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Alaska development authority attempts Arctic Refuge seismic surveys for oil – Alaska Beacon

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Alaska development authority attempts Arctic Refuge seismic surveys for oil – Alaska Beacon


An Alaska state agency is preparing to conduct seismic surveys on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge even though a Biden administration moratorium on oil activities there was upheld by a federal judge earlier this month.

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority has issued a notice requesting bids from companies that would carry out permitting and other preparatory work for a future seismic program on the refuge’s coastal plain. These surveys are used by companies to better understand where oil may exist deep underground.

The notice, published Wednesday, said the authority “is seeking a consultant to complete and prepare the environmental field work and documentation required for the pre-development permitting services for multiyear seismic program” on the leases it holds within the refuge coastal plain. The contract would be for one year, with three one-year extensions possible, the notice said.

Wednesday’s call for proposals replaces an earlier version published on July 26. AIDEA officials determined on Aug. 8 that there were such significant amendments proposed that the earlier version of the solicitation should be replaced with an update.

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AIDEA, a state-owned development agency, holds seven leases within the refuge’s coastal plain. A controversial lease sale held in the last days of the Trump administration drew only scant interest and no bids from major oil companies. AIDEA was the main bidder in the auction held on Jan. 6, 2021, and now is the only entity holding leases. The other two companies that bid in the sale have since relinquished their leases.

For now, all exploration activities within the Arctic refuge coastal plain are on hold.

One of President Biden’s first actions on his first day in office was an executive order placing a moratorium on Arctic refuge oil development. On June 1, 2021, the Department of the Interior suspended Arctic National Wildlife Refuge leasing program activities, and it subsequently launched a new study to review environmental impacts that critics said the Trump administration had failed to properly consider before holding the lease sale.

Gleason’s Aug. 7 ruling upheld the Biden administration’s actions as legal, dismissing a lawsuit filed by AIDEA and the state of Alaska.

That decision was disappointing, AIDEA Executive Director Randy Ruaro said in a statement issued the following day.

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“The Department of Interior failed to specify what specific items were deficient in the determination. This lack of clarity will likely lead to an open ended and costly delay. This is another example of why comprehensive permit reform is needed. Agency decisions must be final at some point and not subject to politics and the whims of changing administrations,” he said in the statement.

This is not the first time that AIDEA or other entities have attempted to conduct seismic surveys on the refuge coastal plain.

In 2021, AIDEA announced that it has awarded a contract to SAExploration to do preparatory work for a seismic program. AIDEA had authorized up to $1.5 million for that seismic prepatory work. The contract with SAExploration expired at the end of 2022, according to AIDEA documents.

Earlier efforts by SAExploration and the Kaktovik Inupiat Corp. to win permission for seismic surveys in the refuge coastal plain were stymied by failure to secure permits to disturb polar bears.

AIDEA representatives were not available to comment Thursday on the new attempt to start a seismic program. But critics of Arctic refuge oil development weighed in.

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Brook Brisson, senior staff attorney with the environmental law firm Trustees for Alaska, characterized the plan as puzzling.

“Just last week, a judge rejected all of AIDEA’s claims and arguments that it had to be allowed to do harmful seismic on the coastal plain now. Seeing this request from AIDEA asking for proposals for companies to do seismic is a bit of a head scratcher because nothing has changed in the past week: all oil and gas activities are paused until the legal problems with the Trump leasing program are addressed. It’s time for AIDEA to stop wasting money and give up these leases,” she said in an emailed statement. 

Bernadette Demientieff, executive director of the Gwich’in Steering Committee, said the plan indicates a lack of respect for Native rights. “It is completely insulting and disrespectful considering the court ruled last week that AIDEA cannot move forward with construction while legal problems with the leasing program are addressed, yet they continue to dismiss the concerns of Alaska Native people and the Gwich’in Nation, the very people who will have to live with the destruction they cause,” she said by email.

The Gwich’in Steering Committee represents Gwich’in tribes in Alaska and Canada and generally opposes the development largely because of potential impacts to the huge Porcupine caribou herd that uses the area for calving. Many groups representing the Inupiat people of the North Slope, however, support the proposed oil development.

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Alaska

Flight attendant sacked for twerking on the job: ‘What’s wrong with a little twerk before work’

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Flight attendant sacked for twerking on the job: ‘What’s wrong with a little twerk before work’


They deemed the stunt not-safe-for-twerk.

An Alaska Airlines flight attendant who was sacked for twerking on camera has created a GoFundMe to support her while she seeks a new berth.

The crewmember, named Nelle Diala, had filmed the viral booty-shaking TikTok video on the plane while waiting two hours for the captain to arrive, A View From the Wing reported.

