
University of Alaska regents to discuss budget and tuition increases
The University of Alaska Board of Regents meets tomorrow and Friday in Anchorage to vote on the university budget and proposed tuition increases. State funding to the university has declined by about $60 million since 2014, forcing cutbacks in academic programming, faculty and staff across campuses.

Alongside Trump in China, Alaska gets a new deal on its LNG
State will explore marketing, financing and investment with China for the $45 billion mega-project

Looser drilling rules bill advances in U.S. House
A deregulation bill aimed at boosting energy production on federal lands cleared a U.S. House committee Wednesday. Known as the SECURE American Energy Act, H.R. 4239 would remove several limits on Arctic drilling, undoing former President Barack Obama’s decision to close off most Arctic waters to leasing.

Alaska weather forecasting getting an upgrade with launch of next-gen satellite
JPSS-1 satellite features instruments that can see through clouds, determine sea surface temperatures, detect rising river levels, and spot small fires before they become big ones. It can also observe the Arctic Ocean and Alaska’s North Slope, something that geostationary weather satellites cannot do.

China lavishes red-carpet treatment on Trump as he arrives for talks with Xi Jinping
China is managing the potential challenges Trump presents to U.S.-China ties with grand gestures and lavish hospitality. Wednesday marked the start of what Chinese officials term a “state visit plus.”

Ask a Climatologist: New satellite will improve forecasts, inform policy
“There’s always something new and fascinating that you’ve never see before when there’s a new generation satellite that’s launched.”

Talking Trash: Once a bear attractant, Yakutat’s dump now award-winning
As far as dump make-overs go, Yakutat has the ultimate Cinderella story. The remote fishing community is hundreds of miles from any other city. Barging trash away is too expensive. So, as the dump filled to the brim, what was Yakutat to do?

Downtown Juneau’s warming shelter approved
The Juneau Assembly dedicates $75,000 to a warming center to be open when the temperature drops below freezing.

Report: Alaska’s meth-related deaths quadrupled in last decade
Methamphetamine-related fatalities have increased fourfold in Alaska over the last decade, according to a state epidemiological report released Tuesday.

State economist says global spike in oil price not likely to affect forecast
In Alaska, North Slope crude rose to more than $63 a barrel by Monday.

A plea to DC: Save the Tongass plan
Congress recently learned it has the power to overturn the amended Tongass Land Management Plan, a document that was years in the making. A Juneau business owner flew to Washington, D.C., with a message for the Alaska Congressional delegation: “don’t.”

UAS community discusses power and privilege at all-day symposium
The second annual Power & Privilege Symposium at the University of Alaska Southeast brought together thinkers, educators and undergraduate students to talk about societal imbalances through issues ranging from climate change to Alaskan Native issues.

Spending gap could hurt Alaska Permanent Fund, budget director says
Alaska’s state government will have a roughly $600 million gap between how much it spends and how much it raises, State budget director Pat Pitney says.

State challenges national forest roadless rule again
The state is again trying to overturn the U.S. Forest Service’s roadless rule. Officials appealed a court decision that threw out an earlier state challenge.

Chilkat River fall eagle forecast on the rise
It’s eagle season in Haines. Raptors and bird enthusiasts alike flock to Haines for the Bald Eagle Festival, when the world’s highest concentration of eagles gathers on the Chilkat River. Last year, the bird count spiked — and numbers are even higher this year.

Deputy Mayor Nankervis announces primary run for Alaska House
Juneau Deputy Mayor Jerry Nankervis announced Tuesday that he wants to represent the Mendenhall Valley in the Alaska House of Representatives. Nankervis filed a letter of intent to run in the August 2018 Republican primary for District 34, one of two Juneau House districts.

Rural Southeast schools get traveling music teachers
The small, rural schools that make up Southeast Island School District don’t have the means for formal year-round music programs. Recognizing the importance of music in education, though, the district brought down two music teachers from the Fairbanks-based nonprofit Dancing with the Spirit.

Alaska meets global demand for sea cucumbers
The sea cucumber fishery in Southeast opened for harvest in the beginning of October. It’s now half way through its season. And, much like salmon this year, it looks like the state’s sea cucumber harvest is also finding success on the global market.

New Bristol Bay buyer wants to try something different: freezing whole fish fast
Like many small buyers before it, Northline Seafoods has a new scheme in mind and hopes to bring on a few fishermen willing to give it a try: produce tons of ice for their fleet, then flash freeze the delivered catch whole, all from a floating barge that may need less than two dozen employees to operate.

BLM is moving forward on proposed Ambler Road project
The Bureau of Land Management is taking the lead on an environmental review of the state proposed Ambler Road. The controversial project would punch an industrial access road from the Dalton Highway west to the Ambler Mining district.