Tim Ellis, KUAC - Fairbanks

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Tim Ellis is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks Council OKs Stipend, anticipates further legal, financial fallout over contaminated water

The Fairbanks City Council approved an ordinance Monday that’s intended to help provide drinking water for property owners in an area on the city’s south side who’ve lost the use of their wells due to groundwater contamination. Listen now
Cannabis Plant. (Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Commercial pot growers paid GVEA more than $500,000 over the past year

The commercial marijuana industry is increasing demand for electricity in the Interior. Golden Valley Electric Association membership includes 47 licensed marijuana growers, who paid the co-op more than a half-million dollars for power over the past year. Listen now

Fairbanks’ anti-commercial marijuana ballot measures likely to boost turnout for October election

Local elections like the one coming up on Oct. 3 in Fairbanks are notorious for drawing low voter turnout. But observers say this year’s city and borough elections may be different, because the two marijuana-related propositions on the ballots are likely to draw more voters to the polls in what observers say will likely be a close election. Listen now
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Two killed in highway accident near North Pole

Two drivers were killed last night in a two-vehicle accident on the Richardson Highway near North Pole. Listen now

Arctic climate change researchers still conflicted over UAF’s coal-fired powerplant

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is building a heat-and-power plant to replace the old facility that went into service in 1964. The new $245 million powerplant, scheduled to come online next year, will feature updated technology that’ll reduce most pollutants – but it will continue to emit greenhouse gases blamed for warming the planet. Listen now

Repairs on stretch of Dalton Highway damaged by flooding nearly done; next project: paving

Work is wrapping on a project to rebuild the northernmost stretch of the Dalton Highway that was badly damaged two-and-a-half years ago by flooding from the overflowing Sagavanirktok River. Listen now

GVEA board voices concerns, but allows spending up to $20 Million to fix Healy 2

Golden Valley Electric Association’s board of directors approved a multimillion-dollar plan Monday to repair the Healy 2 power plant. Two board members voted against the proposal, saying they’ve got concerns about the coal-fired plant design and cost. Listen now

Several inmates charged with assault, rioting at Fairbanks prison

Alaska State Troopers say they’ve charged several inmates at Fairbanks Correctional Center with rioting and assault for their roles in a disturbance reported at about noon on Thursday. Listen now

With F-35 squads set for Eielson, thousands of people may come up with them

More than 5,000 people may come to the Fairbanks area over the next four years as part of the move to base two squadrons of F-35 fighters at Eielson Air Force Base. The latest estimate announced Monday is well above the previous estimate of 3,500. The bigger population increase is expected to place a greater burden on local services. Listen now

Tularemia reported around Fairbanks, Palmer; vets urge quick diagnosis, treatment for pets

The state Department of Fish and Game is warning pet owners in the Interior and Southcentral Alaska about a recent spike in reports of tularemia – sometimes called “rabbit fever.” Listen now
The back of a police vehicle

As Fairbanks police deal with spike in violent crime, low pay complicates filling vacancies

The Fairbanks Police Department remains understaffed, despite a recently approved hiring bonus. Police Chief Eric Jewkes told City Council members this week the substandard pay is driving high turnover and making recruiting difficult. Listen now

Climate expert predicts warmer-than-normal fall, continuing 10-year trend

National Weather Service climate expert Rick Thoman said there’s a good chance that all of Alaska will be warmer than normal in August and the next couple of months. But he said there’s near-certainty that coastal areas along the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering and Beaufort seas will be warm through October. Listen now

‘Forward-deployed’ Coast Guard helicopter crews help rescue 6 people in two searches

Coast Guard personnel based out of Kotzebue helped rescue six people Monday in two emergency operations in Northwest Alaska. Listen now

North Pole Council urges water-system expansion to help Moose Creek deal with tainted groundwater

Officials with the Air Force and other agencies are asking members of the public to weigh-in on several proposals to provide drinking water to Moose Creek residents who can’t use their wells because of groundwater contamination. The pollution came from Eielson Air Force Base’s use of firefighting foam in years past. Listen now

North Star Borough to close North Pole transfer site for cleanup, reopen with monitor

Fairbanks North Star Borough officials plan to clean up a North Pole transfer site the same way they cleaned up the Farmer’s Loop East Transfer Site last month. They plan close the North Pole facility Wednesday and reopen it Thursday with Solid Waste staff on-site to survey users and prevent unsafe or illegal activity. Listen now

Cleanup under way at sites along old pipeline that fueled Interior bases

Cleanup work began this month at a mothballed pump station near Delta Junction that was part of the old Haines to Fairbanks Pipeline. Listen now

Black bear that attacked workers near Pogo Mine was behaving like a predator

Experts with the state Department of Fish and Game say the black bear that attacked two workers last month near the Pogo Mine was hungry and showing predator-like behavior. Listen now

State seeks contractors to operate 5 Delta-area parks semi-closed due to budget cuts

The state Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division is turning to the private sector to manage five Delta Junction-area state parks that were partially closed last week due to cuts in the agency’s budget. The division has begun soliciting proposals from prospective contractors to operate the parks. Listen now

Eielson reminds pilots to not harass wildlife on training ranges

Eielson Air Force Base officials say they reminded pilots and their commanders participating in a training exercise last month that they cannot harass wildlife that wanders onto military training ranges during a recent exercise. Listen now
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Former Kenai city manager dies after motorcycle crash

A former Kenai city manager died Sunday of injuries he sustained when he wrecked his motorcycle earlier that day on the Dalton Highway. Listen now