News

Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks are studying invasive plants in Alaska and how they could be affecting native tundra berries. The invasive plants can be found across interior Alaska. And while they likely have not yet spread off the road system to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, some believe it’s only a matter of time.

A 52-year-old Kenai man will be arraigned Tuesday on theft charges in what prosecutors say was a charity scam. Frank Roach is charged with creating Alaska Veteran Outreach Boxes for Heroes, which he said would send care packages to deployed soldiers from Alaska.

A new agreement signed today between 14 Alaska Native tribal health programs and the department of Veterans Affairs will allow both Alaska Native and non-Native vets to receive health care services in tribal clinics in various parts of Alaska, so they won’t have to travel to Anchorage or Seattle to receive services.

The public will get a special opportunity to talk about judges next week as the Alaska Judicial Council will hold a statewide hearing to get opinions on the 26 judges up for retention votes this fall.

Federal observers are preparing to work the gillnet grounds around Petersburg and Wrangell this summer. Starting in June, National Marine Fisheries Service contractors in small boats will shadow individual gillnetters and monitor any interactions marine mammals or birds. They’ll also be interviewing fishermen about their gear and fishing practices. Federal officials say the information will be kept confidential and the contractors will be as unobtrusive as possible. But fishermen still have concerns as the season approaches.

In a special meeting Tuesday evening Wrangell’s Borough Assembly voted to approve a resolution for a special election to be held in June, on the question of whether to recall 8 of 9 members who comprise the city-owned hospital’s board of directors.

Juneau and the Southeast region fared well by the 27th Alaska State Legislature. Before the regular session ended, lawmakers appropriated $2.9 billion for construction and maintenance projects statewide, and $450 million in general obligation bonds to be approved by voters next November.

The community is located on a small island in the Bering Sea where there are many more fur seals than people. Aqualina Lestinkof lives on St. Paul island.

A North Slope health worker says a February oil well blowout has left lingering physical effects on villagers some 18 miles from the well. She says Nuiqsut villagers seem to have a high incidence of respiratory ailments this spring, although state officials blame the maladies on the flu.

Following a decision to implement aerial wolf hunts on the Kenai Peninsula as a means of increasing local moose populations, the Department of Fish and Game has decided to suspend those operations for at least a year in order to gather more information.

The University of Alaska Anchorage is going to award its first doctorate degrees next week. The Ph.D.s in Clinical Psychology will go to two students in a program administered jointly by UAA and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In the past, UAF has handed out the doctoral degrees for the program, but now UAA’s name will also appear on the diploma.

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.

Alaska has more pilots and airplanes per capita than any other state. And this weekend is their own version of the great Alaska Sportsman Show. It’s a chance to see the latest airplanes and flight products and visit with old friends. The show is organized by the Alaska Airmen’s Association.

Dozens of kids from communities across the state descended on the village of Quinhagak last weekend to learn, praise, worship and do a little singing, too. It was called Singsperation.