The company trying to reopen the controversial Tulsequah Chief Mine, upstream from Juneau, is being taken over by an investor. An environmental cleanup may be left to the British Columbia government.
Economy
City Council approves zoning changes for five Nome blocks
The Nome Planning Commission passed an ordinance Aug. 30 to rezone portions of blocks 109, 110, 125, 126, and 127 from general use to commercial use. The ordinance then passed to the city council, who allowed for a public hearing on this piece of business during their regular meeting.
Chemical giant Bayer agrees to buy Monsanto for $66 Billion
The deal will create the world’s largest supplier of seeds and agricultural chemicals, if it survives scrutiny by regulators. It’s part of a wave of agribusiness consolidations.
What do Juneau and the Golden State have in common? Electric vehicles
In total, there are about 80 fully electric vehicles on the roads of Juneau. More than 40 of those were parked at Savikko Park in Douglas on Saturday at an electric vehicle get together.
Unalaska joins emergency petition on tanner crab
This season, the unpredictable tanner crab population isn’t looking so good for Aleutian fishermen. At least, that’s what the state’s trawl survey indicated this summer.
High winds send cruise ship toward Haines, away from Skagway
Thousands of unexpected visitors made a stop in Haines today, when an unscheduled cruise ship docked in town this Tuesday morning. The boat was headed for Skagway, but high winds caused a change of plans. The ferry dock is crowded and the wind is strong. It’s a reminder of why the Crown Princess is stopped in Haines and not Skagway. Some passengers walk back and forth to town. Others wait nearby, while tour operators mingle with the crowd.
U.S.-Canada trade deal creating uncertainty in Southeast timber market
The U.S. is in the midst of negotiations with Canada over an agreement on Canadian lumber imports. Many U.S. sawmill owners argue that the Canadian mills receive government subsidies on government-owned lands, making it difficult for the U.S. market to compete.
Homer tourism reaches all-time high, visitor center coordinator says
Homer, the little town at the “End of The Road,” is becoming an increasingly popular travel destination.
2016 has been a record-breaking year for the Homer tourism industry, said Jan Knutson, the Visitor Center coordinator with the Homer Chamber of Commerce.
Poverty rate down, median incomes up, Census Bureau says
Median household incomes have increased for the first time since 2007 — rising by 5.2 percent. The poverty rate has declined, and more people have health insurance, the Census Bureau says.
Overdue hiker visiting ‘Into the Wild’ bus found safe
The search for an overdue hiker headed to the abandoned bus where Christopher McCandless died, ended Monday morning with the hiker being found. Carlos Castrejon, 45, of Mexico was located walking along the Park Road, Denali National Park spokeswoman Katherine Belcher said.