August 19, 2012 Vol. 36, No. 34

Archive »AJC Issue Archive Departments

Alaska Aerospace lays off 5 Kodiak-based workers

The Alaska Aerospace Corp. has laid off five workers, or 20 percent of its Kodiak workforce, after a launch was delayed a year to 2014.

Kodiak Daily Mirror

Alaska sues over provisions of Voting Rights Act

The state of Alaska on Tuesday sued to block enforcement of provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act.

BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press

State will test Nome miners for mercury exposure

State health officials will test Nome gold miners for mercury exposure.

Associated Press

Analysts: Recession likely without budget accord

A new recession is likely if a stalemate over tax and spending cuts continues between Democrats and Republicans, according to fresh, dire projections by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

ALAN FRAM, Associated Press

Stocks lower ahead of Fed; home sales improve

Stocks fell modestly Wednesday in the United States, following Asian and European markets lower, as traders awaited clues about Federal Reserve action to stimulate the economy.

PALLAVI GOGOI, AP Business Writer

S&P 500 touches highest level since May 2008

The Standard & Poor's 500 index touched its highest point in more than four years Tuesday, but an early rally faded on Wall Street, and stocks were flat by early afternoon.

MATTHEW CRAFT, AP Business Writer

Group: Ads that prompted complaint fixed

The Alaska Public Offices Commission has refused to consider a complaint over campaign ads against the group "Vote No on 2" on an expedited basis.

Associated Press

Kulluk underway en route to Beaufort, second drill ship to depart this week

Things are starting to break for Shell.

Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce

Afghan rocket strike hits top US general's plane

Insurgents fired rockets into an American base in Afghanistan early Tuesday, damaging the parked plane of the visiting chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff, the U.S. military said.

KAY JOHNSON, Associated Press

Obama defends tenor of his campaign, slams Romney

Denounced by his Republican rival for divisiveness, President Barack Obama on Monday defended the tone of his campaign in a combative election year and insisted it's actually Mitt Romney's ads that are "patently false."

CHARLES BABINGTON and JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press

Gas storage operator scrambling for gas to ensure winter supply

A contract dispute has impaired gas supplies for the new $180 million gas storage facility being developed on the Kenai Peninsula, the operator of the facility, Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska, or CINGSA, said Aug. 20.

Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce

72 rescued when sightseeing vessel takes on water

The Coast Guard says responders have rescued 72 people on a sightseeing vessel that began taking on water in Alaska's Glacier Bay after reportedly striking a rock.

Associated Press

Stocks slip on Europe worries, Lowe's miss

Stocks fell Monday as worries flared anew about the European debt crisis.

BERNARD CONDON, AP Business Writer

Apple sets record for company value at $623B

Apple is the world's most valuable company, ever.

PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer

Study: Less religious states give less to charity

A new study on the generosity of Americans suggests that states with the least religious residents are also the stingiest about giving money to charity.

JAY LINDSAY, Associated Press

US considers release of oil from reserves; oil up

A senior Obama administration official says the White House is considering a potential release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Associated Press

State to hold North Slope oil and gas lease sale on Nov. 7

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will hold its annual sale of oil and gas lease tracts in the Beaufort Sea, North Slope, and North Slope Foothills on Nov. 7.

Alaska Journal of Commerce

Stocks up slightly on strong retail results

Stocks drifted slightly higher on Friday after strong earnings from retailers boosted investor confidence.

JOSHUA FREED, AP Business Writer

Treasury changes Fannie and Freddie bailout deal

The government is changing the terms of its bailout agreement with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a way that will shrink the holdings of the two mortgage giants more quickly and will require payment to the government of all quarterly profits the companies earn.

MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer

UPDATED: Nat gas for Southcentral storage facility may be Japan-bound

Marathon identified as producer intending to export nat gas after signing deal with storage facility in 2011.

Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce

Archive »Tourism

72 rescued when sightseeing vessel takes on water

The Coast Guard says responders have rescued 72 people on a sightseeing vessel that began taking on water in Alaska's Glacier Bay after reportedly striking a rock.

Associated Press

Archive »Oil & Gas

Kulluk underway en route to Beaufort, second drill ship to depart this week

Things are starting to break for Shell.

Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce

Gas storage operator scrambling for gas to ensure winter supply

A contract dispute has impaired gas supplies for the new $180 million gas storage facility being developed on the Kenai Peninsula, the operator of the facility, Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska, or CINGSA, said Aug. 20.

Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce

US considers release of oil from reserves; oil up

A senior Obama administration official says the White House is considering a potential release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Associated Press

State to hold North Slope oil and gas lease sale on Nov. 7

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will hold its annual sale of oil and gas lease tracts in the Beaufort Sea, North Slope, and North Slope Foothills on Nov. 7.

Alaska Journal of Commerce

UPDATED: Nat gas for Southcentral storage facility may be Japan-bound

Marathon identified as producer intending to export nat gas after signing deal with storage facility in 2011.

Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce

Archive »Technology

Alaska Aerospace lays off 5 Kodiak-based workers

The Alaska Aerospace Corp. has laid off five workers, or 20 percent of its Kodiak workforce, after a launch was delayed a year to 2014.

Kodiak Daily Mirror

Apple sets record for company value at $623B

Apple is the world's most valuable company, ever.

PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer

Archive »Alaska Politics

Alaska sues over provisions of Voting Rights Act

The state of Alaska on Tuesday sued to block enforcement of provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act.

BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press

Group: Ads that prompted complaint fixed

The Alaska Public Offices Commission has refused to consider a complaint over campaign ads against the group "Vote No on 2" on an expedited basis.

Associated Press

Archive »National Politics

Analysts: Recession likely without budget accord

A new recession is likely if a stalemate over tax and spending cuts continues between Democrats and Republicans, according to fresh, dire projections by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

ALAN FRAM, Associated Press

Afghan rocket strike hits top US general's plane

Insurgents fired rockets into an American base in Afghanistan early Tuesday, damaging the parked plane of the visiting chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff, the U.S. military said.

KAY JOHNSON, Associated Press

Obama defends tenor of his campaign, slams Romney

Denounced by his Republican rival for divisiveness, President Barack Obama on Monday defended the tone of his campaign in a combative election year and insisted it's actually Mitt Romney's ads that are "patently false."

CHARLES BABINGTON and JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press

US considers release of oil from reserves; oil up

A senior Obama administration official says the White House is considering a potential release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Associated Press

Archive »Finance

Analysts: Recession likely without budget accord

A new recession is likely if a stalemate over tax and spending cuts continues between Democrats and Republicans, according to fresh, dire projections by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

ALAN FRAM, Associated Press

Stocks lower ahead of Fed; home sales improve

Stocks fell modestly Wednesday in the United States, following Asian and European markets lower, as traders awaited clues about Federal Reserve action to stimulate the economy.

PALLAVI GOGOI, AP Business Writer

S&P 500 touches highest level since May 2008

The Standard & Poor's 500 index touched its highest point in more than four years Tuesday, but an early rally faded on Wall Street, and stocks were flat by early afternoon.

MATTHEW CRAFT, AP Business Writer

Stocks slip on Europe worries, Lowe's miss

Stocks fell Monday as worries flared anew about the European debt crisis.

BERNARD CONDON, AP Business Writer

Apple sets record for company value at $623B

Apple is the world's most valuable company, ever.

PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer

Stocks up slightly on strong retail results

Stocks drifted slightly higher on Friday after strong earnings from retailers boosted investor confidence.

JOSHUA FREED, AP Business Writer

Treasury changes Fannie and Freddie bailout deal

The government is changing the terms of its bailout agreement with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a way that will shrink the holdings of the two mortgage giants more quickly and will require payment to the government of all quarterly profits the companies earn.

MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer