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ALASKA AIRPORTS AND AVIATION 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
The state of Alaska recently released their annual reports of the Alaska airports and aviation.

The report highlights:

Message from Deputy Commissioner Binder Highlighting 2014 Successes and Challenges
Alaska Aviation System Plan Accomplishments
Major Airport Projects
Alaska International Airport System Business Report

CLICK HERE to view full report

OIL COMPANIES PUT A LID ON PLANS TO CUT TOPS OFF VALDEZ STORAGE TANKS
Alaska Dispatch (1-14-15) FAIRBANKS – The three oil companies that own the trans-Alaska pipeline are putting a lid on plans to remove the tops of four giant empty storage tanks at the Valdez terminal, citing opposition from Tesoro."Removal of the tank roofs will reduce personnel safety risks associated with winter snow removal activities," the companies said in December, adding they wanted to avoid "tank top deformation." With an average of about 300 inches of snow each year in Valdez, the one-acre topside of each tank has to be periodically cleared by 10-member crews with shovels and scoops.

CLICK HERE to view full article

BP ALASKA TEACHERS OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS
BP representative Tara Stevens said the BP is accepting nominations for the 20^th annual BP Teachers of Excellence program, which recognizes Alaska teachers’ exceptional work. The program will honor K-12 teachers from public or private schools who have made important contributions to education and their communities over the past year.
Anyone can nominate a BP Teacher of Excellence by visiting BPteachers.com. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 30, 2015. Since the program’s inception in 1995, BP has recognized more than 620 Alaska teachers. Last year, BP recognized 30 Teachers of Excellence from more than 1,400 nominations received from across the state. Valdez has had 12 BP Teachers of Excellence recognized over the years. Roz Strang, Barb Lyons, Patsy Collins, Laura Lappies, Susan Eide, John Strang, Sheri Beck, Candace Walker, Jan Michaud-Whalen, Kim Mackey, Peter Austad, Adam Sharrai and Kyle Moeller.

CLICK HERE to view full article

KVAK TV

News Watch

Anchorage Daily News

White House to propose allowing oil drilling off Atlantic coast

The Obama administration on Tuesday is expected to announce a proposal to open up coastal waters from Virginia to Georgia for oil and gas drilling, while banning drilling in portions of the Beaufort and Chukchi seas off of Alaska.

January 26, 2015

Bowhead whale songs are complex and copied, new study shows

Scientists have new information about the level of detail in the songs that bowhead whales sing to one another when they are migrating into the Beaufort Sea in the spring.

January 26, 2015

Four rockets launch from UAF research range

In an “unusual if not unprecedented” night of activity, scientists successfully launched four rockets into the upper atmosphere from the University of Alaska’s Poker Flat Research Range Sunday night.

January 26, 2015

Offshore drilling plan in Alaska may restrict parts of Arctic Ocean

The Interior Department will make additional areas of Arctic Ocean waters off-limits to drilling when it announces a new five-year offshore drilling plan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Monday.

January 26, 2015

Climate worry grows at Arctic Frontiers

Ambition for expanded Arctic oil and gas development clash directly with growing concerns -- voiced at the Norwegian conference -- about accelerated climate change.

January 26, 2015

Arctic oil is inconsistent with 2 degree Celsius target, says WWF

Norway's decision to expand offshore Arctic oil drilling will be costly, both environmentally and financially, the conservation group says.

January 26, 2015

Norwegian bank loses $38.5 million in Murmansk, Russia

With the Russian economy in crisis, the Arctic metropolis has been a poor investment for financial companies.

January 26, 2015

Warmth, lack of snow in Yukon threatens winter events

Organizers of outdoor sports and cultural events are nervous about the mild and snow-sparse winter, and are hoping conditions will be dramatically different in the next two weeks.

January 24, 2015

Glacial melt could change chemistry and food web in world's oceans

Along with increasing sea levels, melting glaciers are putting something else into the world’s oceans -- a huge load of organic carbon that could change marine ecosystems, says a newly published study by a team of mostly Alaska scientists.

January 24, 2015

Old chart identified as artifact from ill-fated Arctic voyage of the Karluk

A chart of the marine areas in western Alaska and adjacent parts of Russia has been confirmed as an item used by Robert Bartlett, captain of the Karluk, a ship that was the center of a 1914 wreck off the Siberian coast.

