Recent News

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A third air ambulance will be servicing a southeastern Alaska community.

The Juneau Empire reports Juneau patients got a third option for their medical evacuation needs in early May. LifeMed Alaska joins Airlift Northwest and Guardian as an air ambulance service in the Juneau area. LifeMed Alaska has two Lear jets based in Juneau that can carry two patients each. Their medical team is experienced in pediatric, obstetric and neonatal care as well as adult care.

LifeMed Alaska is the preferred provider for Aetna and Premera.

Company Director of Clinical Services Ted Galbraith says yearly membership will be $49.

LifeMed Alaska has other bases in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Bethel, Palmer, Soldotna and Dutch Harbor.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Two Alaska nonprofits are coming together to build affordable housing for the homeless.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the Fairbanks Rescue Mission and the Greater Fairbanks Area Habitat for Humanity are building simple 20 feet by 24 feet (6 meters by 7 meters) cabins to house the homeless in the coming weeks. The groups describe the upcoming Joshua Community Projects as a healthy, sober and encouraging setting.

Their goal is to build 10 cabins and rent them to employed people in need of affordable housing. Rescue Mission Executive Director Rodney Gaskins says the rent money will be put toward building more cabin communities. The groups plan to build a second Joshua Community in North Pole.

Gaskins hopes begin leasing out cabins by the end of the year.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Sen. Dan Sullivan has become one of the many Republican congress members who have faced criticism at recent events.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports Sullivan got heat at his Friday town hall for comments he made on the Affordable Care Act to a largely progressive audience. Some members of the audience brought red and green placards to visually express their reactions to Sullivan’s words.

According to the report, red was the more frequent color used. The sea of cards turned green when Sullivan said he and Sen. Lisa Murkowski had fought to keep funding for an Alaska library program, public broadcasting and the Essential Air Service Program.

Sullivan stayed after the event to take more questions.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Hundreds of Alaska teachers, including some tenured teachers, may soon be laid off due to state funding uncertainties.

Alaska Public Radio Network reported Friday that the Anchorage School District is looking to terminate 200 non-tenured teachers. Chief Human Resource Officer Todd Hess expects the laid off staff will mostly be first-year teachers. Some second-year instructors and five tenured teachers will also be considered.

Alaska lawmakers have discussed cutting the per-student education formula by 5 percent, which would leave school districts with less money to work with.

Hess predicts the district may also need to cut staff from other departments.

The departing staff will be notified by the end of the school year.

Reports say the Anchorage School Board has already cut 90 teaching positions.

PALMER, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska couple accused of starting a 2015 wildfire was found not guilty.

KTVA-TV reports Greg Imig and his wife Amy Dewitt’s verdict was read at the Palmer Courthouse on Friday. The state had suspected the pair started the June 2015 Sockeye Fire which burned over 11 sq. miles (28.49 sq. kilometers) and destroyed 55 homes in southeastern Alaska.

The couple had been facing 12 charges each for burning without a permit, property damage crimes and reckless endangerment. They were found not guilty on all counts.

A private fire investigator who took the stand on Monday found the state’s investigation into the fire insufficient.

Criminal Division Director John Skidmore says the department respects the jury’s verdict.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The speaker of the Alaska House said he believes there will be a rising up of opposition if a mine proposed near the headwaters of a world-class Alaska salmon fishery advances.

Rep. Bryce Edgmon represents the Bristol Bay region, where the Pebble Mine project is located.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Pebble Limited Partnership disclosed a settlement Friday clearing a way for the company to seek permits.

Edgmon says most residents in the region oppose the project. He also says a large coalition around the country is watching the matter closely.

Tom Collier, CEO of the Pebble partnership, acknowledged there is strong objection to what people think Pebble will build. But he says once people see Pebble’s proposal and the benefits it can bring there will be “a lot of heads turning.”