Strong King Salmon Catch Means Early Closure For Southeast Trollers
Southeast Alaska’s commercial salmon trollers are heading back into port now that the winter season has closed. Thanks to strong catches of king salmon on the outer coast near Sitka.
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‘There’s Nothing Left to Cut’: Fairbanks Assembly Gives School District $800K Boost
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly approved a measure that allows the area school district to keep $800,000 that it would’ve been required to give back to the borough. Assembly members say the action was a small step toward helping the district cope with personnel and program cuts that district officials have proposed to deal with an $11 million state funding shortfall.
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Alaska News Nightly: March 30, 2015
APD Stops Short Of Calling Weekend Vandalism Incident A Hate Crime; Haines Pot Grower Proposes Cannabis Exchange In Light Of New Law; Alaska Senate Rejects Effort To Preemptively Ban Marijuana Concentrates; Report: Ship Trouble in the Arctic on the Rise; Army Corps Of Engineers Preps For Summer Season; Homer Takes First Step Toward Deep Water Dock Expansion; Legislature Diving Into Anchorage's Violent Crime, Potentially Bringing New Funds; Strong King Salmon Catch Means Early Closure For Southeast Trollers; Indigenous Leaders Adapt Western-Style Government While Retaining Traditional Approaches; ‘There’s Nothing Left to Cut’: Fairbanks Assembly Gives School District $800K Boost
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Senate Passes Pot Bill, Without Concentrate Ban
When Alaskans voted to regulate marijuana, a discrepancy was created where possession of small amounts of the drug was legal and where possession of larger amounts meant higher level felonies. The Alaska Senate has passed a bill to bridge the gap. And in the process, they rejected a controversial effort to preemptively ban marijuana concentrates.
Legislature Diving Into Anchorage’s Violent Crime, Potentially Bringing New Funds
Legislators in Juneau heard testimony Friday on why violent crime appears to be rising, and what assistance state law-makers may be able to provide through appropriations.
Alaska Senate Delays Vote On Pot Legislation
The Alaska Senate has delayed a vote on its signature marijuana bill after saying they need more time to consider an amendment that would largely ban concentrates.
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Alaskans Testify On Governor’s Medicaid Expansion Bill
Lawmakers took public testimony for the first time Thursday on Governor Bill Walker's bill to expand Medicaid. The public spoke during the last 30 minutes of the House Health and Social Services committee's hearing on HB 148.
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Murkowski Adds Federal Land Disposal Measure to Budget
Environmentalists are saying a budget amendment authored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski could lead to a plundering of treasured federal landscapes. Murkowski’s amendment on federal land disposals was part of a national budget resolution the Senate passed early this morning. Senators offered hundreds of amendments that don’t have the force of law but often serve symbolic or political purposes.
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Court of Appeals Affirms Lower Court in Yup’ik Fishermen’s Case
The Alaska Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court’s decision that Yup’ik Fishermen who fished during a state closure should be charged. The decision was issued today.
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Warm Interior Weather Turns Attention To River Breakup
This week’s warm weather is turning attention to river break up. National Weather Service hydrologist Ed Plumb is tracking the factors that play into ice flowing out.
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Round-the-world Bicycle Traveler Stops Over in Fairbanks
A South African adventurer pedaled a bike into Fairbanks this week, completing the first leg of a journey that will take him around the world twice over 8 years.
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Family of Four Starts 500-mile Trek to Kotzebue
As Iditarod mushers were finishing their 1,000-mile journey, a family of four was just beginning their own trek from under the ceremonial burled arch. Bretwood “Hig” Higman, Erin McKittrick, and their two young kids Katmai and Lituya started their 500-mile trek from Nome to Kotzebue on Friday. Over the next few months, they plan to walk, ski and paddle up the Bering Strait.
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AK: The Middle Ages
Feasts, jousting, and medieval dress are just your average afternoon for members of the Society for Creative Anachronism. Participants are dedicated to researching and recreating the arts and culture of pre-17th century Europe. KBBI's Shady Grove Oliver joined the Alaska contingent for its annual Bi-Baronial Collegium in Wasilla and reports it's about values, family, and finding a place to fit in.
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Alaska News Nightly: March 27, 2015
Alaska Senate Delays Vote On Pot Legislation; Legislative Analyst Offers Gloomy Budget Outlook; Alaskans Testify On Governor's Medicaid Expansion Bill; Murkowski Adds Federal Land Disposal Measure to Budget; Court of Appeals Affirms Lower Court in Yup’ik Fishermen’s Case; Warm Interior Weather Turns Attention To River Breakup; Round-the-world Bicycle Traveler Stops Over in Fairbanks; Family of Four Starts 500-mile Trek to Kotzebue; AK: The Middle Ages; 49 Voices: Dan Distor of Mountain Village
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49 Voices: Dan Distor of Mountain Village
This week we hear from a Filipino high school student who moved to Pilot Station from Texas with his family when he was a first grader. Dan Distor lives in Mountain Village.
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Alaska’s Housing Issues
Only 10 percent percent of the people in Alaska who experience homelessness are chronically homeless. Families and individuals often become homeless because they lost their jobs or the cost of housing is too high. So what can we do about it?
APRN: Tuesday, 3/31 at 10:00am
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Erin’s Law And Sexual Abuse Awareness
Erin's Law was recently introduced again in the state legislature. It would mandate all public schools to teach sexual abuse prevention curriculum to all students grades K-12. It also requires education and awareness for teachers.
KSKA: Friday, 3/27 at 2:00pm and Saturday, 3/28 at 6:00pm
KAKM: Friday, 3/27 at 7:30pm and Saturday, 3/28 at 4:30pm
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Legislative Analyst Offers Gloomy Budget Outlook
Manipulating an Excel spreadsheet with dozens of inputs, Legislative Finance Director David Teal showed what would happen if the state cut formula programs, added a variety of taxes, and shrunk its agencies. None of the actions taken on their own made any difference. At projected oil prices, the state still does not close its multi-billion-dollar deficit.
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Lawmakers Seek Answers On Rape Kit Backlog
Alaska has the highest rate of sexual assault in the country, but it has no mechanism for tracking untested rape kits. Now, legislators are considering an audit to find out just how big the backlog is.
In Continuing Fight, Public Broadcasting Funding Axed
Earlier this month, public broadcasting survived an effort in the House to slash its state funding by half. Now, a subcommittee in the Senate has axed the appropriation entirely.