Associated Press

KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard says a launch from the Kodiak Island rocket launch complex in Alaska will occur as soon as next week.

The Kodiak Daily Mirror reports a U.S. Coast Guard notice released Wednesday states the launch is scheduled to occur at the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska between 7 p.m. on July 29 and 1:30 a.m. on July 30.

Alternative times for the launch are listed as between 7 p.m. on July 30 and 1:30 a.m. on July 31, or between 7 p.m. on July 31 and 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 1.

Mariners are advised to remain clear of swaths of ocean between Kodiak Island and Hawaii during those time periods.

U.S. Army soldiers are stationed temporarily at the launch complex for U.S. Missile Defense Agency testing.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska State Troopers are investigating a traffic crash that killed a driver near Sutton in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Troopers say a vehicle traveling south near Mile 68 Glenn Highway left the road and struck a tree.

Troopers took a call on the crash after 10 p.m. Thursday.

The driver was the only one in the vehicle.

The name and gender of the driver were not immediately available.

FAIRBANKS — A group of 18 Alaska residents have volunteered to clean the overrun outhouses at five Delta Junction state parks.

The Daily News-Miner reported Monday the parks no longer have the money to pay the state for outhouse cleaning, water and trash pickup services. So the 18 residents decided to temporarily solve this smelly problem. They jokingly call their volunteering “potty training.”

The services stopped July 1. And within a few days, the lack of clean outhouses turned into complaints that human waste was lying around campgrounds.

State parks officials hope to sign a contract with a private company by mid-August to again provide these services at all the parks except Fielding Lake.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A fungus that damages trees is making its way through the state of Alaska.

CoastAlaska News reported Thursday the fungus, spruce bud blight, has damaged trees in Southcentral and Interior Alaska, and now has been discovered for the first time in the southeast part of the state.

The infection was discovered in Southeast Alaska in late June, the first reported sighting in the region.

The blight infects Sitka spruce, one of the most common trees in Southeast Alaska’s rainforest.

The fungus is not easy to spot. It’s black and looks like a dead, crusty coating on the buds.

It is unknown how the spruce bud blight ended up in Southeast Alaska.

Forest Pathologist Robin Mulvey says there’s a chance it could be stopped if it did not arrive naturally.

SEWARD, Alaska (AP) — A man serving time for a felony assault conviction has been charged with the attempted murder of another inmate at the Seward prison.

Alaska State Troopers say 57-year-old Rickey Sizemore was arrested Thursday at Spring Creek Correctional Facility.

He is charged with attempting to cut the throat of a man identified by the initials “L.S.”

Prison officials called in troopers after the suspected attack Dec. 22. The second inmate suffered minor injuries.

Troopers say an investigation determined that Sizemore had used a homemade cutting instrument in the attack and had made statements that he intended to kill “L.S.”

Prosecutors in the Kenai District Attorney’s Office determined Wednesday they would file new charges against Sizemore.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A man suspected of crashing a stolen Anchorage vehicle was arrested after leaving a hospital.

Anchorage police say 26-year-old Tyler Wolff was charged Thursday with eight felonies, including robbery and assault.

Police early July 7 investigated a man with a gun outside an east-side fast-food restaurant.

Police say the man ignored officers’ commands and alternately put the gun to his head or in his mouth. The man ran, carjacked a vehicle a block away and drove west on Fifth Avenue toward downtown Anchorage.

After about a mile, the vehicle drove onto the sidewalk, sped through a red light, crashed into another vehicle, sideswiped a cab and ran into a light pole.

Police used a stun gun to subdue the armed man.

Online court records do not list Wolff’s attorney.