Bristol Bay fishers who oppose the Pebble Mine are adding an unusual task to their preseason chores: They’re writing messages on cork floats and mailing them to Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Alaska
Dunleavy calls for round two in Wasilla after Alaska Legislature adjourns first special session
Update to this story: House Speaker Bryce Edgmon says legislators are reviewing their options regarding the location of the special session.
From NYC to Sitka, this Alaskan is taking on nuclear disarmament
Juneau resident Shelby Surdyk recently attended a nuclear nonproliferation conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York. For next year, she’s helping to organize a youth conference in Sitka.
Vote to draw from state savings account to pay for capital projects falls short
With large differences remaining over permanent fund dividends, that means the special session will likely end Thursday or Friday with more work left to do.
‘Potentially lethal’ toxins found in Juneau shellfish
A group that monitors shellfish toxin levels is warning Juneau residents not to consume shellfish from locations in the Auke Bay area.
State employees anxious as government shutdown threat looms
A state operating budget is now on its way to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s desk. The question is whether it will be enough to prevent a government shutdown on July 1.
$20M state grant released to Alaska schools, but future funding remains unclear
School districts across Alaska are looking forward to a bump in their bank accounts from a $20M grant appropriated last year. But the overall outlook for state education spending is far from clear.
Unusually high number of seal deaths reported along the coast of the Bering and Chukchi seas
“We don’t know if it’s lack of sea ice, or if there was a harmful algal bloom,” said Julie Speegle with NOAA Fisheries. “There’s quite a range of factors.”
Goat yoga? In Fairbanks, there’s a new animal to flow with: Reindeer.
“You’ll see the reindeer getting into these amazing poses,” said Jane Atkinson, owner of Running Reindeer Ranch. “And it’s like wow…. Look at this little yoga move that they do!”
Hoonah taps federal funds to ease cruise visitor congestion
Hoonah is planning a $4.77 million pedestrian project to improve the walkability of its harbor area and make it possible to walk to the community’s cemetery on Pitt Island.