Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, April 4, 2017

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Colorado-based conglomerate buys GCI

Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage

Alaska’s largest telecommunications company, GCI, has been acquired by a larger conglomerate.

Tyonek residents celebrate as Chuitna mine plans are shelved

Rashah McChesney, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Juneau

Residents of the tiny Cook Inlet village of Tyonek are celebrating the news that a company attempting to develop a massive coal mine near their village, has shelved the project. PacRim Coal has been pursuing the Chuitna Coal Project for more than a decade. But it has been fighting with environmental groups and members of the Tyonek native village.

Oil company fined $10 million for illegally transporting a drill rig to Alaska

Rashah McChesney, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Juneau

An oil company operating in Alaska will pay $10 million for violating federal law that prohibits foreign vessels from transporting merchandise within the United States.

Trump signs Young-sponsored bill repealing predator hunting limits

Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.

On Monday, President Donald Trump signed a bill repealing federal limits on predator hunting on Alaska’s national wildlife refuges. The bill’s House sponsor was Congressman Don Young.

Forest Service mishandled timber sales, environmental group says

Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau

A Washington, D.C., environmental group is accusing the Tongass National Forest of breaking its own timber-sale rules.

State confident less than 10 gallons of crude leaked into Cook Inlet, continues investigation

Elizabeth Harball, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Anchorage

Ten gallons or less: that’s how much crude oil state regulators think leaked from a pipeline in Cook Inlet last weekend.

Alaska Railroad reports $4.4 million loss in 2016

Josh Edge, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage

The Alaska Railroad Corporation had a rough year in 2016, where it saw a dramatic drop in revenue. The company finished 2016 $4.4 million in the red.

Unalaska terminates new fire chief charged with sexual assault in Illinois

Laura Kraegel, KUCB – Unalaska

The man hired to serve as Unalaska’s new fire chief has been fired after he was charged with sexual assault in Illinois.

Could the Alaska Sea Grant program go away this year?

Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Juneau

Sea Grant knew the Trump administration wanted to eliminate its budget for next fiscal year. But those cuts could come much sooner. The organization said the White House is asking Congress to slash this year’s funding, too. That could mean the end for dozens of Alaska programs, focusing on fisheries and climate change.

This year’s Arctic Man Classic to start at Summit Lake this week

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Racers and fans gather this week at Summit Lake for the annual Arctic Man Ski and SnoGo Classic.

Bronze in hand, a Ketchikan artist retraces Seward’s route 

Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.

Last Thursday we commemorated the anniversary of the treaty the U.S. signed with Russia to buy Alaska. That afternoon, an Alaskan artist went on a special mission in Washington, D.C.: He wanted to bring a heavy package to the spot where William Seward signed the Treaty of Cession, exactly 150 years prior.

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