Bethel
RSSNews from Bethel, Alaska
Bethel port panel takes up two resignations, tariffs on Aug. 17
Bethel Port Commission lost two members to resignation, leaving it without a quorum for a year, but meets Monday, Aug. 17 to address dock erosion and fee increases.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2d ago2 min readAI
Bethel weighs fixes or demolition for three problem properties
Bethel holds a hearing Sept. 1 on three problem properties it's chased for months — one nearly two years — to decide on fixes or demolition.
by Alaska News6d ago2 min readAI
Bethel weighs a climbing fee to force action on empty buildings
A draft Bethel ordinance would make owners of empty buildings register and pay a fee that climbs the longer they sit vacant: $100, $500, then $1,000-plus.
by Alaska News6d ago1 min readAI
Bethel weighs buying road salt before the river freezes
Bethel is weighing $55,000 in road salt before freeze-up — in a town with no highway in or out, once the Kuskokwim freezes, the barges bringing it stop.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI
Akiachak man faces 7 felony charges in Bethel sexual abuse case
Alaska State Troopers arrested Akiachak man Lewis Lomack, 47, on seven felony charges tied to sexual abuse of a minor, and believe more victims exist. He is presumed innocent.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
IHS picks Sitka and Bethel tribal health groups for first-ever elder care construction program
Indian Health Service picked Sitka and Bethel tribal health groups to build and expand skilled nursing facilities, the first time the federal program has funded long-term elder care in Alaska.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago1 min readAI
Donlin Gold targets 2027 investment decision on $10B Alaska mine
One of Alaska's largest-ever mining projects is nearing a final investment decision within 18 months, with construction potentially starting in 2028 for a 27-year operation producing 1 million ounces of gold annually.
by Alaska News3mo ago4 min readAI
One new rural Alaska prosecutor, against deep tribal-justice cuts
The DOJ is adding one rural Alaska prosecutor while proposing to cut the budgets that fund tribal police and victim services by roughly a quarter.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago2 min readAI
Rural Alaska faces fuel crisis as prices surge, shortages loom
Rural Alaska villages face potential fuel shortages and prices that could double to over $6 per gallon for diesel, adding $6,000 per person in annual costs as war in Iran disrupts supplies.
by Alaska News3mo ago2 min readAIBethel's free bulky-item pickup ends this month
Bethel's one free bulky-item pickup of the year ends in July — last call to haul off the busted four-wheeler before it's your job to get it to the landfill.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
For a roadless village, an airport lease is really about the lifeline
For roadless Chefornak, the airport is the only way in or out — so a routine state lease keeping the FAA's weather and navigation gear running matters more than it sounds.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Bethel's lifeline dock is shifting — and its port commission can't get quorum
The dock that supplies the roadless Y-K Delta with fuel and freight is shifting and eroding — and its oversight commission hasn't reached quorum in 11 straight months.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Bethel's safety and taxi commission is down to two of six members
Bethel's commission overseeing public safety and its huge taxi fleet is down to two of six seats — with a taxi fare hike on its agenda in a busy hub town.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readAI
Inside a bootlegging pipeline into dry Alaska
Troopers say they broke up a major bootlegging operation smuggling thousands of pounds of alcohol into the Bethel region — where booze is banned, so smuggling it is big business.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min readAI
Bethel wants to charge owners who let buildings sit empty and rot
Bethel would charge owners to leave buildings empty, and help demolish burnt-out ones — waiving the cost if the owner rebuilds, or filing a lien if not.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Bethel rewrites its animal code to fight the diseases that actually threaten its dogs
Bethel's animal code was built for rabies — but parvo and distemper are the bigger dog killers in rural Alaska. A draft ordinance would finally cover them.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
A shifting wall threatens Bethel's freight lifeline
A sheet pile wall at Bethel's port is shifting, and the Corps wants an engineering fix — a worry for the roadless Y-K Delta's only real freight lifeline.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Bethel hauled water and sewer deliveries shift early for Independence Day
Bethel shifted hauled water and sewer deliveries one day early Saturday to beat the Independence Day holiday, affecting all three service routes.
by Alaska Newsadded 1mo ago1 min readAI
Bethel moves to repay firefighters shorted on their pay
Bethel's firefighters were shorted on paid days off while stuck at the lower rate meant to offset them — and the city's now moving to pay back what they're owed
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
One Bethel gym burns through $419,000 a year in energy. An audit says it doesn't have to.
A single Bethel fitness center spends $419,000 a year on energy, mostly heating oil at $5.77 a gallon. An audit found it could save $51,000 a year for almost nothing.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Troopers investigate domestic assault in Napakiak under attempted murder classification
Alaska State Troopers are investigating a domestic assault in Napakiak as attempted murder after a woman reported being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend Saturday evening.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Legislative Council approves $70,200 Bethel office lease renewal
The Alaska Legislative Council unanimously approved a one-year lease renewal for the Bethel Legislative Information Office at $70,200, the first of five renewal options available under the original agreement.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago2 min readAI
Ice Jam Near Kalskag Threatens Flooding Along Lower Kuskokwim River
An ice jam near Kalskag on the Kuskokwim River has prompted a flood warning through May 7, affecting communities including Bethel after spring breakup caused water to overflow roads and force early school release.
by Alaska News3mo ago2 min readAIMany Bethel homes still haul water. This money starts to change that.
Many Bethel residents still get water by truck. The state just forgave $3.4 million in loans that starts the design work toward piping it instead.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readAI
Aniak River closed to all king salmon fishing, including catch-and-release
Alaska closed the Aniak River to all king salmon fishing, including catch-and-release, from June 5 to July 25 to protect spawning numbers despite overall Kuskokwim escapement meeting targets.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
America's taxi capital is a roadless Alaska town
Bethel, Alaska has more taxis per capita than anywhere in the U.S. — because in a roadless tundra town, cabs are the bus, and this week the city's weighing what a ride should cost.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Bethel lands $3.4M for water — and won't pay most of it back
Bethel's picking up $3.38M in state water loans that get fully forgiven once spent — a near-free upgrade for a town where plenty of people still haul their own water.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
AVEC proposes 30% jump in Bethel residential energy charge
Alaska Village Electric Cooperative proposes raising Bethel residential energy charges about 30% starting November, citing labor and material costs, with a public hearing set for September 9.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2d ago2 min readAI
Bethel's mayor files to run for her city council seat again
Bethel Mayor Rose "Sugar" Henderson filed a letter of intent to run for re-election to her city council seat in the Oct. 6 election.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI