There's a massive gap in the Alaska Long Trail between Healy and Nenana. There's also huge potential. With a bit of work and some funding we can build a world class local and regional trail system.

Anchorage Daily News@adn.com · 4d ago

Alaska Trails executive director Haley Johnston said the word has been getting out to both locals and visitors that large portions of Alaska Long Trail are fit for travel. Bradford Bartels, who was born in Soldotna, hiked the route from Seward to Fairbanks in 47 days. www.adn.com/outdoors-adv...

Sounds to me like the audience prefers Bill Hill on almost every issue.

Corinne Smith@corinne-smith.bsky.social · 5d ago

You can watch the US House candidate debate with Nick Begich III vs. Bill Hill in the first 45 min of the recording here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=53yB...

Has science gone too far?

I'm just gonna say it: I'm glad we're not spending the next 2 months debating fractional differences between the JKT and Begich platforms. I'm fine with an altruistic consolidation after the primary.

I disagree with arguments that Tom Begich's withdrawal represents a failure of our election system. The opposite is true: 30k+ voters gave Tom the authority to make his choice. I plan to vote NO ON 2 because ONLY THE CANDIDATE should have the power to end their campaign.

Thanks Obama (I'm a fan of the 2012 Final Rule to Improve Transparency of Fees and Expenses to Workers in 401(k)-Type Retirement Plans, which democratized retirement account audits by requiring transparent reporting of fees and expense ratios using a standard methodology.)

ProPublica@propublica.org · 3w ago

President Trump wants 401(k) plans to invest more in private equity, real estate and cryptocurrency. Here’s how a proposed rule change from the Labor Department could affect your 401(k) plan.

This article title is incorrect. Yes there's less depth of review than an EA or EIS, but CATEX evaluation still requires project-specific environmental review sufficient to show that the proposed action fits within the bounds of the CATEX and that there are no extraordinary circumstances.

Anchorage Daily News@adn.com · 3w ago

The Interior Department will soon publish a “categorical exclusion” that will fast-track oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. (via @highcountrynews.org and Public Domain)

Exciting personal news: my solar panel report for last Wednesday shows a really clean record of the solar eclipse.

Dr. Rosita Worl is a Tlingit American anthropologist, educator, and president of the Sealaska Heritage Institute. Worl introduces the Tlingit people, "People of the Tides," who have stewarded Southeast Alaska's coasts since time immemorial and fought to defend Indigenous rights. #WeAreAmerica250

"We have to remember that this section of road has regional and statewide significance. That it's connecting people in the Kenai peninsula to hospitals in Anchorage. It's connecting people in Anchorage to recreational opportunities to the south." Well said. I'm surprised this only came up once.

Alaska Public Media@alaskapublic.org · last mo.

Alaska transportation experts join host Lori Townsend to review the Safer Seward highway proposal and other upcoming highway improvement projects on this Talk of Alaska. 🔊Listen wherever you get podcasts. Catch Talk of Alaska live on-air Tuesdays at 10 a.m. on KSKA 91.1 FM. https://akpub.io/3TRshgW

This article points to a trend I've noticed: in the primary everyone is incentivized to play nice with their ideological neighbors, so it's easy to miss the red flags around your preferred candidates. We need to seek out perspectives from outside our bubbles to see the full picture of a candidate.

Anchorage Daily News@adn.com · last mo.

The 17 candidates for governor in Alaska's Aug. 18 primary are scrambling to secure enough support to make the top four and advance to the November general election. www.adn.com/politics/202...

Everyone wants to be an adventure chemist until the adventure is an influent sample! Kudos to the APM sound editors for finding an good audio balance with the background machinery noises.

Alaska Public Media@alaskapublic.org · last mo.

Flushing disposable wipes in Anchorage? Waste water officials say, "please don't."

I remember programming some eDNA studies 10 years ago for Interior AK salmon. Researchers still had to field verify with minnow traps or snorkel tests, but the eDNA data was an extremely powerful and super cheap way to screen for presence/absence. I'm surprised NOAA isn't using it already.

Alaska Beacon@alaskabeacon.com · last mo.

