Latest news with #Anchorage
Forbes
19 hours ago
- Climate
- Forbes
Tsunami Advisory Lifted For Portion Of Alaska, NWS Says
A tsunami advisory was lifted Wednesday afternoon for a portion of the Alaskan Peninsula coastline following a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that shook 50 miles off its coast, after the National Weather Service initially issued a tsunami warning, saying there was an 'imminent' threat. The tsunami alerts applied to the Alaska Peninsula areas from the Kennedy Entrance to Unimak Pass and included the cities of Cold Bay, Sand Point and Kodiak, though most of the region is remote with an extremely small population. The NWS noted 'with reasonable confidence' the Kenai Peninsula Borough locations will not see tsunami impacts. It appeared residents in Anchorage, Alaska, the most populated city in the state, were given mobile phone warnings about the tsunami warning, though the NWS and the Anchorage Office of Emergency Management said the tsunami warning did not apply to the Anchorage area. The 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck at a depth of 12.4 miles, with reports of shaking being made as far as Anchorage, which is some 800 miles away from Sand Point. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts : We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here . Wednesday's quake is one of the largest Alaska has seen in recent years, according to Earthquake Track, which uses data from the United States Geological Survey. The most recent major quakes in Alaska occurred in 2023 and 2021, with 7.2 magnitude and 7.6 magnitude tremors, respectively. Both of those quakes also occurred off the coast of Sand Point, a scarcely populated commercial fishing hub. Alaska is home to multiple active fault lines and the Alaska-Aleutian Megathrust, a major subduction zone, which all contribute to high quake activity in the region. The subduction zone has produced some of the largest earthquakes ever recorded, such as the 1964 Alaska earthquake that measured as a 9.2 magnitude, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center. Local tsunamis triggered by the quake resulted in 122 fatalities. The state's geography and subduction zone makes it particularly susceptible to tsunamis that can strike within minutes as opposed to hours. Further Reading Maps: Tracking a Tsunami Alert on the Alaska Coast After a 7.3-Magnitude Earthquake (The New York Times)
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tsunami advisory issued after magnitude 7.3 earthquake recorded off Alaska coast
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded off the Alaska Peninsula on Wednesday afternoon, July 16, prompting a tsunami advisory. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the earthquake off Sand Point, Popof Island, which is located in the center of the Alaska Peninsula, at just after 12:30 p.m. local time. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initially issued a tsunami warning for the majority of the Alaska Peninsula, spanning up into the southern-most part of Alaska's mainland toward Anchorage. The alert was later downgraded to an advisory by 1:50 p.m. local time. Impacted cities include Cold Bay, Sand Point and Kodiak, the Anchorage National Weather Service shared in an X post on Wednesday afternoon. Impacts may include dangerous coastal flooding and residents are encouraged to move inland and to higher ground. A major earthquake, capable of causing "serious damage," is considered having a magnitude between 7.0-7.9, according to Michigan Technological University. Only about 10-15 earthquakes of this caliber are reported each year. More: Volcanoes in multiple states have been rumbling. What's going on? Is Anchorage impacted by tsunami alert? The Anchorage Office of Emergency Management said in an X post on Wednesday afternoon that the tsunami warning, which Alaska residents may have received on mobile devices, is not a threat to the capital city. "This message was in response to a large magnitude earthquake southwest of Anchorage and the message zones overlapped," the office wrote. Is Hawaii impacted by tsunami alert? The Office of Emergency Management of Hawaii's O'ahu also released a statement on X, reassuring residents that there is no tsunami threat to the island. This is a developing story. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Earthquake off Alaska coast triggers tsunami advisory
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Man who killed Anchorage apartment building manager sentenced to 77 years in prison
Jul. 15—An Anchorage man convicted of killing an apartment building manager in 2023 has been sentenced to 77 years in prison. Jesse Lee Jones, now 28, was convicted at trial in February on first degree murder charges, as well as assault and tampering with evidence in the death of Josiah Goecker, who was the leasing manager at the Midtown Anchorage apartment complex where Jones had been living. Goecker, a 34-year-old Eagle River father who returned to Alaska in 2017 after growing up in a military family with nine siblings, was mourned as a hero for protecting his coworker during the incident. Goecker's brother, Jared Goeker, was elected to the Anchorage Assembly representing Chugiak, Eagle River and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in April. Jared Goecker did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Josiah Goecker was killed on Oct. 23, 2023 when Jones walked to the leasing office of the complex and confronted Goecker, the leasing manager, with a handgun, shooting him "at least seven times" in front of his coworker, according to court documents from the case. He was arrested several days later at the end of a methamphetamine binge, court filings contend. Jones was upset, prosecutors said, after a notice that the lease for the apartment he was living in wouldn't be renewed, court filings said. Jones shot Goecker "for no reason other than his own misplaced anger and complete inability to control his emotions," prosecutor Brittany Dunlop wrote in a pre-sentencing court filing. Jones' defense attorney argued in presentencing filings that his client