Alaska State News

The EPA has vetoed mining at the Pebble deposit in southwest Alaska, exercising a rarely-used power under the Clean Water Act to ban and restrict the discharge of mining materials in waters around the site.

The EPA is exercising its “veto authority” under section 404-c of the Clean Water Act to prohibit mining the Pebble deposit. It’s a move some Bristol Bay tribes have pushed the EPA to take for 13 years.

In 2020, Alaskans voted to change the state’s election system. And last year those changes went into effect in the form of ranked choice voting and non-partisan primaries. But those changes are being challenged, both by a petition and by bills lawmakers will take up this session.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to issue its final decision on the mine at the end of January.

Walking toward Newhalen’s Russian Orthodox church, the faint sound of singing drifts in the cold air. A bell rings. A small congregation gathers inside before going to the icy bank of the river that flows into Iliamna Lake.

Dena'ina and Yup'ik online language classes run through early February. Alutiiq classes ended earlier this month. The classes are 30 minutes, once a week and are open to anyone. People can also take song and dance classes.

Congressionally directed funds will go toward projects in Chignik Lagoon, Dillingham, and Naknek.

GCI’s wireless and internet services came back online late Sunday afternoon after an outage that lasted several hours for many customers across the state.

With cases of the flu, RSV and COVID circulating in the region, organizers ask that people call if they want slavii groups to visit their homes.

An outbreak of the avian flu in Washington state has drastically slowed egg shipments north. Alaska’s communities are feeling the shortage acutely, especially rural areas where options are limited.