Fairbanks city police Chief Randall Aragon is on administrative leave again. A week after outgoing Mayor John Eberhart returned Aragon to duty, newly sworn in Mayor Jim Matherly reversed the order Tuesday and put the chief back on paid leave. Matherly said the decision is because an independent investigation into whether or not a private security business operated by the chief constitutes a conflict of interest, is still pending.
KUAC - Fairbanks
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No El Niño, but sparse sea ice, warm ocean water could mean near-normal 2016-17 winter
A National Weather Service meteorologist says warm ocean temperatures and less sea ice suggest this year’s winter could be close to normal.
Vigil held in Fairbanks for John Hartman 19 years after his murder
During a vigil held for John Hartman, Fairbanks residents bemoaned the convictions of the now exonerated “Fairbanks Four,” and authorities’ failure to solve Hartman’s murder.
To cut costs, UAF merges journalism and communications majors
One of numerous cost saving realignments within the University of Alaska system, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Journalism and Communications departments have merged. Professor Charles Mason said the merger should save money, and shore up the journalism department, which has seen a declining number of majors in recent years.
Online fundraiser nets nearly $50K for erosion-control project at Delta-area park
Donors gave nearly $50,000 to an online fundraiser last month to help pay for a project to prevent the Tanana River from washing away the bank that runs along Big Delta State Historical Park near Delta Junction. Alaska State Parks will use the donations as a match for further fundraising to pay for a bank-stabilization project riverbank to prevent further erosion.
Luxury cruises don’t signal Arctic shipping boom, expert says
The company that sent the first big luxury cruise ship through U.S. and Canadian Arctic waters is preparing the Crystal Serenity for a repeat performance in 2017. But one expert believes this year’s historic transit doesn’t mean the Arctic is likely to become a hotspot for global shipping anytime soon.