Governor Moves to Exert Control Over Alaska Lands and Waters
Monday PM (SitNews) Anchorage, Alaska - Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy recently sent a letter to President Joe Biden asserting state management of the more than 800,000 miles of navigable rivers and 30 million acres of navigable lakes in Alaska, expressing intent for the State to exercise its authority to manage them and the related submerged lands under state law.
After 62 years of federal delay and obstruction, the State of Alaska is asserting its management rights over the vast network of navigable waters and submerged lands it received at statehood and will move aggressively to promote their use and enjoyment to serve the interests of the Alaska people.
Ketchikan Wellness Coalition awarded $300,000 grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support Filipino health equity
Monday AM (SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Ketchikan Wellness Coalition (KWC), in partnership with Filipino community members and PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center, was recently awarded a $300,000 Community Solutions for Health Equity (CSHE) grant offered by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the largest health-focused philanthropic foundation in the nation. The $300,000 grant is issued over three years and will support community engagement and changes within local health systems aimed at improving Filipino community health outcomes. The grant application process was highly competitive receiving over 1,000 nation-wide applications in the first round, of which there were 27 finalists and only ten grant recipients.
How did dogs get to the Americas? An ancient bone fragment found in Southeast Alaska holds clues
Monday AM (SitNews) - The history of dogs has been intertwined, since ancient times, with that of the humans who domesticated them.
But how far back does that history go in the Americas, and which route did dogs use to enter this part of the world?
A new study led by the University at Buffalo provides insight into these questions. The research reports that a bone fragment found in Southeast Alaska belongs to a dog that lived in the region about 10,150 years ago. Scientists say the remains a piece of a femur represent the oldest confirmed remains of a domestic dog in the Americas.
Governor Introduces Legislation to Revitalize Alaska Marine Highway Board
Monday AM (SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy introduced legislation last week to revitalize the Alaska Marine Highway board following recommendations from the 2020 Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Report. The legislation (HB 134) aims to repeal the Alaska Marine Transportation Advisory Board and establish the Alaska Marine Highway Systems Operation and Planning Board.
“As we continue efforts to restructure and modernize the Alaska Marine Highway System, it is imperative the long-term operations and finances are addressed,” said Governor Dunleavy. “Our goal remains the same, to create a more reliable and efficient marine highway system to serve coastal Alaska for years to come.”
Monday AM (SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) finalized the sale of the AMHS vessels Fairweather and Chenega on March 10, 2021, to Servicios y Concesiones Maritimas Ibicencas S.A. of Ibiza, Spain. The sale price for Chenega was $3,111,111, and the Fairweather sold for $2,063,333, for a total of $5,174,444. This sale is a significant milestone in our long-term vision to reshape the Alaska Marine Highway System, said DOT&PF Commissioner John MacKinnon. Selling the fast ferries is a move to right-size the fleet and lets AMHS redirect funds used for their storage to operations. This moves us toward our goal of a more sustainable and affordable level of service for Alaskans.