An Alaska state representative wants the federal government to name one of its new polar icebreakers the Polar Bear, in a nod to a historic American vessel.
Arctic
Dramatic ocean changes are coming ‘a couple decades too early,’ scientists say
One researcher says now is a key time for studies on Arctic Ocean conditions, before hotter temperatures from climate change become the new normal.
Anxiety creeps into oil-dependent Alaska as banks step back from Arctic investment
Development in the Arctic is booming as the global climate warms and ice melts. But environmental opposition has come along with it, making some big banks like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase more reticent about investing.
Alaska representative for North Slope and Northwest Arctic says he’s not running for reelection
John Lincoln, the Alaska state representative who represents the Northwest Arctic and North Slope boroughs, says he will not run for reelection.
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. It’s the second delay this year.
Trump’s budget would slash Denali Commission funding
President Trump has proposed to cut funding to the Denali Commission before, and Congress has protected it. The commission is a priority for Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
‘We will rebuild’: Kaktovik prioritizes getting kids back to class following school fire
Kaktovik’s mayor says the first priority is restoring a sense of normalcy for the students as they resume classes. The community plans to rebuild the school, but the timeline is still unknown.
Policy expert says Alaska will be ‘nation’s vanguard’ in a thawing Arctic
Mike Sfraga, director of the Polar Institute at the Washington, D.C.-based think tank the Wilson Center, says climate change is making the Arctic Ocean more accessible.
Fire in North Slope village of Kaktovik engulfs school overnight
The North Slope Borough mayor says there were no injuries to report as of Friday morning. He says the weather, which dipped to -35 degrees, has made fighting the fire difficult for first responders.
Goldman Sachs, in Arctic drilling tiff with Dunleavy, hires veteran Juneau lobbyist
After Goldman Sachs announced it would not finance oil drilling in the Arctic, Gov. Mike Dunleavy 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 Juneau lobbyist to represent its interests in Alaska.