Kaktovik is crawling with polar bears. Now a man is going to prison for wasting one.
The case shows how it’s become common for polar bears to disrupt village life in Kaktovik, which sits on an island at the edge of the Beaufort Sea. As climate change melts sea ice and drives the bears ashore, residents say they’ve been under increasing stress.
Alaska oil tax initiative has enough valid signatures to appear on ballot, election officials say
When the initiative would appear on a ballot depends on when the Alaska Legislature wraps up its work.
Cook Inlet’s white whales are vanishing. Scientists still don’t know why.
In 2008, Cook Inlet belugas were listed as endangered. Still numbers continue to drop. With new analysis methods today there are even fewer whales than previously thought — less than 300, and steadily declining from there.
Western Arctic caribou populations stable, though officials worry about warming climate
Wildlife biologists say the Western Arctic caribou herd numbers have stabilized in the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge near Kotzebue.
With no ferries to haul waste, Southeast Alaska’s septic tank problem could get messy
Not all rural communities have normal sanitation systems like city sewer and water treatment plants, instead they rely on septic systems that need to get pumped periodically. And while the Alaska Marine Highway is shut down, pump trucks cannot get to some small towns that rely on them.
A second ‘blob’ marine heat wave disappeared but warming trend will continue, scientists say
The first blob decimated fisheries, caused a mass seabird die-off, and spurred toxic algal blooms up and down the coast. As Alaska braced for the second heat wave, it disappeared — at least for now.
Dramatic ocean changes are coming ‘a couple decades too early,’ scientists say
Arctic ocean temperatures are rising at rates faster than previously thought by the scientific community. That’s the finding of a new study from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which shows warming waters having an effect on everything from sea ice growth to marine ecosystems.
Anxiety creeps into oil-dependent Alaska as banks step back from Arctic investment
An aggressive advocacy campaign against banks' involvement in Arctic oil means that Alaska companies are facing more obstacles to raise the cash they need. They've responded by tailoring their pitches to financial institutions, as Alaska lawmakers fight back.
Alaska oil, mining education group alleges former director stole at least $187,000
Alaska Resource Education, which promotes the oil and gas, mining and forestry industries in Alaska's schools, is suing former executive director Michelle Brunner, alleging she embezzled nearly $200,000.
Yukon aims to sell renewable power to Skagway cruise ships
It could be a win-win. The Yukon territory could turn a profit on their surplus, cruise ships could green up their local image, and Skagway might enjoy better air quality near the port.
Coronavirus shutters Southeast Alaska geoduck clam fishery
The coronavirus that emerged in late 2019 has infected more than 60,000 people, mostly in China. Though there haven’t been any confirmed cases in Alaska, geoduck clam fishermen are feeling ripple effects.
As it prepares to exit the state, BP donates nonprofit meeting space in Anchorage to community foundation
The Alaska Community Foundation says it will maintain the energy center as a free meeting space for at least the next 20 years.
Alaska regulators say they need more time to weigh Hilcorp’s request to keep its finances confidential
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska has extended its deadline to March 12.
Conoco shelves proposal to build a temporary island after criticisms from North Slope
Conoco says this is how the environmental review process is supposed to work: Communities provide input, and companies respond.
Managers restored caribou on the Nushagak Peninsula in the ’80s, now there’s so many, they’re harming the lichens
Lichens on the Nushagak Peninsula are a critical food source for the caribou that live there. But as the herd has thrived, exceeding management goals, they are depleting the complex composites.
Alaska’s largest rural solar project set to break ground in Kotzebue
The city of Kotzebue has used wind power for decades to supplement its fuel use, and is now about to break ground on a brand new solar project.
Alaskans split over proposed BP sale during six hours of public comment
The meeting Tuesday marked the first time Alaskans could provide in-person comments to the state regulatory commission that's overseeing a portion of the pending $5.6 billion sale.
Goldman Sachs, in Arctic drilling tiff with Alaska governor, hires veteran Juneau lobbyist
In response to Goldman's announcement that it would not finance oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska's governor suggested he could cut off the millions of dollars a year that the state pays the Wall Street firm. Now Goldman is playing defense: Last week, it hired a lobbyist, Wendy Chamberlain, to represent its interests in the state.
Yellow cedar is dying. Can Southeast Alaska sawmills profit?
A recent study explores the business potential of salvage logging, or harvesting trees that are already dead.
On warming North Slope, one flood response last year cost pipeline operator $10 million
As Alaska's North Slope gets wetter and warmer, its rivers have been running at record high levels -- prompting questions about whether similar events will become more frequent as Alaska's climate warms.