Alaska’s Energy Desk reporter Rashah McChesney reports that a portion of the bluff along Thane Road has washed out onto the road.
Transportation
Juneau’s Fred Meyer intersection under scrutiny
The intersection at the Fred Egan is notorious for its high rate of injury collisions. State highway planners are accepting public comment through Jan. 12 as it looks at alternatives.
Sullivan kills cruise tax, Murkowski adds tax help for Native corporations
Alaska’s two U.S. senators not only helped Republicans pass their tax cuts early Saturday. They made a pair of 11th-hour additions: one kills a new tax on the cruise industry, another helps Alaska Native Corporations.
Skagway Assembly overturns mayor’s veto of action on White Pass memorandum
A memorandum of understanding between the Municipality of Skagway and White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad is moving forward. The Assembly advanced the document at a special meeting Thursday, just over a week after a mayoral veto put on the brakes.
Safety of Alaska-bound fuel barges under scrutiny
Two incidents involving Alaska-bound fuel barges transiting the Inside Passage in 13 months has renewed outcry over the hazards of shipping refined petroleum products through the narrow straits of the Inside Passage. Southeast Alaska’s fuel supply mostly runs through Canada’s territorial waters.
Blame the metric system! Conversion confusion over stalled fuel barge’s cargo
A disabled tug and barge was actually carrying 3.7 million gallons of fuel — more than three times that was initially reported by Canadian authorities. The vessels remained anchored awaiting clearance to proceed into U.S. waters.
State ferry Taku won’t become a Portland hotel after all
The state ferry Taku is not hip enough for Portland. A company based there that submitted the winning bid earlier this fall withdrew. The new top bidder is from Dubai.
Juneau’s sticking with diesel buses through 2021
The Juneau Assembly met to order new buses; confirm new mining committee members and allocate $1.3 million toward rebuilding the Twin Lakes playground razed by fire.
Alaska-bound fuel barge runs into trouble in Canadian waters
A fuel-laden barge bound for Alaska ran broke free from its tug in stormy seas. Canadian officials say the U.S. vessel is back under control but the incident reignites a debate over petroleum shipments in the Inside Passage.
Flat-Earther delays launch in his homemade rocket, saying ‘It’s not easy’
Mike Hughes had planned to launch himself Saturday over the Mojave Desert in a quest to prove the world is flat. But he didn’t count on a federal agency’s rejection — or a significant tech breakdown.