Amid controversy, Skagway Assembly passes final lease understanding with White Pass
After months of work, the Skagway Assembly passed a final memorandum of understanding last week with White Pass Yukon Route Railroad, setting the stage for a new lease to extend the company’s control of the city’s waterfront.
University of Alaska Southeast program trains students for mining careers
Employment opportunities mining was one of several topics discussed during last week’s Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Following evacuation, Tsunami Warning Center says ‘better safe than sorry’
Even though the earthquake didn’t lead to a large tsunami, the Warning Center prefers to take a cautious approach.
Southeast legislators’ hopes, concerns for the ferry system in 2018 session
The future of the Alaska Marine Highway System is decidedly a Southeast issue. The ferry system has seen cuts in service because of aging vessels and decreased funding. Southeast legislators agree the system is still vital to folks in the region.
Kentucky high school shooting leaves 2 dead, at least 12 wounded
Another five people were also injured in the attack, which authorities say was undertaken by a 15-year-old student Tuesday. Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin says both of those killed were also 15.
Tribe pursues collaborative role at Sitka National Historical Park
Some programs at Sitka National Historical Park may be under tribal management, as early as this summer. The National Park Service and Sitka Tribe of Alaska have confirmed they are in ongoing negotiations to collaborate on some services in the park in 2018.
Board of Fisheries passes annual black cod limit for sport fishing
The Board of Fish voted to limit the harvest for non-resident sport fishermen to eight sablefish a year throughout the Southeast Alaska area, with a bag limit of four fish per-day.
Two killed in snowmachine crash with moose in Aniak
Charles Lang Jr., 28, and Kayden “Tweety” Morgan, 16, both of Aniak, were driving near the village high school when a moose stepped in front of their snowmachine.
Former Ravn Alaska employees charged with stealing 300-plus computers bound for rural schools
Six former Ravn Alaska employees are charged with stealing hundreds of computers sent by mail to village schools.
Magnitude 7.9 earthquake was an intriguing one for seismologists
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake early Tuesday is what is known as a strike-slip, or when two large blocks move side-to-side instead of up-and-down. That, and it’s distance from shore may explain why tsunami waves were so small.
Crowdsourced weather app relies on ‘human radar’
The National Weather Service is bringing online one of the most sophisticated weather observation tools ever — regular people and a mobile app. “This app was actually developed initially to help calibrate radars.”
Tsunami warning prompts hundreds of Alaskans to evacuate to higher ground
Alaskans across the state woke up to the shaking and an emergency alert buzzing their cell phones, warning them to move away from the coast.
Split Juneau Assembly advances annexation petition — with no one arguing for it
Funter Bay cabin owners, Angoon city officials strongly object to Juneau annexing more of Admiralty Island. The Assembly voted 5-4 to go ahead and try anyway.
Tsunami warning downgraded or canceled across Gulf of Alaska after magnitude 7.9 earthquake
Reporters in many coastal communities say tsunami evacuations have been called off. Tsunami advisories remain in effect in some areas. Initially, no damage was reported from the earthquake itself.
Permanent fund leader says budget plan puts fund’s future in glass half-full, half-empty toss up
Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell presented a study that predicts a nearly 50 percent chance of the fund losing value in the next decade, if it’s used to pay for state government as lawmakers have proposed.
Ferry Taku officially sold after signing ceremony
The company buying it acquires ships for resale or scrap. “We’ll swing down towards Honolulu, past the Philippines,” a company representative said. “If we have buyers there, we’ll call in, top up fuel there, then Singapore, then India.”
Zinke signs land trade to allow road for King Cove
It’s a major turning point in the dispute over a roughly 12-mile road that would be mostly, or entirely, built on what’s now a federally protected wilderness in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
Photos: Anti-abortion rally at Capitol draws about 150
The rally ended in heavy snowfall and also drew at least one quiet counter-protester.
Supreme Court says bearded seal still threatened, despite legal battle
The Alaska Oil and Gas Association and the American Petroleum Institute challenged the Endangered Species Act listing decision.
Governor asks Trump administration for more public meetings on offshore drilling proposal
The Department of Interior is aiming to reverse Obama-era offshore drilling policy, which largely blocked oil development in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.