Quake rattles Talkeetna: A Magnitude 4.7 earthquake shook Southcentral Alaska late Saturday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Shortly after 5:30 p.m., the quake struck at a depth of 51.7 miles at an epicenter 34 miles west-southwest of Talkeetna and 80 miles north-northwest of Anchorage, where residents reported feeling the temblor as well. Alaskans this week marked the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake responsible for more than 130 deaths.
Smith figures show fewer than 2,000 refugees over more than a decade: Don Smith, candidate for Anchorage School Board, released figures Friday showing that more than 1,800 refugees have settled in Anchorage since 2002. Smith, who drew attention this week after he answered a question about increasing graduation rates by blaming refugee students and students with "special needs" for consuming more than their fair share of resources, doubled down on those remarks the following day, faulting Catholic Social Services for creating the problem. In a raw interview with KTUU posted Friday, Smith denied having complained about special needs students but stood behind his other claims. "I have a special needs grandson, and you know, I don't have a problem, you know, accommodating special needs children. What I'm upset about is the fact that Catholic Social Services and other agencies are bringing literally thousands of people from Africa and from the Middle East ... and then they're refugees, and we're expected to pick up that $17,500 cost to educate, and all the other costs -- free housing, food, and you name it." On Friday, Smith released figures he said were provided to him by Catholic Social Services documenting 929 "primary arrivals" (refugees who come with federal funding) and 954 "secondary migrants" (refugees who arrive from another state and for whom there is no federal funding) since 2002, for a total of 1,883 refugees in about 11 1/2 years. In the release, Smith did not comment on the figures or state whether he felt they supported or undermined his case.
Alaska wolves to undergo Endangered Species Act study: A population of wolves living on southeast Alaska islands will be studied for possible Endangered Species Act protections, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said on Friday. The service said a status review, possibly leading to listing, is warranted for the Alexander Archipelago wolf, based on evidence presented in a listing petition submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace. The environmental groups argue that the wolves, which dwell in old-growth forest areas and hunt mostly Sitka black-tailed deer, have been put at risk by the proliferation of logging roads in the Tongass National Forest. The roads have damaged deer and wolf habitat and brought more human hunters and trappers to the area, the groups argue in their petition. The Fish and Wildlife Service said it will issue its finding in 12 months on whether listing is warranted. The service in 1997 rejected an earlier listing petition, citing wolf protections in the Tongass management plan, but said in its Friday announcement that the new petition presents "substantial scientific or commercial information" justifying a new status review.
Fairbanks more fit than Anchorage?: Anchorage might pitch itself as living a Big Wild Life, but a new report on "America's Fittest Cities" suggests that maybe Alaska's largest community is a bit too ready to embrace a Big Sit on Your Butt In Front of the TV Life, because it's nowhere to be found in the fitness category. Fairbanks, the Interior outpost on the Chena River, is there. It makes the list at number 19, just behind Minneapolis-St. Paul and ahead of Boston, which is, of course, home to the world famous Boston Marathon. But Anchorage, home to the equally famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, is nowhere to be found. And The Active Times, which put together the list, says these aren't just fluff rankings pulled out of thin air. "We didn't want to compile just a reverse list of America's fattest cities based on obesity rates," the website reported in a press release. "So we combed through sets of data that covered fitness measures from aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise levels to, yes, obesity rates, but also general health and wellness indices, and more indirect indicators of fitness such as cities' smoking, drinking and stress levels." Fairbanks ranked "well in strength training and meets national fitness guidelines, which should come as no surprise to those familiar with rugged Alaskan ways." Ah yes, the rugged Alaskan ways. No mention was made of the fact that at 50 degrees below zero in winter Fairbanks residents have to keep moving to avoid freezing to death.