Wow. Two op-eds in two days in our two print papers telling us that Lindsey Holmes switched parties in order to better represent her constituents. She didn’t do it to further her own personal career ambitions as it would appear. No, sir.

Alaska did not receive any money in the Sandy relief bill that cleared the Senate Monday night.

The bill did include a provision that will allow tribes to directly apply to the federal government for future disaster aid.

A governor needs to request a federal disaster declaration for any issues in a particular state. Senator Mark Begich says that’s changing for tribes.

“It basically gives the tribes, in this case the federal government who recognizes them as a government, a direct request,” Begich said.

The relief bill is designed to pay for Hurricane Sandy aid, not set policy. But tucked inside is a major change in protocol.

Tribal leaders can now appeal directly to the federal government for a disaster declaration – bypassing the state. Robert Holden is the deputy director of the National Congress on American Indians. He says there has been a history of governors ignoring disasters in Indian Country, so this is a welcome change.

He says not every tribe has the resources to do proper damage assessments and appeal directly to the federal government.

“That doesn’t preclude them from still working with the state and going through the state,” Holden said.

So the current method of having a governor declare an emergency on behalf of a tribe or region can still apply to those who need it.

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The Board of Fisheries adopted a new management plan for the Kuksokwim River which includes stronger language supporting the King salmon subsistence fishery.

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Meanwhile, the Department of Fish and Game has just released its long-term research plan to manage – and ideally prevent – future Chinook salmon disasters like the one Alaska experienced last year. The proposal calls for better estimates of young salmon populations on a number of major rivers, and it puts an emphasis on getting more local knowledge of fish stocks.

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About a thousand people gathered for the Alaska Marine Science Symposium last week. Dozens of scientists spoke on topics ranging from ocean acidification, and changes in the productivity of plants and animals in the marine environment to jobs in science. A survey of fish in the eastern Bering Sea had surprising results.

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Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright (l) and Mat – Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness Director Dave Rose (r) stand with bags of supplies for homeless at Wasilla’s Project Homeless Connect event on Jan. 30. Photo by Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage.

Project Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop opportunity for homeless individuals to access state and city resources aimed at helping them find shelter and services. Anchorage’s outreach took place Tuesday, but homelessness is no longer a big city problem.  Smaller communities are facing a need to serve a transient and needy population without the facilities or budget to do so.

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At least six Fairbanks-area Yukon Quest mushers will wear wristbands during this year’s Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. The hand-made bracelets are part of a fundraiser to support a man in Massachusetts who is battling Cancer.

Will Huggins is a homebuilder and carpenter in Mattapoiset, Massachusetts 15 minutes from Cape Cod.

In 2008, the 41 year old was diagnosed with colon cancer.  Doctors removed six inches of his colon.  Afterwards, he had chemotherapy.  Then, a year and a half ago, Doctors found spots on Huggins’ liver.

“Which caused me to have a pretty major surgery where they removed about 75 % of my liver,” explains Huggins, “and also my gall bladder with a half a dozen procedures that went along with it.”  Today, he estimates he’s about 75 percent back to normal, despite a staggering financial burden brought on by the high cost of health care and a lack of insurance.

So, what does this all have to do with the Yukon Quest?  Well, long time Quest volunteer, Ryan Hughes grew up with Huggins.  “We were childhood friends I think as far back as maybe second grade or so.” Hughes smiles.

Hughes lives in Fairbanks.  He spends lots of time with local mushers Brent Sass and Mike Ellis.  When he heard Will Huggins was sick, he wanted to find out if they could help. “I was home this summer and was able to go to one of the fundraisers and just kind of jumped on board,” he says.  “Friends are important to me.”

If you’ve been to a Quest-related event recently, it’s very likely Hughes has asked you to wear a handmade brown and white bracelet.  That’s how Fairbanks musher Paige Drobny ended up with hers.  “It’s on an elastic band with brown beads and there’s letters on them that say ‘I WILL,”” Drobny describes her bracelet.  “The family that started this, the guy who started this, his name is Willy Huggins and so it’s kind of a play on his name but it’s sending a positive message out to you know positive thoughts.  I will finish the Yukon Quest or I will do whatever I put my mind to.”  Drobny will wear her bracelet in the Quest 300 and the Iditarod this year.  Her husband, Cody Strathe will have one on as he runs his team in the 1000 mile Yukon Quest.  The bracelets sell for ten dollars.  Proceeds go to help Huggins and his family.  Some of the money is also paid forward to others who’ve found themselves in similar situations.

A group of friends in Massachusetts get together to make the bracelets and fill orders at local businesses and online.  “It’s been awesome.  I’ve heard stories about like – well, you guys out in Alaska and other parts of the country.  It’s really spread and it’s really an awesome thing, it makes me feel amazing,” says Huggins.

Word of the bracelets spread mainly through social media.  Pictures on his facebook page show an always smiling Will Huggins.  He has three children. “When I was a kid, my parents sort of left me,” says Huggins.  “I was raised by my grandparents and I made a commitment to the universe that I would never ever leave my children and there I was faced with the universe taking that promise away from me and at first I could barely look at my children, I was so ashamed, but I’ve sort of gotten past all that now.  The children in my family are the main thing that keeps me fighting and staying positive.”

Musher and fellow cancer survivor Lance Mackey will also wear an ‘I WILL” Bracelet during this year’s Yukon Quest.  Via Text message, Mackey says he and Will Huggins have a lot in common.

Before Ryan Hughes got Interior Alaska’s mushers on board, Huggins didn’t know anything about  sled dogs or the Yukon Quest.  But the two friends say once Huggins’ health is 100 percent, he’ll come north, preferably to watch the start of the Yukon Quest.  “I think someday in my near future, I’d love to get uot and see Ryan and give it a go,” Huggins says.  “My ultimate goal,” explains Hughes, “is to get Will Huggins and get him on a sled you know!”

Will Huggins says he’ll follow along as 26 teams make their way down the Yukon Quest trail between Whitehorse and Fairbanks.  The race starts Saturday.

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Princes Cruise Lines has agreed to pay $20,000 in fines for dumping water from on-board swimming pools into Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in 2011.

The fine was announced by the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday.

The EPA writes that Princess violated the Clean Water Act in May 2011 when more than 66, 000 gallons of pool water was discharged into the waters of Glacier Bay National Park.

EPA writes there was a software malfunction on the ship the Golden Princess, causing the pool dump valves to open. The malfunction allowed chlorinated water from six of the ship’s pools and spas to dump into Glacier Bay. Princess notified EPA of the discharges by phone the next day.

The EPA said the incident violated the wastewater discharge permit for large cruise ships, which prohibits the discharge of pool or spa water in national parks and refuges. The federal Clean Water Act allows the EPA to fine cruise companies for permit violations.

The Golden Princess can host more than 500 passenger and sails in Alaska during the summer season. It sails to Hawaii, the South Pacific and South America at other times of the year.

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Individual news stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn.

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Bill Allows Tribes To Directly Apply For Federal Disaster Aid

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

Alaska did not receive any money in the Sandy relief bill that cleared the Senate Monday night. The bill did include a provision that will allow tribes to directly apply to the federal government for future disaster aid.

Board of Fishers Adopts New Kuskokwim River Plan

Angela Denning-Barnes, KYUK – Bethel

The Board of Fisheries adopted a new management plan for the Kuksokwim River which includes stronger language supporting the King salmon subsistence fishery.

Fish and Game Releases Chinook Research Plan

Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau

Meanwhile, the Department of Fish and Game has just released its long-term research plan to manage – and ideally prevent – future Chinook salmon disasters like the one Alaska experienced last year. The proposal calls for better estimates of young salmon populations on a number of major rivers, and it puts an emphasis on getting more local knowledge of fish stocks.

Eastern Bering Sea Fish Survey Yields Surprising Results

Joaqlin Estus, KNBA – Anchorage

About a thousand people gathered for the Alaska Marine Science Symposium last week. Dozens of scientists spoke on topics ranging from ocean acidification, and changes in the productivity of plants and animals in the marine environment to jobs in science. A survey of fish in the eastern Bering Sea had surprising results.

Project Homeless Connect Offers Opportunities To Homeless Population

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

Project Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop opportunity for homeless individuals to access state and city resources aimed at helping them find shelter and services. Anchorage’s outreach took place Tuesday, but homelessness is no longer a big city problem.  Smaller communities are facing a need to serve a transient and needy population without the facilities or budget to do so.

Quest Mushers WILL Think Of Massachusetts Man On The Trail

Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks

At least six Fairbanks-area Yukon Quest mushers will wear wristbands during this year’s Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. The hand-made bracelets are part of a fundraiser to support a man in Massachusetts who is battling Cancer.

Public, Scientists Disagree On Cruise Ship Wastewater

Robert Woolsey, KCAW – Sitka

A bill that would relax the wastewater standards placed on cruise ships by Alaska voters is on the fast track in the Senate.

Princess Cruise Lines To Pay $20,000 In Fines

Margaret Friedenauer, KHNS – Haines

Princes Cruise Lines has agreed to pay $20,000 in fines for dumping water from on-board swimming pools into Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in 2011.

The fine was announced by the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday.

The EPA writes that Princess violated the Clean Water Act in May 2011 when more than 66, 000 gallons of pool water was discharged into the waters of Glacier Bay National Park.

EPA writes there was a software malfunction on the ship the Golden Princess, causing the pool dump valves to open. The malfunction allowed chlorinated water from six of the ship’s pools and spas to dump into Glacier Bay. Princess notified EPA of the discharges by phone the next day.

The EPA said the incident violated the wastewater discharge permit for large cruise ships, which prohibits the discharge of pool or spa water in national parks and refuges. The federal Clean Water Act allows the EPA to fine cruise companies for permit violations.

The Golden Princess can host more than 500 passenger and sails in Alaska during the summer season. It sails to Hawaii, the South Pacific and South America at other times of the year.

Following a disastrous year for king salmon runs on Alaska's Yukon River, fishery managers have decided, months earlier than usual, to announce fishing prohibitions for 2013. The fishing ban will apply to the first wave of king salmon headed up the river from the Bering Sea. Generally, two or three “pulses” of the fish make their way to spawning grounds beginning in late Spring and start tapering off mid-summer.

Oil major BP has announced that its top Alaska executive, John Mingé, has been picked to succeed Lamar McKay as chairman and president of BP America, and Janet Weiss, the current Alaska vice president of resources, will be taking over for Mingé as BP's Alaska president. The company says the leadership changes will take effect on Feb. 15.