Tim Ellis, KUAC - Fairbanks

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Tim Ellis is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.

Corps of Engineers halts cleanup after workers discover buried DDT-tainted junk

The Army Corps of Engineers last fall halted cleanup of fuel-tainted soil near Birch Lake, about 60 miles south of Fairbanks, when workers uncovered buried junk that included barrels with residues of a different contaminant – the banned pesticides DDT and chlordane. Listen now

During Eielson visit, Defense Secretary Mattis highlights Alaska’s strategic military role

Mattis spoke at a news conference this morning at Eielson Air Force Base, after a tour of the missile-defense facility at Fort Greely. Listen now

Walker signs bill to close out oil tax credit debt

Gov. Bill Walker was in Fairbanks Wednesday to sign a piece of legislation that would close out the remaining debt the state incurred under the old oil tax-credit program.

Two coal-seam fires merge to form rapidly-growing wildfire near Healy

State Forestry firefighters are working to contain a fast-growing wildfire near Healy that was ignited by two smoldering fires burning in coal deposits at the surface that merged together. Listen now

Pogo officials consider extending life of gold mine if exploration shows promising deposits

Pogo Mine officials say the company may extend the life of the mine northeast of Delta Junction if exploration they’re conducting this summer confirms the presence of potentially rich gold deposits. Listen now

Fairbanks City Council OKs ordinance advancing bid to secure Polaris

The Fairbanks City Council took a big step Monday toward taking over ownership of the old Polaris Building – a step that Mayor Jim Matherly hopes will lead to demolition of the contaminated and condemned downtown structure. Listen now

Supreme Court denies Schaeffer Cox’s request for appeal of conviction

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Fairbanks militia leader Schaeffer Cox’s appeal of his conviction in 2012 on a charge of conspiracy to murder federal officials. Listen now

Fairbanks airfields convert to alternative firefighting foam over contamination concerns

Fairbanks International Airport and Eielson Air Force Base no longer use a type of firefighting foam containing a chemical compound that’s contaminated groundwater around the city, and that poses a potential threat to human health. Listen now

ANWR coastal plain oil, gas lease plan draws heated opposition in Fairbanks

About 250 people turned out Tuesday at a meeting in Fairbanks to offer comments on a federal plan to launch an oil and gas leasing program in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Listen now

Fairbanks City Councilman demands plan to recover groundwater contamination response Costs

Fairbanks City Councilman David Pruhs has directed staff to draft a plan over the next 90 days on how the city will respond to the growing problem of groundwater contamination caused by chemical compounds in firefighting foam.

IGU board considers Siemens proposal for alternative natural gas source for Fairbanks

An affiliate of the Germany-based industrial giant Siemens is offering to build an LNG plant near Wasilla and transport the gas it processes there to Fairbanks at no cost to the Interior Gas Utility. Listen now

Firefighters mop up 250-acre wildfire in Delta

Firefighters mopped up the remains of a 250-acre wildfire Sunday that busted out two days earlier in a largely residential area near Delta Junction. Listen now

Firefighters battle residential blaze in Delta Junction

Firefighters from around the Interior are battling a 30-acre wildfire by a residential area in Delta Junction this afternoon. Listen now

Fairbanks lawmaker David Guttenberg won’t seek re-election to 9th House term

Guttenberg says he’s leaving his decades of service to his district and the state party so he can enjoy life in his home in the Goldstream Valley. Listen now

Fairbanks City Council approves marijuana regulations that limit retail shops to 25

After a heated debate, the Fairbanks City Council approved an ordinance Monday that added regulations to the marijuana industry. Listen now

Corps of Engineers officials visit Fort Greely to plan for nuclear power plant decommissioning

Army Corps of Engineers officials were at Fort Greely last week to begin planning in earnest for the decommissioning and possible dismantling of the old mothballed nuclear power plant on post. Listen now

Marijuana-regulating ordinance advocates flood Fairbanks city council hearing to urge passage

Most supported the ordinance and called for greater regulation of the industry. Opponents say the measure is unfair and heavy-handed, and would further unfairly treat marijuana and alcohol differently. Listen now

Air Force to host meeting to unveil plan to provide potable water to Moose Creek

Air Force officials will host an open house meeting tonight to talk about proposals to provide drinking water to Moose Creek residents whose well water has been made unpotable due to groundwater contamination. Listen now

Israel pulls warplanes from Red Flag training exercises due to rising regional tensions

Dozens of U.S. and allied warplanes are assembling at Eielson Air Force Base in preparation for an upcoming round of Red Flag training exercises. But F-15s from the nation of Israel will not be participating, reportedly because of rising tensions in the region. Listen now

Fairbanks students need parents’ permission to participate in walkout, district says

Today, students organized across the country in solidarity with national high school walkouts expressing alarm over gun violence, including in Fairbanks. Listen now