January 23, 2015

Fairbanks Daily News

State Senate committee hears praise of SB 21
JUNEAU — The oil tax regime passed in 2013 is better for Alaska’s budget than the one it replaced — at least under today’s low prices and high investment — consultants who helped lawmakers during its

Alaska marijuana activist plans to open medical pot dispensary
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A marijuana activist is planning to open a medical pot dispensary in Anchorage next month on the day recreational marijuana becomes legalized in Alaska under a ballot initiative ap

Alaska ferry system to close bars on ships to save money
JUNEAU, Alaska - The state ferry system plans to close the bars on the six ships that have them.

North Pole man involved in Wisconsin plane crash
OWEN, Wis. - Wisconsin authorities say two friends were flying a recently purchased airplane to Alaska when it crashed, killing the pilot's father.

Obama puts Chukchi, Beaufort areas off-limits for oil drilling
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration floated a plan Tuesday that for the first time would open up a broad swath of the Atlantic Coast to drilling, even as it moved to restrict drilling indefinitely i

Juneau considers $20 million fix to sewage problem
JUNEAU, Alaska - The City and Borough of Juneau is exploring options so it doesn't have to ship leftovers from its waste treatment plants to Oregon.

School bus struck in Anchorage collision
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Police say a school bus was struck in a three-vehicle collision in Anchorage.

SUV crashes into four-wheeler in Lower Kalskag; 2 injured
LOWER KALSKAG, Alaska - A driver in the village of Lower Kalskag suspected of crashing into a four-wheeler carrying four children has been charged with four counts of assault and driving under the inf

Alaska state officials to meet with bond rating agencies
JUNEAU, Alaska - Alaska's Revenue commissioner says state officials plan to meet with bond rating agencies next week.

2 dead in Anchorage shooting
Anchorage shooting leaves 2 people dead

First draft of pot bill receives criticism from all sides in hearing
JUNEAU — The Legislature’s first stab at a bill dealing with legalized marijuana was roundly criticized by lawmakers, state officials and legalization advocates during its first hearing on Monday.

Revenue officials explain tax credit issue flagged by Gov. Walker
JUNEAU, Alaska - State Revenue department officials told lawmakers Monday that the tax credits that were a source of contention in an opinion piece by Gov. Bill Walker are being paid primarily to smal

Alaska wants to ensure feds honor Medicaid expansion promise
JUNEAU, Alaska - State health commissioner Valerie Davidson says Alaska's participation in Medicaid expansion would be made contingent upon the federal government paying at least 90 percent of the cos

Alaska House, Senate discuss marijuana legalization
JUNEAU, Alaska - Alaska lawmakers are grappling with how to decriminalize marijuana after voters in November approved a ballot initiative to legalize the substance.

Walker names four to University of Alaska Board of Regents
ANCHORAGE — Gov. Bill Walker has named four appointees, including a member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly, to the University of Alaska Board of Regents pending confirmation by the Alaska

Drilling plan may restrict sensitive Arctic Ocean areas
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The federal Department of the Interior will make additional areas of Arctic Ocean waters off-limits to drilling when it announces a new five-year offshore drilling plan, a member o

5 things about Obama's move to protect Alaska refuge from drilling
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama waded into a decades-long fight over drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge over the weekend, announcing that his administration would pursue a wilderness

Four rockets successfully launched at Poker Flat
FAIRBANKS - Researchers at the Poker Flat Research Range sent four rockets into an aurora filled sky early this morning.

Alaska House, Senate panels to discuss marijuana legalization bill
JUNEAU, Alaska - Alaska lawmakers are grappling with the regulations surrounding marijuana after voters in November approved a ballot initiative to legalize and commercialize the substance.

Juneau sets record for January rainfall with 11.29 inches
JUNEAU, Alaska - January is becoming something of rainy affair in Alaska's capital.

Nuiqsut tribal officials criticize Walker for support of reserve drilling plan
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Tribal government officials in the North Slope village of Nuiqsut are taking issue with Gov. Bill Walker for promoting parts of a ConocoPhillips petroleum drilling project that the

Anchorage police investigate shooting death
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Anchorage police say a 14-year-old boy is in custody in connection with the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man outside a midtown drugstore.

Alaska State Troopers investigating alleged stun-gun use on boys
JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska State Troopers are investigating allegations that a village public safety officer in Kake used a stun gun or Taser on two boys.

Former Anchorage soldier gets 62 years for wife's murder
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A former soldier has been sentenced to 62 years in prison for the murder of his wife in their Anchorage home.

NASA brings earthquake monitoring to Ketchikan
KETCHIKAN, Alaska — It's not quite rocket science, but close enough, and closer to home — students in the Tribal Scholars Program began cutting-edge earthquake monitoring research in a partnership wit