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APRN Alaska News
State OKs Linc Energy's Tyonek Coal Exploration Plan
The state has given the OK to a plan by Linc Energy to explore for coal in the Tyonek area. Last month, Linc submitted an application to drill at least five exploratory wells in an area about seven miles from Tyonek, on the West side of Cook Inlet.
Energy Development Proponents Meet In Anchorage
Proponents of energy development are in Anchorage for the 10th annual Alaska Oil and Gas Congress. Canada's Northwest Territories Premiere Bob McCloud says Alaska and the Territories have a lot in common – great resources that are stranded in remote locations.
Premiere McCloud says he is closely watching how Alaska goes about pushing for marketing LNG. McCloud says it's frustrating that the Northern Gateway pipeline and the Keystone pipeline are not moving forward. The McKenzie Valley pipeline in his region has been in development for decades but is also on hold.
"Now it's proven uneconomic because the world price of natural gas because of the preponderance of shale gas is not high enough to make that pipeline economic," McCloud said. "So the key for us is to find other markets."
Such as Asia or Europe, McCloud says. He says after last year's resource congress, he went back to Canada and instituted a new energy program.
"We decided to do a pilot project and haul LNG from Delta BC to Inuvik and use it for electrical generation," McCloud said. "We found out it was cheaper to do that, haul it all that distance rather than use expensive diesel. Now we're planning on using LNG for all the communities that have road access."
The pilot project hauls LNG more than 1500 miles.
McCloud says in talks with former Governor Frank Murkowski this week – Murkowski encouraged him to research trying to get oil and gas from the southern part of the Northwest Territories to the existing TransAlaska Pipeline to Valdez.
McCloud says the Northwest Territories struggle with the same economic problems as rural Alaska. High energy costs and low employment opportunities. The Oil and Gas Congress runs through Thursday.
Uber ride-sharing enters Anchorage market
A ride-sharing service called Uber will start operating in Anchorage this week. Instead of calling a taxi, people who need a ride can use a smartphone app to hail a nearby private vehicle. But taxi companies in Anchorage and around the world say it's unfair competition.
I took a conventional taxi to my interview with Uber. I called the taxi company, and the driver arrived right on time in a sweet-smelling Toyota Prius. The ride downtown cost me $17 including the tip. That's about how much the Uber app estimates using their service would cost as well. So why would I use Uber? Their West Coast general manager Steve Thompson says it's because of convenience and safety.
"You sign up, pinpoint your location, click a button that says 'Request my Uber' to come pick me up, and from there you can track your ride, to come directly to you. See them street by street. Know exactly who your driver is by photo, name, vehicle make and model number, license plate number. And within the same app you can actually contact your driver."
Thompson says all drivers have to pass rigorous criminal and traffic safety background checks. They don't employ any one who was a sex offender or has had a DUI. They also require the vehicles to have 19 point inspections, and the drivers and vehicles have $1 million insurance policies when they're on the job.
But the cars are not required to have permits from the municipality like conventional taxis, and the drivers don't have to undergo municipal training and testing. Jim Brennan, who represents the Anchorage Taxi Cab Permit Owners Association, says that's not fair.
"This would be a blatantly illegal competitor to the local Anchorage taxi cab chauffeurs and owners of the taxicabs who are required to comply with extensive municipal laws which are there for the benefit both of the Anchorage customers of taxicab services and also for the general public."
So is Uber legal in Anchorage?
"Well, under our existing codes, probably not," says municipal transportation director Eric Musser. He says that doesn't mean they aren't open to the idea of ride-sharing services.
"As with most areas of the country, we're wrestling with how we want to welcome them into this market."
Musser says the city recognizes that the transportation industry is changing.
Local companies realize it, too. Alaska Yellow Dispatch, the largest taxi company in Anchorage, released an app that works like the Uber app. You can order and track vehicles, and request special items, like a car that is authorized to go on Base or carries a car seat for children. At this point, though, you cannot pay through the app. Uber is completely prepaid through the app.
Yellow Dispatch CEO Sloane Unwin says the major difference is, once the payment feature is working properly, their company is permitted in Anchorage.
Uber's Thompson says they are already working with the local government to make sure the company can legally operate in the city. He says they've already received over a 100 applications for drivers, some of whom already work for taxi companies.
"It's complete flexibility for moms who drop their kids off at school and just drive during the day. Retired individuals who want to make extra income. Or even students who are paying off loans. So a big part of what we're focused on is a very dynamic driving community."
He says they're appealing to veterans and service members as well. In some parts of the country, however, they are facing lawsuits from drivers who say they are not given the tips they are promised.
Once the interview is over, I need to find a way back to the studio. I figure that being in downtown Anchorage, it should be fairly easy.
I walk straight up to an empty taxi.
"Hi! Are you available?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," the driver replies enthusiastically.
And I head back to the studio, chatting with the driver, my smartphone tucked into my bag.
'Polaris' Sculpture Is New Fairbanks Centerpiece
The city of Fairbanks has a new centerpiece sculpture. The assemblage of silver steel spires stands between the Cushman and Barnett Street bridges, along the Chena River downtown. The sculpture called "Polaris" was created by a pair of Vancouver based artists to mirror the local environment.
Alaska's Glaciers Shrinking Faster Than Expected
Alaska's glaciers are shrinking faster than scientists had thought, but glaciers that terminate in the ocean may be relatively resilient to climate change in comparison to their land-locked counterparts. The data comes from a multi-year airborne survey conducted by NASA.
Youth Climate Lawsuit Dismissed
The Alaska Supreme Court last week dismissed a case brought by six young Alaskans, demanding the state take action on climate change. The suit was one of several filed nationwide, and the first to take its argument to a state supreme court. In dismissing the case, the Court said that climate policy isn't an issue the judiciary can decide – it must go through the political process.
But, for the young plaintiffs and the nonprofit supporting them, the ruling included some silver linings.
Nelson Kanuk was 16 when he sued the state of Alaska along with five other minors, ranging from infants to teenagers. The six young Alaskans argued that the state has an obligation to do more to halt climate change.
Each of the children named in the suit cited direct impacts from climate change, but Kanuk's were maybe the most immediate. The river in front of his family's home in the Western Alaska village of Kipnuk was carving away the melting permafrost beneath their land.
This is Kanuk speaking with KCAW's Ed Ronco in early 2013, after a year in which his family lost eight feet of their yard to the river:
Kanuk: … as the summer progressed, we lost another five feet…
Ronco: How much is left before it gets to your house?
Kanuk: Last fall, before I left, there was about 40 feet, or so, but when springtime comes, there's definitely going to be a couple more feet that will be lost.
Now, Kanuk is 20, and a sophomore at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. And his family's house? It's uninhabitable. In the last year, his family moved first to Bethel, and then to Kenai, driven both by the loss of their home and the escalating cost of food and fuel in Kipnuk.
Kanuk says it's been a huge change, especially for a family that's used to getting much of its food from the land.
"We aren't able to just hop on a boat and go out and catch our dinner that night," he says. "You know, our subsistence lifestyle changed. Now we're forced to go to Fred Meyer or Walmart. It's a big change."
It was to draw attention to the situation of families like his that Kanuk first joined the suit against the State of Alaska in 2011. The plaintiffs are backed by Our Children's Trust, an Oregon-based nonprofit that has worked with kids in several states and at the federal level to bring similar lawsuits. The Alaska case is the first to reach a state Supreme Court on its merits.
And this month, the justices dismissed the suit. But Julia Olson, Executive Director of Our Children's Trust, says the court "left the door open" on several key issues.
"The exciting part about the Supreme Court's decision, is that they said the youth had made a good case," Olson says. "They noted that the climate science is compelling, it demonstrates real significant impacts to the people of Alaska, and that the plaintiffs had direct injuries…So it did all sorts of really important things. The one thing it didn't reach was, well, what role does the court have to play?"
Assistant Attorney General Seth Beausang argued the case for the State of Alaska. He saw the ruling in more limited terms.
"The appeal was about where the plaintiffs' concerns about global warming should be heard," Beausang said. "Whether it should be heard in court or in the political arena. And the court held that the claims were not the kind of claims that can be resolved in court."
Claims such as: the state should reduce emissions by at least six-percent a year. That kind of specific policy, the court ruled, should be left to the political process.
But the plaintiffs also asked the court to rule on whether the atmosphere is part of the "public trust." This is a concept embedded in the Alaska Constitution. Things like water, wildlife, and fish, are all publicly owned, with the state holding them in "trust" for the benefit of all Alaskans.
Beausang says the plaintiffs suggested a whole new take on the idea of the public trust.
