(KTUU-TV, 2014)
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Late Edition (Feb. 21)
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Sochi Spectators Go For the Pin
At the Sochi Winter Olympics, spectators are finding themselves involved in a sport that doesn't even have a venue -- trading the countless pins made for the event. Channel 2's Blake Essig brings some KTUU contributions to the bustling market.
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Minnick, Olstad Take Lead in Iron Dog?s Final Hours
Todd Minnick and Nick Olstad are just 35 miles away from putting another Iron Dog snowmachine race victory beneath their belts, with Team 16 the first through North Pole Saturday morning. Race standings as of 11:30 a.m. Saturday show Minnick and Olstad as the only team through the 2,000-mile race's final checkpoint at 11:29 a.m. Their closest competition, Marc McKenna and Dusty VanMeter in Team 17, blasted through Nenana, 112 miles short of Fairbanks, at 10:49 a.m.
Mike Morgan and Chris Olds in Team 10 -- the race's longtime leaders, until mechanical issues kept them in Galena for 10 hours of repairs Friday -- left Manley Hot Springs, some 110 miles back along the trail from Nenana, at 9:58 a.m. A thirteenth team has scratched from the race, with Christopher Collins and Lawrence Jones in Team 34 leaving the race after checking out of Ruby Friday night. Channel 2 will air the Iron Dog’s finish live from Fairbanks Saturday. The finish can also be watched live within Channel 2 service areas on the station's mobile app, Airwave AK.
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Minnick, Olstad Win 2014 Iron Dog Snowmachine Race
For much of the 2014 Iron Dog snowmachine race, Team 16’s Todd Minnick and Nick Olstad lagged slightly behind the front-runners -- but as so many Iron Dog victories do, theirs came cold and fast. Minnick and Olstad crossed the finish line in Fairbanks after 2,000 miles of snow and ice from Big Lake -- with a minor detour to Nome -- at 12:09 p.m. Saturday, logging an official course time of 36 hours, 58 minutes and 37 seconds. The win is their first together since 2009, marking Minnick’s second Iron Dog victory and Olstad’s third. The first half of this year’s contest saw Team 10’s Mike Morgan and Chris Olds set a field-beating pace to Nome, consistently ahead despite Morgan’s snowmachine bursting into flames in McGrath. While the fire was extinguished in moments, it set the stage for the lead’s eventual change, with Team 10 spending nearly 15 minutes working on their sleds in Nome – time for which teams are penalized -- versus Minnick and Olstad’s seven minutes. Ultimately, it was a second mechanical issue -- a worn-out track -- that stuck Morgan and Olds in Galena for 10 hours Friday, costing them the race. Minnick and Olstad, who had been stalking them since Kaltag, quickly seized and held the lead through Tanana and into Saturday’s home stretch. Team 17’s Marc McKenna and Dusty VanMeter, who were hoping to establish a three-time dynasty of consecutive Iron Dog wins after victories in 2012 and 2013, took second place, pulling into Fairbanks at 12:31 p.m. This is a developing story. Please check KTUU.com and the Channel 2 newscasts for updates.
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Photos: Iron Dog 2014 Race Finish
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Iron Dog Video: Team 16 Finishing in Fairbanks
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Iron Dog Video: Team 17 Finishing in Fairbanks
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Iron Dog Video: On The Podium
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2014 Iron Dog Finish (Full)
( KTUU -TV )
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Fur Rondy Parade
Lot's of quirky fun at this years Fur Rondy parade.
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Alaska UAVs
UAVs are here to stay in Alaska.
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Quirky Fun at Fur Rondy Parade
Lot's of quirky fun at this years Fur Rondy parade.
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Man Critical, Woman Injured in Glenn Highway Crash
Two people are hospitalized after an early-morning rollover crash on the Glenn Highway. A man is in critical condition.
Anchorage police responded at 2:20 a.m. to the outbound lanes of the highway at the North Birchwood Loop Road.
A white Saturn sports utility vehicle apparently lost control and flipped, and the driver, a 23-year-old man, was ejected and still lying in the road when police arrived.
He is in critical condition, and the 21-year-old female passenger was transported to a hospital with minor injuries.
