Alaska News Nightly: July 17, 2013

Individual news stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via emailpodcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn.

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Interior Mayors Voice Concerns Over F-16 Move

Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks

The Air Force is holding public hearings in the Mat-Su Valley and the Fairbanks area this week on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement released last month.  The EIS outlines the effects of a proposal to relocate a squadron of F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. Mayors from four communities that could be affected by the move held a press conference in Fairbanks on Wednesday to reiterate their concerns with the proposal.

Failed Test May Hinder Ft. Greely Missile Field Expansion

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

A missile defense test conducted on July 5 failed. The Missile Defense Agency is now detailing what went wrong earlier this month with the scheduled test at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The failure could affect the expansion of the missile field at Fort Greely.

Research Details Alaska’s Role In Bird Migration

Kyle Clayton, KYUK – Bethel

The US Geologic Survey—with help from U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Y-K Delta subsistence hunters— released research this month about Western Alaska’s role as an international crossroads for migratory birds and how those birds transmit avian flu viruses between each other.

Missing Woman’s Body Found Along Turnagain Arm

Associated Press

The body of an Anchorage woman reported as missing on Tuesday has been found along Turnagain Arm and the Seward Highway.  According to the Anchorage Daily News, the remains of Martha Levensaler, 58, was found on the rocks along the water earlier Wednesday.

Denali Climbing Season Wraps Up

Phillip Manning, KTNA – Talkeetna

Climbing season draws more than a 1,000 adventurers to Talkeetna each summer.  Most have their sights set on the summit of Denali, and this year, more of them succeeded than ever before.

Fishermen Celebrate High Bristol Bay Sockeye Prices

Mike Mason, KDLG – Dillingham

The sockeye run to Bristol Bay is likely to be about 4-million fish short of the pre-season forecast. However, commercial fishermen across Bristol Bay are celebrating a huge price increase this season.

Farmers Could Be Reimbursed For Supply Transportation

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to help Alaska farm producers with a program aimed at reimbursing them for at least some of the costs of transporting supplies to the state.

Cool, Damp Weather Assisting Stuart Creek 2 Firefighters

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Cooler damper weather is helping fire fighters working the Stuart Creek 2 wildfire outside Fairbanks. Alaska Fire service information officer Bernie Pinetta says the focus remains along the blaze’s northeast perimeter, where spot fires were corralled Tuesday.

Flood Warning Issued In Brooks Range

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Heavy rain is swelling streams in the Brooks Range. National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Brader says a flood warning was issued early this morning for the region where precipitation began over night.

Group Getting To Root Of Non-Native Plant Invasion

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

Weed Whacking Warriors tackled invasive plants last weekend during an annual event sponsored by the Palmer Soil and Water Conservation District.  KSKA’s Ellen Lockyer went along with them on a search and destroy mission to eradicate non-native plants.

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