"It was trying to argue that under the doctrine, the state has an affirmative duty to protect public trust resources from harm," Beausang said. "That is a novel spin on the public trust doctrine."
The court tip-toed right up to the edge of declaring the atmosphere an asset of the public trust, writing, "the plaintiffs do make a good case." But, in the end, the court said that a ruling wouldn't give the state clear direction on what to do next, and wouldn't give the plaintiffs immediate relief. So while it could issue a ruling, it wouldn't — not in this particular case.
Olson says the plaintiffs will ask the court to reconsider that decision — specifically, she thinks the court can do something right now, on greenhouse gas emissions.
"Even if it's the court directing the other branches of government to do the work to set a safe level or a safe standard," Olson said. "It doesn't have to be the court that does it, but somebody needs to do it, because no entity within government is doing that right now, and that's a tragedy."
As for Kanuk, he says he'll keep working to bring attention to the issue of climate change in Alaska. For his part, he doesn't have any choice but to adapt.
"To me, it's kind of like, [laughs] jumping into a fast-flowing river," Kanuk said. "You don't know what's going to happen, and it's tough, but you have to adapt to the new way of life that we're forced to live now."
Alaska News Nightly: September 17, 2014
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2014 Permanent Fund Dividend Will Be $1,884
Josh Edge, APRN – Anchorage
In an announcement Wednesday, Governor Sean Parnell told Alaskans something they have been waiting to hear for months – the amount of this year's Permanent Fund Dividend.
Walker-Mallott 'Unity Ticket' Faces Legal Challenge
Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Anchorage
An officer of the Alaska Republican Party is suing Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell and the Division of Elections for the decision to allow independent candidate Bill Walker and Democrat Byron Mallott to merge their campaigns.
Feds Investigate University of Alaska For How It Deals With Sexual Assault
Lisa Phu, KTOO – Juneau
The U.S. Department of Education's Civil Rights Office will be visiting four campuses of the University of Alaska next month to check if the school is handling sexual violence complaints according to federal law.
The University of Alaska system is on a list of 79 post-secondary institutions around the nation being investigated for possible violations, but university officials aren't sure why.
State OKs Linc Energy's Tyonek Coal Exploration Plan
Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
The state has given the OK to a plan by Linc Energy to explore for coal in the Tyonek area. Last month, Linc submitted an application to drill at least five exploratory wells in an area about seven miles from Tyonek, on the West side of Cook Inlet.
Energy Development Proponents Meet In Anchorage
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
Proponents of energy development are in Anchorage for the 10th annual Alaska Oil and Gas Congress. Canada's Northwest Territories Premiere Bob McCloud says Alaska and the Territories have a lot in common – great resources that are stranded in remote locations.
Ride-Sharing Service Uber Coming To Anchorage
Anne Hillman, KSKA – Anchorage
A ride-sharing service called Uber will start operating in Anchorage this week. Instead of calling a taxi, people who need a ride can use a smartphone app to hail a nearby private vehicle. But taxi companies in Anchorage and around the world say it's unfair competition.
'Polaris' Sculpture Is New Fairbanks Centerpiece
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
The city of Fairbanks has a new centerpiece sculpture. The assemblage of silver steel spires stands between the Cushman and Barnett Street bridges, along the Chena River downtown. The sculpture called "Polaris" was created by a pair of Vancouver based artists to mirror the local environment.
Alaska's Glaciers Shrinking Faster Than Expected
Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks
Alaska's glaciers are shrinking faster than scientists had thought, but glaciers that terminate in the ocean may be relatively resilient to climate change in comparison to their land-locked counterparts. The data comes from a multi-year airborne survey conducted by NASA.
Youth Climate Lawsuit Dismissed
Rachel Waldholz, KCAW – Sitka
The Alaska Supreme Court last week dismissed a case brought by six young Alaskans, demanding the state take action on climate change. The suit was one of several filed nationwide, and the first to take its argument to a state supreme court. In dismissing the case, the Court said that climate policy isn't an issue the judiciary can decide – it must go through the political process.
But, for the young plaintiffs and the nonprofit supporting them, the ruling included some silver linings.
Walker-Mallott "Unity Ticket" Faces Legal Challenge
An officer of the Alaska Republican Party is suing the Division of Elections for the decision to allow independent candidate Bill Walker and Democrat Byron Mallott to merge their campaigns.
The complaint describes the decision by the Democratic Party pull their candidate and allow him to become Walker's running mate on a non-party ticket was a matter of "procrastination, political strategy, and political expediency." On that basis, the complaint argues that Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell should not have issued a September 2 emergency regulation to approve the ticket and change the composition of the November general election ballot.
Plaintiff Steve Strait filed the lawsuit in Superior Court on Wednesday. His objective is to prevent Walker and Mallot from appearing on the ballot as a combined non-party ticket. While Strait serves as a district chair for the Republican Party, he says this is not an official party action.
"I'm filing this as an individual," says Strait. "As a longtime Alaskan, I am very concerned about what just happened here on September 2 with this decision, with this emergency regulation from the lieutenant governor's office, and how it influences elections from here forward."
Strait says Democratic voters were disenfranchised when they voted for Mallott as their nominee in the primary. He believes the decision for Walker and Mallott to form what they're calling a "unity ticket" was a matter of gamesmanship to improve the chances of beating incumbent Republican Gov. Sean Parnell and to attract support from the state's labor unions.
The rationale behind the lawsuit was explained at a hastily organized press conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel that was attended by Strait, attorney Ken Jacobus, and Republican Party Vice Chair Frank McQueary. McQueary dismissed any question about the political motivation of the complaint. While not a party to the lawsuit, McQueary identified himself as a supporter of its objective, and said he was disappointed that the endorsement of the AFL-CIO was a catalyst for the Democratic Party to withdraw Mallott's name from the gubernatiorial race and allow him to run as Walker's lieutenant governor.
"The theatre here, of course, is the drama of the AFL-CIO forging this marriage of opposites and combining two losers and coming out with what they think is a winner," said McQueary.
But Walker thinks it's Republican Party leadership that is playing games. Walker questions the timing of the lawsuit, which comes shortly after a Hays Group poll commissioned by the AFL-CIO found him eight points ahead of Parnell.
"If we were 15 points down in the polls, I don't think this suit would have been filed," says Walker.
Walker is still deciding whether join the lawsuit as an intervenor in support of Treadwell and Fenumiai. He adds that his campaign reviewed the legality of joining tickets before appealing to Lt. Gov. Treadwell, and that there was precedent from 2006 when independent gubernatorial candidate Andrew Halcro replaced a running mate who suffered health problems.
Assistant Attorney General Libby Bakalar says the state will defend itself against the lawsuit. She says that the legal question does not center on the reasons for the candidate substitution – whether they be health-related or politically calculated – but the timing of the election itself.
"The point they're missing I think is that the emergency, regardless of the origins that creates it, is that we have an election in 50 days, and so the emergency has to do with the timing. That's a neutral fact," says Bakalar. "It's not the Division of Elections responsibility to decide how [party] decisions are made, or to say that these decisions can't be made. It their job to run an orderly election, and they can't do that without acting quickly when these kinds of things come up."
The Division of Elections has already begun printing ballots for November, and the cost of producing them is estimated at $300,000. Elections Director Gail Fenumiai says the process is half complete.
The case has been assigned to Judge John Suddock, and the parties are requesting that the process be expedited because of the pending election.
Mat Su Health Services Gains ACA Grant
The Health Resources and Services Administration announced the awards on Monday, as part of the 295 million dollars in Affordable Care Act funds that is being distributed to more than 11 hundred health centers throughout the United States.
Mat Su Health Services received more than 190 thousand dollars. CEO Kevin Munson says the grant will enable expansion of primary care services.
"Well, we are a community health center, so we are already funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, and we will be using those additional funds to hire additional staff to expand our hours. "
Munson says more staff will translate to evening availability.
"We'll be looking to hire a half time practitioner, probably a mid -level physician's assistant or family nurse practitioner, and then we'll also be hiring some additional support staff to enable us to extend our hours, and we will be also be hiring a mental health clinician who will be working in our primary care clinic."
Munson says the funding opportunity was offered by HRSA based on how many patients the clinic sees that are uninsured or underinsured. Mat Su Health Services has been serving the area since the 1970s, starting as a community mental health center. In 2005, the facility became a primary care clinic
"So we have been operating as a primary care clinic with a sliding discount and access for all people in the community now for a little over nine years. And we certainly have seen and experienced the significant growth in the community, which has been clicking along for a little over 4 percent a year for better than a decade. So we provide a wide variety of essentially primary health care services to the entire community with a target focused on the uninsured and the underinsured. "
Munson says some of his staff are dedicated to helping people sign up for the federal health care subsidy under the Affordable Care Act.
HRSA secretary Sylvia Burwell announced the awards, saying the funds overall are expected to create close to 5, 000 new jobs, and to help health clinics to reach about 1 point 5 million new patients.
Sullivan Supports State Minimum Wage Boost He Once Opposed
In a reversal, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan says he supports a ballot measure that would increase the state minimum wage.
In a pre-Primary debate in Fairbanks, Sullivan and then-candidate Joe Miller both said they oppose Ballot Measure 3, which would increase the state's minimum wage by $2 over two years.
But Sullivan, in a story published online Monday by the Wall Street Journal, said he now supports the ballot measure.
"Because it is a state-driven initiative, I do support the motion to place a minimum wage question directly to the people of Alaska, and I personally intend to vote for it," Sullivan said in a written statement.
He says he still opposes a national minimum wage increase, saying Alaskans know best how to strengthen their economy.
The campaign of his Democratic opponent, Sen. Mark Begich, promptly issued a press release noting Sullivan's change of position. Begich supports both Alaska's Ballot Measure 3 as well as a bill in Congress to boost the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.
The Sullivan campaign told the Journal the candidate changed his mind after he had a chance to read the initiative.
Alaska AFL-CIO President Vince Beltrami accuses Sullivan of flip-flopping.
"Dan Sullivan appears to be able to read polls and knows that opposition to the wage increase might have helped him in a closed primary, but it hurts his appeal to general election voters," the labor leader said in a press release.
The Wall Street Journal reports that, since 2002, every ballot measure to increase a state's minimum wage has passed, most by wide margins. The paper also reports that such measures typically increase voter turnout by 1 percent and there's no evidence the increase helps Democrats, as commonly believed.
Towing Drill Tests Emergency Mooring Buoy
After seven years, Unalaska's emergency system for towing stranded vessels away from shore is finally complete. A new dedicated buoy for disabled ships got its first full-scale test during an annual drill last week.
For tugboat captain Leonardo Asayama-Lucena, conditions couldn't have been better: clear skies, calm seas and next to no wind.
"This is the best-case scenario: the weather is perfect, the boats aren't drifting around too much," Lucena said during last week's drill. "It's not gonna get any easier."
A real-life rescue might happen at night, or in a storm — but this morning is just a drill, the first one Lucena and his tugboat, the James Dunlap, have been a part of.
"It definitely breaks the monotony of our daily routine that we usually have," he says. "I'm actually glad we're doing it, because in the event of an actual emergency, you know, practice makes perfect, so we could all use this practice."
The Dunlap is going to use Unalaska's equipment to help the Coast Guard tow a fake-stranded vessel to safety. The 277-foot freighter Sea Trader is acting as the disabled ship. It's supposed to end up at Unalaska's new emergency mooring buoy, which has been in place since late 2012, but wasn't ready for a major test until now.
[USCGC Alex Haley crew member on radio]: Sea Trader, Alex Haley. Just got word the helo should be airborne in about five to 10 mikes…
That's the Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley, talking to the Sea Trader on the tugboat's radio. All three vessels are sitting out in Unalaska Bay, getting ready to start the drill.
The Alex Haley's helicopter has to drop the emergency tow package onto the Sea Trader. Then, the freighter will use it to link up with the cutter.
[helicopter hovering]
It's a tight fit, but the helicopter sticks the delivery. The Sea Trader's crew starts working on connecting to the cutter. And that's Capt. Lucena's cue to wake up his deckhands.
Lucena [speaking to crew member]: Hey, John, if you wouldn't mind — once they get their eyes open and coffee down the hatch, have 'em come up here and we'll all have a little meeting…
In a real situation, the Coast Guard would tow the disabled ship to the Dunlap. Then, the tug would hook on and take the vessel to the mooring buoy. The Coast Guard's just practicing setting up its tow line today — but the Dunlap will be doing the real thing.
Adam Downing is a deckhand on the tug. He's glad for the chance to try out the emergency system.
"I mean, it'd be crazy not to have one of these, I think," he says. "Because if anything happens, like, you get those big ships out there, you're asking for a catastrophe."
As growing industries bring more ship traffic to the Aleutians, that risk is on the rise — and so is the need for practice. Today, Capt. Lucena and his crew will try out a tool they haven't used before. It's Unalaska's line gun, a rifle for shooting a tow line to another ship.
Lucena [speaking to crew]: You know, just take our time. I'm gonna position ourselves — basically like this but closer, off the starboard bow of the Sea Trader, using the wind to help us shoot it over the bow. You can see, you've got lots of room — don't aim for the house. [crew laughs]
With the Coast Guard out of the way, the tugboat sounds its horn to let everyone know the shot is coming.
[horn blasts] [gun firing]
The tow line sails over the Sea Trader and drops onto it deck. Now the freighter can tie on to the tug, and together, they can head for the mooring buoy. It's floating offshore like a big plug in a bathtub drain. Lucena explains that it gives disabled ships a safe place to await repairs.
"So they would hang out there on this long tow line to the buoy, and they can spin around the buoy in deep water and not have to worry about going around," he says. "And when the weather subsided, if they still weren't able to get underway on their own power, they would … just attach themselves directly to the mooring buoy, and we'd take the tow line away."
Even in the best conditions, though, things can still go wrong. When the ships get to the buoy, they find a soggy mooring line that's a little tough to wrangle. But in the end, they get the Sea Trader tethered, and for Lucena, the drill is a success.
Lucena: "Especially for me, this being my first time, I learned a lot. And I can now pass that on. … Familiarity, I think — knowing what to expect when you get into this … makes it quicker and just gives you that much better level of safety."
And all those lessons will go to make the buoy and the whole towing system better in the future — whether for a real emergency, or just next year's drill.
Friday Is Deadline To Comment On EPA's 404-C Determination
The EPA's proposed restrictions on development of the Pebble Mine in the Bristol Bay region are currently open for public comment. But the deadline to comment is this Friday.
Wasilla Officer-Involved Shooting Leaves 1 Dead
Two Wasilla police officers are on paid administrative leave after a Monday shooting that left one man dead. The names of the officers have not been released, in line with police policy.
According to Wasilla police, the two officers responded to a possible domestic disturbance in the early hours of Monday. The officers had responded to a 911 call, which had been disconnected. The two officers had to force their way into the home, where they encountered 23-year-old Michael Bonty, holding a weapon and threatening a female in the house. Bondy refused to put the weapon down, and officers fired, killing him.
Alaska State Troopers are heading the investigation. Police policy requires names of the officers involved in the shooting to be released 72 hours after the incident. Bonty's only police record is for minor traffic offenses.
Pinks Come In Better Than Expected In Southeast
The summer purse seine season for pink salmon has wrapped up and the harvest is better than expected.
Dan Gray works for the State's Fish and Game office in Sitka as the Management Coordinator for Southeast Alaska salmon fisheries.
"We did great," Gray says. "You know, coming in almost 10 million over forecast is a good thing."
The pink harvest also topped what federal managers had projected. The National Marine Fisheries Service forecast around 30 million.
Gray says the exact harvest number is about 31.6 million. That's nothing compared to last year's harvest of over 90 million, which was an all-time record. Last year, fishermen were still hauling in pinks well into September. However, this year wasn't expected to be the same for a couple of reasons. Pinks run on a two year cycle and this is an even year which means the numbers are always lower. And last year was just unexpectedly excellent.
This year's catch happened mostly in the southern portion of the region. Gray says it probably made up about 70 percent of the overall harvest in Southeast.
"That's kind of interesting in itself since southern Southeast carried the load last year as well," Gray says.
Gray says harvests in districts one through four near Ketchikan and Prince of Wales were "excellent" and says harvests on the outside were "okay to good". He says they don't know why the pinks were concentrated in the Southern areas.
"I mean, it's got to be largely environmental," Gray says. "Certainly, we do look at parent year escapement, and a good parent year escapement bodes well for the return but, yeah, a lot of that is out in the deep blue sea and we just don't really understand it all that well."
Some seiners have moved on to fall chums, which started August 31.
The state's forecast for next year's pink season will be distributed in December.
(This story has been corrected from a previous version)
Mexican Tall Ship Cuauhtemoc in Seward
The ship glided into Resurrection Bay wreathed in mist, looking much like a sight out of the past. The Cuauhtemoc is painted white, and it would have appeared ghostly in the driving rain and low clouds, except for the lively Mexican music playing as members of the crew, stationed at attention along five tiers of spars, sang songs as the ship approached the harbor.
