Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks

A slug of red salmon that moved into the Copper River at the end of May has so far largely eluded dip netters at Chitina. State biologist Mark Somerville attributes poor fishing over the last week to river conditions.

The University of Alaska Board of Regents meets in Anchorage tomorrow and Friday. The agenda includes acceptance of the fiscal 2013 budget. The $925 million spending plan is up 4 percent over the current year’s budget. UA spokeswoman Kate Wattum says the $363.7 million operating component includes increased support from the state legislature for Regent’s priority programs.

A new housing program for chronic inebriates in Fairbanks is slowly getting up to speed. The Tanana Chiefs Conference runs the 47 room facility out of a renovated hotel on South Cushman Street. T.C.C. has been working toward bringing in the first tenants since December.

Fairbanks area residents are weighing cost and environmental impacts, as Golden Valley Electric Association pursues start up of the Healy Clean Coal Plant. GVEA members from Delta Junction to Fairbanks and Healy have seen power rates escalate with the price of oil – the fuel more Healy coal could replace. Area residents staged dueling rallies on the issue in Fairbanks yesterday.

Golden Valley Electric Association is trying a new avenue to secure an air quality permit for the Healy Clean Coal Plant. GVEA vice president of Resource Development Gene Therriault says the utility is working directly with the federal government to appease environmental concerns.

In the middle of the night Monday a North Pole woman died when a building full of people caught on fire. North Star Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jeff Tucker says the fire called in at 3:36 a.m.yesterday consumed a large residential and shop building on Rozak Road, near mile 10 of the Richardson Highway.

A new book tells the story of a Fairbanks woman who’s set a standard for adventure and conservation activism. “Boots, Bikes and Bombers” is a compilation of Ginny Wood’s stories and photos. The book put together by University of Alaska Fairbanks oral history researcher Karen Brewster, recounts Wood’s unique adventures, like bike touring Europe and sailing the northwest coast back in the 1930’s and 40’s. Wood also flew in the Women’s Air Force Service Pilot program during World War 2. After the war, Brewster says Wood and friend and fellow pilot Celia Hunter, flew surplus planes from Washington to Fairbanks.

Significant rain over the weekend in the Fairbanks area is prompting flood advisories for several rivers and streams. National Weather service meteorologist Corey Bogel says around two inches of rain has fallen, and there’s concern about recreational boaters. Bogel says water levels have been high on the Chena, Goodpaster and Salcha Rivers, and even the Tanana.

A waste heat powered generator could save costly fuel in rural villages. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Center for Energy and Power recently completed testing of a unit called “The Green Machine." Center rural energy specialist Ross Coen says it converts heat into electricity.

Preliminary work will continue this summer on an in state natural gas pipeline. That’s despite the legislature’s failure to approve $200 million, and expanded powers for the agency charged with pursuing the project, the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation. The legislature did provide $21 million, and AGDC President Dan Fauske says that’s enough to keep the North Slope to Southcentral project going in light of new direction from Governor Parnell.

Climate warming is causing the release of methane in the far north from a previously undocumented source. Past research has found methane created by bio-degradation of thawing organic matter, but a University of Alaska Fairbanks led study has confirmed a deeper, older source. UAF researcher Katey Walter Anthony describes the gas as geologic methane.

A memorial service was held on Ft. Wainwright yesterday to honor soldiers killed during the Stryker Brigade’s deployment to Afghanistan.

Another weak king salmon return is forecast for the Yukon River. Alaska Department of Fish and Game Yukon area management biologist Steve Hayes says this summer’s Chinook run is predicted to be up to 146,000 fish, in line with weak runs since 1997.

As many as 6,000 military will march through Fairbanks Saturday.

The Copper River salmon fishing season is set to get underway next week. The first commercial opening at the river’s mouth is scheduled for May 17. Glennallen area management biologist Mark Sommerville says the run is forecast to be relatively strong.

Portrayals of Peacemaker’s militia members as dangerous men plotting to kill federal employees were juxtaposed with characterizations of the men as hapless big mouths who exaggerated a lot but were harmless – during this morning’s opening statements in day two of the Schaeffer Cox, Lonnie Vernon and Barney Coleman federal trial in Anchorage.

A Fairbanks man who helped protect natural resources in Afghanistan, is heading up a similar program for polar regions. Longtime University of Alaska Fairbanks faculty member Harry Bader recently completed three years in Afghanistan, serving as co-leader of a counterinsurgency cell for the U.S. Agency for International Development. Bader, who won a heroism award for his work preventing enemy exploitation of natural resources, is back at UAF heading up a new Polar Security Center. Bader says the Defense and Homeland Security funded program is scientific research focused.

The final group of the Ft. Wainwright based Stryker brigade soldiers returned to Fairbanks from Afghanistan Wednesday. The contingent of 100 was the last of the 4,000 member unit that deployed overseas a year ago.

A computer model being developed by University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers will predict climate driven ecosystem changes. Alaska Integrated Ecosystem Model Project Manager Amy Breen says it accounts for major climate driven processes.

May is starting off cold. National Weather service meteorologist Corey Bogel says a large low pressure system over Northwest Alaska is dragging down temperatures. The forecast also includes a chance of snow showers, but Bogell says more spring like weather should be back by the weekend.