more than 100 oil wells drilled by the federal government that are no longer operational.

How Much School Can A Student Miss

Robert Woolsey, KCAW – Sitka

The high cost of travel for extracurricular activities in Sitka’s schools has been an ongoing debate for years. Now, the school board is going to take a hard look at whether travel costs students and parents more than just money.

At its regular meeting Monday night, the board officially opened the question of whether Sitka’s students — and the teachers who coach them — spend too much time away from class.

Public Speaks Out On Public Testimony Ordinance

Daysha Eaton, KSKA – Anchorage

Last night, the Anchorage Assembly heard from the public on an ordinance that would change the way public testimony is conducted. Despite the issue being placed at the end of the agenda with testimony beginning after 9 p.m. many still lined up to speak.

Frank Murkowski Lays Blame On Environmentalists

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Former Alaska Governor and U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski is laying blame on environmentalists for a range of U.S. problems. In an address to the Fairbanks Chamber of commerce on Tuesday, Murkowski said green leaning liberals driving federal policy are out of line with economic reality.

Southeast Village Native Corporation Looks To Export Cultural Tourism Expertise

Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau

A Southeast village Native corporation wants to export its cultural tourism expertise. It’s opened a consulting business to build on more than a dozen years in the business.

Hundreds Gather For Shakes Island Clan House Rededication

Shady Gove Oliver, KSTK – Wrangell

Wrangell’s Shakes Island Clan House was rededicated over the weekend. Hundreds of visitors from across Alaska, Canada, and the Lower 48 poured into the small island town to witness the historic event.

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Pebble Review Panel Finds Flaws With Baseline Studies
By Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau