Jack Barnwell

2 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Jack Barnwell

An Alaska Railroad work train hauling derailed near the Curry loop track 22 miles north of Talkeetna early Friday morning, according to a railroad news release. Three employees were operating the train while it was traveling. No injuries were reported. The train derailment punctured the locomotive engine's 2,600 diesel fuel tank, however. "ARRC staff worked quickly to notify the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and respond to the spill," the railroad stated.

2 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Jack Barnwell

The Fairbanks City Council will be asked later this month to amend its operating and capital budgets for the second time this year. The proposed budget amendment will be introduced on Monday before heading to a public hearing. Margarita Bell, the city’s chief financial officer, told the council during a Tuesday work session that the city expects a $760,390 increase in revenue and a $1.38 million increase in expenditures.

2 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Jack Barnwell

The Fairbanks North Star Borough has submitted paperwork to accept a $500,000 federal grant to paint the S.S. Nenana sternwheeler at Pioneer Park. Tom Hewitt, special assistant to Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins, provided a brief update to the borough’s Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday, noting the borough had a very narrow window to submit paperwork to the National Park Service. The Friends of the S.S. Nenana successfully submitted a Congressionally Directed Spending request through Sen.

2 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Jack Barnwell

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly will consider an ordinance next week that would change how the borough counts and verifies absentee ballots in future municipal elections. Ordinance 2025-10, sponsored by Assemblymember Barbara Hanaey, would change the requirement for a written verification signature on an absentee ballot to the option to print the name. Haney, speaking for herself, gave a brief overview to the North Pole City Council on Monday.

2 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Jack Barnwell

When the Fairbanks City Council sets its 2025 property tax mill levy on Monday, it will have to weigh how to address paying for part of an $11.5 million settlement approved in March. City property taxpayers could see a noticeable bump on their property tax bill because of that mill rate increase. The city’s tax revenue cap limits how much it can normally collect from property taxes.