The Associated Press
Environmental Groups Ask For Arctic Ocean Oil Leases To Be Overturned
Environmental groups are asking a federal appeals court to overturn a judge’s decision that OK’d the sale of petroleum leases in the Arctic Ocean off Alaska’s northwest shore.
Governor May Call Special Session
Governor Sean Parnell says he will call Alaska lawmakers into special session if the Senate passes an oil tax bill by Sunday. The Session is under a statutory deadline to adjourn by that day, but with a key piece of legislation still pending in the Senate, Parnell says he wants to make sure the House has time to evaluate the version that emerges.
NOAA Beginning Survey Of Bering Sea-Area Ice Seals
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says U.S. and Russia researchers will begin the largest-ever survey of ice seals in the Bering Sea off Alaska’s west coast.
Anchorage Police Confirm Body Found in Lake is Samantha Koenig
An Anchorage police spokesman says the Alaska state medical examiner's office has confirmed that a body recovered from Matanuska Lake is that of an 18-year-old coffee stand worker who vanished Feb. 1. Read More
Cleveland Volcano Acts Up
The Alaska Volcano Observatory says a small explosion at Cleveland Volcano in the Aleutian Islands may have sent up a small ash cloud. Clouds prevented satellite observation of an ash cloud.
Oil Tax Bill Still Not Finished by Senate, Session May Be Extended
There is talk of extending the Legislative session past April 15th in Juneau because the central issue of taxing the oil and gas industry has not been resolved yet. House Speaker Mike Chenault says...
Lawmaker Predicts Uphill Battle For Oil Tax Bill
State House Speaker Mike Chenault says it's "very unlikely" an oil tax bill will pass before the legislative session's scheduled adjournment.
That raises the potential for a special session, but that's not a foregone conclusion:...
Greenpeace Ordered To Stay Away From Shell’s Arctic Ocean Drilling Vessels
A federal judge has ordered representatives of Greenpeace USA to stay a kilometer away from Shell Oil’s drilling vessels destined for Arctic Ocean waters off Alaska’s northern shores.
Keyes Arraigned On Fraud Charge
The man listed by Anchorage police as a “person of interest” in the abduction of 18-year-old Anchorage barista Samantha Koenig has been arraigned in federal court in Anchorage on a fraud charge.
Amendment Allowing Public Money Use For Private Schools Moves Forward
The House Finance Committee has advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow public money to be used for private schools.
Three Federal Courts In Alaska Could Be Closed
The federal government is considering closing three courthouses in Alaska. According to documents obtained by the Associated Press, courthouses in Juneau, Ketchikan and Fairbanks could be shut down as part of an effort to cut costs. If all three did close, the only active federal courthouse in Alaska would be in Anchorage. Senator Lisa Murkowski responded to the news in a statement, saying, “it’s penny-wise, pound-foolish to remove three out of our four active courthouses and ask all Alaskans to travel to Anchorage for legal proceedings.”
Group To Sue Over Lack Of Right Whale Recovery Plan
An environmental group has given notice it intends to sue the federal government for failing to prepare a recovery plan for highly endangered North Pacific right whales.
Santorum, Romney Gain Eight Delegates Each In Preference Poll
Final results are in from the Alaska GOP’s presidential preference poll: Mitt Romney remains the winner, narrowly defeating Rick Santorum, and Santorum picked up enough votes to earn another delegate.
Former EyakTek Exec Admits To Role In Fraud Scheme
A former executive of EyakTek, a subsidiary of the Alaska Native Eyak Corporation is admitting his role in a $20 million government contracting fraud scheme.
Ft. Wainwright Soldier Admits To Taking Gifts, Cash, Favors From Iraqi Contractor
A Fort Wainwright-based soldier has admitted to taking thousands of dollars in gifts, cash and favors from an Iraqi contractor.
Alert Level For Kanaga Volcano Lowered
The Alaska Volcano Observatory has lowered the alert level for a volcano in the remote Aleutian Islands. Scientists on Friday said in a release that the level of unrest has subsided at Kanaga Volcano, prompting the alert reduction.
Oil Processing Building Being Brought Back Online After Fire
A North Slope building that processes oil for shipment in the trans-Alaska pipeline was being brought back online Thursday after a fire.
Alaskan Wins Oscar For Work On ‘Hugo’
Former Alaskan Ben Grossmann is an Oscar winner. He won an award for groundbreaking work in visual effects in the Martin Scorsese-directed film “Hugo.”
State Releases Final Batch of Palin Emails
Emails released by Alaska state officials show that Sarah Palin’s final months in office saw her fighting for a signature natural gas pipeline project and frustrated over a series of ethics complaints.
Fur Rondy Starts Friday
Anchorage’s Fur Rendezvous is set to begin Friday. The popular winter festival runs through March 4. Events including the annual ice carving competition and other events take place throughout the week. The Running of the Reindeer will be held downtown at 4 pm on Saturday March 3.