Tag: APRN: Alaska News

ACLU Calls for Independent Investigation of Anchorage Election

The American Civil Liberties Union is requesting an outside investigator look into the ballot mess in Anchorage. Voters reported widespread ballot shortages at polling places during municipal elections Tuesday, and there are allegations that some voters were turned away at the polls. Late today, the ACLU sent a letter to the Anchorage Assembly making the request. Read More

Congressman Young Holds Rural Energy Hearing

Alaska’s Congressman Don Young today (Thursday) hosted a hearing of the subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs in Fairbanks. Young spoke candidly with Native Alaskan representatives, who testified about how federal laws and policies effect rural energy prices.

Forecasters Predict Manageable Spring Break Up

Despite more snow-pack than usual, forecasters say the risk of spring break-up flooding is for the most part moderate across the state, even in areas of Southcentral that were buried under huge amounts of snow.

Redistricting Board Approves New Plan

The state's Redistricting Board met today (Thursday) to approve a new plan in light of an Alaska Supreme Court order. On March 14, the state Supreme Court ordered the plan be redrawn protecting the requirements of the Alaska Constitution. Read More

Forks Roadhouse Burns Down

One of the longest-operating roadhouses in Alaska has been destroyed by fire. The Forks Roadhouse in Petersville caught fire sometime Tuesday night. The caretaker for the roadhouse returned on Wednesday to find the structure smoking. Read More

Scientists Mentor High School Students in Sitka

A program in Sitka allows high school students to work side-by-side with scientists on their research. The Science Mentors Program, run through the Sitka...

Alaska News Nightly: April 5, 2012

Coast Guard Sinks Ghost Ship. ACLU Calls for Independent Investigation of Anchorage Election. Congressman Young Holds Rural Energy Hearing. Bill Would Allow Asbestos Gravel in Rural Communities. Forecasters Predict Manageable Spring Break Up. Redistricting Board Approves New Plan. Forks Roadhouse Burns Down. Scientists Mentor High School Students in Sitka.

Coast Guard to Sink Japanese Ghost Ship

The U.S. Coast Guard has a cutter at the scene and intends to sink the Japanese ghost ship floating off the Southeast Alaska coast this morning. The shrimper Ryou-Un Maru was cut loose a year ago in the tsunami and drifted un-manned across the Pacific . The cutter Anacapa arrived on scene last night, equipped with weapory. Read More

House Finance Subcommittee Chair Mia Costello Holding Up Senate Bill to Continue Film Tax Credits

A program using tax credits to encourage film and television producers working in Alaska will get another hearing today. Representative Mia Costello of Anchorage chairs the Finance subcommittee reviewing Senate Bill 23, the film subsidy tax credit act that sunsets next year. In her mind, there is still a lot to resolve before moving the bill. Read More

Alaskans for Justice Hold Anchorage Rally

A number of Alaskans, including our congressional delegation, turned up for a rally at the Anchorage airport organized by Alaskans for Justice, a group...

Bethel Judge Removed From Bench

For the first time in Alaska history, there is a recommendation to remove a judge from the bench, permanently.

Cleveland Volcano Acts Up

The Alaska Volcano Observatory says a small explosion at Cleveland Volcano in the Aleutian Islands may have sent up a small ash cloud. Clouds prevented satellite observation of an ash cloud.

Fisheries Panel Moves to Protect Undersea Canyons

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council yesterday directed its staff to do a scientific review of evidence that some areas of the Bering Sea are such rich fish habitat they should be protected...Read More

U.S. and Russian Coast Guards Work Together

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Thomas Ostebo and his Russian counterpart Lieutenant General Rafael Daerbaev today signed an agreement calling for continued cooperation on law enforcement in the Arctic, Bering Sea and North Pacific.

Courts To Consider FASD Mitigations

The Alaska Senate today (Wednesday) unanimously passed a bill giving judges the ability to consider Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders as a mitigating factor in sentencing for non-violent crimes.

Rural Hazardous Waste Problems

How do you dispose of hazardous waste in rural Alaska? At least some of the answers were given during a large science conference held last week in Dillingham.

Yupik Dancers Wow Netherlands Festival

Some  students at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka recently went on a field trip, the kind of field trip we all might like to...

Alaska News Nightly: April 4, 2012

City Clerks Office Reviews Voting Problems. Bethel Judge Removed From Bench. Senate Passes Budget. Cleveland Volcano Acts Up. Fisheries Panel Moves to Protect Undersea Canyons. U.S. and Russian Coast Guards Work Together. Courts To Consider FASD Mitigations. Rural Hazardous Waste Problems. Yupik Dancers Wow Neatherlands Festival.

City Clerks Office Reviews Voting Problems

The Anchorage city clerks office is calling the voter turn out in yesterday's election "unprecedented." The office is investigating the election, working today to figure out which voting precincts ran out of ballots. Read More

March was Colder than February in Interior

The interior is transitioning into spring after a colder than normal March. The average temperature in Fairbanks was 4 point 5 degrees Fahrenheit last month. National Weather Service meteorologist Rick Thomam says that’s almost 7 degrees below normal.