Arctic Alaska

(Newser) - Greenies are hoping to stop President Bush from opening Alaskan woodland to logging and road construction, the Washington Post reports. Bush unveiled plans yesterday to let developers tackle 2.4 million acres of Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the nation's largest national woodland. But angry environmentalists and the Alaska Forest Association have vowed to block the scheme in court, the AP reports. More »

(Newser) - Alaska—home of America's largest energy reserves—is facing a major energy crunch. The problem is a lack of infrastructure to get natural gas where it needs to be, the Christian Science Monitor reports. "It's the goofiest thing in the world, to be sitting on top of some of the biggest energy reserves in the world and have these challenges," one official says. More »

(Newser) - Global warming and development are impinging on the world’s most famous dogsled race and forcing it to make route changes, the AP reports. Organizers of Alaska’s Iditarod say the 1,100-mile race's ceremonial starting route will shrink from 18 to 11 miles, and the competitive start will be moved 30 miles north. More »

(Newser) - The world's largest sockeye salmon fishery, located in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska, is threatened with destruction by a proposed gold mine, which could become the biggest in North America. The planned Pebble Mine has polarized the state; mining companies, on the one hand, and environmentalists and commercial fishing interests, on the other, are waging fierce lobbying campaigns, the Washington Post reports. More »

(Newser) - Scientists are getting closer to understanding what causes the vivid display of the Northern Lights, National Geographic reports. New satellite research indicates that charged particles from the sun are flowing toward Earth’s upper atmosphere in magnetic streams. The waves of charged particles, called solar wind, likely provide energy for the bright geomagnetic storms and auroras. More »

(Newser) - What American municipality has the most cab drivers per capita? No, not New York. It’s Bethel, Alaska, a town of 5,800 that has 93 cabbies, or one for every 62 residents, the Los Angeles Times reports. With only 10 miles of paved road at their disposal, the cabbies visit a circle of familiar destinations: general stores, post office, hospital, airport. More »

(Newser) - The 50-state quarter program will wrap up next year when quarters for the final five states will be released. The US Mint revealed their designs yesterday: Oklahoma's quarter will feature the state bird, the scissortail flycatcher, and the state flower, the Indian blanket. New Mexico's coin will be marked with a Zia sun symbol. Arizona's will include the Grand Canyon and a Saguaro cactus. Alaska's coin will feature  a grizzly bear with a salmon in its mouth. Hawaii's will be stamped with King Kamehameha. More »

(Newser) - Tourists traditionally head to Alaska for cruises and fishing, but for a growing number, it’s a global warming pilgrimage. Heating up five times faster than anyplace else, Alaska has drawn politicians, scientists, and now tourists to see the melting future, the Christian Science Monitor reports. “This has immediate consequences,” one visitor said. “Perspective you don't get on the East Coast.” More »

(Newser) - Back-room backslaps, pockets stuffed with $100 bills, and the odd Viagra pill—the Washington Post looks at the freewheeling frontier-style corruption exposed in oil-rich Alaska over the last few years, as elected representatives on every level were caught in scandals and many entered guilty pleas. Now the stain is threatening to spill out of Juneau to Washington, with the state's lone congressman and one senator under scrutiny. More »

(Newser) - Maggie, Alaska's only elephant, is leaving Anchorage for California, where the 25-year-old is expected to enjoy warmer climes and the company of fellow pachyderms. With no commercial plane large enough, the US Air Force will handle transportation. Zoo officials were initially loathe to give her up, but acquiesced after two incidents when she couldn't get back on her feet. More »

(Newser) - The US Coast Guard is setting up a base in the rapidly warming Arctic to help patrol anticipated tanker and cruise-ship traffic in the hot new shipping area, reports the New York Times . Officials have also begun discussions with Russia about controlling expected traffic in the Bering Strait. The base, the first in the region, will likely be in Barrow, Alaska, America's northernmost town. More »

(Newser) - The FBI secretly taped phone calls between Alaska Senator Ted Stevens and an oil businessman during an investigation into contract corruption, according to sources. The oil contractor agreed to the tapings last year after he was confronted with evidence that he had bribed other Alaska lawmakers, AP reports. Stevens acknowledged only months ago that he was the target of a corruption probe. More »

(Newser) - An ice island that became a global warming icon when it separated from the Canadian Arctic mainland is now caught in a remote channel—and scientists believe it's stuck there indefinitely. The Ayles Ice Island, born two years ago and slightly larger than Manhattan, had been moving rapidly and was considered a threat to oil and gas installations off Alaska, the BBC reports. More »

(Newser) - Technophiles who've been describing the iPhone as "cool" may not realize that residents of the coolest state want the gadget, too—and they don't much care that AT&T doesn't offer service in Alaska. An enterprising Anchorage Daily News reporter spells out the borderline-unethical details, which begin with getting your hands on the red-hot thingamabob, which goes on sale Friday. More »

(Newser) - Alaskan tribes are so successful in securing no-bid government contracts, they're spurring a federal investigation into conduct by Alaskan senator Ted Stevens, reports Salon . In 1986, Stevens pushed through a law that gave Alaskan companies "small business" preferences—even if they belong to a multi-billion dollar parent corporation and employ no natives. More »

(Newser) - The New York Times blows the whistle on Don Young, the House's most notorious earmarker, who this time managed to slip in $10 million for a boondoggle that's not even in his home state of Alaska. A 2006 transportation bill mysteriously includes funds for a project in Florida that happens to be close to the heart of a Young campaign  contributor. More »

(Newser) - A student glorifying illegal drug use shouldn't be protected by the First Amendment, Ken Starr argued before the Supreme Court yesterday in the case of a high school student suspended for displaying a banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" during the Winter Olympics Torch Relay in Juneau, Alaska in 2002.  More »