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Alaska House tied in knots on session’s first day
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
The uncertainty over control of the Alaska House continued today, on the first day of the legislative session.
In this shutdown, every day is a winding road
Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski says it’s slow-going, but she sees progress at the U.S. Capitol among lawmakers working to end the partial government shutdown, now in its fourth week.
Polar bear encounter reported in Arctic Village, many miles south of normal range
Ravenna Koenig, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Fairbanks
Polar bear researcher Eric Regehr says that in individual cases like this, it’s very difficult to attribute cause to why a bear wandered so far from its typical area.
Alaska Railroad tank car derails; no spill detected
Associated Press
A railroad tank car carrying turbine engine fuel derailed south of Denali National Park, but Alaska Railroad officials have not detected a spill.
Fairbanks city, borough take in $1M in pot taxes for 2018
Associated Press
The city of Fairbanks and the Fairbanks North Star Borough will collect more than $1 million in taxes on marijuana for 2018.
State Board of Game votes against requiring IDs on traps or snares
Joe Viechnicki, KFSK – Petersburg
The state’s Board of Game Sunday voted down proposals to require ID tags or signs around traps and snares in Southeast Alaska. The board was split on one of the proposals that was intended to help with enforcement of trapping regulations and to address problems of pets getting caught in traps.
Upper Lynn Canal leaders discuss implications of Juneau cruise industry lawsuit
Henry Leasia, KHNS – Haines
In December, a federal judge ruled that the City and Borough of Juneau’s cruise ship passenger fee could not be used to fund projects that did not directly support cruise ship vessels. Since then, communities in the Upper Lynn Canal have been trying to determine if the decision could affect funding for local infrastructure projects.
Repurposed shelter houses Nome’s homeless 7 days a week
Davis Hovey, KNOM – Nome
Just before New Year’s, a new facility opened in Nome to serve those who have no other place to go. This shelter complements the existing seasonal operation in town called Nome Emergency Shelter Team, or NEST, and together, the two offer more comprehensive coverage than was ever available before in Nome.
Ask a Climatologist: Fairbanks sees low-temp, but brief, cold snap
Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
Interior Alaska had its first real cold snap of the winter last week with temperatures colder than 40 below zero in many places. That was enough to force indoor recess for Fairbanks elementary school students – and, for older students, posing in front of the University of Alaska Fairbanks time and temp sign.