To says the ship is impressive is an understatement. It's masts reach over 30 feet. Colorful regatta flags flew from the rigging, as sailors wearing yellow rain gear scrambled down the lines from the spars to help tie up the ship and lay out the gangplank. Seward mayor Jean Bardarson met ship officials at the dock, along with Consul Javier Abud, the Mexican government's official in Anchorage.
Then the party was welcomed aboard.
It was not a coincidence that the ship arrived on Mexican Independence Day. Captain Juan Carlos Vera- Minjares says it's been planned for a year.
"It is interesting for us to visit Alaska. So we wanted to bring [a] friendship message to share with the Alaskan people That's why we come. So we plan to arrive on September 15 to make a celebration with Mexican citizens."
The Cuauhtemoc, which takes its name from the last Aztec emperor, was built in Bilbao in Spain in 1981, and has been used by the Mexican Navy since 1982 as a training vessel for cadets. The visit to Alaska is part of the ship's Cruise of Instruction for 2014. Captain Vera says the 1800 ton vessel started it's voyage in Acapulco, Mexico in April and visited ports in Central America and the Carribean, before returning to the Pacific coast, where it made stops from Peru to Seward. The ship is home to 245 men and women sailors during the training voyage. The naval cadets are in their last year of school, and must serve 4 months aboard the ship before graduation. Captain Vera says the training is crucial.
"They know how to deal with elements at sea, they know how to sail with astronomical navigation, they know how to deal with magnetic compases, so they become a real sailor to command the Navy units."
The Cuauhtemoc had covered 14 thousand nautical miles before reaching Seward. Captain Vera says it encountered every type of weather, so recent winds and Seward's drenching rains were no problem. He says the tall ships have value in that their old traditions make true sailors out of cadets.
"They practice on board on keeping contact with the natural elements, for example, the wind, the waves the snow. They embark as teenagers and they come back as real sailors. "
The Cuauhtemoc has traveled the globe, participating in tall ship parades and races as far away as China, Japan and Finland.The ship has won many awards for it's presentation and speed. Captain Vera says the ship's travels also serve to bring a bringing a message of peace and Mexican culture around the globe.
This is the second visit by the Cuauhtemoc to Seward in a decade. The ship visited first in 2005. A public reception was held at the Alaska Railroad cruise ship dock in Seward Monday evening. The ship is available for free public tours from 11 to 6 through Thursday. The Cuauhtemoc departs Friday.
Upper Valley Agriculture: Yaks at Sunny Hill Ranch
There is growing emphasis in Alaska on locally produced food, including meat. Some cattle are being raised in the Upper Susitna Valley but many species of cow are not adapted to the severe cold of an Alaska winter. There is another animal that is suited for the conditions, though- yaks.
Anita Hill is the "Yak Lady." It says so right on her custom license plate. She and her husband Steve Hill have operated Sunny Hill Ranch for about four years. After I arrived, they took me to a large pen, where I could already discern dark, furry shapes moving around.
For those who have never seen a domestic yak in person, they resemble something of a cross between a
bison and a cow, but considerably lighter, and with much shorter legs. Steve Hill says a large yak bull might get up to 1500 pounds. Compare that to a brahma bull, which can weigh upward of a ton. As the more tame members of the herd approached the fence to greet me, the Hills explained why people raise yaks.
STEVE: "Meat and Fiber."
ANITA: "Some People ask me about milking. I only milk them when I have to."
The fiber gets brushed off of the animals and washed so it can be spun into yarn. As for the meat, Anita and Steve Hill say that the market is growing.
"There's a good market for it, because it's very lean. There's no fat on it; it's not marbled like beef."
Anita Hill says the meat can largely be used as a substitute for beef in recipes, although it does cook somewhat differently. Right now, the Hills sell their meat primarily at farmers markets, but that may change in the future. Steve says that one day they would like to:
"…get some restaurants in Talkeetna serving yak burgers…If you're going to get them doing that, you have to have the supply to meet the demand. You can't say, 'Here's one, and I'll have the next one six months from now.'"
Steve says that it would take a herd of about fifty animals in order to consider selling on that scale, which he estimates will take another two or three years. That plan almost got yanked out from under the Hills with a recent, sudden change from the USDA, however.
"About two weeks ago, the USDA, all of a sudden…out of the blue, said 'Yak's not an amenable species. We're not going to inspect it any more,' which would have taken this herd…and all of a sudden now it's worthless. I can't sell it to the public."
That's because a USDA stamp is required for commercial sale of meat. Fortunately for the Hills and other yak ranchers, there was help to be had. Jim Watson is board president for the International Yak Association, or IYAK. He spoke to me from his ranch in Montana about the potential impact of the unexpected change.
"It resulted in the almost immediate cessation of interstate commerce in yak meat and yak products, which disrupted the business models of yak ranchers throughout the country, because they had standing orders to go to grocery stores, restaurants, and distributors which were suddenly not valid any more."
Watson says IYAK rallied its members through email and social media, and encouraged them to write to members of Congress, specifically those on the Senate Agriculture Committee.
"…Apparently, that worked very well, because the USDA contacted me a few days later and provided us with the alternative we requested."
While a final decision is still pending, Watson says it's looking good for yak ranchers.
Back at the Sunny Hill Ranch, my yak education continues. One of the reasons that yaks are an attractive species to raise in Alaska is their resilience to cold. Many types of yak originate in the Himalayas, and Anita Hill says they are a major asset to the people of the area.
"In Tibet, they use them for everything. They are the family animal. They use them for packing; they use them for meat. They use them like oxen. They're actually called 'the grunting ox.'"
Tibet can get pretty cold, so yaks adapted over time to tough out frigid winters with their thick coats of fur. Anita Hill says yaks as young as a week old can survive
temperatures well below zero because the herd will work to keep them warm.
That strong herd mentality also comes in handy with one of the other hazards to raising livestock in the Last Frontier.
"The yaks will attack a bear. They'll attack anything that comes in harm's way…even the dogs. Annie [the yak] was up–I had just her and two younger ones–and a coyote came and harassed them. She bent the fence trying to get to that coyote, so they'll attack a bear."
Steve Hill says, between the yaks and the family's three large dogs, he hasn't seen a bear on the property in the four years he and Anita have lived in the Susitna Valley.
For Steve and Anita Hill, their yaks are like an extension of their family. Every one has a name and a personality. Twice during my tour, yaks would come to the fence and poke their heads through, hoping I would scratch them behind the ears. While many of them are destined for a dinner plate eventually, it's clear that they're happy with the life they live at Sunny Hill Ranch.
Alaska News Nightly: September 16, 2014
Stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN's newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn
Sullivan Supports State Minimum Wage Boost He Once Opposed
Liz Ruskin, APRN – Washington DC
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan has changed his mind and now says he supports increasing the state minimum wage.
BP Plans Alaska Layoffs
Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Anchorage
Monday, BP announced it will cut its workforce in the state by nearly a fifth – 200 employees and contractors will be absorbed by Hilcorp as part of a North Slope asset sale, and another 275 will be laid off.
Towing Drill Tests Emergency Mooring Buoy
Annie Ropeik, KUCB – Unalaska
After seven years, Unalaska's emergency system for towing stranded vessels away from shore is finally complete. A new dedicated buoy for disabled ships got its first full-scale test during an annual drill last week.
Friday Is Deadline To Comment On EPA's 404-C Determination
Mike Mason, KDLG – Dillingham
The EPA's proposed restrictions on development of the Pebble Mine in the Bristol Bay region are currently open for public comment. But the deadline to comment is this Friday.
Wasilla Officer-Involved Shooting Leaves 1 Dead
Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
Two Wasilla police officers are on paid administrative leave after a Monday shooting that left one man dead. The names of the officers have not been released, in line with police policy.
Cheaper Turboprops Lower Some AK Jet Fares
Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau
Cost-cutting on an Alaska Airlines railbelt route is lowering fares in statewide.
Pinks Come In Better Than Expected In Southeast
Angela Denning, KFSK – Petersburg
The summer purse seine season for pink salmon has wrapped up and the harvest is better than expected.
Cuauhtemoc Docks In Seward
Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
The three-masted tall ship Cuauhtemoc docked in Seward during a Monday morning downpour. The Mexican training ship was greeted by Seward city officials and by the Mexican consul in Alaska. It will be open to the public for viewing through Thursday.
Upper Valley Agriculture: Yaks at Sunny Hill Ranch
Phillip Manning, KTNA – Talkeetna
There is growing emphasis in Alaska on locally produced food, including meat. Some cattle are being raised in the Upper Susitna Valley but many species of cow are not adapted to the severe cold of an Alaska winter. There is another animal that is suited for the conditions, though- yaks.
