News

State and local leaders are trying to determine if natural gas from Cook Inlet gas is viable option for interior’s need for a lower cost, cleaner energy source. As KUAC’s Dan Bross reports, at issue are some of the same costs that derailed an earlier focus to bring in North Slope gas.

The State Department of Transportation is considering raising the speed limit on a stretch of the Richardson Highway through North Pole from 55 to 65 miles per hour. But the agency first wants to make some changes to the highway to ensure safety.

Fairbanks, AK - Yukon Quest mushers dropped off all the food and gear they’ll need for the 1000-mile sled dog race in both Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon over the weekend.  Race Manager Alex Olesen says the race becomes more of a reality once all that gear has been delivered.

“I mean we’re not ready, we’re never all the way be ready,” he said. “There’s always going to be things that come, there’s things that will break, there’s things that will change, but now it’s on!” said Olesen.

KUAC's host Lori Neufeld is joined in the studio by Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre's Andrew Cassel and Rebecca George. KUAC and FST are partnering for a series of events surrounding Season 2 of PBS' Shakespeare Uncoverd airing in February on KUAC TV. Music and discussion inspired by Shakespeare, the Gwichi'in inspired Midsummer Night' Dream and Shakespeare Uncovered are all covered.

Two reports shared with Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Board this week provide insight on the experience and post high school track of local graduates.  As KUAC’s Dan Bross reports, more kids have been taking college assessment tests, but that has yet to translate into more moving on to post secondary education.

(Fairbanks, AK.) The Russian military is making regular incursions into U.S. airspace in the Alaska region. The Air Force is responding with F-22’s, supported by the Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th Refueling Wing. Commander Colonel Mark Hedlund says the missions are in reaction to what he describes as Russia trying to re-establish itself as a super power.

“Some of that activity is flying their training missions close to the “ADIZ” in the Alaska zone, and so when they get to that area, and they (U.S. Air Force) launch the F-22’s, we launch with them.”

Young Fangs joined Lori Neufeld in the KUAC studio to discuss and play a few tracks off an upcoming untitled record. Young Fangs have been working hard on a proper debut studio album after finding success playing shows around Alaska these last few years. Their songs tend to have uplifting themes and catchy choruses that find you bobbing your head before you know it. Young Fangs were a pleasure to have here at KUAC and shared charismatic stories of the beginnings of the band and their progress since.

Fairbanks, AK - Alaska Governor Bill Walker issued an Administrative Order late last week that directs the Commissioner of Commerce, Community and Economic Development to lead a collaborative statewide effort to improve consumer energy and address energy costs in the Interior.