Alaska officials have no plans to convert state ferries to electrical power. But they’re installing engines that could use natural gas as well as diesel.
Southwest
Bethel highway repair begins as warm winter destroys state roads across Alaska
The warm winter has wreaked havoc on highways across Alaska. The state is about to go to work responding to Bethel’s pothole predicament. The Department of Transportation will begin repairing Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway.
Walker admin says Army Corps of Engineers moving too fast on Pebble mine
Gov. Bill Walker has said he doesn’t support the mine and believes the priority should be on the region’s salmon.
Survivors of 1997 Bethel school shooting discuss how to prevent school shootings
How to better protect students from school shootings is a debate happening around the country. The survivors of school shootings who chose to continue working in schools provide unique insights into the issue.
Divided House majority coalition stuck on state budget
Since the majority couldn’t agree on the dividend, it can’t agree on the overall size of the budget. The added dividend money would cost $892 million.
State ferries won’t stop sailing April 16, after all
The Alaska Marine Highway System has enough money to sail through the end of June. A bill signed by the governor fills an 11-week funding gap.
Coast Guard suspends search for man missing from oil tanker south of Sand Point
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a man who reportedly fell overboard from an oil tanker traveling past the Aleutian Islands.
Native salad from Cama-i preliminarily tests positive for botulism
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation reports that a sample of the salad containing whale and whale oil that was sold at the Cama-i Dance Festival has preliminarily tested positive for botulism.
In Marshall, Alaska, residents protect each other in a village without police
Earlier this month, the village of Marshall pushed Gov. Bill Walker to issue an emergency declaration in their community due to the region’s lack of public safety. For most of the past two decades, Marshall has been without police. Now residents are working out ways to defend their community on their own.
The Kuskokwim tripod is up and the countdown to summer has begun
A Bethel-area STEM student designed the 26-foot high tripod. The upright arm is cut like a Yup’ik story knife, and the red and blue legs are painted to look like Lund aluminum skiffs driving through running water.