Josh Edge, APRN - Anchorage
Josh is the Statewide Morning News Reporter/Producer for Alaska Public Media | jedge (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8455 | About Josh
Republicans Pick Up AK Senate Seats
Republicans picked up seats in the Alaska Senate in Tuesday's election. Fairbanks-area Republicans John Coghill and Pete Kelly won their bids for Alaska Senate. Anchorage Democrat Bettye Davis lost her bid to keep her seat to Republican Anna Fairclough. And Bert Stedman, a Republican from Sitka, beat Democrat Albert Kookesh of Angoon.
Less Than 100 Votes Separate House District 34 Contenders
With 100 percent of House District 34's precincts reporting in, Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins (D) leads Bill Thomas (R) by under 100 votes. Many other races are still waiting on precincts.
Don Young Wins Another Term
Incumbent Don Young easily won another term in Congress Tuesday night, grabbing 65 percent of the vote in a multi-candidate field. The Republican veteran easily defeated Democrat Sharon Cissna of Anchorage and Libertarian Jim McDermott of Fairbanks.
Senate Committee Will Meet To Discuss Disaster Preparedness
As September’s severe storms continue, the Senate State Affairs Committee will meet Monday to discuss emergency response systems and disaster preparedness plans.
Flooding Delays Alaska Railroad Traffic
Flooding has hampered activities by the Alaska Railroad across Southcentral Alaska this week. Currently, all train traffic north of Wasilla is delayed until at least Monday due to flood damage in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, according to an Alaska Railroad press release.
Hundreds Without Power In Anchorage
Chugach Electric is reporting that approximately 1,800 customers are without power. An estimated 1,200 of those are located in Anchorage, with the largest area outage being near Rabbit Creek and Goldenview - affecting 1,066 customers.
Young, Cissna Win; Ballot Measures Fail
Incumbent U.S. Representative Don Young easily won the Republican nomination for Congress on Tuesday. He will face Sharon Cissna who handily defeated a field of Democrats and Jim McDermott who ran unopposed for the Libertarian nomination.
Two statewide ballot measures failed. One would have created a coastal zone management program (38% yes, 62% no) and the other would have allowed local governments to create additional property tax relief (49.45% yes, 50.55% no).
Alaska Primary Election 2012: Unofficial Results
Seward Highway Reopens, Kidnapping Suspect Remains At Large
The Seward Highway has been reopened, though the suspect in an alleged armed kidnapping Friday morning remains at large. Anchorage Police Department spokesperson Dave Parker says APD and State Troopers have suspended the search for the suspect in the Turnagain Pass area of the Seward Highway, but are continuing to pursue leads in the ongoing investigation.
54 Mushers Sign Up On First Day Of Iditarod Registration
Fifty-four mushers are already signed up for the 2013 Iditarod. Registration began Saturday. So far, the field includes nine rookies and plenty of familiar faces.
Veteran Finding Peace In Fly-Fishing, Fly-Tying Program
For many soldiers, the transition from military life to civilian life can be a challenging one. That change is often amplified by injuries sustained in combat -- both physical and emotional. Even though the memories of those traumatic events will always be there, some soldiers are able to find solace in rehabilitation programs like Project Healing Waters.
Letter of Intent Moves UAA, Seattle University School of Law Partnership Forward
A letter of intent recently signed by UAA and the Seattle University School of Law moves Alaskans one step closer to a new law program. The effort of cooperation is a move to expand a decade-long partnership already existing between the two universities called the "Summer Law in Alaska" program.
Dallas Seavey Wins 2012 Iditarod
Dallas Seavey has won the 2012 Iditarod, crossing the finish line in Nome just before 7:30 p.m. this evening. Aliy Zirkle is about five miles outside of Nome and is being chased by Ramey Smyth around five miles behind her.
Team Zirkle Musher Cam
Last year, Aliy Zirkle and her team allowed us to attach a camera to one of her sleds during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. This year, they let us attach it to her second musher during the start, and that was none other than her husband and fellow musher, Allen Moore.
Zirkle Leads Mushers Into Nikolai
Aliy Zirkle was the first musher to ride into Nikolai at 9:14 a.m., followed by reigning champion John Baker at 9:36 a.m.. Lance Mackey isn't far behind, making it into the checkpoint just before 10:00 a.m.
Early Trail Conditions Look Good For Mushers
Iditarod 2012 is set to start up this weekend, with the ceremonial start Saturday and the restart in Willow on Sunday, and mushers should see some pretty good conditions over the first couple days of the race.
2012 Iditarod Starting Order
This year's field features 66 mushers, with Ray Redington Jr. drawing the number two bib. Dave Olson is this year's honorary musher and will be wearing number one.
Read more to see the full field.
Bus Schedule To The Willow Restart
The Iditarod restart in Willow is set to take place Sunday, March 4 at 2:00 p.m., and it tends to draw quite a crowd. Officials have said that since the state has received so much snow this winter, reportedly over 10 feet in Willow, there will be less parking available than normal. They are urging spectators to take advantage of the shuttle service they are providing from Anchorage, Wasilla, Houston and Talkeetna.
Read more
Enstar Sold to AltaGas
Enstar, the natural gas utility in the Cook Inlet area, is being sold to a Canadian corporation. Enstar belongs to Semco Energy, which in turn was owned by Continental Energy Systems in Michigan.
Anchorage Beginning to Warm Up
Not to be outdone by Fairbanks, this January also ranks as one of the coldest Anchorage has experienced. With an average temperature of 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit though Jan. 26 at the Ted Stevens International Airport, this month is on pace to be the fourth coldest recorded since 1953.
Homework Help Program Uses Skype To Increase Access
Evening tutoring programs are nothing new for the Anchorage School District. But, they are always looking for ways to better serve the students, so this semester they are trying out something a little different.