Black brant geese molt on the North Slope's Teshekpuk Lake. /Credit: Tyler Lewis, USGS

The U.S. Geological Survey says melting Beaufort sea ice is creating new habitat for geese on the North Slope.

Representative Bob Herron, a Bethel democrat, received a second ethics citation tied to his co-ownership of a school bus company.

Joyce Anderson is the administrator for the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. She says the committee received a complaint about Herron's participation in a vote on Senate Bill 57, in April 2013.

"It was regarding the per-pupil rate for transportation, set by the state," Anderson says. "And then, the funding for transportation comes from state funds."

Three fishing companies that operate in Alaska have been fined about $275,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency for pollution violations stretching back to 2008. 

The EPA penalized Blue North Fisheries, the Fishing Company of Alaska, and Golden Fleece Incorporated for failing to monitor and record seafood waste discharges from four of their processing vessels.

The fenced-off torpedo building overlooking the airport long-term parking lot in May 2013. /Courtesy: Peggy McLaughlin

City officials and local residents say they want the WWII torpedo building near Unalaska’s airport torn down.

That’s after pieces of lumber and debris flew off the building into cars in the airport long-term parking lot during last weekend’s windstorm.

City Manager Chris Hladick said at last night’s city council meeting that Troy Larue, from the Alaska Department of Transportation, is in town assessing the building’s condition.

City council will lay the groundwork for several paving projects at their meeting tonight.

Council will hold a public hearing and vote on a budget amendment that addresses paving funds and other items. The amendment would shift $4.75 million left over from previous paving projects into a 2014 paving fund.

Council will also vote on awarding two paving contracts. One would be for about $388,000 with PND Engineers for construction administration services on the paving work. The other is for $344,000 for R&M Consultants to do inspection and testing work.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew medevacked an ailing mariner from a vessel near Cold Bay Monday evening.

The Coast Guard got the medevac request from the 158-foot fishing vessel Arica after a crewman complained of severe abdominal pain.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Grant DeVuyst says the crew hoisted the man aboard the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter in their rescue basket.

Wind gusts at the torpedo building sent debris flying Friday afternoon. /Courtesy: Peggy McLaughlin

A windstorm that lasted through the weekend did damage all over town in Unalaska, including to buildings at the airport, vehicles and road signs.

Several cars were damaged Friday afternoon as strong gusts of wind ripped debris off the state-owned, WWII-era torpedo building next to the long-term airport parking lot.

Ports director Peggy McLaughlin says five cars in the lot were struck by flying scraps of wood.

Updated, 3 p.m. Sunday: The catcher-processor Katie Ann diverted to Unalaska this weekend after a large wave blew out several windows on the vessel's bridge. In the process, about six crew members were injured.

The 295-foot vessel traveled to Unalaska under its own power. The Katie Ann and its crew arrived at the Kloosterboer dock on Saturday afternoon. Unalaska's public safety personnel met them there.

Several cars were damaged Friday afternoon as strong gusts of wind ripped debris off the WWII-era torpedo building next to Tom Madsen Airport.

Both the high wind advisory and the Department of Public Safety’s category one travel advisory have been extended until midnight Friday night. 

The state-owned torpedo building overlooks the airport’s long-term parking lot. Ports director Peggy McLaughlin says five cars in the lot were struck by flying scraps of wood.