An incident commander with the state Division of Spill Prevention and Response, Ed Meggert, says he’s leaving his job because of safety failures during spring flooding on the Yukon River.

ART, EVENTS & PERFORMANCE

TONGASS N.F. – Does the recent sunshine remind you of even more reasons you love the Tongass? Does seeing a doe and fawn or humpback and calf inspire you to write? Do you love this great forest we call home even more when you taste wild berries, smell fresh cooking salmon, feel the satisfaction of crafting a home from locally-milled lumber or gaze out over a wild vista?

Get your tickets! Get your tickets! Spend $5 and have a chance to take home $250,000 through a state authorized lottery in conjunction with the Vietnam Veterans of America. This non-profit aimes to promte and support a full range of issues important to veterans of the Vietnam War and to change public perception of the veterans themselves. Ten percent of what is leftover after the pay-out will go to this non-profit and it’s efforts.

Perseverance Theatre’s Summer Theatre Arts Rendezvous will show the talents of aspiring young actors in various productions: in the musical “Annie,” “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” and a new play, “Kóoshdaa kaa: Stories of the Land Otter Men.” Performances begin Aug. 7 and run through Aug. 15 at the Noyes Pavilion on the University of Alaska Southeast campus.

Juneau Dance Unlimited will bring the Weber Dance Company to Juneau, August 10-21, for a two-week dance intensive and dance performance.

ANCHORAGE – A special prosecutor in Washington was granted authority Tuesday to compel testimony from the Justice Department team that took Sen. Ted Stevens to trial. He was also authorized to subpoena the former lead FBI agent in the Alaska corruption investigation and key witness Bill Allen and his attorney.

ANCHORAGE – A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Anchorage Superior Court seeks to stop development at the Pebble Mine in southwest Alaska, saying the state’s Department of Natural Resources violated the Alaska Constitution by granting permits allowing exploration.

FAIRBANKS – There’s a buzz over this summer’s Interior honey crop.

On a recent Saturday at a popular farmers’ market in South Anchorage, shoppers lined up a dozen deep at the Arctic Choice fresh seafood booth. Next door, two chefs from Sacks Cafe grilled up samples of wild Alaska salmon behind Trout Unlimited’s WhyWild campaign booth to promote wild Bristol Bay salmon.