Olivia Ebertz
News ReporterOlivia was a News Reporter for KYUK from 2020-2022.
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A federal court ruled that the State of Alaska cannot issue gillnet openers for all Alaskans in the federal areas of the Kuskokwim River, at least for now. A local Tribal group requested the order favoring federal management following disagreements between state and federal managers.
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An air quality specialist sent one device to St. Mary’s while smoke from the East Fork Fire was threatening their community. It’s the first one in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
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The Pilot Station sonar has counted 843 summer chum salmon as of June 21, which ADF&G says is below the median of 1,737 fish. And on the Kuskokwim, ADF&G says that this year’s chum run is tracking nearly identically to last year’s record lows.
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People are flying home despite a smoke advisory and fires still burning close to their villages.
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“It's a risk to try to go back because the winds can change, but we really miss home,” St. Mary's resident Maureen Andrews said.
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St. Mary’s village officials who stayed in their village during a massive tundra fire are working tirelessly to keep their community safe. Meet St. Mary’s School District Superintendent Dee Dee Ivanoff.
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As a historically large tundra fire burns to its north, about half of the community of Pilot Station is currently without running water. The fire is about 12 miles from the village, and the Pilot Station mayor said that he may soon have to turn off running water to the entire community.
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Residents of St. Mary's in southwestern Alaska are donating food to firefighters and helping clear brush as the region's largest wildfire looms just a few miles from town.
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Residents of St. Mary's are donating food to firefighters and helping clear brush as the region's largest wildfire looms just 3.5 miles from town.
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Evacuations continue, and federal officials are deploying more resources to the area to try to prevent the fire from reaching the villages. Meanwhile, another fire has ignited nearby and to complicate efforts, the community water tank is leaking.