Alaskans have until the end of the month to tell the Marine Highway System what they think of its fall, winter and spring sailing plans.
Government
Reassigned climate official worries “nobody home” on village relocation
Before he was reassigned, Joel Clement was part of a working group focused on village relocation and coastal resilience in Alaska.
Chiniak’s burn area is looking pretty green after replanting
Kodiak Island Borough resource manager and officer Maggie Slife was part of a group that went out on a rainy day to inspect the completed replanting of the burn area the Chiniak fire left behind in 2015.
Capital budget compromise unlikely to restore PFDs, address oil and gas tax credits
“Clearly those are going to be the most difficult issues that have to be solved going forward,” said Republican Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, a leader in the Senate. “I don’t think they’re going to happen in this bill.”
Bans on game harvest techniques currently under review
The Trump administration has directed the National Park Service in Alaska and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to reconsider bans on certain state allowed game harvest techniques.
Consultants estimate economic loss if Skagway can’t dock bigger ships
Skagway could miss out on $15 million to $30 million over 20 years if it doesn’t renovate its port for larger cruise ships, according to port consultants who delivered the message to residents last week.
Climate scientist says he was demoted for speaking out on climate change
Joel Clement, who was director of the Interior Department’s Office of Policy Analysis during the Obama administration, says in a newspaper op-ed that he was reassigned to an “accounting office.”
Personal use king crab fishery in Juneau area to open for 5 days
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will allow each household to take two male crab total for the five-day summer season. It’s been years since any personal use king crab could be taken.
Juneau Assembly mining task force to add members
The three-member Juneau Assembly mining task force is seeking to add two planning commissioners and two members of the public. The group is studying a proposal to streamline the city’s mining review process.
With so many Obamacare repeal options in play, confusion reigns
Congress has been trying to repeal and/or replace the Affordable Care Act for years. Now it’s down to the wire, but there are multiple proposals on the Senate’s table, and more could be on the way.