Author: Nicole Thompson
Nicole Thompson
Nicole Thompson is known for her in-depth coverage of community events and issues. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy, she keeps her readers informed and engaged. Nicole's dedication to storytelling extends beyond the headlines.
The Alaska seafood industry’s task force unveiled draft recommendations addressing challenges such as collapsing fisheries, workforce shortages, and rising operational costs. During a recent two-day hearing in Anchorage, task force members reviewed proposals aimed at revitalizing the state’s struggling seafood sector. The recommendations range from local initiatives such as community cold storage facilities to international efforts including enhanced marketing campaigns for Alaska fish. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak emphasized the urgency of the task highlighting the January 21st report deadline. Representative Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak expressed optimism stating “We can hit the ground running because we’ve got some good solid ideas.”…
The Alaska Legislature prioritizes energy issues again this year, including efforts to address Cook Inlet’s natural gas shortage. Incoming House Speaker Bryce Edgmon announced potential follow-up legislation to modernize the Railbelt’s utility systems during resource forums. House Bill 307 passed last year established a unified transmission system and incorporated renewable energy sources into Alaska’s energy portfolio. Federal funding of hundreds of millions of dollars will aid energy diversification and infrastructure upgrades across the state. Royalty relief for Cook Inlet producers will likely resurface after falling in the last legislative session. Representative Andy Josephson emphasized reconsidering reduced royalties, arguing the minimal…
The Anchorage Assembly has revived discussion on implementing a proposed 3% Anchorage municipal sales tax, sparking widespread debate this week. At the first meeting of 2025, members passed two separate ballot measures for the April 1st election while postponing a final tax decision. One ballot measure seeks voter approval for a $3 million tax levy to fund new police vehicle acquisitions across Anchorage. The second measure, valued at $3.5 million, proposes a similar levy for replacing service fleet vehicles. To justify these measures, Assembly members emphasized operational efficiency due to minimal individual taxpayer costs. Both require a majority vote to…
William Farmer, an Anchorage inmate, died on Monday after being severely beaten by his cellmate, Lawrence Fenumiai, at Anchorage Correctional Complex. Farmer, 36, was rushed to Providence Alaska Medical Center following the December 17th assault but succumbed to his injuries nearly a week later. The Alaska State Troopers reported the incident as Fenumiai, 33, faces second-degree murder charges in Farmer’s death. Authorities said the assault began when Fenumiai repeatedly punched Farmer in their shared cell. This occurred after the Farmer refused to stop talking after being told to stop. Correctional officers restrained Fenumiai three minutes after discovering the attack. The…
On Wednesday afternoon, two Alaska Airlines personnel maneuvered an aircraft into a ditch while relocating a Boeing 737 at Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage. According to the Department of Transportation, the Alaska Airlines taxiway incident happened at approximately 1:43 p.m., and no passengers or casualties were on board the aircraft. Shannon McCarthy, the DOT’s communications director, described the situation as a minor level-one incident and clarified its low severity. “These kinds of incidents do happen from time to time,” McCarthy explained, adding that no disruptions to airport operations were reported. Alaska Airlines spokesperson Tim Thompson stated that the maintenance team…
The Department of the Interior said Wednesday that they received no bids during the second lease sale for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which Congress required. The US Bureau of Land Management, which is in charge of managing the leasing program established by a 2017 tax bill, originally planned for bids to open. The measure, signed by Donald Trump and passed by the Republican-controlled Congress, sought to allow drilling in the Arctic refuge. The Biden administration declared the lack of bids an affirmation of its stance against oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Acting Interior Secretary Laura Daniel-David criticized the…
Alaska sued the Biden Administration, accusing it of violating a congressional mandate to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The federal lawsuit filed Monday in Alaska US District Court challenges restrictions imposed on drilling leases in the refuge’s coastal plain. The lawsuit argues that the US Interior Department’s December 2024 decision limits surface use and occupancy, obstructing oil and gas development. Alaska officials claim the restrictions make developing 400,000 acres designated for drilling nearly impossible. Governor Mike Dunleavy criticized the administration’s stance, calling it an irrational opposition to responsible energy development. In 2027, Congress authorized oil…
The Environmental Protection Agency plans to unfreeze $150 million in federally funded Fairbanks road projects, benefiting infrastructure development. The EPA announced Wednesday that it intends to suspend sanctions imposed on Alaska over Fairbanks North Star Borough air pollution failures. Sanctions initially imposed in December 2023 halted progress on key road construction projects while Alaska revised its pollution control plan. On Tuesday, the EPA published a draft notice indicating state compliance, setting the stage for a formal announcement in the Federal Register. Jason Olds, Alaska’s Division of Air Quality director, expressed cautious optimism about this long-awaited milestone. “It’s taken 12 years,…
John Wiitala has been named Vice President of maintenance and engineering at Alaska Airlines. Wiitala will be in charge of operations safety and compliance for 237 mainline Boeing aircraft at several maintenance facilities as Alaska Airlines’ new vice president. Wiitala brings 34 years of experience from United Airlines, where he most recently served as vice president and chief engineer. At United, he managed the airline’s expanding fleet, growing it from under 450 aircraft to 944. Wiitala also played a key role in United’s merger with Continental, smoothly integrating multi-fleet operations and enhancing efficiency. As vice president, Wiitala will lead maintenance…
President Joe Biden announced on Monday a sweeping ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling across most US coastlines. Biden’s offshore drilling ban, projecting 625 million acres of ocean, including Alaska’s Bering Sea, aims to minimize environmental risks. However, Biden described this as part of the America the Beautiful initiative to preserve 30% of national lands and waters by 2030. Alaska’s congressional delegation quickly criticized the decision. Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, shared his frustration focusing on the Biden Administration’s unilateral decision-making process. Sullivan, who opposes Biden’s offshore drilling ban in the Bering Sea, stated that the administration failed to…
Authorities have charged a 26-year-old man with first-degree murder following the Thursday shooting of his cabin mate in Circle, Alaska. The Circle Alaska murder case has shaken the small community located 155 miles northeast of Fairbanks. Court documents identify Jerek Boyle as the suspect accused of fatally shooting 48-year-old James Gelvin. Alaska State Troopers allege Boyle fired from inside their shared cabin, hitting Gelvin through the front door. Investigators discovered Gelvin’s body on the porch during their initial response. The charging documents detail a tense day leading up to the shooting. Boyles’s aunt and father reportedly told the investigators that…
Alaska prosecutors confirmed plans to retry former state legislator Gabrielle LeDoux for election tampering following a mistrial late last year. During a court hearing on Monday, Alaska Chief Assistant Attorney General Jenna Gruenstein announced Gabrielle LeDoux’s retrial. LeDoux represented Kodiak in the Alaska House from 2005 to 2009 and Anchorage from 2013 to 2021, facing multiple charges. In 2020, prosecutors accused her of illegally urging voters living outside her district to cast ballots within her jurisdiction. Initially, LeDoux faced five felony and seven misdemeanor charges, but some were dismissed before her trial. In November, her case was brought to court…