The Associated Press
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Witnesses Tell NTSB Missing Pilot Was Drunk
Witnesses have told the National Transportation Safety Board that a pilot who disappeared in mid-October was last seen intoxicated at the Soldotna airport.
Agency Proposes Recovery Plan For Rare Right Whale
Federal marine mammal authorities have proposed a recovery plan for a rare large whale, the North Pacific right whale. The National Marine Fisheries Service published the proposal today for the marine mammal that has been listed as endangered since the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973.
Officials Assess Drill Barge Hull
Divers and remotely operated underwater vehicles have completed a review of the hull of a Royal Dutch Shell drill barge that ran aground two weeks ago on a remote Alaska island.
Judge Vacates Polar Bear Habitat Designation
A federal judge in Alaska has set aside a plan designating more than 187,000 square miles as habitat for threatened polar bears. U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline said in a written order that the purpose behind the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designation was admirable, because it is important to protect the polar bear. But he said such protection must be done correctly, and found the current designation went too far and was “too extensive.”
Redistricting Board Wants High Court To Reconsider
The Alaska Redistricting Board wants the state’s highest court to reconsider its decision requiring Alaska’s political boundaries be redrawn. Attorneys for the board, in a petition filed this week, say the court misconstrued or overlooked important facts in the case. They say the court ignored its duty in failing to answer whether the plan adopted by the board was constitutional.
Militia Leader Sentenced To Nearly 26 Years
The leader of an Alaska militia convicted of conspiring to murder federal officials will spend nearly 26 years in prison. Judge Robert Bryan on Tuesday sentenced Schaeffer Cox during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Anchorage.
Lonnie, Karen Vernon Sentenced In Militia Trials
An Alaska militia member will serve nearly 26 years in a federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and to amass weapons. Lonnie Vernon was sentenced today during a combative session in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, at which he denied the authority of the court, the judge and prosecutors.
2 Winters Wide Apart
When it comes to snowfall, this winter and last winter in Anchorage are wide apart. So far the difference is more than 45 inches when comparing last year’s bounty and this year’s skimpy amounts of the white stuff.
Autism Bill, Other Measure Take Effect Tuesday
Starting Tuesday, health insurance policies in Alaska will be required to cover treatment of autism spectrum disorders. A portion of that bill, setting up a task force to study such things as the state providing insurance coverage for autism, took effect earlier.
Suspect In Mail Thefts Arrested
Anchorage police have arrested a 50-year-old man suspected of local collection-mailbox thefts. Clifford Earl Dancer was arrested Saturday night after police spotted him sitting in the passenger seat of a truck in a parking lot outside a liquor store.
Calista Announces Creation of New Subsidiary
Calista Corp. says it has created a new subsidiary to provide engineering, energy and environmental consulting services.
High Court Orders Redistricting Plan Be Redrawn
A divided Alaska Supreme Court has ordered the state’s redistricting plan be redrawn for the 2014 elections. The court had allowed for an interim plan to be used for this year’s elections. But in a decision released Friday, the court found the board did not follow the process it was instructed to follow.
Judge Approves BP Settlement in Oil Spill
A federal judge has given final approval to BP PLC’s settlement with businesses and individuals who lost money because of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. BP estimates it will pay $7.8 billion to resolve more than 100,000 claims by businesses and individuals.
Laptops Needed for Foster Kids
An Anchorage state representative and a foster child advocacy group are again collecting used laptop computers for foster children. Democrat Les Gara says about 200 laptops have been collected and distributed over two years. He’s working on collecting more with Facing Foster Care In Alaska.
Federal Government Lists 2 Ice Seals As Threatened
The main prey of polar bears has been declared a threatened species because of diminishing sea ice due to climate warming. The National Marine Fisheries Service on Friday declared ringed seals as a threatened species, joining polar bears on the list. The agency also placed a second ice-dependent seal, bearded seals, on the list.
Pavement Painter Sentenced For Illegal Dumping
The former owner of an Anchorage road and parking lot painting and striping business has been sentenced for illegally disposing of hazardous waste.
EPA: No New Timetable For Bristol Bay Report
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it has no timetable for completing its review of the impacts of large-scale mining in the Bristol Bay region.
ConocoPhillps Settles With State and Federal Government Over Oil Spills
U.S. and Alaska environmental officials have reached an agreement with ConocoPhillips to settle environmental claims in the state from spills in 2006 and 2007. Both spills were from corroded flow lines in the Kuparuk Unit petroleum facility.
2nd Whaling Commission Exec Sentenced
A second former executive director of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission has been sentenced in Anchorage’s federal court for stealing from the organization.
FBI Releases Details of Koenig Death
The FBI says an Anchorage barista who was disappeared in February was sexually assaulted, strangled and dismembered. The suspect in Samantha Koenig’s death, Israel Keyes, died in an apparent suicide earlier this week.