BP Plans Alaska Layoffs
BP plans to cut its Alaska workforce by 17 percent by early next year.
The oil company announced on Monday that it will reduce its staff by 275 employees and full-time contractors to match a "reduced operational footprint" in the state. BP will offer early retirement and severance packages to employees who choose to take a buyout option.
Spokesperson Dawn Patience attributes the layoffs to the sale of four North Slope assets to Hilcorp, a smaller oil company with a growing presence in Alaska. The deal, which was announced in April, includes the Endicott and Northstar fields, along with 50 percent interest in the Milne Point and Liberty fields. BP is transferring 200 field workers to Hilcorp as a result of the agreement, in addition to the 275 support staff they plan to lay off.
Patience describes the 275 positions as "overhead" that is no longer needed with a smaller presence on the North Slope. She says the company intends to focus more on oil production in Prudhoe Bay and development of a natural gas megaproject.
"BP's operations may be shrinking in Alaska, but we announced $1 billion of additional investment in Prudhoe Bay, and the addition of two rigs –- one this year and one the year after — and those commitments stand," says Patience.
BP informed Hilcorp of their additional staff cuts on Monday, after they told employees.
Hilcorp spokesperson Lori Nelson says the BP announcement was unexpected because only 250 employees were directly associated with the purchased assets and Hilcorp agreed to absorb most of them.
"The number today was a bit of a surprise, but that's BP's decision," says Nelson.
The layoff announcement arrives less than a month after Alaskans narrowly voted to maintain a capped tax rate on oil production. As one of the three major players on the North Slope, BP contributed nearly $4 million to fight the ballot referendum on Senate Bill 21.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski, an Anchorage Democrat who advocated for repeal of Senate Bill 21, calls the BP's announcement "disturbing." He notes it comes just as fellow North Slope producer Exxon is projecting a continued decline in oil production in Alaska.
"We were promised a lot of things during the [Senate Bill 21] debate, and one of the most powerful things was jobs," says Wielechowski. "And here we are, a couple weeks after the people of Alaska voted on this, thinking they were going to get a lot more jobs [and] thinking they were going to get a lot more production. And we've already had sworn testimony by Exxon that we're getting less production and then we've got BP saying they're laying off hundreds of Alaskans and contractors."
Wielechowski also finds the timing of BP's announcement "suspect."
"Had the referendum passed, they probably would have blamed these layoffs on the referendum passing," says Wielechowski.
In a press release, Gov. Sean Parnell also stated he "extremely disappointed" by the announcement, and noted that oil and gas employment in the state was otherwise strong with 15,000 working for the industry.
State Files To Participate In Big Thorne Lawsuits
The State of Alaska filed motions in federal court Monday to participate in lawsuits that seek to halt or delay the U.S. Forest Service's planned Big Thorne timber sale on Prince of Wales Island.
The state's action is meant to "protect the State, its political subdivisions and its citizens against the monetary and socioeconomic impacts of interference with timber supply in Southeast Alaska…"
The filings also claim that Alaska's interests might not be adequately represented by federal defense attorneys.
The state asks for the right to participate at least as an amicus – or friend of the court. That is someone who is not a party to the case, but offers information that might be useful.
The final decision to move forward with the Big Thorne project was announced in late August, and five conservation groups immediately filed lawsuits protesting that decision.
The proposed timber harvest would include about 6,000 acres of old-growth rainforest. Environmental organizations say that acreage is critical habitat for deer and wolf populations.
The Forest Service is moving away from old-growth logging, but the switch to second-growth will take time. Federal officials and pro-logging groups say that old-growth harvests will need to continue during that transition for mills to survive.
The Tongass Tightrope: Balancing Diverse Interests By Committee
For three days last week, a few dozen people holed up in a Travelodge conference room in Juneau. There was coffee and donuts, PowerPoint presentations and an easel with big sheets of scratch paper. It was the second in a series of meeting that the Tongass Advisory Committee has leading up to its May deadline to produce its recommendations.
Representatives of the U.S. Forest Service, the timber industry, state government, local communities, tribal entities and conservationists on the committee are trying to work out policies that will let them all sustainably coexist. Their mutually shared mantra is what they're calling the "triple bottom line"–ecological, social and economic sustainability in the Tongass National Forest.
One of their directives from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is to transition the timber industry to harvesting only the Tongass's young growth, that is, trees that have grown back in areas previously logged or disturbed.
"It is going to be a huge challenge to make a financially viable industry with 200,000 acres of young growth on a 17 million acre forest," says Tongass Advisory Committee member Eric Nichols. He's part owner of Ketchikan's Alcan Forest Products Inc. and Evergreen Timber."The land base, it's going to be a huge impact, in that you've got to have the land base to grow the trees."
"And the more we shrink this land base, the higher probability of failure you have."
Thorne Bay's timber sale
If the committee is successful and the Forest Service adopts its policy recommendations, it should head off the kind of legal wrangling that the community of Thorne Bay is on the sidelines of now.
Thorne Bay is a community of about 500 on Prince of Wales Island. It's part of a census area that consistently has the highest unemployment rates in Southeast Alaska. Its economy used to be dominated by the timber industry. Nowadays, Wayne Benner says it's down to "about a half a dozen small little working mills, ma-and-pa mills."
Benner is the advisory committee's co-chair and Thorne Bay city administrator.
"(We) definitely want to make sure they continue on, and have the ability to survive and prosper," Benner says. "And at the same time, all the other uses of the Tongass National Forest are preserved so that the other entities, the lodges, people coming to hunt and coming to fish, also have the opportunity to enjoy 'em."
Benner says his government hasn't formally taken a position on the Forest Service's controversial Big Thorne timber sale, which could be a boon to the local economy but would destroy thousands of acres of old growth forest.
The timber sale may not be ecologically or economically sustainable, according to Earthjusticeand the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. They're part of a coalition of conservation groups fighting the timber sale in court.
A conservation-based economy
Back at the Travelodge, community interests are getting a lot of attention, says Jason Anderson, deputy forest supervisor for the Tongass.
"Despite the difference of interests at the table, there's a collective interest in doing good stewardship of the land as it benefits communities. There's probably some difference of opinion of how that's going to look, but the value of having them all at the table and hashing all that out, that's really in my opinion the value in having an advisory committee."
Lynn Jungwirth is the other co-chair of the committee. She brings lessons from her home in Hayfork, California, a town of 2,200 in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. She says in the timber wars back home, both the industry and the conservation groups were powerful. When they fought it out, the communities got caught in the crossfire.
"So while the conservation industry might stop a sale in order to harm industry, we're the people who lost our homes, lost our equipment, lost our jobs. We kind of thought, well, you know, we need to get together and have a voice, because this is a transition time. We have got to stop pitting conservation against economy and build a conservation-based economy."
Thorne Bay City Administrator Wayne Benner says even if the committee fails, the learning and perspective is valuable.
"If nothing comes out of it, everybody goes back to where they've come from, they're going to take back a little different vision of how the different entities and agencies really look at managing resources."
The Tongass Advisory Committee plans to meet monthly until its work is complete.


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Rate Dr. Bryce Ford
Dr. Bryce Ford's Ratings
I have seen Dr. Ford for 7 years now.Excellent and helpful
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I've been to Dr. Ford four times and have ALWAYS felt well looked after. His office is efficient and courteous. I realize Doctors are busy and this has never impacted the care that I received. Dr. Ford is patient and very thorough. I highly recommend this ophthalmologist.
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I felt like a cow being herded from room to room and saw the physician for a brief period only.
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I have seen Dr. Ford for almost ten years now. He administered had SLT (laser surgery that wears off over time) twice over that time span, on both eyes with great results both times. I'm 68 and have seen my share of doctors. He is tops. He is efficient, attentive and very professional. Two thumbs up.
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I have a rare and complicated eye condition and have found Dr. Ford to be caring and informative. He always takes the time to answer questions and never makes me feel rushed. His office team is the same way. He also does not hesitate to send me to another doctor when something is outside his expertise.
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I was referred to Dr. Ford by an Optometrist for Glacouma prevention surgery. Diagnosed one day at his office then surgery the next day at the hospital. He seems quite friendly, explains your situation well, is very busy but maintains schedule pretty closely. Has a good team helping him.
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My dad had to go into surgery twice for each eye for glaucoma because of complications and now his better eye is even worse after more complications the doctor can't explain. All he gets is drops and followup appointments and no answers, no solutions.
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I have nothing negative to say about this doctor or any of his staff. The eperience is always a positive one.
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Amazing Dr. and great bedside manner. Took time to explain my condition and the results I should expect. Highly recommended if you can get in to see him. His office and support staff are amazing and friendly.
