Railroad service expected to resume ‘late Friday night or early Saturday morning’ after derailment
The Alaska Railroad Corp. said the cause of the derailment is still under investigation, but a wheel bearing failure may be to blame.
Business/Economy
Analysis: Why Alaska has more at stake in the partial government shutdown than any other state
Relative to its size, Alaska has more federal workers affected by the shutdown than any other state. It also has the nation’s highest unemployment rate and fastest job losses.
Space company plans satellite launch from Kodiak Island facility
Vector Launch Inc. plans to deploy a satellite for the Dutch company Hiber.
Repairs underway on Cantwell railroad tracks after fuel tanker derailment
Crews are working to empty the tanker of its cargo, which will make it light enough to re-rail, a railroad official said.
Following audit, Alaska authorities call for greater accountability from gas line corporation
The agency said it has addressed “housekeeping” problems found in the audit.
USPS cancels Alaska Bypass Mail pilot project at last moment without giving a reason
Postal Service Alaska spokesman Brian Sperry said Monday the program was no longer being pursued and he could not elaborate further on the reasons.
Research says ocean acidification affects salmon’s sense of smell; plus, a look at winter fishing and fish farms on sailboats
A German engineering company called Next Generation Cargo is planning to farm Atlantic salmon aboard the world’s largest sailboats by the year 2023.
Allegiant to add seasonal air service between Anchorage and Washington state
The Las Vegas-based budget airline will start the flights from Bellingham in May.
Fairbanks and borough take in more than $1 million in pot taxes for 2018
Marijuana sales are taxed at 5 percent, meaning stores within the city and borough did more than $20 million in business.
BP sues state of Alaska in fight over oil royalty payments
BP is counting marine transportation expenses that it should not be, the state argues. BP says the state isn’t following the terms of a 1991 settlement agreement.
Alaska Air Group says it will add thousands of jobs in 2019
The new openings include maintenance technicians, airport operations, customer service, cargo specialists, flight attendants and pilots, with three-quarters of the jobs in Washington state.
What to do when your boss doesn’t connect with you
Workplace advice: You need to fix the problem — if, and that’s a big if, you’re reading the situation correctly.
Bethel panel grants permit for first marijuana business
The owner of a marijuana store in Anchorage cleared the first hurdle in his goal to open the first cannabis shop in the Western Alaska hub.
State investigates Prudhoe Bay wells after a second North Slope well ‘jacked up’ and leaked oil and gas
The incident appears similar to an oil and gas release in 2017 blamed on thawing permafrost and hot production fluids. Alaska oil and gas regulators have set a Feb. 7 hearing on the “mechanical integrity” of Prudhoe Bay wells.
Open & Shut: REI closes Monday for a move, and Sonic is coming to Wasilla
A Fairbanks cannabis retailer just opened an Anchorage shop, and poke shop Glacier Bowl is expanding.
Alaska population drops for second year in a row
2018 was also the sixth year in a row that Alaska had a net migration loss.
BLM: Public meetings tied to drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge have been postponed
The agency was criticized by conservation groups for conducting work related to the environmental review in ANWR even as its offices have been closed during the shutdown.
Banks, credit unions in Alaska offer help to federal workers during shutdown
There’s also been an uptick in the number of federal employees filing for unemployment insurance in Alaska.
Alaska fisheries concern grows as shutdown continues
State operations are not directly affected by the shutdown, but fisheries in Alaska waters intertwine and are closely timed with the federal ones.
Alaska Airlines flight diversion leads to a 30-hour nightmare for passengers
The trouble started with a wait of almost two hours on the ground in Boston in an uncomfortably warm plane.