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Divers Unable to Find Lost Bag of PCB-Contaminated Dirt
David Bendinger, KDLG – Dillingham
An 11,000 pound bag of PCB contaminated dirt fell into the waters off the
Dillingham city dock last November. Alaska Logistics decided to wait until
spring break up to remove that bag, known as a super sack. But salvage divers working yesterday weren’t able to find the bag.
Long-Standing Land Dispute Should Be Settled Soon
Laureli Kinneen, KNOM – Nome
A forty-year land dispute between an Alaska Native Corporation and the State of Alaska should be cleared soon with the signature of President Barack Obama.
Missing Bison Found Near Chena Lakes
Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks
Three of the four bison that escaped last month from a ranch just outside North Pole have turned up along the bike path at the Chena Lakes Flood Control Project south of Fairbanks.
Lightning Blamed For Denali Park Fire
Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks
Park Rangers are blaming lightning for a five acre fire inside Denali National Park. When a crew flew over the fire at noon Thursday, there was no visible smoke. The blaze burned a five acre area, 15 miles north of the park road along the East Fork drainage of the Toklat River. Park officials are concerned about an historic cabin located within three miles of the fire. Crews plan to fly over the fire again this evening.
Redistricting Board Chairman Says Fair Plan In Place For Year’s Elections
Dave Donaldson, APRN – Juneau
The chairman of the state’s Redistricting Board says that although there’s still not a final plan on the books yet, voters have a fair plan ready for this year’s elections. John Torgerson of Soldotna told the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday that the plan waiting for final approval from the Courts and U.S. Justice Department, reflected the most open, non-partisan process possible. He credited computers and emails with engaging the public in the new plan’s creation.
Torgerson said it was impossible to avoid the atmosphere of winners and losers as the elections districts were coming together. However, he said, the board was limited in what it was allowed to do – by both state and federal law and oversight.
Torgerson says there is still a chance some issues could require a major overhaul of the plan before 2014.
Tok May Be First Alaska Community Fully Powered By Biomass
Tim Ellis, KUAC – Fairbanks
Tok may become the first community in Alaska to get all its electricity from wood.
A utility has proposed building a power plant that would burn black spruce, a plan backers say could serve as a test case for communities struggling with high cost fossil fuel generated power.
Fish Processor Won’t Reopen This Summer After Crash
Joe Viechnicki, KFSK – Petersburg
Ocean Beauty Seafoods won’t be processing fish at the company’s cannery in Petersburg this summer because of damage from the state ferry Matanuska.
Calista Corporation Reschedules Shareholder Meeting
Angela Denning-Barnes, KYUK – Bethel
Calista, the Native Corporation for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, has canceled its annual shareholder meeting this month and re-scheduled it five months later.
Celebration 2012 Underway In Juneau
Casey Kelly, KTOO – Juneau
Celebration 2012 is officially underway. Southeast Alaska’s largest Native cultural gathering kicked off in earnest Thursday morning with the Grand Entrance Procession in Juneau.
Hunter Rescued After Traveling Across Bristol Bay On Ice Floe
Mike Mason, KDLG – Dillingham
Last month four hunters from the village of Platinum were rescued by the Coast Guard after they traveled across all of Bristol Bay on an ice floe after running out of gas.
