Alaska News Nightly: September 22, 2014
State Ordered to Improve Voting Materials for Alaska Natives; Senate Candidates Vie for Rural Support; State Files Complaint Against Medicaid Payment Vendor; Deadline Set for Southeast Wolves ESA Review; KTVA Reporter Quits on Air, Dedicates Time to Pot Initiative; EPA's 404-C Public Comment Period on Pebble Closes; NTSB Report Yields Few Clues In Fatal Soldotna Plane Crash; Murkowski Presses FDA To Clarify Spent-Grain Rule for Brewers; Arctic Researcher Says The Social Changes Are As Drastic as Climate Changes
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25-Year-Old Rescued After Fishing Boat Sinks
One man is reported safe after his fishing boat sank in Lynn Canal on Sunday night. Twenty-five-year-old Woody Paul of Haines was rescued by another fishing boat in William Henry Bay north of Juneau after his boat the 36-foot, Kyra Dawn began taking on water and then capsized.
Ketchikan Shipyard to Build Two Alaska Ferries
It’s official: The Ketchikan Shipyard will build two new ferries for the State of Alaska over the next few years. The deal was announced on a very rainy Saturday during a barbecue at the shipyard’s huge, enclosed ship construction area.
NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Deadly 2013 Soldotna Crash
A plane crash in Soldotna last summer resulted in the deaths of 10 people. The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary findings on the crash this week.
Governor Parnell Inks Support for King Cove Road
Gov. Sean Parnell was in King Cove Friday to sign a resolution urging the federal government to allow an access road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
Denali Rangers Investigate Illegal Moose Killing
National Park Service officials say charges are pending in connection with two hunters who illegally shot a moose at Denali National Park and Preserve.
Regents Nix Tuition Hike For University of Alaska
The University of Alaska Board of Regents gave thumbs down to a proposal to boost tuition by 4 percent. UA President Pat Gamble proposed the increase for the 2015-16 academic year, saying the move would raise about $4 million as the system navigates tight budgets.
Borough Weighs Gravel Mine Application
A plan to vacate agricultural rights on a parcel of Matanuska-Susitna Borough land is running into opposition. At a Borough Assembly meeting Tuesday night, residents spoke out against an ordinance aimed at approving a gravel mine on farmland.
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Anchorage School Board considers all options for diminishing budgets
The Anchorage School Board is developing a plan for drastic budget cuts in the years ahead. They discussed some of the options with the Anchorage Assembly during a joint meeting on Friday morning, including expanding best practices and possibly reducing the number of school buildings.
Mott to Lead Alaska Guard Response Team
Brigadier General Jon Mott will lead a team charged with implementing recommendations for restoring confidence in the leadership and structure of the Alaska National Guard.
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Alaska Delegation Review 113th Congress
The U.S. House and Senate are on recess now. When lawmakers return it’ll be after the November election for a lame duck session that will end the 113th Congress.
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Tribes Request King Bycatch Reduction as Pollock Season Wraps Up
As the Pollock season wraps up in the Bering Sea, the Association of Village Council Presidents and the Tanana Chiefs Conference want immediate action to protect declining Western Alaska King Salmon stocks from trawl bycatch. Wednesday they filed a joint petition for emergency regulations with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to crack down on king bycatch for the remainder of the 2014 season.
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Panel Completes Review of Standard Used to Set Refinery-Pollution Cleanup Level
A panel of experts wrapped up two days of meetings Thursday in Fairbanks that will help the state Department of Environmental Conservation determine the appropriate cleanup level for contamination of North Pole’s groundwater caused by chemicals leaking from the refinery now owned by Flint Hills Resources.
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Student Greenhouses Prompt Thorne Bay Restaurant Purchase
There are no restaurants in the 500-person town of Thorne Bay on Prince of Wales Island. But that looks like it’s going to change. The Southeast Island School District, which serves Thorne Bay and several other rural schools, is buying a vacant restaurant from the city. They’re going to use food from school greenhouses and a bakery to provide fresh meals for residents and business experience for students.
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Closing Date Looms For The Senior Center In Bethel As ONC Looks For New Venue
ONC, Bethel’s Tribe, recently announced they are closing the Senior Center at the end of the month and moving to a temporary location.
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300 Villages: Chignik
This week, we’re heading to Chignik, on the Alaska Peninsula. Adam Anderson is the Mayor of Chignik, Alaska.
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Removal of Federal Building trees elicits fierce opposition
The proposal to remove two trees from the front of the historic Federal Building in downtown Anchorage elicited fiery comments from a handful of community members during a public meeting on Thursday.
Alaska News Nightly: September 19, 2014
Mott to Lead Alaska Guard Response Team; Alaska Delegation Review 113th Congress; Tribes Request King Bycatch Reduction as Pollock Season Wraps Up; Panel Completes Review of Standard Used to Set Refinery-Pollution Cleanup Level; Student Greenhouses Prompt Thorne Bay Restaurant Purchase; Closing Date Looms For The Senior Center In Bethel As ONC Looks For New Venue; AK: Mushrooms; 300 Villages: Chignik
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What Should Alaska’s Fiscal Plan Be?
The level of spending by Alaska’s state government cannot be sustained. In the coming years as reserves are spent down, what are the choices that will have to be made? And when will they have to be made? Early next month, there will be a public forum to try to get some clarity about the state’s fiscal future.
APRN: Tuesday, 9/23 at 10:00am
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USDA Rural Development Seeks Loan Applicants
USDA's Rural Development arm is offering millions of dollars in loans for community projects in rural areas.
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