The crash closed the outbound lanes of the highway until 4:30 a.m.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
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Single Vehicle Rollover Sends Two to Hospital
Two local residents were transported to local area hospitals early Sunday morning following a rollover accident on the Glenn Highway.
Police officials responded to a report of a single vehicle rollover at 2:20 a.m. on Sunday near the North Birchwood exit on the Glenn Highway. According to an Anchorage Police Department press release, police arriving at the scene found a white Saturn SUV flipped over.
The driver, a 23-year-old male, was found in the road, apparently having been ejected from the vehicle during the accident. He was taken to a local hospital, and is listed in critical condition. A 21-year-old female passenger remained in the vehicle, and was also treated for minor injuries.
The outbound lanes of the Glen Highway were briefly closed while police and paramedics assisted the victims, and reopened around 4:30 a.m.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
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'Locks of Love' Mystery Baffles Kodiak Community
With Valentine's Day still fresh in everyone's mind, one Alaskan community is befuddled by the mysterious disappearance of its most unique declaration of love: locks.
"Love Locks", or "Locks of Love", are known world-round by couples and tourists of some of the world's most famous bridges. Couples proclaiming their love place a lock, usually with their names or a love note on it, on the fencing or wiring of a bridge, and then throw the key into the water as a symbol of eternal love.
For some Kodiak residents, however, their "love" has been taken.
According to the Kodiak Daily Mirror, the few dozen love locks from the Fred Zharoff Memorial Bridge went missing last week. Local officials say it wasn't them.
In December, Alaska Department of Transportation officials said it was not acceptable, but that removal of the locks was low on the list of priorities. "In the strict sense of the word, its vandalism," ADOT media liaison Jill Reese said. "We don't let people put up signs if we can help it."
Spokesman Rob Greene says that state workers did not remove the locks, and wouldn't unless ordered to. City public work officials also deny participation in this strange occurrence.
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Marijuana Pioneer Governors Urge Others Not to Jump on the Bandwagon
What once had the entire nation in an uproar now has governors across the nation taking a more careful look into 2014’s most controversial legislation.
Amendment 64 brought Colorado residents a “new high”, while Washington welcomed Initiative 502 with open arms, and snacks, taking the leap into history by becoming the first states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults.
Residents of both states celebrated the new freedom, while entrepreneurs began formulating ways to meet the new public demand, including one creative Girl Scout who took her cookie sales to a whole new level.
But as with any new legislation, there come new responsibilities, as well as new struggles.
While each state’s laws allow for the possession, sale, and use of cannabis, the federal government still deems marijuana an illegal drug listed as a Schedule 1 substance, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. While state law enforcement officials must allow for adults 21 years or older to enjoy the drug as they choose, federal agents may continue to crack down on trafficking, sales, and use, as evidenced in an open letter from Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
“Attorney General Holder made it clear the federal government will continue to enforce the federal Controlled Substance Act by focusing its enforcement on eight specific concerns, including the prevention of distribution to minors and the importance of keeping Washington-grown marijuana within our state’s borders.”
Each state also faces new budgetary concerns. On Wednesday, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper released a proposed spending plan for expected revenues from the sales of cannabis in the state following Proposition AA, which would allow for the establishment of excise and sales taxes on adult-use marijuana.
“When the voters passed Amendment 64, it became the state’s obligation to implement it sensibly and responsibly, mindful of all Coloradans (especially mindful of our Colorado families and children). We have strategies to do exactly that,” Hickenlooper said. “Now, thanks to the revenues generated by Proposition AA, which voters passed last fall, we have the funding to put them in place.”
Brennan Insley/AP
The spending plan calls for $4.5 million in FY 2014, which saw retail sales of marijuana beginning January 1, and $99 million in FY 2015. The first $40 million raised by the 15 percent tax will go to school construction, and allocations made will cover law enforcement and public safety, youth marijuana use prevention, regulatory oversight, and public health.
Even with the estimated collection of $133.6 million in the first year alone, Hickenlooper warns governors of other states to think hard before moving forward with similar legislation in their respective states.
Along with Colorado and Washington, 5 other states are bringing similar legislation to the polls in the near future. Alaskans will be voting this summer on an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana use. Alaska has already decriminalized marijuana and legalized it for medical use. Oregon, California, Massachusetts, and Maine residents are also looking to see comparable initiatives on their election ballots this year, with hopes of full legalization by 2016.
