The Associated Press
EPA: No New Timetable For Bristol Bay Report
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it has no timetable for completing its review of the impacts of large-scale mining in the Bristol Bay region.
ConocoPhillps Settles With State and Federal Government Over Oil Spills
U.S. and Alaska environmental officials have reached an agreement with ConocoPhillips to settle environmental claims in the state from spills in 2006 and 2007. Both spills were from corroded flow lines in the Kuparuk Unit petroleum facility.
2nd Whaling Commission Exec Sentenced
A second former executive director of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission has been sentenced in Anchorage’s federal court for stealing from the organization.
FBI Releases Details of Koenig Death
The FBI says an Anchorage barista who was disappeared in February was sexually assaulted, strangled and dismembered. The suspect in Samantha Koenig’s death, Israel Keyes, died in an apparent suicide earlier this week.
Trials Reset for Native Fishermen in Salmon Cases
A Bethel court magistrate has rescheduled the trials of 22 Alaska Natives who are charged with illegal fishing during a weak king salmon run. Magistrate Bruce Ward reset the trials for the subsistence fishermen to begin April 15.
Anchorage Police Investigate Suspicious Death
Anchorage police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found near the side of a road. KTUU says police are calling the death near Valley of the Moon Park suspicious. Sgt. Glenn Daily says the man's death appears to be due to a head injury that isn't immediately explainable.
Mat-Su Ferry May Be Headed For Northern Mariana Islands
The Mat-Su Borough's ice-breaking ferry may be headed to the tropics. The Anchorage Daily News reports that the borough wants to give the ferry to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Hollis French Retains Senate Seat
An Anchorage Democratic senator has retained his seat in the state Senate. The Division of Elections says a recount of votes in Senate District J today shows incumbent Hollis French as the winner, defeating Republican Bob Bell. Division Director Gail Fenumiai certified the election last week with French holding a 51-vote lead. Bell on Monday asked for the recount. The recount widened the gap to 59 votes.
Whaling Commission’s Former Director Sentenced
The former director of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission has been sentenced to more than three years in jail and ordered to pay back more than $393,000.
President Obama Issues Disaster Declaration For Parts Of Alaska
President Barack Obama has issued a disaster declaration for large parts of Alaska affected by storms, winds, flooding and landslides during September. The White House in a release today announced the declaration, which allows federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts.
Alaska Officials Report Increase Of Flu, Pertussis
Alaska health officials are reporting a sharp increase this year of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, as well as a recent spike in influenza cases. Officials say more than 200 cases of pertussis have been reported in Alaska this year. That’s significantly up from the yearly average of 42 from 2009 to 2011.
Wildlife Agency Prepares For Alaska Employee Loss
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Alaska is bracing for an exodus of expertise. Forty to 50 employees – just under 10 percent of the workforce – are expected to retire Dec. 31 to take advantage of a window to boost retirement pay.
Olson Joins GOP-Led Majority In Senate
Another Democrat has joined the Senate's Republican-led majority. Sen. Donny Olson of Nome will remain a member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee. Olson joins Sen. Dennis Egan of Juneau as Democratic members of the majority, which also has 13 Republicans. The GOP seized power in the Senate after last week's elections, which broke the 10-10 split between Republicans and Democrats in the chamber.
Sergeant Found Guilty On 1 Count In Soldier Death
A military jury has found an Army sergeant guilty on one of three charges in the hazing-related death of Pvt. Danny Chen. The 19-year-old private killed himself in October 2011 during deployment in Afghanistan with Fort Wainwright’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
Chenault To Return As Alaska House Speaker
The Republican-dominated majority of the Alaska House of Representatives has organized with a familiar face in the speaker’s chair. A majority announcement says Nikiski Representative Mike Chenault will return for a third term as speaker.
Agencies Looking Into Reports Of Oiled Wildlife
Separate reports of birds and a seal that had oil on them have prompted local, state and federal officials to begin an investigation on St. Lawrence Island. Coast Guard spokesman David Mosley says the culmination of reports raised red flags, prompting a closer look. A Coast Guard plane was conducting an aerial survey Thursday, and investigators from the guard and state were expected on scene Friday.
US Mint To Unveil Quarter Honoring Denali Park
Officials from the U.S. Mint will be in Alaska next week to unveil a new quarter honoring Denali National Park. A ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 15 at the Tri-Valley Community Center in Healy north of the park.
Stevens Joins New Senate Majority
The new Senate majority now has 12 members. Sen. Gary Stevens of Kodiak has joined the majority, and will be chairman of the Senate's Education Committee. Stevens had been Senate president for the last four years when the bipartisan coalition held power.
Application Period Opens For Big Game Permits
Some changes are on hand this year for applying for big game drawing hunt permits. The Fairbanks Daily-News says the application period opened Thursday and will close Dec. 17. That is two weeks earlier than last year. One big chance this year is that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will only accept applications online.
Sentencing Date Pushed Back For Cox
The sentencing date has been delayed for the leader of an Alaska militia convicted of conspiring to murder federal officials and owning illegal weapons. KSRM reports Schaeffer Cox will now be sentenced in U.S. District Court in Anchorage on Jan. 7 instead of Nov. 19. This will allow his new attorney to become familiar with the case.