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Posts from Tech
What Are Your Tech Pet Peeves?
My very first computer was a desktop my family and I shared. It was a Dell from the era of the Dell Dude, complete with a 25 pound monitor and a loud and hot tower which held the keys to Minesweeper and the world wide web. It was also my first and my last shared computer, because as a tech lover, I picked up a few tech pet peeves.
Banishing My Phone from The Bedside: The Results, One Month Later
About four weeks ago, I declared that I was going to stop keeping my iPhone at my side overnight. I'm happy to say that I've stuck with the plan, and the results have been positive across the board.
Thayer Photography Studio Tour
Workspace Tour
Name: Thayer Allyson Gowdy
Business Name: Thayer & Co
Location: Bernal Hill, San Francisco
Size: 500 sq feet
Years in Business: 14 years
The studio that Thayer Photography calls home is a great example of form meets function. Walking in, you have no doubt that actual business is conducted here — in fact, they seem ready for anything — and the most utilitarian elements, like the sealed concrete floors and custom plywood cabinets, are also some of the best stylistic elements.
On Sale: Home Office Furniture & Accessories
Tech Deals of the Week
Running Out of Space? How To Improve Your Phone Storage in 5 Minutes
The Home Theater Mistake We Keep Seeing Over and Over Again
As stone countertops and stainless steel appliances are to a kitchen, a large flat panel HDTV (and a comfy couch) in the living room is to a typical American household. But there's one continuing trend we'd like to see people switch channels from doing...
5 Artful Video Game Coffee Table Books
Gumball Machines & Wine Openers, Amazon Fire TV, Beats Solo HD, Free Apps!
Tech Deals of the Week
Who didn't want to have their own gumball machine as a kid? Well, now you can get one — and for only $25! Or enjoy an adult snack with an automated wine opener. We highlight plenty of free Android and iOS apps, sweet digital cameras, and amazingly low priced Smart TVs. Plus check out the new Amazon Fire TV and more in this week's tech deals!
How To Teach Pets to Not Eat Cords
Pet owners know this scene all too well: you walk into a room and find your beloved pet eating your television cord, your phone charging cord, or some other important electronic cord which should not be gnawed. If this sounds familiar, worry not: here are three steps I've taken to train two dogs and two cats to leave cords alone:
Is There an Air Purifier that Will Remove Neighbor's Cigarette Odor?
Good Questions
Q: I just moved into a studio apartment. There are no apartments below me or above me, but cigarette smoke from the neighbors on either side of me is seeping into my apartment. I came to see the apartment twice before I rented it and never detected the smell of cigarettes. I am extremely asthmatic and get blinding headaches from cigarette smoke. I just forked over a ton of money for this place, I can't move again anytime soon. I have researched air purifiers, and the ones that claim to remove odors are very expensive. I don't want to spend a lot of money unless it will definitely clean the air. Can someone recommend a really good air purifier that will remove the smell of cigarettes?


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Gear Question
Hello I have the mountain hardware kiva...
Member since
Hello I have the mountain hardware kiva and this tent and foot print looks essentially the same, due to the fact I lost my old footprint i was wondering if anyone had any experience using this floor with the kiva.
Arthur Debowski
Member since
This floor is 86 x 86 in so if the floorspace of your tent is the same it might work, you'll have to do some adjustments to work it out to make sure you get no overlap otherwise it will collect water if you get rain.
View More Details on Black Diamond Mega Floor


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AboutA web log for all fans of Walt Disney, The Disney Company, and its many products. Using the theories behind Walt Disney's family oriented entertainment and education, this blog is intended to be a safe read for the whole family. Proud to be a part of Quality Will Out Omnimedia. The Disney Blog is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company in any way. All Disney parks, attractions, lands, shows, event names, etc. are registered trademarks of The Walt Disney Company. The Disney Blog is affiliated with LaughingPlace.com, the number one Disney Fan site on the internet. Please see creative commons license at the bottom of this page for copyright information. All content on this website is my own and does not necessarily represent the views of my employer or anyone else on the planet. The Disney Blog is supported by advertising and some of the links on this site and in product reviews are revenue share affiliate ads. I also do accept product for review and to give away as prizes. However, I compose all my editorial separate from any decision regarding advertising or affiliate links. YMMV.
Tag Archives: sitcom
"Girl Meets World." Is. Perfect.
As I've said many times before, I am part of the generation that experienced the golden age of Disney Channel programming. That's So Raven (being my favorite show of all-time), Lizzie McGuire, Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Hannah Montana…we … Continue reading
Posted in Disney Channel Tagged #MarshalOnGMW, comedy, Disney Channel, girl meets world, Rowan Blanchard, sitcom, Television, That's So Raven 1 Comment
"Selfie" & "Manhattan Love Story" Reviews
New shows are still premiering on ABC, and I am here to give you some quick reviews. This week, it's a two-fer, with a new Tuesday comedy block debuting, with Selfie and Manhattan Love Story. Show: Selfie Starring: Karen Gillan, … Continue reading
Posted in Television Tagged ABC, Analeigh Tipton, Karen Gillan, Manhattan Love Story, premiere, review, selfie, sitcom, Television Comments Off
"Black-ish" Premieres tonight on ABC
It's premiere week, so I'm here to give you "speedy reviews" of all the new ABC shows premiering this week. Next up, Black-ish. Starring: Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laurence Fishburne Plot: Andre (Anderson) thinks his middle class African-American family … Continue reading
Posted in Television, Television Tagged ABC, Anthony Anderson, Blackish, premiere, review, sitcom, Tracee Ellis Ross Comments Off
Watch first episode of Selfie right now
Selfie, will debut on ABC on Sept. 30, but you can watch the first epsiode of the new sitcom on Hulu right now. The show is about a self-possessed social media star and is loosely modeled on "My Fair Lady." … Continue reading
Posted in Television Tagged ABC, comedy, selfie, sitcom Comments Off
Celebrity Spotting: Lily from ABC series Modern Family with Snow White
It's time for another episode of Celebrity Spotting! Today we have an extra dose of cuteness. Fans of ABC's award winning TV sit-com "Modern Family" will recognize six-year-old actress Aubrey Anderson-Emmons as the adopted daughter Lily of fathers Cameron Tucker … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Television Tagged actor, celebrity spotting, child actor, epcot, modern family, sit-com, sitcom, snow white Comments Off


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Allentown gets LNAA approval to sell parcel used for fire fighter training
An agreement that will allow Allentown to sell less than five acres of land next to Queen City Airport was approved Thursday by the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority.
The agreement also allows Allentown to keep proceeds from the sale, which is estimated to bring the city more than $975,000.
The property in question is located behind the Mack South fire station at 12th and Lehigh streets in south Allentown. It is used as a fire fighter training facility.
The city plans to sell the property to Health Network Laboratories, to expand parking facilities for its facility at 2024 Lehigh St. next to the fire station.
The sale still must be approved by the U.S. Justice Department, acccording to Charles Everett, the airport authority's executive director.
Everett explained the Justice Department must approve the deal because it was a party in a 2000 settlement agreement in which Allentown transferred Queen City Airport to the airport authority.
Everett said that 2000 agreement was negotiated by the Justice Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, the airport authority and the city.
He explained the city owns the parcel that will be sold, but needed approval from the others to sell it. He said all those other parties have approved it.
Health Network Laboratories is owned by Lehigh Valley Health Network and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation.
Copyright 2013 WFMZ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thanksgiving shopper hit by car at Walmart in Wyomissing
DA: Missing Lehigh County woman found dead; stepfather charged
Gunman opens fire inside barbershop; 4 people shot
Customers stand by barbershop after shooting
NY boys rescued after spending hours buried in snow
Woman dies week after husband shoots her, himself
Stewie, the cat, is rescued from tree after two days
Drunk Allentown man dozes in stopped car on NYC highway, police say
Reading's 'Charlie Brown' tree continues to draw national attention
Surveillance video shows gunman in barbershop shooting


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Six Realizations About Our Recent Birth Family Reunion
I searched for (& was successful in finding) my birth father back in '07. I had been looking online for a few years but nothing…...
When you become a parent through adoption, your child's hair and skin may be different from your own -- particularly if you adopted transracially. Join Brooke Jackson, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, to ask questions about any of the challenges you've faced (including dry winter skin or hair) during Adoptive Families' Adoption Expert Q&A Webinar: Skin and Hair Care on February 26, 2013 from 1PM to 2PM EST.