Bill introduced by Alaska’s Murkowski aims to promote use of eDNA analysis in fishery management, writes @yjrosen.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/briefs/bill-...

anchorageparkfoundation.org/your-vote-ma... This is cool: Q&A with Alaska Candidates for Governor on Six Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Questions, courtesy of several outdoor recreation and tourism leaders.

Lori Aldrich is amazing and her work on pre zoning disaster recovery landfills should be required reading for all municipal leaders.

Alaska Beacon@alaskabeacon.com · 2mo ago

Feds turn over Alaska hazardous waste management to state, writes @yjrosen.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/briefs/feds-...

Made the drive in to Fairbanks for Golden Days parade and street fair. Here's my vote for Best Political Float!

Well I guess could be fun to skeptically cross-check this memo against the CAA...

KTOO Public Media@ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 2mo ago

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said much of the equipment used above the Arctic Circle still has engines designed for high-sulfur diesel. (From KNBA - Anchorage)

"publication of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement targeted for October 2027, and a targeted Record of Decision in September 2028, to be completed concurrently with State of Alaska and Northwest Arctic Borough permitting milestones."

RichThompsonAK@richthompsonak.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Trilogy Metals Announces Publication of Federal and State Permitting Schedule for Arctic Project "... a coordinated federal and state permitting schedule for its flagship Arctic Project in northwestern Alaska's Ambler Mining District has been published ..." www.prnewswire.com/news-release...

Most solid waste-related battery fires happen in MSW waste streams, so I'm surprised to hear this was in the C&D pit.

Alaska Public Media@alaskapublic.org · 3mo ago

Landfill rules require lithium batteries to be separated and disposed of in the hazardous waste section. There is no charge to dispose of lithium batteries, officials said. (Via Mat-Su Sentinel)

I was impressed by his interview on the East Anchorage Book Club podcast. He seems charismatic and motivated, with the biography to back it up. Looking forward to hearing more!

The Alaska Current@thealaskacurrent.com · 7mo ago

Former Sitka Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is running for governor. A decade-long legislator and key member of the bipartisan House coalition, JKT says it’s time for cross-party leadership to address rising costs, school funding and the state’s future.

Nice day for a drive

I'm getting real "smoke filled room" vibes from Alaska democrats deciding what 1 person to run for governor, house, and senate. We should look at 2 or 3 good choices, and they can still drop before the deadline. But this whole calling dibs strategy is less than inspirational.

Just learned that Judy Bittner retired last month from her 30+ year post as Alaska's State Historic Preservation Officer. Happy Retirement! And heads up to any journalists looking to use the word historiography in a human interest story.

First I've heard about this. Wonder what it's about...

FNSB has some of the worst air in the nation, causing measurable health harm to children, the elderly, and honestly everyone living and working in Fairbanks or North Pole. Take all that on one hand, and in the other hand consider the burden of a home energy audit when selling your house. 1/2

Feds open second round of public comment for Fairbanks air quality plan

The Environmental Protection Agency said in early February that it would allow for additional comment because of feedback about a new home energy audit requirement. Now, that second public comment per...

fm.kuac.org

#aknews Here's an interview with the Denali Borough mayor about the federal job cuts and downstream impacts to the local and regional economy. 600,000 people visit Denali NP every year.

I sympathize with buyers and sellers who prefer not to complicate their home sales, but it is entirely incorrect to say the data does not support these regulations. #aknews

Interior realtors, leaders express disapproval of new air quality regulations

Fairbanks Realtors and Borough leaders said they are concerned about a new regulation from the Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation that targets property sales in the interior.

webcenterfairbanks.com

Day 2 at the Alaska Forum on the Environment, kicking off with a keynote on landslide risk mitigation

Took this picture last weekend at the Swan Lake rest stop on the north end of the Denali Borough

Rooting for a Nenana checkpoint to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the serum run!

Anchorage Daily News@adn.com · 2y ago

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race may not be able to run along its usual route this year, owing to poor snow and trail conditions amid an exceptionally warm and low-snow winter across much of Alaska.