By Leroy Polk: Drive slow; early morning crashes on Glenn Highway caused by icy roads
 
 
 
 

By Lisa Demer: A call for help didn’t save a Mat-Su woman. Now her husband is charged with murder
Smith made a court appearance Wednesday. He is jailed on $250,000 bail and a requirement for a third-party custodian, according to troopers.
 
 
 
 

By Liz Raines: Troopers investigate response to deadly domestic violence call
(Suzi) Pearson says Anchorage Police will escort a victim to the AWAIC shelter, regardless of whether police make an arrest. KTVA asked Troopers whether Amy was offered a ride to a shelter that night. AST says it won’t likely have an answer before Thursday.
 
 
 
 
By Daniella Rivera: Muni mulls prosecuting felonies
 
 
 
 
By Kyle Hopkins: Anchorage shatters city record for most cars stolen in a single year
 
 
 
 
By Kalinda Kindle: Snow removal crews work around the clock after conditions worsen
MOA: Winter Road Maintenance Priority Map
 
 
 
 
By Charles Wohlforth: How an expensive mistake created an opening to merge Anchorage utilities
 
 
 
 
By Sidney Sullivan: MAP: See state and territory compliance with the REAL ID Act
Last year, Alaska changed its status from limited extension to extension to meet those requirements, but that will expire on Oct. 10, 2018.
 
 
 
 
By Daybreak Staff: Workforce Wednesday: Digital marketing
 
 
 
 
By Sidney Sullivan, Samantha Angaiak: Alaska will see modest job losses in 2018, new report says
 
 
 
 
By Erin Granger: Infant’s remains reveal unknown civilization

By Leroy Polk: 1 dead in early morning crash, police warn of icy Anchorage roads
 
 
 
 
By Leroy Polk: Wasilla man arrested for murder after woman found dead in Big Lake
 
 
 
 
By Laurel Andrews: Anchorage man who used auto shop as a front to sell oxycodone gets 11 years in prison
 
 
 
 
By KTVA Web Staff: APD Chief on 2018 crime: ‘Every single victim is important’

 
 
 
 
By Devin Kelly: Ahpun the polar bear, a star attraction at the Alaska Zoo, has died
 
 
 
 
By Kyle Hopkins: Troopers called in heated encounter between Alaska drone operator and reality TV star

By Alex DeMarban: Alaska reality TV star broke drone after it hovered over him, then offered to replace it
 
 
 
 
By Steve Edwards: Center Market kicks off 2018 with Alaska pork, eggs, honey and more
 
 
 
 
By Mary Kate Burgess & Patrick Enslow: Nation’s best skiers to take over Kincaid Park

By Tegan Hanlon: Anchorage man who attacked sex offenders hopes his story can be a lesson for others
An Anchorage man who attacked three registered sex offenders last year said he wants his story “to serve as a deterrent” to anyone tempted to turn their pain into violence or take the law into their own hands.

That’s what he did in the summer of 2016. He now faces up to 25 years in prison.

“If you have already lost your youth, like me, due to a child abuser, please do not throw away your present and your future by committing acts of violence,” Jason Vukovich wrote in a five-page letter sent to the Anchorage Daily News in November.

 
 
 
 
By Leroy Polk: Anchorage woman arrested for alleged sexual assault of 9-year-old girl
 
 
 
 
By Nathaniel Hertz: ‘We slept, we prayed. And we ate some kelp’: Coast Guard rescues hunters after trip goes awry
 
 
 
 
By Heather Hintze: Kaladi Brothers donates New Year’s proceeds to AWAIC
 
 
 
 

Congratulations Britney Young!
By Matt Tunseth: With hit show, Eagle River woman living her Hollywood dreams
 
 
 
 
Congratulations Alisa Louangaphay and her crew!
By Victoria Petersen: Meet the teens running a Midtown Anchorage bakery
 
 
 
 
Congratulations Jeff Overbaugh!
By Dave Goldman: Dream realized: Service High’s Overbaugh joins the Vikings
 
 
 
