Global warming effects to wipe out Alaska’s polar bears in 50 years

Fri, September 7, 2007

Polar bear on sea ice
Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The best guess of federal scientists is that polar bears will disappear from the Alaska coast within the next 50 years. A bombshell set of nine studies ordered by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to help him decide whether to put the polar bear on the Endangered Species List was released to the press today at a national news teleconference. The results are significant and, in the words of the scientists, “robust.”

Steve Heimel, APRN - Anchorage

 
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Kott corruption jury selected and ready for trial

Fri, September 7, 2007

Jury selection in the corruption trial of former state legislator Pete Kott finished this afternoon in Anchorage. He’s accused of taking bribes from the head of VECO in exchange for votes in 2006.

David Shurtleff, APRN - Anchorage

 
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CH2M Hill completes purchase of VECO

Fri, September 7, 2007


The round VECO logo is now missing from CH2M Hill’s “new” building on 36th Avenue in Anchorage. Photo by David Shurtleff, APRN.

Oil field services company VECO officially became the property of the curiously-named CH2M Hill corporation today. Company spokesman John Corsi says the name was formed from the first letters of the founders’ last names. Corsi also says the VECO name will be no more.

Lori Townsend, APRN - Anchorage

 
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Challenge to Alaska’s Workers’ Comp Appeals Commission rejected

Fri, September 7, 2007

The Alaska Supreme Court today let stand a portion of a 2005 law that changed how the state handles claims by workers injured on the job. The new system established a Workers’ Compensation Appeals Commission to handle claims where either the worker or the employer were dissatisfied with the original finding. Prior to the 2005 law taking effect, appeals were made directly to the state court system.

Dave Donaldson, APRN - Juneau

 
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Many schools improving in Y-K Delta, but 13 miss AYP goals

Fri, September 7, 2007

Most schools in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta are not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals, which means they need to improve their students’ performance according to state standards. But this past school year three districts in the Kuskokwim area received better scores for their AYP than they have in recent years.

Angela Denning-Barnes, KYUK - Bethel

 
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National School Boards Association convenes meeting in Kodiak

Fri, September 7, 2007

Kodiak is hosting school board members from around the country this week as the National School Boards Association (NSBA) Board of Directors is in town for its annual retreat and board meeting. The NSBA’s President is an Alaskan — Norman Wooten.

Kelly Casey, KMXT - Kodiak

 
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Gray whale population stressed and declining

Fri, September 7, 2007

National Marine Fisheries Service biologist Wayne Perryman has been studying gray whales for nearly 30 years. He says climate change in Arctic summer feeding grounds is stressing the whales. Perryman takes part in a yearly census of north- and southbound populations, where he says the cows and calves are easy to count from shore.

Lori Townsend, APRN - Anchorage

 
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Memorial for Tlingit elder Mark Jabobs, Jr. draws visitors from across America

Fri, September 7, 2007

More than 200 people from across Alaska and the Lower 48 gathered in Sitka recently for a memorial party in honor of Tlingit leader Mark Jacobs, Jr. The head of the Killerwhale Clan passed away in 2005 at the age of 81.

Melissa Marconi-Wentzel, KCAW - Sitka

 
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Alaska News Nightly: September 7, 2007

Fri, September 7, 2007

Scientists say Alaska’s polar bear population will be wiped out within 50 years due to global warming effects. Plus the Kott corruption trial jury is finalized on the same day the VECO building is transformed into the CH2M Hill building. Those stories and more on tonight’s Alaska News Nightly, broadcast statewide on APRN stations.

Individual news stories are posted in the Alaska News category and you can subscribe to APRN’s news feeds via e-mail, podcast and RSS.

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