Obama to seek wilderness designation for Alaska refuge
The Associated Press | WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is boosting protection of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and will ask Congress to designate more than 12 million acres as a wilderness area, including its potentially oil-rich Coastal Plain. The designation would seal off the area in Alaska’s northeast corner from oil exploration and give […]
Follow
Alaska congressional delegation blasts Obama’s wilderness plan
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner staff report FAIRBANKS – Here are statements from Alaska’s top elected officials to President Obama’s announcement regarding wilderness status in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: • Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: “What’s coming is a stunning attack on our sovereignty and our ability to […]
Agency investigators shared Hartman murder case secret
By Brian O’Donoghue, for the News-Miner FAIRBANKS — A former chief investigator for the Alaska Public Defender Agency leaked old secrets about John Hartman’s murder to the Alaska Innocence Project, according to an inmate’s latest argument for keeping what he has said about the teen’s 1997 beating confidential. Read More:
First week of budget meetings show depth of Alaska deficit
By Matt Buxton, News-Miner JUNEAU, Alaska — With a precipitous fall in oil revenue, thanks in large part to oil prices, the state’s budget is at the forefront of issues on the mind of lawmakers as they got to work this week. Gov. Bill Walker rolled out a slew of budget cuts across every state […]
Report could make way for new Alaska state revenue
By Matt Buxton, News-Miner JUNEAU, Alaska — With a deficit that’s larger than half of last year’s general revenue spending, many lawmakers are gearing up to make deep cuts. Fewer have been willing to talk about new revenues, or taxes, to help balance the budget. That’s likely because much of the taxes talked about would […]
Gov. Walker: Energy relief likely in Interior by next winter
By Jeff Richardson, News-Miner ANCHORAGE – Gov. Bill Walker told Golden Valley Electric Association leaders on Saturday he’s developing an unspecified plan to significantly reduce Interior energy prices by next winter. Walker, who spoke to the electric utility’s board at a special meeting, said it’s too soon to offer details. But he hinted strongly that […]
Alaska military bases could lose 11,100 troops amid national drawdown
By Zach Hughes, KSKA ANCHORAGE – A pending military draw down could take more than 11 thousand troops off of bases in Alaska. Municipal Manager George Vakalis briefed members of the Anchorage Assembly on news that Army downsizing, and ongoing efforts to coordinate with stakeholders. “The possible cuts that could come out of this would […]