Alaska: Alaska Airlines Bans Hoverboards On Airplanes - Hoverboards, gliders, electric skateboards - whatever name they come by, you have probably seen and heard of them. These self-balancing devices are the year’s hottest electronics as people everywhere are snapping them up and buying them as presents for their loved ones. In fact, you probably know at least one person with a hoverboard on their Christmas list. As cool as they are, there’s one big problem: they are not safe to transport on an airplane.

Hoverboard battery ratings are unreliable and have been known to catch fire, which makes them more concerning to transport on a plane. In some models, we’ve found that the batteries claimed to be under the legal limit, but upon examination, they actually exceeded what the FAA allows on a plane. - More...
Thursday PM - December 10, 2015

Alaska: Salvation Army Red Kettle Stolen in Wasilla; Thief Escapes with Hundreds - Wednesday night one of The Salvation Army's volunteer charity red kettles was stolen by a thief in the Mat-Su Valley. The Salvation Army volunteer was finishing their shift in front of the Wasilla Walmart when an unidentified person snatched the kettle and ran. This person was chased by the bell-ringer and an anonymous gentleman from a nearby construction site. The thief ran all the way to the Valley Cinema parking lot before getting into a truck and speeding away.

It is still unsure how much was taken but it is estimated to be in the hundreds of dollars. "I don't know exactly how much was taken but I do know what was lost," said Salvation Army Capt. Jeff Josephson, "warm blankets, food for the needy, work clothes and utility assistance. People put their hard-earned money in our Red Kettles because they know we will turn it into much needed help for their neighbors who are down on their luck. We turn it into hope. This is a tragedy for many people who need our help to make it through the winter." - More...
Thursday PM - December 10, 2015

Southeast Alaska: Southeast Alaska leaders urging stronger international safeguards in shared watersheds - Southeast Alaska leaders yesterday delivered a letter to Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Mallott urging them to join municipalities, Tribes, fishermen, the Alaska congressional delegation and thousands of Alaskans in asking the U.S. Department of State and the Canadian federal government to work together on stronger international safeguards for water quality, fisheries and communities in shared watersheds. The letter specifically recommends the State of Alaska seek such help before finalizing non-binding negotiations with the Province of British Columbia (B.C.).

The letter delivered yesterday was signed by nearly 100 entities across Southeast Alaska and beyond, ranging from municipalities, Tribal citizens, commercial and sport fishermen, seafood processors, and sport fishing and tourism companies. The letter urges the Alaska governor to: “…wait to transmit or sign this Statement of Cooperation until Secretary Kerry has communicated to Canada’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs a request for action under the Boundary Waters Treaty. Of course, your help in securing that request is key to its success. An International Joint Commission reference for the transboundary region would engage the U.S. State Department, elevate the issue to the federal level in both countries, and provide opportunities to secure much needed federal resources.”

“The large-scale British Columbia mining projects within the transboundary Taku, Stikine and Unuk river systems threaten Southeast Alaska’s booming fishing economy, pure watersheds, and the way of life for Southeast Alaskans,” said Cynthia Wallesz, Executive Director of United Southeast Alaska Gillnetters. “We are deeply concerned that Alaska bears too much risk from these mines and there are no binding financial guarantees to insure we will be compensated in a pollution event.” - More...
Thursday PM - December 10, 2015

Alaska Fisheries: Proposed legislation threatens Bristol Bay salmon, culture, jobs - Alaska Tribes, commercial fishermen, business owners and sportsmen expressed their deep disappointment at a bill introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Bill threatens Alaska’s greatest salmon fishery and its tens of thousands of jobs by erasing from the federal Clean Water Act important provisions for wetlands protection.

They say H.R. 4149, introduced by Representative Tom Rice (R-SC), ignores a broad cross section of Alaska Natives, fishermen, hunters and anglers, and business owners, as well as more than one million Americans, who have asked the federal government for immediate Clean Water Act protection for Bristol Bay. The ill-conceived Bill proposes to eliminate an original section of the Clean Water Act known as Section 404(c) that enables the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate development proposals like the Pebble Mine to determine whether such project would pose “unacceptable adverse impact on one or more of various resources, including fisheries, wildlife, or recreational areas.”

“It’s frustrating that Outside lawmakers who have never set foot in Bristol Bay are dictating the choices for our Region’s future. This Bill threatens our culture and way of life,” said Alannah Hurley, Executive Director of United Tribes of Bristol Bay. “H.R. 4149 directly attacks the section of the Clean Water Act that Bristol Bay Tribes asked to be applied to protect our salmon and region from the impacts of mines like Pebble.”

“Despite the fact that more than 60 percent of Alaskans are opposed to the Pebble Mine, we continue to see bad bills like this popping up. It indicates that lawmakers are listening more to foreign mining companies instead of Americans who depend on the wild sockeye salmon of Bristol Bay,” said Nelli Williams, Director of Trout Unlimited’s Alaska Program. “Representative Rice should reconsider his sponsorship of this legislation, which has the potential inflict damage on so many Americans.” - More...
Thursday PM - December 10, 2015

Columns - Commentary

DAVE KIFFER: K-town economy just keep 'Truckin' - "Cruisin and the ships come in,
keep cruisin, like the doo dah man.
Together, dock em four in line,
just keep cruising on."

With the inaugural arrival of the Grateful Dead Cruise Line set for April 1, 2016, Ketchikan's Downtown businesses are already rushing to cache in the latest boom in Our Fair Salmon City's history. First it was mining, then salmon canning, then timber and most recently tourism. The latest K-town economic craze? Snacks!

"It's a win win situation" Chamber of Commerce director J.J. Isotope said. "State law prevents Ketchikan from actually selling marijuana products anywhere near the docks, but there is nothing to limit reefer related items, such as munchies."

Already, according to Isotope, more than a dozen stores primarily engaged in the jewelry trade have rolled over their inventories to meet the new demand.

"Doritos, man, that stuff is gold," said one of the former jewelry vendors who asked to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak for the Chromium Cartel. "We buy the bags for under a buck and we sell them for $20 each. That's double our gem margin. And man, those folks are always hungry. We got your 'edibles' right here!" - More...
Friday AM - December 11, 2015

JEFF LUND: Ready for resolutions - In the next few weeks we’ll draft lists of resolutions. We’ll prepare ourselves to stand on grassy hills with fishing rods, hunting rifles, kettle bells, mountain bikes, ab-rollers, recycling bins, organic Tofurky sausage in hand and piggy banks raised above our collective heads calling out, “Freedom” like William Wallace, ready to attack 2016 like warrior poets to win our freedom over stagnancy.

By this time next year we will be putting the finishing touch on a new existence we thought only applied to The Most Interesting Man in the World or Chuck Norris.

Right.

I read an article about what I already knew. But you know when you read something you already know, and it’s put in such a way that it makes even more sense than it already did and you really like it?

Yeah, that happened. Maybe it was because it reminded me of stuff I should deal with or that I’m on the right track. Either way, the words punched me in the temporal lobe. - More...
Friday AM - December 11, 2015