For Hickenlooper and Inslee, it’s about more than just the money. Even with exceeded tax revenues collected from pot sales in January and similar results already noted in February, Hickenlooper states that tax revenue alone is the “absolute wrong reason to even consider legalization of medical marijuana.”
“Our administration is committed to the responsible regulation of adult-use marijuana and the effective allocation of resources to protect public safety and health and to prevent underage use. Indeed, we view our top priority as creating an environment where negative impacts on children from marijuana legalization are avoided completely. Underage use of marijuana can have long-lasting effects on individuals and communities.”
Both governors urge other governors and state officials to carefully examine the effects of marijuana legalization on Washington and Colorado over the next few years before implementing widespread legalization of cannabis in the U.S.
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Rally in the Valley
Like most demonstrations, it included speeches and information tables, but what was unusual about the 'Day of Resistance' was those in attendance were openly carrying firearms of all shapes and sizes. The Day of Resistance is an event among gun rights groups nationwide. It was started last year in response to gun legislation at a federal level. The event kicked off in the Wasilla Lakes Parking lot. Ralliers dressed as the Statue of Liberty, Uncle Sam and a man in a gilly suit waved as people drove down the highway pas the event. "I'm loving it," said Seth Shacklett who wore the gill suit. Most of the crowd of about 100 people carried some form of fire arm. From hand guns in side holsters to assault rifles slung in front, it was a place people felt comfortable carrying. "I just get to hang out with people who love guns as much as I do," said Tyler Nelson. "It's not that unusual really it's Alaska it happens all the time. It's just not very often that we get together in a place like this to do it together," one man said. Though there was a lot of fire power, Bill LeMay with the Southcentral patriots said safety was a priority. The guns were to be unloaded to avoid misfire. "we're all about safety," LeMay said. The event hosted the candidates for the upcoming senate election. Joe Miller, Dan Sullivan and Mead Treadwell are all contending for the republican seat. They each told the crowd about their commitment to gun rights. Justin Giles explained that for him, owning guns protects his other rights too. "It's a peaceful way we can have our fangs and be left alone," he said. They know not to take our first amendment or fifth or any of the others because we're armed ,peacefully armed, but armed nonetheless."
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APD Report Victim in Early Morning Shoot Out
An early morning shoot out at a local VFW Post ended with one victim being transported to a local hospital, fire department officials say.
Around 2:45 am Sunday, police received a call from the VFW Post on Oklahoma Street about a disturbance. First responders to the scene found a man with multiple gun shot wounds to the torso and arms, who was quickly transported to the hospital by AFD.
Witnesses say an altercation broke out in the parking lot between two groups, and ended with an individual shooting into the other group, hitting the victim. The suspect and those with them fled the scene before police arrived.
The victim is listed in critical condition at this time. Police are still investigating.
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New businesses popping up
There has been an increase in business licenses purchased in Anchorage. Check out where the new hot spots are and what their niche is.
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Senator's Bill Would End State's Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
The minority leader of the Alaska Senate is proposing to strike the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Alaska.
Sen. Hollis French (D-West Anchorage/Sand Lake) says the legalization of same-sex marriage across the country seems inevitable.
"This came to me as a matter of conscious," said French.
In a statement Monday, he said the day isn't far off when the U.S. Supreme Court will find state prohibitions on same-sex marriage are "inconsistent with freedom, justice, liberty and equality."
He said passage of his constitutional amendment will let Alaska voters remove what he called a "blot" on the state's constitution.
Senate President Charlie Huggins (R-Wasilla) says activist judges shouldn't be intervening in matters decided by voters.
"You know people what they want to do in their private lives is good, but don't ask me to support it," said Huggins.
In 1998, voters passed a ballot amendment inserting language into the constitution which says marriage must be between "a man and a woman" to be recognized in Alaska.
To pass, the proposal would need two-thirds vote in each the Alaska Senate and House before it could qualify for the ballot.
Alaska's attorney general has said he will defend the state's constitution, which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Channel 2 reporter Adam Pinsker contributed to this report.
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