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The Alaska Legislature has passed a bill requiring an end to the use of firefighting foams containing substances known as “forever chemicals” — called that because of their resistance to any natural degradation. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have been commonly used at airports for their effectiveness in smothering burning fuel. The PFAS bill requires a switch to alternative firefighting foams by Jan. 1. The bill goes to the governor for his signature or veto. The measure won approval on the last day of the regular legislative se...
Alaska state legislators have failed to block a 67% pay raise for themselves and a roughly 20% salary increase for the governor and his cabinet. Under state law, legislators had until May 15 to pass a bill to block the pay raises — but never took a final vote by the deadline. The pay raises are set to go into effect July 1 for the governor and his cabinet, and in January for the Legislature. Back in March, the state’s independent salary commission held a 15-minute meeting at which all five members agreed to the substantial pay boosts. All of...
The Alaska Legislature has voted to criminalize the harassment of 911 dispatchers and threats against them. The Alaska House voted 37-1 on May 11 to approve Senate Bill 38, a measure passed 19-0 by the state Senate on March 17. The bill was written by Wasilla Sen. David Wilson and advances to the desk of Gov. Mike Dunleavy for signature into law after failing to pass through the Legislature last year. The measure was at least partially inspired by an instance when a caller repeatedly dialed 911 to protest Fourth of July fireworks. If Dunleavy...
The Alaska Legislature has approved a measure that would set up a system for leasing state forested lands to businesses and investors that could profit by preserving the land and selling “credits” to others who need or want to offset their direct or indirect carbon emissions. The carbon-offset credits bill would allow leases of up to 55 years, with payments made to the state by businesses and other entities seeking to preserve tracts of land for their capacity to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. The measure, Senate Bill 48, passed the Sen...
MARYSVILLE, Calif. (AP) - California officials on May 16 said they will spend about $60 million to build a channel along the Yuba River so that salmon and other threatened fish species can get around a Gold Rush-era dam that for more than a century has cut off their migration along the chilly waters of Sierra Nevada streams. The project is the latest example of state and federal officials trying to reverse the environmental harms caused by the century-old infrastructure along California’s major rivers and streams. Those dams and canals a...
Monday, May 15 Abandoned vehicle. Criminal mischief: Broken window. Stolen property. Tuesday, May 16 Agency assist: Ambulance. Agency assist: Ambulance. Wednesday, May 17 Motor vehicle accident: Deer. Traffic stop: Citation issued for speeding. Agency assist: Subpoena service. Agency assist: Subpoena service. Agency assist: Ambulance. Thursday, May 18 Harassment. Hit and run. Harassment. Agency assist: Harbor Department. Friday, May 19 Traffic stop. Traffic stop. Saturday, May 20 Agency assist: Fire Department. Sunday, May 21 Safe keeping:...
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - A company that operates a more than century-old hydroelectric dam near Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state will pay $1 million after synthetic field turf and its tiny rubber particles spilled into the salmon-rearing Puyallup River in 2020. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Philip Sorensen approved the amount in fines and restitution, with most to go toward restoring salmon habitat, the Washington state attorney general's office said in a statement on May 8. The office said $745,000 in restitution will be paid...
In southwestern Alaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, which has some of the nation’s worst water and sanitation service and most overcrowded housing, vaccines proved to be valuable safeguards against the worst ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study. The study, by experts from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tracked COVID cases, hospitalizations and vaccination status of the region’s mostly Yupik residents throughout 2021. It found that vaccination was 92% effec...
We would like to thank City Market, Wrangell IGA, First Bank, Marlene Merritt, Cheri Wickman and SEARHC for their contributions to the Wrangell Community Cleanup. – Paula Rak and WCA IGAP...
Malachi Harrison, left, as Scarecrow, talks to as Dorothy (Erika Jabusch) and Tin Man (Derek Heller) in the May 16 production of "The Wizard of Oz" at Evergreen Elementary. Students staged the performance of the classic story and were allowed to read from scripts to take the pressure off the actors. Tracey Martin and Kim Pogue produced the stage play, while art teacher Tawney Crowley was the set supervisor. Crowley had a background in theater, so fellow staff members took advantage of her...
Senior Devlyn Campbell slips down a makeshift soapy water slide on May 17 on the lawn at the high school courtyard. The class of 2023 took advantage of the warm weather by inviting their classmates to blast each other with squirt guns, slide across the lawn and just play. They were joined by many other students, making for extremely quiet classrooms during fifth period....