Rural Alaska

ALASKA NEWSREADER

Noorvik overturns century-old ban on traditional dancing

The Noorvik elders council and its Christian church congregation have agreed to dump an old ban on traditional Inupiaq dancing in anticipation of celebrations planned when the village is the first counted in next year's national census.

Settlement near in sex abuse lawsuit, Fairbanks diocese says

The Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks says it's near a financial settlement with a committee representing almost 300 alleged victims of clergy sex abuse.

Alaska's high court hears predator control case

Opponents of Alaska's predator control program in which hundreds of wolves and bears have been killed are arguing their case today before Alaska's highest court.

Men charged with wasting caribou to be tried in Point Hope in February

The trial for five of the eight men accused of wasting caribou near Point Hope will take place in Point Hope the week of Feb. 1, a state judge said Wednesday.

Three now plan to change pleas in Point Hope caribou case

Three men accused of killing and wasting caribou outside Point Hope last summer will change their pleas in coming weeks, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Caribou-killing trial is moved to February

UAF grant to study hot springs near Nome

The U.S. Department of Energy provided a $4.6 million grant to University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers who plan to study the energy-producing potential of a hot springs on the Seward Peninsula.

Newest Bush legislator to join with Democrats in Juneau

Alaska political junkies, meet Neal Foster of Nome: pilot, Stanford grad, marathoner. Here is the part you'll care about most: As the region's new legislator, he will team with Democrats rather than Republicans.

Trial for Point Hope caribou killing delayed

The trial of the men accused of wasting caribou during a hunt near Point Hope, scheduled to begin this month, has been pushed back, according to court records.

Coastal villages prepare for possible flooding from storm

The National Weather Service warned major coastal flooding was possible in east Norton Sound villages Wednesday night as storms hammered much of Western and Northern Alaska during the day.

Blog: The Village

Natives visit D.C. to seek restrictions on drilling

Anti-drilling activists visited federal officials this week to lobby against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and on offshore sites in Alaska.

Storm smacks Bering Sea coastline

An early winter storm has hit much of western and northern Alaska, with the National Weather Service today warning of potential major coastal flooding in Eastern Norton Sound.

Foster's son to take Nome House seat

Neal Foster has been appointed to a state House seat to replace his late father, Rep. Richard Foster, who died last month.

Plan to turn saloon into shelter gets NIMBY response

Plans to establish an emergency housing shelter in downtown Unalaska went down to defeat before the city's planning and zoning commission.

An Island Shelter Meets Resistance From Locals (New York Times)

Alexandria House Twitter page

Angoon hydro project gets preliminary permit

The city of Angoon has been granted a preliminary permit for the Ruth Lake hydropower project. The 20 megawatt hydropower project is designed to produce low cost electricity for Angoon and to eventually provide hydropower to other Southeast communities.

Woman arrested after reporting stolen pot

A Shungnak woman has been arrested on charges of violating her probation and endangering a minor after calling troopers and reporting her boyfriend had stolen her marijuana, troopers said Saturday.

Free forums for young Natives, leaders set

The second of five forums for young Natives and emerging leaders is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the UAA/APU Consortium Library, Room 307.

Swine flu scare hits Diomede

A doctor and nurse flown by helicopter to one of the state's most hard-to-reach villages gave swine flu shots until 2 a.m. Friday as health officials scrambled to inoculate an entire Alaska community for the first time since the flu scare started.

US attorney drops illegal-fishing charge against village officer

Federal prosecutors say an illegal fishing citation against a police officer for the village of Marshall will be dismissed without any fine.

Rural-urban gap widens in Alaska's cost of living

A statewide survey has found the cost-of-living gap has widened between larger cities and remote small communities across rural Alaska.

Swine flu vaccine being sent to Diomede after suspected outbreak

State health officials have redirected 130 doses of swine flu vaccine to the remote island village of Diomede. At least one person has tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

Fairbanks woman dies from swine flu

School H1N1 vaccinations set

Government will work with tribes, Obama tells leaders

Meeting with tribal leaders from across the country Thursday in Washington, D.C., President Obama heard calls from Alaska Natives for help combating suicide, coastal erosion and offshore drilling.

Rural blog: The Village

Photos

PHOTO GALLERY

Representative Richard Foster

Rep. Richard Foster, D-Nome, flips through his Black's Law Dictionary during debate on the House floor at the Capitol Friday, May 1, 1998 in Juneau, Alaska.

Richard Foster represented Nome in the state House for 21 years. He was one of the longest serving legislators. He died in Seattle on October 13 while undergoing dialysis.

Bethel booze

Bethel, a city of 5,700 people is the biggest of 19 so-called "damp" communities in Alaska.

Photo gallery

Rural Tour

Four secretaries from President Obama's cabinet are doing a tour of a part of western Alaska beginning in Bethel.

Yukon flooding destruction in Eagle

Eagle was hit very hard by the spring Yukon River flooding. Early in June, the destruction was evident, even as cleanup continues and reconstruction begins.