State hopes environmental monitoring will clear up unknowns about Cook Inlet gas leak
State regulators have given preliminary approval to Hilcorp’s plan to monitor the environmental impacts of the gas leak in Cook Inlet.
Senate passes bill drawing from Permanent Fund
It’s not clear whether the House and Senate will agree on changes to the Permanent Fund.
Steller Watch lets anyone with internet access play wildlife biologist
Bogged down with nearly half a million pictures, scientists are turning to the public for help. They’re asking citizen scientists to click through pictures and indicate if they see Steller sea lions.
GOP health bill won’t cure what ails Alaska market, two industry pros say
The bill to replace the Affordable Care Act is on shaky ground in Congress, drawing criticism from left, right and center in the U.S. House. Guests on “Talk of Alaska” Tuesday said the bill would do more harm than good.
Some Haines residents speak against ‘bicycle friendly’ community idea
Controversy from a recent Haines Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting carried into the committee’s most recent gathering as well. But this time, the topic of debate was whether Haines should pursue a “bicycle friendly community” designation. Questions were once against raised about conflicts of interest on advisory committees.
Trump travel ban blocked nationwide by Hawaii judge
The judge issued a temporary restraining order that prevents the president’s revised executive order from taking effect at midnight and barring refugees and visitors from six mostly Muslim countries.
House Intelligence chair says he doesn’t believe Trump Tower was wiretapped
Lawmakers are increasingly skeptical of President Trump’s claims, but they want the Justice Department to answer whether it has been investigating the Trump campaign.
Long winter is making for cranky moose, Fish and Game warns
As this winter continues, longer and snowier than those in the recent past, moose are getting cantankerous warns the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in a Monday news release.
Warm air, sea-surface temperatures in February limited Arctic sea ice growth
It’s been a relatively cool and snowy winter here in the Interior, compared with the past couple of winters. But climate experts say the Arctic has been warmer than average. They say that’s why it appears this year’s maximum Arctic sea ice cover, measured near the end of winter, is likely to set another record for the smallest maximum on record.
Ask a Climatologist: The sun is back and so is winter melt
Even when it’s below freezing, direct sunlight works to melt some snow and ice in Alaska in March.
Ekwok Natives Limited cuts ties with Nunamta Aulukestai
Ekwok Natives Limited’s board of directors voted Friday to cease its affiliation with Nunamta Aulukestai by a 4-1 vote.
Sealaska Heritage Institute picks three young Native artists for project
Three young Alaska Native artists, including one from Ketchikan and one from Hydaburg, have been chosen to carve cedar house posts that will be cast in bronze and displayed in front of the Walter Soboleff Building in Juneau.
Short on volunteers, Salvation Army’s ‘warming center’ winds down
Volunteer shortage causes warming center to shut down until the Salvation Army finds people willing to help supervise the shelter overnight. The emergency center had opened after the city condemned the historic Bergmann Hotel and displaced its tenants.
Alaska state senators scour budget in hopes of $300M in cuts
The Senate subcommittees looking to trim state agencies’ budgets are finding much smaller cuts.
Immigration enforcement changes hit home in Alaska
The Trump administration released new instructions late last month on how Homeland Security is supposed to implement immigration policies. Under the Obama administration, immigration officers focused on deporting people who committed serious crimes. Now, everyone who has violated immigration laws could be arrested, detained, and deported. These changes put some Alaskans in limbo.
Mitch Seavey wins the 2017 Iditarod in record time
For the sixth year in a row, a member of the Seavey mushing family has claimed the top spot in the Last Great Race. This year it was Mitch Seavey who won finished the Iditarod at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, March 14.
Harvard class assignment: solve rural Alaska’s fossil fuel woes
What do Harvard University and Alaska villages have in common? At first glance, not much. But a team of students visited the state as part of a project that’s looking to reduce usage of fossil fuels specifically in rural Alaska.
Climate bill faces tough sledding in Alaska legislature
Two Anchorage Democrats have introduced a bill to create a statewide commission on climate change. But even its authors doubt the bill has much of a chance this session.
Waiting for Martin Buser in Unalakleet: Old friends, and muktuk
Mushers who have been competing in the Iditarod a long time have relationships and traditions they revisit each time they run the race. When Martin Buser gets to Unalakleet, that means a bag of muktuk.
Planned Parenthood would lose $178 million in payments under GOP health plan
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that defunding Planned Parenthood would cause an uptick in births. Nearly half of pregnancies in the U.S. are covered by Medicaid.