Brooke Jackson, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, is the Medical Director of the Skin Wellness Center of Chicago and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Northwestern University. Her specialties include ethnic skin care, laser therapy, and skin cancer prevention. She recently published a guidebook for adoptive families, Child of Mine: Caring for the Skin and Hair of Your Adopted Child. Dr. Jackson is also a 10-time marathoner, eight-time triathlete, and the adoptive mom of three energetic toddlers.
See the full lineup of upcoming Adoptive Families webinars and listen to recordings of past sessions.
My 3 year old AA son has struggled with ringworm in his scalp for four months now. He is not able to attend group play or have his hair cut at the barber until it is gone. He has been on two rounds of griseofulvin. Any other advice to get rid of this? Thanks. Miranda.
My 2 yr old daughter has eczema and seborrheic dermatitis. We are washing her scalp 2-3 times a week with prescribed shampoo to help her terrible itching, but that's not ideal for her long hair. Our dermatologist told me to stop using olive oil on her hair or scalp. I've tried jojoba oil, but feel it also caused problems. Are there other natural oils that I should try for conditioning treatments or prior to swimming? What about 100% natural aloe vera? Thanks!! Brenda
I have 2 adopted children from Ethiopia. A girl 10 & a boy 7. I have contact dermatitis. I am allergic to any with a paraben, cocamidopropyl Betaine, Carmine, Lanolin. Can you recommend any shampoos or lotions that I can use on the kids that won't break me out?
We are adopting an infant boy with albinism. Aside from a lot of sunscreen and hats, how do we handle his skin and hair? Do we treat his skin as AA skin even though it is white? Is there a particular sunscreen that you would recommend over others as we will be using it daily all over his face and exposed skin. I would like to avoid chemicals that can cause harm over extended periods of time if that is possible (like parabens). Thank you!!
I have two teen aged daughters from China. They both will have break outs around the scalp line and occasionally all over. We have tried Proactive (reacted badly) and visited the dermatologist who prescribed expensive treatment, but was not very effective. They do not tolerate the active ingredient in ProActive and many over the counter treatments. (can't remember the name, sorry). Do you suggest a treatment that is effective for Asian skin? Thank you.
We have twin 3 year old boys from Ethiopia. What do you recommend for hair and skin care. There are so many choices and all claim to be great. I feel like its trial and error (which is getting spendy). We have a couple products we like but none that we love. What do you recommend?
My 12 year old daughter adopted from China has dry skin - except in the "T zone" she has begun to have acne breakouts in that area and on her back (lots of small pimples). We've tried the over the counter things but they have something in them that cause her to react (the "s" acid I think) and make her skin extremely dry and uncomfortable. Can you recommend a product that would help to cut down on the acne without drying her out so much? Something to use daily to wash with and then moisturize as well as something during breakouts? What is the best thing to do for her back? She washes it with a wash cloth and dove liquid soap now. Thanks!
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I searched for (& was successful in finding) my birth father back in '07. I had been looking online for a few years but nothing…...
JNC, you're welcome. That's why I write, I think it's important to know what a visit can look (and feel) like. Would love to know…...
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What Putin's upcoming visit to Israel indicates about the realignment of forces in the Middle East.
A Growing Russian-Israeli Alliance?
When Israel Had a Champion at the UN
Shillman Journalism Fellow Raymond Ibrahim Speaks at JIMENA
Muslim Persecution of Christians: April, 2012
Raymond Ibrahim is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Friedman Rosen Writing Fellow at the Middle East Forum and a CBN News contributor. He is the author of Crucified Again: Exposing Islam's New War on Christians (2013) and The Al Qaeda Reader (2007).
Islamic Apologists vs. Nonie Darwish — on The Jamie Glazov Show
Tensions get hot on Frontpage's radio program.
The Devil We Don't Know — on The Jamie Glazov Show, Tuesday, April 17, 8pm Pacific
Jamie Glazov is Frontpage Magazine's editor. He holds a Ph.D. in History with a specialty in Russian, U.S. and Canadian foreign policy. He is the author of the critically acclaimed and best-selling, United in Hate: The Left's Romance with Tyranny and Terror. His new book is High Noon For America. He is the host of Frontpage's television show, The Glazov Gang, and he can be reached at email@example.com. Visit his site at JamieGlazov.com.
The Devil We Don't Know, Part II
Mark Tapson, a Hollywood-based writer and screenwriter, is a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He focuses on the politics of popular culture.
The Devil We Don't Know, Part I
Mark Tapson, a Hollywood-based writer and screenwriter, is a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He focuses on the politics of popular culture.
Obama's Foreign Policy Incompetence
Israel: The Only Safe Place for Christians in the Middle East
Mark Tooley is President of the Institute on Religion and Democracy (www.theird.org) and author of Methodism and Politics in the Twentieth Century. Follow him on Twitter: @markdtooley.


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Wellness Kickoff At Oak Ridge Elementary [GALLERY]
Updated: 09/10/2013 - FAMU Coach Earl Holmes and other athletes will be the "heroes" at breakfast. They will eat with the kids to encourage them to eat healthy and fuel up for the day.
Updated: 09/10/2013 - FAMU Coach Earl Holmes and other athletes will be the "heroes" at breakfast. They will eat with the kids to encourage them to eat healthy and fuel up for the day.
Posted: 09/09/2013 - The report, filed late last week, provides perhaps the final chapter in a controversy that ended up costing Bennett his job in Florida.
Updated: 09/06/2013 - For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (850) 599-3413
Posted: 09/06/2013 - A top Florida official in the state's university system is likely to be selected as interim chancellor.
Updated: 09/06/2013 - The group says the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, and FAMU all reimburse their graduate students 100 percent.
Updated: 09/05/2013 - Tallahassee Community College has received $398,556 in grants from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) to provide adult education and family literacy programs in Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla counties.
Updated: 09/05/2013 - There's a new phone app that allows parents to stay informed about any school in the Leon County School District.
Updated: 09/05/2013 - Very strong allegations are being made by the local NAACP chapter and the Southern Poverty law center.
Updated: 09/04/2013 - High school students could start their days later and get more sleep if the nation's top education official gets his way.
Posted: 09/04/2013 - Dr. Arnold Bell, who worked in FAMU's physical therapy education program since 1982.
Posted: 09/04/2013 - A Georgia school system is considering the idea of storing rifles in safes inside school offices in case they're needed to defend students in a school shooting.
Posted: 09/04/2013 - Real estate magnate and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross plans to give $200 million to the University of Michigan for its business school and athletics programs.
Updated: 09/03/2013 - Stars Middle School is proposed to be built at 3607 Thomasville Road.
Updated: 09/03/2013 - The Godby Cougars honored an alumni killed in the line of duty.
Updated: 09/03/2013 - In what's become an annual tradition, the University of Massachusetts celebrated the start of the new academic year with a delicious, healthy, record-breaking dish.
Posted: 08/30/2013 - Florida A&M's band is ready to re-take the field for the first football game this weekend.
Updated: 08/30/2013 - Tallahassee's DeSoto Trail Elementary School is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Posted: 08/30/2013 - A building was evacuated at the University of Central Florida because of a chemical spill.
Posted: 08/28/2013 - Students watched Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech and discussed how they felt about the progress that has been made since.
Updated: 08/28/2013 - FDLE's website let's you check the entire database anytime.
Updated: 08/28/2013 - FAMU will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington with a commemorative ceremony titled, "Keepers of the Dream" on Wednesday, August 28th at 10 a.m. in the FAMU Quadrangle.
Updated: 08/27/2013 - A deal struck in Leon County Monday night finalizes pay raises for teachers.
Updated: 08/28/2013 - The State University System is ranked 5th in the nation for research and development expenditures.
Updated: 08/28/2013 - Florida may be keeping a safety net provision that kept more than 150 schools from getting an F grade this year.
Posted: 08/27/2013 - General Motors has hired 39 Florida State University IT students and recent graduates since the fall 2012 semester.


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With an R-value of 2.9, an integrated hand pump and sprawling 25" x 78" x 3" dimensions, the rectangular Kelty Deluxe Recluse 3.0 Insulated inflatable sleeping pad is a plush offering for 3-season backpacking or camping.
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These pads combine the benefits of Air pads, Self-Inflating pads and/or closed-cell foam pads.
Thicker pads provide more insulation in cold weather and more cushioning comfort in warm weather.
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"Don't move…. He's right behind the blood-red sumac, looking in our direction!" I hissed to the hunter who stood frozen in half-stride right behind me. By the way the buck was looking in our direction I was pretty sure he hadn't made out exactly what we were. We were back in the shadows with a dark background behind us. Both my hunter and I were wearing red and green plaid shirts, and green pants. From what I had seen of hunting deer for several decades, I felt pretty sure the buck had not yet really seen us. Even though he was looking in our direction he was not intently staring at us. He wiggled his ears, then turned to look behind him. I let out a deep breath and then took two steps forward where we would be hidden behind the trunk of a giant oak tree. My hunter followed.
