Shell pulls back from offshore drilling near Sakhalin Island: An environmental group opposed to drilling in the sub-Arctic says that Sakhalin Energy has pulled back on plans for two new oil drilling platforms off Sakhalin Island. Pacific Environment says Royal Dutch Shell and Gazprom decided not to move ahead with a new mobile platform in 2014 and delayed a decision on a permanent platform until 2017. Pacific Environment says that the platforms would threaten the survival of the Western Gray Whale, of which there are only about 150 alive.
Alaska teacher will appear on "Jeopardy": An Anchorage teacher will put her book smarts to the test when she competes on the popular, long-running game show "Jeopardy!" Mary Beth Hammerstrom -- a social studies, economics and criminology teacher at Dimond High School -- will travel to sunny California next week to compete in the show's fourth teacher tournament, a two-week event which will air Nov. 11-22 and will feature 15 grade-school teachers from across the nation. To gain her spot in the tournament, Hammerstrom passed two 50-question tests and endured an interview with Hollywood bigwigs.
Man medevaced from fishing vessel near Cold Bay: A Kodiak-based Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter airlifted a man from a fishing vessel 207 miles northwest of Cold Bay on Friday after he reported severe chest pains. The Coast Guard said in a press release that the 42-year-old man was working on the Seattle-based Blue Gadus fishing vessel when crews responded. The man was safely hoisted aboard the helicopter before being transported to Cold Bay for further transport to an advanced medical care facility.
Fishing Alaska photog featured: Renowned photographer Corey Arnold captures images of his life as a commercial fisherman, in Alaska and abroad. An interview with Arnold about his photo series on Project Pressure, was recently featured on Instagram. Project Pressure is a not-for-profit organization documenting the worlds melting glaciers. To see more of Arnold's photographic adventures, you can follow arni_coraldo on Instagram.
Airplane crash victim identified: Fairbanks Airport Police and Fire officials have identified the man killed in the Cessna 172, a four-seat airplane, crash as 51-year-old Jon Tanner, of Fairbanks. Tanner's next of kin have been notified. Tanner was with a male juvenile and Bruce Nahorney, who both received non-life-threatening injuries, during the crash. National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Clint Johnson, said they still have an investigator on scene.