Alaska Supreme Court Hears Juneau-Petersburg Boundary Beef
The state Supreme Court heard arguments in a local boundary case Wednesday morning that could redraw lines around a Delaware-sized chunk of Southeast Alaska. The contested land is almost completely uninhabited national forest – Juneau “estimated” the population at one – but with the land goes potential federal receipts, some property and sales tax revenue, and local authority.
Groundwater Contamination Spreads off Eielson Air Force Base
Ground water contamination at Eielson Air Force Base has spread off the facility. A chemical thought to originate from firefighting foam used at the base prior to the year 2000, is being detected in groundwater wells in a nearby subdivision.
Navy Reps Hear Complaints on Northern Edge Exercises
Four representatives travelled to Homer to explain the purpose of Northern Edge. Captain Raymond Hesser is a naval officer with Alaskan Command. “We as a team were able to present a lot of information. I’m sure they learned something and the whole point was an information exchange. We gave them some information and then we were able to listen. I think we got a pretty good amount of feedback,” Hesser said.
Fire totals, acreage burned lower than predicted, so far
So far this year, about 78,000 acres have burned in 280 fires in Alaska. Pete Buist, a public information officer for the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center, says that's lower than normal.
Sockeye Fire Strategy Changes To Offensive
As new firefighting crews arrive, an offensive strategy takes shape against the Sockeye wildfire near Willow.
Sockeye Fire Holds Steady on Tuesday, Little New Acreage
Lack of wind helped the Sockeye Fire hold steady on Tuesday with little new acreage added, but the fire is still not contained.
Sockeye Fire Slows, For Now
There is a bit of heartening news from the Sockeye fire. Erratic weather, expected to bring strong winds to the area late Tuesday, did not actually materialize after a thunderstorm passed overhead, and fire crews have arrived from outside Alaska to begin an offensive against the blaze.
Alaska News Nightly: June 16, 2015
Sockeye Fire No. 1 Priority Fire in US; Card Street Fire Grows to 1,500 Acres; Wildfire Burns Near Dot Lake; Walker Signs Bill Repealing Film Credit; Murkowski Bill Would Impel Izembek Road; Industry Chafes at Regulations for Arctic Drilling; Shell Rig Departs for Dutch Harbor; Audio Postcard; Dozens Evacuate to Escape Card Street Fire; Capital of Mushing Evacuates Hundreds
Card Street Fire Now Estimated at 2,000 Acres; Homes Being Evacuated
The Community Center in Sterling continues to be the hub for relief efforts. Residents are sharing updates, along with food, clothes, phone chargers, everything. I was just opening my laptop to pull up the latest evacuation maps when a man who had just left the fire zone came over.
Wildfire Burns Near Dot Lake
A wildfire caused by lightning in the interior is burning near the Village of Dot Lake. The Tanana Slough Fire has burned about 500 acres on an island in the Tanana River. The island is about three miles north of the small Native community off the Alaska Highway near Tok. Area state forester Jeff Hermans says suppression efforts are aimed at keeping the fire on the island.
Walker Signs Bill Repealing Film Tax Credits
Alaska’s film tax credit program has gone from comatose to dead. Gov. Bill Walker signed a bill ending the subsidies on Monday. The program was created in 2008, and it’s paid out about $50 million in credits to television shows, movies, and documentaries film in the state.
Murkowski Bill Would Impel Izembek Road, Undo EPA Efforts
An appropriations bill authored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski would undo two of the Obama administration’s highest profile environmental efforts, and compel a land exchange to build a road in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, to connect King Cove and Cold Bay.
Shell’s Oil Rig Departs Seattle for Dutch Harbor
A giant drill rig operated by Royal Dutch Shell undocked Monday morning from Terminal 5 in Seattle. The Polar Pioneer is headed for Dutch Harbor. It’s expected to arrive in 12 days.
Audio Postcard: Naknek Preps for Salmon Season
Fishing communities across Bristol Bay are pulsing with action these days as armies of fisherman work to ready their vessels for the extra-large return of salmon this year. KDLG’s Matt Martin spent the weekend at the boatyard in Naknek and brings us this audio postcard.
Dozens Evacuate to Escape from Card Street Fire
Dozens of people have been evacuated from properties in the vicinity of the Card Street fire. Larissa Notter and her husband, Jason, left their home Monday evening with as much as they could pack into their cars and headed to a family member’s house indefinitely. Notter says this isn’t the first time they’ve had to leave.
‘Noah’s Ark’ At Evacuation Site for Willow Mushers Fleeing Sockeye Fire
Tight-knit mushing community was able to coordinate a rapid response to the wildfire, relocating 400 animals as part of an emergency plan hatched just weeks earlier.
Industry Chafes at Relief Rig Rule for Arctic Drilling
The safety of drilling in Arctic seas was debated at a congressional hearing this morning. Advocates of development say requiring a relief rig isn't necessary for blowout response.
Bristol Bay fishermen prep for a busy salmon season
Fishing communities across Bristol Bay are pulsing with action these days as armies of fisherman work to ready their vessels for the extra-large return of salmon this year.
Small Fire Around Old Sterling Power Pole Quickly Extinguished
Power was out for residents from Diamond Ridge to the Old Sterling Highway for about an hour on Monday afternoon. The incident, which took place on the Old Sterling, also caused a small fire.
Road Deterioration Hindering Copper River Access
A dipnetter’s group is seeking state assistance to repair a sketchy stretch of trail used to access the popular personal use fishery on the Copper River near Chitina. The old section of the Copper River Highway has deteriorated due to past year’s landslides.