A Look at Moose Run Metals – Fritz Creek, Alaska
Tarri Thurman has been a metalsmith for 10 years. Originally a hairdresser from Ann Arbor, Michigan, she moved to Alaska in 1995, working a variety of jobs from back hoe operator to arborist to pizza maker.
She sold my first piece of artwork as an apprentice, off the bench, before it was completed.
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State May Get 8 Cargo Planes
The state may be taking possession of eight new airplanes. They’re 1980s era cargo planes that the Army doesn’t want anymore. A provision in the Defense Bill now before the U.S. Senate offers them to the governor of Alaska. The catch is, the state has to figure out what to do with them – and how to pay for their upkeep.
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China Bans Purchase Of Northwest Shellfish
Environment and health officials in the U.S. say they are puzzled by China’s decision to ban shellfish harvested from Northern California to Alaska. State officials say their records don’t show the same unsafe toxin levels that were detected by a lab in China.
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Gas Spills From Broken Pipe On Kake Waterfront
Officials say an estimated 5,500 gallons of unleaded gasoline spilled into the water Saturday in the small Southeast community of Kake.
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Riversdale Puts Chickaloon Coal Prospect On Hold
Riversdale Alaska is mothballing its plan to mine coal in the Chickaloon area. The Australian-owned mining company is turning its sights on coal prospects in Alberta, Canada, instead.
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Thousands Of New Fish Specimens Double Museum’s Collection
The University of Alaska, Fairbanks Museum of the North recently acquired as many as 150,000 fish and marine specimens from the National Marine Fisheries Service. The acquisition means the museum’s fish collection has doubled in size.
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What Would You Do With 9 Tons Of Salmon You Can’t Sell?
Juneau’s soup kitchen and shelter recently received a donation of salmon with an estimated retail value of more than $100,000.
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Fairbanks Discuss Solutions For Support Services Void
The bankruptcy of a Fairbanks primary mental health care provider earlier this fall, and the more recent closure of an assisted living facility, has resulted in a major void in support services in the area. A community forum held last week in Fairbanks brought people together to discuss solutions.
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Palmer Farmers’ Market Starts Up
Even though winter temperatures are sweeping the state, a local farmers’ market in Palmer is just starting up. It features some surprising products guaranteed to dispel the winter-time blahs.
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I Am The Gingerbread Village Builder
850 pounds of icing, 40 houses of gingerbread and chocolate - Joe Hickel has been creating Marina's Village in the lobby of The Hotel Captain Cook for 35 years.
This year's creation took six days to build and features a new country scene.
Getting Crafty with an Old Holiday Sweater
Today we’re getting crafty for the holidays. Natasha Price has been making handmade gifts as far back as she can remember. She’s been sewing since she was three, knitting since she was six, and documenting her DIY projects on her blog for about four years.
Price likes making creative gifts this time of year. So, together we're recycling my old Christmas sweater.
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Oiled Birds Wash Ashore On St. Lawrence Island
Two dead, oil - covered seagulls have been found off the coast of St. Lawrence Island. In a release issued today [Friday], the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation says that the two freshly dead birds were discovered by off shore hunters on December 10.
Legislation Would Reject Pay Raise For Governor
House Democratic lawmakers plan to introduce legislation rejecting proposed pay raises for Alaska's governor and other top state officials.
Susitna Dam Funding Cut In Proposed Budget
Governor Parnell’s state budget totals $12.4 billion, and includes drawing $1.1 billion from reserves. Many capital projects saw significant cuts in the proposed budget, including the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project.
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Bethel Man Remembers Growing Up In Apartheid South Africa
Nelson Mandela’s funeral is Sunday. The well-known African leader passed away at 95. He fought Apartheid or racial segregation, which kept him in prison for decades by the country’s government, run by the white minority. One Bethel resident was deeply moved by his passing.
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Without Medicaid Expansion, Alaska’s Poorest Get Nothing From Health Law
For low income Alaskans who want to buy health insurance on the federal marketplace, there's a magic number to keep in mind: $14,350. That's the amount of yearly income they have to earn to qualify for a subsidy to purchase coverage. With the subsidy, they have to pay very little for health insurance. But below that mark, it's full price.
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Holiday Greetings Statewide
Many Alaskans make a point of listening to the radio on that very special Tuesday before Christmas when they can have the unique and uplifting experience of hearing holiday greetings from friends and relatives across the state on “Talk of Alaska.” It’s your chance to reach out to people near and far with your good wishes for the holiday and the new year.
APRN: Tuesday, 12/12 at 10:00am
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AK: Ancient Shorelines
Most of us like to know something about our family history. And we might want to get some idea of who was here before us.
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300 Villages: Shaktoolik
This week we travel to the native village of Shaktoolik, a coastal village about 125 miles east of Nome on Norton Sound. Shaktoolik mayor Eugene Asicksik tells us more.
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Legislators Consider State Takeover Of School Health Plans To Lower Costs
School districts currently manage their own health insurance plans. They pick their own providers, they decide how much of the premium they want to cover, and their employees can bargain for better benefits. But now, a senator from the Mat-Su Borough is pushing for the state to take over management of school health plans, and a report commissioned by the Legislature backs that proposal up as a way of saving money.
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