Bryce Ward

The Fairbanks North Star Borough administration announced two employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

UAF Chancellor Dan White revealed some savings measures he’s considering to cope with the cuts in Governor Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget. Closing three of the older residence halls on campus and moving the Nanooks Hockey games back to the Patty Center are notable. The impact of cuts on the university is also felt in the community, and the Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Bryce Ward wants people to know that.

Bryce Ward was elected mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Tuesday. The former North Pole mayor cruised to victory over three opponents by winning more than half of the votes cast for the mayoral candidates, according to unofficial vote totals.

Work on a $52 million project to expand North Pole’s municipal water system is expected to begin within a few weeks, now the City Council has awarded the contract to a Fairbanks company. The project will extend the system into areas where the groundwater was contaminated by a chemical compound that leaked from the now-shuttered North Pole Refinery more than a decade ago.

North Pole Mayor Bryce Ward is running for mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The 31-year-old construction contractor is the first candidate to declare his interest in replacing Karl Kassel, who recently decided not to seek a second term.

The North Pole City Council tonight will consider awarding a contract to an engineering company to develop a plan intended to protect the community’s groundwater from contamination. The mayor says the plan is needed to ensure the city will be able to expand its municipal water system to areas where the groundwater already is contaminated.

Officials with the Air Force and other agencies are asking members of the public to weigh-in on several proposals to provide drinking water to Moose Creek residents who can’t use their wells because of groundwater contamination. The pollution came from Eielson Air Force Base’s use of firefighting foam in years past. On Monday, North Pole City Council members made it clear they believe expanding their municipal water system to Moose Creek is the best alternative.

A North Pole landmark is being relocated this morning. The owners of the Santa Claus House are moving the 50-foot statue of ol’ Saint Nick as part of a project to expand the gift shop and build new facilities on the site.