Wire Service

Tangled up in Blue: Old Tom Bombadil

Tangled up in Blue: Old Tom Bombadil

I’ve been running into Tom Bombadil everywhere lately. The bright blue-eyed, enigmatically mysterious being (man isn’t the right word, but neither is creature) of J.R.R.… Continue reading

Tangled up in Blue: Old Tom Bombadil
Refuge Notebook: Kenai blackfish came from Bethel

Refuge Notebook: Kenai blackfish came from Bethel

By MATT BOWSER Since learning that Alaska blackfish had been found in two small streams in the city of Kenai, I have wondered how they… Continue reading

Refuge Notebook: Kenai blackfish came from Bethel
‘Never Home Alone’ — a tale of creepy, crawly invaders you should invite in

‘Never Home Alone’ — a tale of creepy, crawly invaders you should invite in

Ahhhhh, a quiet night at home. You’ve been promising yourselves that for a long time. A nice dinner. Maybe a movie, or soft music and… Continue reading

‘Never Home Alone’ — a tale of creepy, crawly invaders you should invite in
The Alaska SeaLife Center first installed a heat pump energy system in 2011 and has been operating with 98 percent renewable heat since about 2016. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center)

Seward looks to geothermal energy

The city of Seward is looking to emulate the Alaska SeaLife Center and heat city buildings using seawater from Resurrection Bay. With the approval of… Continue reading

The Alaska SeaLife Center first installed a heat pump energy system in 2011 and has been operating with 98 percent renewable heat since about 2016. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center)

Bob Franken: Discrimination for the ages

Forgive my self-indulgence, but at the very start I need to point out that while I may not be young, I am immature. The immature… Continue reading

Appeals court ruling mixed on Alaska campaign finance laws

JUNEAU — A divided federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that Alaska’s cap on total contributions that candidates can receive from nonresidents is unconstitutional. However,… Continue reading

Ann “Grannie Annie” Berg

Pioneer Potluck: About words we used and fun sayings!

I grew up with all kinds of fun sayings. Our Dad had some that I am sure he made up! Grandpa Cogswell had some that… Continue reading

Ann “Grannie Annie” Berg
‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ fails to justify its existence

‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ fails to justify its existence

There are certain movies that I think we can all agree are just unnecessary. That doesn’t mean that they are bad or good, just that… Continue reading

‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ fails to justify its existence
A rendering of the proposed Soldotna Regional Sports Complex field house. The Soldotna City Council will introduce legislation Wednesday to ask the voters if the city should borrow $10 million in the form of a bond to build the field house. (City of Soldotna)

Soldotna looks to bond for field house project

Designs for a field house at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex are nearly complete. Now, the city of Soldotna is looking at how to fund… Continue reading

A rendering of the proposed Soldotna Regional Sports Complex field house. The Soldotna City Council will introduce legislation Wednesday to ask the voters if the city should borrow $10 million in the form of a bond to build the field house. (City of Soldotna)
In this April 13, 2007, file photo, snowmachines gather around the finish chute during the 2007 Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic race in the HooDoo Mountains outside of Summit Lake, Alaska. (Eric Engman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP

Justices weigh free speech case involving ‘Arctic Man’ event

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday waded into a freedom of speech case resulting from an arrest at Arctic Man, a snowmobile and ski… Continue reading

In this April 13, 2007, file photo, snowmachines gather around the finish chute during the 2007 Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic race in the HooDoo Mountains outside of Summit Lake, Alaska. (Eric Engman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP
Alaska Senate majority expanding finance committee

Alaska Senate majority expanding finance committee

JUNEAU (AP) — The Alaska Senate’s Republican majority says it won’t automatically boot from the caucus any members who fail to vote for the budget.… Continue reading

Alaska Senate majority expanding finance committee
A ballot box logo is seen on election materials from the Alaska Division of Elections in this undated photo. (Courtesy Photo | Alaska Division of Elections)

Uncounted ballot investigated in tied Alaska House race

JUNEAU (AP) — State election officials said Monday they are trying to determine whether a ballot apparently marked for Democrat Kathryn Dodge in a tied… Continue reading

A ballot box logo is seen on election materials from the Alaska Division of Elections in this undated photo. (Courtesy Photo | Alaska Division of Elections)

Cal Thomas: Trump vs. Roberts

Chief Justice John Roberts has been drawn into President Trump’s web. Last week the president criticized the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit,… Continue reading

NASA weighs in on petroleum development in Arctic Ocean

ANCHORAGE (AP) — The federal agency that oversees offshore petroleum leasing has received comment on Arctic Ocean drilling from a surprise source — NASA. Alaska’s… Continue reading

University of Alaska Southeast offers a free Off to College event 4-7 p.m. Wednesday in the Glacier View Room of the Egan Classroom Wing. (Nicole Honeywell | Unsplash)

Kenai Peninsula College Around Campus for the week of Nov. 26, 2018

Public registration for spring semester open Although it’s not easy to tell by looking outside, the fall semester is rapidly coming to an end and… Continue reading

University of Alaska Southeast offers a free Off to College event 4-7 p.m. Wednesday in the Glacier View Room of the Egan Classroom Wing. (Nicole Honeywell | Unsplash)
Schools briefs for the week of Nov. 26, 2018

Schools briefs for the week of Nov. 26, 2018

Soldotna High School Soldotna High School’s National Honor Society inducted the following students: Elliana Bruce,Cloe Milbauer, Ashlyn Asp,Spencer Kapp, Oliva Davis, Colton Sorhus, Thomas Hudson,… Continue reading

Schools briefs for the week of Nov. 26, 2018

Alaska sues feds over ownership of land under river

FAIRBANKS (AP) — Alaska has sued the federal government in a bid to get it to recognize the state’s ownership of the land beneath two… Continue reading

This undated photo provided by America’s Test Kitchen in October 2018 shows a roast turkey in Brookline, Mass. This recipe appears in the cookbook “ATB Holiday Entertaining.” (Daniel J. van Ackere/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Learning for Life: Déjà Vu or Déjà Food?

Déjà Vu or Déjà Food? Let’s face it, leftover foods get a bad rap. What if those leftovers were reimagined and turned into something different;… Continue reading

This undated photo provided by America’s Test Kitchen in October 2018 shows a roast turkey in Brookline, Mass. This recipe appears in the cookbook “ATB Holiday Entertaining.” (Daniel J. van Ackere/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)
Recycling Bin: Rethink, Rearrange, Revisualize

Recycling Bin: Rethink, Rearrange, Revisualize

Rethink, Rearrange, Revisualize Diamond is one of the hardest known materials. Diamond can tolerate high levels of radiation and does not trigger an immune response.… Continue reading

Recycling Bin: Rethink, Rearrange, Revisualize
The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska House control fate remains unsettled with race tied

ANCHORAGE — A Fairbanks race that will decide control of the Alaska House of Representatives could be the subject of a recount after an audit… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)