was desperate on the day he committed the crime: "Not to say his situation or plight was not due to his own doing, but Jones was unemployed, had no other plans for shelter for the winter, and he was having a child too with his fiancée." He didn't have the "tools, knowledge or experience to cope with highly stressful situations" such as facing the loss of housing. He could still have a shot at becoming a "productive citizen" with the right treatment and direction, his lawyer Chong Yim wrote. Jones admitted guilt when apprehended, Yim wrote. "He knew he had ruined the lives of two families and that he could be facing the rest of his life in jail but still wanted to take responsibility," he wrote. At the Friday sentencing before Anchorage Superior Court Judge Andrew Peterson, nine of Goecker's family members testified about their loss, describing Josiah Goecker as a "kind and compassionate husband, father, son, brother, and community member," according to a statement from the Alaska Department of Law.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Alaska Communications Accelerates Network Investment With Plans for 100,000 Locations Served With Improved Broadband Service
As part of its ongoing network expansion, Alaska Communications is launching improved broadband service to approximately 100,000 businesses and homes across Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and the Kenai Peninsula. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Powered by fiber-fed, next-generation fixed wireless technology, Alaska Communications is expanding broadband access rapidly to meet the needs of businesses and families. With speeds up to 300Mbps download and 100Mbps upload, Alaskans can get the connectivity they need to efficiently run their business, work or learn from home, attend telehealth appointments, stream their favorite programs, connect smart home devices, play online games and more. 'We hear from residents across the state that they want reliable, unlimited internet service. If it matters to Alaskans, it matters to us,' said Paul Fenaroli, President and CEO, Alaska Communications. 'With fixed wireless internet access backed by our state-of-the-art fiber network, we're able to give Alaskans a reliable option for connecting their businesses and homes at affordable rates with local support.' Alaska Communications' new service includes: The speed you need: Up to 300Mbps download and 100Mbps upload. Unlimited data: Like all Alaska Communications services, there are no data caps, throttling or overage fees. Reliability: Advances in technology no longer require a line of sight for a strong signal. Affordable: Competitive pricing at a flat, monthly rate. No extra costs: Free installation and equipment with term agreement. Local support: Installed and supported by Alaskans. Small business solutions: Bundle with our other small business services, which include Microsoft 365, helpdesk support and more. 'For businesses, it opens the door to enhanced productivity, better customer service, improved security and the ability to compete in our digital-first economy,' said Fenaroli. 'For families, this means smoother streaming, faster downloads and more reliable connections for remote work, online learning and everyday use.' North Anchorage available now, midtown and south Anchorage coming soon This high-speed service is available for businesses and residents in the following Anchorage neighborhoods: downtown, Government Hill, Mountain View and Airport Heights. The Anchorage hillside, south Anchorage and midtown Anchorage will be available later this summer. By the end of 2025, 50,000 locations in Anchorage alone will be eligible. 'The Anchorage market is seeing demand for high-speed alternatives to cable internet,' said Fenaroli. 'Competition is good for Alaska and we're excited to build on our more than 120-year history to support Alaskans in new ways.' Other service locations coming soon Alaska Communications plans to improve or expand its fiber-fed fixed wireless network in Fairbanks, Juneau and the Kenai Peninsula starting later this year. How to get connected Business: For business service, fill out a service request form on the Alaska Communications' website. About Alaska Communications Alaska Communications, an affiliate of ATN International, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATNI), is a leading provider of mission and life-critical communications infrastructure in Alaska. The company operates a robust and advanced statewide fiber network and a highly diverse undersea fiber optic system that connects Alaska to the contiguous U.S. For additional information, visit
New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
PBS and NPR's Last-Ditch Fight to Save Funding
When Americans took off the Fourth of July holiday to celebrate the country's independence from the British, Paula Kerger, the chief executive of PBS, was busy fighting her own political battle. As a deadline was fast approaching for Congress to decide whether to strip more than $500 million a year from public media, Ms. Kerger was promoting a campaign to save that funding, featuring celebrities like Bill Nye, Kerry Washington and Reba McEntire. 'We were really taking advantage of this moment, when people were talking about our country, to be part of that dialogue because that is what PBS is,' Ms. Kerger said. 'We are very much a part of the fabric of America.' Congress is expected to vote on that proposal, known as a rescission request, by the end of the week. If approved, it would end federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes money to NPR, PBS and local stations. That deadline has led to a rush of last-minute appeals from dozens of public radio and TV executives across the country, from Washington, D.C., to Anchorage. 'It's really important,' said Ed Ulman, chief executive of Alaska Public Media, the largest PBS and NPR organization in that state, where some organizations are in danger of shutting down if the vote passes. 'Everybody is reaching out to their senators and ensuring that this issue is front of mind,' he added. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