Was a time several years ago I frequently hunted whitetails in Alabama. And it seemed just about every time I did, it rained!
Now there are those who will tell you, primarily old experienced hunters from the Black Belt, who will tell you whitetails in Alabama do not move when it's raining. Generally I'm a firm believer in listening to those with much experience in the area I'm currently hunting. But, as it was back then, like now, I've got deadlines. Back then it was as a field editor of DEER & DEER HUNTING and the Whitetail Columnist for NORTH AMERICAN HUNTER as well as other publications. I'd get to an area or state and had to hunt regardless of the weather, hot or cold, wet or dry because I was only going to be there for a very few days. So, regardless I had to try to make it happen. These days, as the host of my DSC's TRAILING THE HUNTER'S MOON television show on the Sportsman Channel it's really not all that different. Schedules for hunts are often set up at least a year in advance. And there's no way to know what the weather will be like when the hunt actually happens
Growing up in the Zimmerscheidt Community just north of Columbus in the southern part of Texas the fall whitetail hunting season was a huge event. We looked forward to opening day with great anticipation. Numerous families in our area including the Warschak and Ruhmann families had their own hunting camps, mostly single room buildings with a big cast iron wood stove, a big table, several bunks or beds and a built in kitchen, although much of the real cooking was done outside. Families stayed together, beds separated by "curtains". Duration of stay depended, but sometimes families returned to their regular homes for a while then again headed en mass to hunting camp throughout the season. We often stayed in our camp three to four days at a time, then went back home, and returned a week later for another stay, this occurred throughout the hunting season. In my family's instance our group consisted of my Mom and Dad, my younger brother Glenn and me, as well occasionally my maternal grandmother. We continued the tradition well into the first years my wife and I got married. She too had grown up going to her family's hunting camp near a little town known as Ramsey, about 20 miles from where I grew up.
We built our camp when I was about 11 or so and I looked forward to our annual move to hunting camp, generally two or so days before the traditional (back then) November 16 opener with great anticipation. Our deer hunting camp was only about a quarter mile or so behind our home. But weeks before my mother would start preparation for staying in our hunting camps. All sorts of pastries were baked, food of all sorts was prepared well in advance.


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Before I write a review of the presentation of the Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker line on today's Oprah, I want to first clear up some misconceptions: 1. I like Sarah Jessica Parker, but she isn't the patron saint of budget shoppers. She made a smart business move and has excellent pr people who [...] Read More
Amanda Bynes Designs Line for Steve & Barry's
Penelope Cruz and her sister, yes her sister, are designing a line for Mango. Even Prince, my Prince, has a fragrance line called "3121" ( I wonder if it smells like purple rain?) Now Amanda Bynes, an actress known for being on Nickelodeon, playing Kelly Taylor's sister on some CW tv show and playing a [...] Read More
Fashion Advice: Dresses for Those Big on Top and Small on Bottom
Dear Budget Fashionista, I need advice! I love dresses and my look is feminine classic (I'm an attorney, so have to be a tad conservative), with – i like to think – a touch of fashionista. My shoulders are broader than my narrow hips, i have a pretty large bust and not much of a [...] Read More
Simply Vera by Vera Wang to Debut at Kohls this September
It's finally official. According to WWD, The Simply Vera by Vera Wang collection will debut this fall at a Kohl's Department Store nearest you. Simply Vera by Vera Wang Kohls The collection will feature apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and even eyeglasses in the $20-$200 price range and sizes 2-16. Expect liberal usage of jersey, tulle, [...] Read More
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Opera Chaotique was formed in May 2011 by the opera singer and pianist Giorgos Tziouvaras (Tenorman) and the jazz-blues drummer Christos Koutsoyiannis (Voodoo Drummer). They have already given a series of successful concerts in Berlin, Barcelona, London, Athens and Belgrade (White Trash/Harlem Jazz Club/Half Note Jazz Club, etc.), and have collaborated with Jolly Jumper (NR), Louisiana Red, Bob Brozman, Blaine Reininger and Angela Brown (US). As the name suggests, the group is a chaotic musical collaboration, with influences from opera, jazz, cabaret, musicals and other genres, staging performances combining originality and humour. At the Sani Festival they will be presenting a mad comic opera combining, in three acts, Don Giovanni and Carmen, the Phantom of the Opera, Figaro, Charles Bukowski and Faust – all coming together in a tragicomic surrealist story. Also appearing: Nicole Kape (soprano) and Stavros Parginos (cello).
Asklipios Zambetas (guitar), Christos Tsaprazis (bass) and Giorgos Tolios (drums) came together in 2007, forming the core of a new group and experimenting with instrumental musical forms. The members of the group Trypes (Zambetas and Tolios) and Xylina Spathia (Tsaprazis) were soon developing a style that blended rock, funk and psychedelic, sometimes treading a fine line between jazz and ethnic. As their musical ideas matured, the first recording sessions were held at Rough Studios in Thessaloniki, where the three musicians were joined by a large number of friends and colleagues, each leaving his personal stamp on the final result: Evgenia Patika (piano, keyboards), Mihalis Vrettas (violin), Chrysanthos Christodoulou (synths, electronics), Stefanos Lazarinos (sax), Giorgos Avramidis (trumpet), Yiannis Marinos (trombone), Georgia Dagaki (Cretan lyre), Ilias Aifantis (keyboards) and Izabela Zambeta (vocals). As the recording sessions proceeded, the group began to assume its final form, being joined by new members Kostas Papachristos (trumpet, piano), a member of Skaribas, and Christos Trypsiani (synths, electronics). The group are currently completing the final recording mix in the studio, under the supervision of producer Christos Megas.
Until August 5, 2012
Opening Time: 21.30
Sani Hill, Chalkidiki
July 29: Opera Chaotique
August 5: Ghost Note Project
Admission 5 euro
Fine Greek Music Talents 2012
The 20th Sani Festival continues its section "Fine Greek Talents" showcasing the talents of younger, less well-known Greek performers, like the duet Opera Chaotique and the Ghost Notes Project, featuring Asklepios Zambetas, from the Trypes group, and an ensemble of exceptional musicians in a project to be staged for the first time at this year's Sani Festival.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
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US panel recommends HIV screening for everyone aged 15 to 64 yearsBMJ 2013; 346 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f2874 (Published 03 May 2013) Cite this as: BMJ 2013;346:f2874
Everyone aged 15 to 64 years should be screened for HIV infection, according to new recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).1
Younger adolescents and older adults who have risk factors for HIV infection should also be screened, the task force said, as should all pregnant women, including those who present in labor and have not been tested and whose HIV status is unknown.
"The overall benefits of screening for HIV infection in adolescents, adults, and pregnant women are substantial," the task force said.
USPSTF consists of independent experts in prevention and primary care appointed by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical preventive services. The task force's new recommendations were published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine on April 30.
Since the first cases of AIDS in the US were reported in 1981, more than 1.1 million people in the country have been diagnosed with the disease, and nearly 595 000 have died from it.
Currently, an estimated 1.2 million people in the US are infected with HIV, of whom 20-25% are unaware that they carry the virus.
As for how often people should be tested for the virus, the task force found a "paucity of evidence" to support specific screening intervals.
"A reasonable approach may be to rescreen groups at very high risk . . . at least annually and individuals at increased risk at somewhat longer intervals (for example, three to five years)," the task force said.
Routine rescreening may not be necessary for individuals who have not engaged in activity that put them at increased risk since they were tested and found to be HIV negative, the task force said, but "women screened during a previous pregnancy should be rescreened in subsequent pregnancies."
In an editorial accompanying the new recommendations, Moupali Das and Paul Volberding from the University of California, San Francisco, commented that the new USPSTF recommendations now align more closely with those of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).2
But unlike the CDC guidelines, Das and Volberding noted, the new USPSTF recommendations "devote considerable effort" to the question of when antiretroviral therapy should be initiated.
"This is surprising," they wrote, "as HIV clinicians now widely accept universal treatment for personal health and in light of data that persons who become aware of their infection reduce risk behaviors as outlined in the previous CDC guidelines."
Das and Volberding also questioned the screening intervals suggested by both the USPSTF and the CDC for people engaging in high risk behaviors.
"Some advocate for more frequent testing, even every three months, to detect very recent infections, because newly infected persons are known to be substantial contributors to elevated community HIV incidence rates and may personally benefit from immediate antiretroviral therapy," they wrote.
Cite this as: BMJ 2013;346:f2874