 
By Annie Zak: Shop Talk: Marijuana retailers navigate a new industry
 
 
 
 
By Beth Verge, Blake Essig: End of Watch: Remembering FPD’s John Kevin Lamm, 20 years later
 
 
 
 
By Associated Press: Court recognizes Native American hunting rights in Canada
 
 
 
 
Meet the Women Who Led the Klondike Gold Rush
 
 
 
 
The Legacy of Women In Parks Across Alaska
 
 
 
 
Moms Everyday Alaska – Alice Choi, Hip Foodie Mom: Slow cooker mac & cheese
If the mac and cheese remains in the slow cooker, even when it’s off, it will continue to cook and get hard if you leave it in there.

By Anchorage Dailey News: Downtown homicide just after midnight is Anchorage’s first of 2018
Police were asking anyone with information about what happened to call police at 786-8900 or to call Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP or go to www.anchoragecrimestoppers.com.

Anchorage set a record with 35 homicides in 2017.

 
 
 
 
By James Brooks: Goodbye bail: Alaska switches to new system of criminal justice
 
 
 
 
By Associated Press: Juneau Police Department begins using body cameras
 
 
 
 
By James Brooks: Alaska 2017: A year of almosts and maybes
 
 
 
 
By Richard Mauer: SB 91 goes into effect Monday, changing Alaska’s criminal bail system
 
 
 
 
By Victoria Taylor & Sean Maguire & Kalinda Kindle: AFD: Overnight fire causes significant damage to College Gate Elementary School
 
 
 
 
Drone video of the Downtown fireworks display 2018
 
 
 
 
By Victoria Taylor / Phil Walczak: Anchorage business offers special feast for dogs to welcome in 2018
 
 
 
 
By Scott Gross: Inside the Gates: JBER dental lab jumps to new tech
 
 
 
 
Moms Everyday Alaska: Southwest breakfast protein sandwich

By SeanMaguire: Blizzard warning for Turnagain Pass and Portage Valley
The warning is in effect from 9 p.m. Saturday until 6 p.m. Sunday; the AOEM says the blizzard poses a “significant threat to life or property.”
 
 
 
 
By KTVA Web Staff: Alaska high court backs child pornographer in records requests
 
 
 
 
Wish him the best.
By Victoria Taylor: Nanooks player to miss remainder of season undergoing cancer treatment
 
 
 
 
By Scott Gross: North Pole aurora green-lights couple’s engagement

By Heather Hintze: Three trials likely for four Grunwald murder suspects
 
 
 
 
By KTVA Web Staff: Woman wounded in early-morning Anchorage shooting
 
 
 
 
By Daniella Rivera: Looking back: Anchorage’s deadliest year on record
 
 
 
 
By Emily Carlson: New APD unit arrests 51 violent felons in 2 months
“I can tell you there’ll be 51 people, if they go to jail, that won’t be committing crimes anymore,” says Lt. Michael Kerle, head of the 10-person unit charged with finding the city’s most violent offenders.
 
 
 
 
By Chris Klint: Arkansas trio arrested in wave of Anchorage fraud
Anybody with more information on the suspects or the case is asked to contact APD Financial Crimes Detective Michele Logan at 907-786-8706.
 
 
 
 
By Patrick Enslow: Iron Dog cancels ceremonial start due to ‘tough economic times’
 
 
 
 
By Jack Carney: Residents wonder if new ordinance will help city and homeless population
 
 
 
 
By Kortnie Horazdovsky: KTUU.com’s Top 10 stories of 2017
 
 
 
 
By Sidney Sullivan: Ring in 2018 with these New Year’s Eve festivities in Anchorage
 
 
 
 
By Leroy Polk: GCI subscribers may not be able to watch FOX and ABC next year
Representatives with GCI said that the owners of LLC’s Vision 1, Vision 2, and Coastal Television, which operate the three networks in the state, are demanding a 300 percent fee increase during renegotiation this year.

GCI’s director of communications, Heather Handyside, called this kind of increase “ridiculous.”
 
