Shell Oil has replaced one of its top executives in charge of exploration off the coast of Alaska.
As vice president of Shell's Alaska venture, Pete Slaiby traveled the state to build support for Arctic drilling and defend the program against its critics.
He left Anchorage almost two months ago for a new job at Shell's corporate headquarters. An engineer by training, Slaiby's now in charge of decommissioning and restoring equipment throughout the company.
Spokesperson Megan Baldino says that change is not related to problems the company faced during its last Arctic drilling season.
The maximum extent of Arctic ice on Feb. 25 was the lowest on record. The orange line shows the median extent for that day from 1981 to 2010. (Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center)
The Arctic’s summer ice melt has begun -- earlier than ever.
The National Snow and Ice Data Center reported Friday that Arctic sea ice reached its maximum extent on Feb. 25.
That extent covered about half a million square miles less than average -- and it maxed out two weeks sooner than normal.
The Data Center says ice is still growing in parts of the Bering Sea -- and there could be some spikes later in the season. But they don’t think the overall extent will see a major increase again this season, especially further north.
The Arctic saw lower than average ice conditions across the board this year, except in the Labrador and Davis straits.
The Raiders cool down after their last practice before states. (Annie Ropeik/KUCB)
It’s the end of a historic season for the Unalaska Raiders boys’ basketball team. They took third place in their return to the state 2A tournament, almost 20 years after their last run.
The boys won two of their three games at states, first against Chevak on Monday, 59-31.
They lost to Glenallen in the second round on Tuesday. Coach Kent Russell says it was a close, defensive game, with a final score of just 28-21.
Alaska’s lawmakers are leaving few stones unturned as they look for ways to fill a $3.5 billion deficit. Democrat Bryce Edgmon has been representing the Aleutian Islands throughout the budgeting process.
In this segment of The Exchange, Edgmon discusses the trimmed-down spending plan that’s working its way through the Legislature.
Hladick departed Unalaska in mid-March for his new job as Gov. Bill Walker's commerce commissioner. (Annie Ropeik/KUCB)
For the first time in 14 years, Unalaska is between city managers.
Former manager Chris Hladick left for Juneau this past weekend to start his new job as the Alaska’s commissioner of commerce, community and economic development.
Hladick was Unalaska’s longest-serving manager by a long shot -- before him, the record stood at around six years. But after stints as a manager in Dillingham and Galena, Hladick says he was eager to work in Unalaska’s more active economy.
The Aleutian Marketplace contest was designed to gather ideas and provide funding for new start-up businesses around the Bering Sea.
As the competition heads into its second round, one winner is asking for extra support -- and a chance to turn his recipe for success into the real thing.
"It’s called Captain K Fish Franks," says inventor Kristjan Laxfoss. "But it’s just like a hot dog."