“I never thought a single moment would cost me everything,” wrote the ex-crewmember. TikTok / @_jvnelle415

She captioned the clip, which also blew up on Instagram, “ghetto bih till i D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you.”

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Diala was reportedly doing a victory dance to celebrate the end of her new hire probationary period.

Unfortunately, her jubilation was short-lived as Alaska Airlines nipped her employment in the bum just six months into her contract.

The fanny-wagging flight attendant feels that she didn’t do anything wrong.

Diala was ripped online over her GoFundMe page. GoFundMe

Diala has since reposted the twerking clip with the new caption: “Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.”

The new footage was hashtagged #discriminationisreal.

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The disgraced stewardess even set up a GoFundMe page to help support the so-called “wrongfully fired” flight attendant until she can land a new flight attendant gig.

“I never thought a single moment would cost me everything,” wrote the ex-crewmember. “Losing my job was devastating.”

“Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive,” Diala wrote on TikTok while reacting to news of her firing. “What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.” Getty Images

She claimed that the gig had allowed her to meet new people and see the world, among other perks.

While air hostessing was ostensibly a “dream job,” Diala admitted that she used the income to help fund her “blossoming lingerie and dessert businesses,” which she runs under the Instagram handles @cakezncake (which doesn’t appear to have any content?) and @figure8.lingerie.

As of Wednesday morning, the crowdfunding campaign has raised just $182 of its $12,000 goal.

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Diala was ripped online for twerking on the job as well as her subsequent GoFundMe efforts.

“You don’t respect the uniform, you don’t respect your job then,” declared one critic on the popular aviation-focused Instagram page The Crew Lounge. “Terms and Conditions apply.”

“‘Support for wrongly fired flight attendant??’” mocked another. “Her GoFund title says it all. She still thinks she was wrongly fired. Girl you weren’t wrongly fired. Go apply for a new job and probably stop twerking in your uniform.”

“The fact that you don’t respect your job is one thing but doing it while in uniform and at work speaks volumes,” scoffed a third. “You’re the brand ambassador and it’s not a good look.”

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As Alaska sees a spike in Flu cases — another virus is on the rise in the U.S.

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As Alaska sees a spike in Flu cases — another virus is on the rise in the U.S.


FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU) – Alaska has recently seen a rise in both influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV. Amidst the spike in both illnesses, norovirus has also been on the rise in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it’s highly contagious and hand sanitizers don’t work well against it.

Current data for Alaska shows 449 influenza cases and 262 RSV cases for the week of Jan. 4. Influenza predominantly impacts the Kenai area, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, and the Northwest regions of the state. RSV is also seeing significant activity in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and Anchorage.

Both are respiratory viruses that are treatable, but norovirus — which behaves like the stomach flu according to the CDC — is seeing a surge at the national level. It “causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines,” as stated on the CDC webpage.

This virus is spread through close contact with infected people and surfaces, particularly food.

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“Basically any place that people aggregate in close quarters, they’re going to be especially at risk,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent.

Preventing infection is possible but does require diligence. Just using hand sanitizer “does not work well against norovirus,” according to the CDC. Instead, the CDC advises washing your hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds. When preparing food or cleaning fabrics — the virus “can survive temperatures as high as 145°F,” as stated by the CDC.

According to Dr. Gupta, its proteins make it difficult to kill, leaving many cleaning methods ineffective. To ensure a given product can kill the virus, he advises checking the label to see if it claims it can kill norovirus. Gupta said you can also make your own “by mixing bleach with water, 3/4 of a cup of bleach per gallon of water.”

For fabrics, it’s best to clean with water temperatures set to hot or steam cleaning at 175°F for five minutes.

As for foods, it’s best to throw out any items that might have norovirus. As a protective measure, it’s best to cook oysters and shellfish to a temperature greater than 145°F.

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Based on Alaska Department of Health data, reported COVID-19 cases are significantly lower than this time last year.

See a spelling or grammatical error? Report it to web@ktuu.com



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Sky Watch Alaska: planets align plus the aurora forecast

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Sky Watch Alaska: planets align plus the aurora forecast


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – This is a great time of year to do some star gazing. If you have clear skies in your part of Alaska, take the time to check out the night — and morning — sky.

After sunset, look toward the southwest. Saturn and Venus are snuggled up together (of course, they are more than 800 million miles apart) in the evening sky. They set at about 9:40 p.m. in Southcentral.

Before 9:40 p.m., you can see four planets with the naked eye — Saturn, Venus, Jupiter and Mars. Jupiter and Mars stick around through the morning. Mars is very close to the moon right now.

The Aurora forecast is fairly weak for the next few weeks. That’s not to say there won’t be the occasional burst but overall, solar activity is expected to be fairly low until the beginning of February.

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If you get great pictures of the planets, the sky, or the aurora, don’t forget to send them to Alaska’s News Source.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com



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