 
 
 
By Joe Vigil: Activist investor pressures Alaska Communications to sell
 
 
 
 
By Angela Cox: Seven Nonprofit Executives Selected for Sabbatical Program
At their November 28 board meeting, Rasmuson Foundation Board of Directors approved funding for the Sabbatical Program through 2020. The next deadline to apply is October 1, 2018. Details about the Sabbatical Program, guidelines for preparing a proposal, and application materials are available at https://www.rasmuson.org/grants/sabbatical/
 
 
 
 
Kids spend winter break learning about animals
 
 
 
 
By Daybreak Staff: Mic Check in the Morning: Naked Mabel

APD Impaired Driving Enforcement Increased During New Year’s Holiday
The APD Impaired Driving and Traffic units want to remind everyone to slow down, wear your seat belt, and celebrate the holidays responsibly. Don’t drive impaired. Use a designated driver, cab or ride-sharing program. Driving under the influence is a preventable crime.
 
 
 
 
By Daybreak Staff: Kaladi Bros. to hold ‘Dale Tran New Years Day of Giving’ on Jan. 1
 
 
 
 
By Kortnie Horazdovsky: Man pleads guilty to manslaughter for teen’s shooting death
According to Kalytiak, the maximum sentence for manslaughter is 20 years. But because Peterson had not been convicted of a felony at the time of the crime, he’s likely facing a range from five to nine years. Peterson will go before a judge on May 9, 2018 to find out his fate. Kalytiak added that the plea bargain is open on sentencing, so the prosecution and defense will likely argue aggravating and mitigating factors.

Peterson did plead guilty in September to a felony assault charge that stemmed from a kidnapping and robbery investigation. But since that crime occurred after Woodford’s death, the felony won’t count against his sentencing, Kalytiak said.
 
 
 
 
By Kortnie Horazdovsky: Man charged with taking photos of boys in Sitka swimming pool locker room
Wade is currently in custody at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau, according to state records.

The state says he faces a potential sentence of up to 99 years for each count if he’s convicted.

 
 
 
 
By Daniella Rivera: Wanted again: Why was Christian Young released?
 
 
 
 
By Victoria Taylor: 11 Homicides remain open in Anchorage’s deadliest year
 
 
 
 
By Beth Verge: APD: More than 21K calls for service received in November
 
 
 
 
How would health care transparency affect you?
By Associated Press: Ketchikan considers ordinance on health care transparency
Officials with PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center told the city council at its meeting last week that they would like to see a broad debate take place between all stakeholders before a decision is made.

The Ketchikan City Council did not take action on the proposed ordinance last week.
 
 
 
 
By Leroy Polk: New color camera systems bring caribou counting into the digital age
 
 
 
 
By TIFFANY BORGES Frontiersman.com: PARKS & GLENN: Heroes of the ice road
 
 
 
 
By Matt Hickman Frontiersman Regional Editor: PODCAST: Why he chose Lt. Governor and not Governor & thoughts on State income Tax
 
 
 
 
By JACOB MANN Frontiersman.com: Christmas friendship dinner
 
 
 
 
By Barbara Hunt: PALMER BUZZ: The year that was
 
 
 
 
By Samantha Angaiak: Thinking of trying to prepay property taxes? You may want to hold off
 
 
 
 
By Amanda Evengaard: As Alaska Glaciers Shrink, Salmon Populations May Also Decline
 
 
 
 
Craig Medred: Kenai in crisis

DEC is holding a public hearing on the plan in Anchorage on Jan. 4.
 
 
 
 
What Do I Know: Graham v MOA #5: A Much Better Overview Of Why This Case Is Important
Graham v MOA #5: A Much Better Overview Of Why This Case Is Important

Graham v MOA – Overview of Why It’s Important

[This is an overview to explain what I see as a major problem.
MOA = Municipality of Anchorage
AFD = Anchorage Fire Dept
My evidence in this post is minimal. This series of posts will offer detailed evidence.]

