Ash plumes rise from remote Alaska volcano

Published May 15, 2013

Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska –  Steam and ash clouds are occasionally rising to 20,000 feet from an active Alaska volcano.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory says in a release that an ash plume was reported rising from Pavlof Volcano on Tuesday evening at about 15,000 feet. It extended to the northeast about 100 miles before it dissipated.

The observatory says a pilot reported an ash plume about 20,000 feet on Wednesday, extending east-northeast from the volcano, located about 625 miles southwest of Anchorage in the Aleutian Islands.

The nearest community is Cold Bay, and residents reported seeing a glow from the summit Tuesday night. The observatory says photographs show a lava flow is still active down the volcano's northwest flank.

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Audio: Alaska serial killer wanted execution date

Published April 09, 2013

Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska –  Before he was charged in the slaying of a young barista, Israel Keyes bluntly told authorities in Alaska he would talk about other victims, but only on his terms.

Among his demands: He wanted an execution date, not to languish in a maximum security prison.

Keyes says in recorded interviews with authorities last year there wasn't a jury in the nation that would "not vote for the death penalty."

Keyes committed suicide in his jail cell in December as he awaited trial in the death of Samantha Koenig, who was abducted February 2012 from the Anchorage coffee stand where she worked. Keyes confessed to killing at least seven others, including Bill and Lorraine Currier of Essex, Vt.

Audio tapes were released after the Alaska Dispatch asked the court to unseal them.

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Annual military exercise in Alaska canceled

Published April 05, 2013

Associated Press

FAIRBANKS, Alaska –  U.S. military officials say the massive Northern Edge exercise held biennially in Alaska has been cancelled this year because of the latest federal budget cuts.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner says this year's exercise had been scheduled to run from June 17 to June 28.

Northern Edge involves thousands of U.S. personnel from various branches of the armed forces.

The Alaskan Command says the cancellation does not mean an end to Northern Edge. It says "Alaska remains an extremely important part" in supporting national interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

The cancellation follows a recent Air Force announcement that the annual Red Flag exercise that had been scheduled for this month in Alaska was being canceled, also because of federal budget cutbacks.

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Alaska quake felt in Anchorage and nearby towns

ANCHORAGE, Alaska –  Authorities in Alaska say an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.0 was felt in Anchorage and areas to the northwest.

The Alaska Earthquake Information Center reports that the quake struck shortly after 1 p.m. on Sunday. It was centered 28 miles northwest of Anchorage.

The quake was felt throughout the Cook Inlet region. There were no reports of damage.

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