There was a wrongdoing. Jeff Graham was intentionally and unfairly denied promotion. This was proven in court to the satisfaction of the jury.
The problem is structural and individual.
The exam process did not follow the MOA Charter requirement that it comply with ‘merit principles’. Instead the oral exam (particularly) was so subjective that graders could give whatever score they wanted. The only remaining evidence was the sketchy notes of the graders. No recordings, audio or video. This subjective exam was abused to prevent Jeff Graham from promoting.
The exam was part of a good-old-boy system that demanded loyalty and punished those who didn’t toe the line.
The wrong doing was aggravated by the response to Graham’s protest of the exam. It was not taken seriously, there was no investigation. Constructive critiques of the exam by two other firefighters were also ignored.
In court, evidence was presented (and not refuted by the Municipality) that the head of the training academy said he would never let Jeff Graham promote.

More…
 
 
 
 
By Laurel Downing Bill: Story Time with Aunt Phil: Cordova’s famous iceworm
 
 
 
 
By Shawn Wilson, Rebecca Palsha: Members of Grammy nominated Alaska band Portugal. The Man home for Christmas
 
 
 
 
By Chef Julie Andrews: Healthy veggie frittata

By Cameron Mackintosh: Fairbanks Four file lawsuits against city
 
 
 
 
By Beth Verge: Federal charges filed in string of Alaska prison overdoses
 
 
 
 
By KTVA Web Staff: Suspected heroin trafficker wanted by APD
 
 
 
 
By Emily Carlson: State says this year’s flu shot is 35% effective
 
 
 
 
By Daybreak Staff: Workforce Wednesday: Construction apprenticeships
 
 
 
 
By Sidney Sullivan: What to do with your tree now that Christmas is over
 
 
 
 
By Photojournalist Joshua Maxwell: What does this tree removal company do different for the holidays
 
 
 
 
By Sidney Sullivan: UPDATE: No unexploded mortar round located along Richardson Highway
 
 
 
 
By Associated Press: Fish and Game closes east side beaches to clamming in 2018
The closure begins Jan. 1 at 12:01 a.m. and will continue through the end of the year. It marks the fourth year in a row there will be no clamming in the area.
 
 
 
 
Moms Everyday Alaska: Ham and gouda quesadilla

By Beth Verge: DOC making improvements to stop smuggling of drugs into facilities
 
 
 
 
By Sidney Sullivan: Richardson Highway shut down for suspected unexploded mortar round
 
 
 
 
By Emily Carlson: AK is 47/50 in pension funding obligation

 
 
 
 
By KTVA Web Staff: Shot fired to break up dogfight in Juneau
 
 
 
 
Unique Nativities
 
 
 
 
The 2018 AMATS Committee Meeting Calendar is available online (https://goo.gl/CV8s2D). Happy holidays and best wishes in the new year!

 
 
 
 
Sitka Nature: Sitka Nature Show #145 – Zach LaPerriere
The November 26th show featured a conversation with Sitka-based woodworker Zach LaPerriere. We talked about spalted wood and an upcoming talk by Dr. Sara Robinson, as well as his process for creating bowls, and what he learns about the wood he uses and the history of the trees that provided the wood. Zach has a website where you can see many of the bowls he has created.
 
 
 
 
Sitka Nature: Dusky Thrush
 
 
 
 
Sitka Nature: Sitka Nature Show #146 – Seri Robinson
The December 10th show featured a conversation with Dr. Seri Robinson, expert on spalted wood. She was in town to give a talk as part of the natural history seminar series. You can learn more about spalted wood at her Northern Spalting website.
 
 
 
 
Sitka Nature: Sitka Nature Show #147 – Jen Cedarleaf and Victoria Vosburg
 
 
 
 
49 Writers, Inc.: Deb Vanasse | Writer, Interrupted
 
 
 
 
49 Writers, Inc: Guest Blogger Meagan Macvie | Publishing (and Learning) with Ooligan Press

 
 
 
 
49 Writers, Inc.: Guest Blogger Meagan Macvie | A Certain Necessary Faith