Alaska

About 30 software coders put their hacking skills to the test this weekend all for a good cause. The second annual Alaska Hackathon began Saturday at the Mountain View Service Center and wrapped up Sunday. The hackers were challenged with the task of creating developmental software for six non-profit groups, including the Anchorage Parks Foundation and Out North. “The non-profits they have a variety of different needs or projects they want to get developed, but it's a little too expensive to hire a tech company to do these small scale projects,” said Jon Bittner, VP Anchorage Economic Development Corp.

One of the automatic budget cuts triggered by the 2013 federal sequestration is a nationwide furlough of air traffic controllers by the Federal Aviation Adminstration, including the control tower employees at Anchorage's Ted Stevens International Airport. The furloughs for control tower workers went into effect Sunday, April 21. "Due to budget cuts across all government agencies, due to what's called 'sequestration', the FAA is estimating that arrival rate at some airports could be reduced as much as 30 to 40%," Alaska Airlines Spokesperson Paul McElroy said.

This weekend, as the University of Alaska Anchorage prepares to interview four candidates for the position of hockey coach, the Alaska State Hockey Association has issued a vote of no confidence in the school's Athletic Director, Dr. Steve Cobb.  The motion accuses Dr. Cobb of poor leadership and alleges an overall disconnect between the University and the overall Anchorage hockey community. The complete statement from the Alaska State Hockey Association can be read here .  

Red-hot Bobby Hughes registered a hat trick for the Aces, but it wasn't enough as the Stockton Thunder scored four third period goals of a 5-3 win over Alaska in game two of the ECHL's Western Conference Semifinals.  Stockton's win evens the best of seven series at one game apiece. Incredibly, the loss marked Alaska's first regulation defeat when leading after two periods since the beginning of the 2010-11 season.  The Aces were previously 116-0-7 in such circumstances, regular season and postseason combined.

A new exhibit from one of Alaska's most well-known photographers finally made its debut at the Anchorage Museum on Saturday, April 20. “Portrait Alaska is a culmination of about 20 years of work,” photographer Clark Mishler said. “There are some images in the show that go back 20 years, there [are] some that go back 10 years and the majority were shot in the last five years.” On Friday, museum workers were putting the finishing touches on the exhibit.

The Aces received even strength goals from five different players in a series opening 5-2 win over the Stockton Thunder in the ECHL's Western Conference Semifinals.  The Aces take a one game to none series lead, with game two of the best of seven series Saturday night at Sullivan Arena. Zach Harrison, who scored the game's first goal at 10:07 of the opening period, led the Alaska attack with a goal and two assists, while Garry Nunn added a pair of helpers.  Alexandre Imbeault, Alex Hudson, B.J. Crum and Evan Trupp all scored as well.

Two Boston Marathon runners, one from Alaska and the other from New England, who were brought together during the turmoil in Boston on Monday had a happy reunion Thursday night. Brent Cunningham of Sitka had just finished the Boston Marathon when he and his wife tried to console a young woman who was blocked from reaching the finish line because of the explosions. Cunningham gave his marathon medal to Laura Wellington of Cambridge, MA. who was sitting on a bench and crying after several tense minutes of not knowing whether her family was safe.

Interior Alaska has all the makings for a severe flood season, according to the National Weather Service. Although Alaska saw less snow this winter than record 2012 falls, in Anchorage there is more snow on the ground compared to the same time last year. The NWS says that's because of record cold April temperatures combined with snowfall -- which River Forecast Center hydrologist Scott Lindsey says are a recipe for potential flooding along waterways like the Yukon River.  "This year right now is shaping up more like 2009," Lindsey said.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued a stream of emergency orders Thursday restricting sport fishing in many areas of Southcentral Alaska, following low statewide salmon runs in 2012 and similar state action. In a statement summarizing most of the orders, Fish and Game said they were issued in response to “low king salmon abundance over recent years, a below-average outlook for the upcoming season, and uncertainty over how quickly king salmon abundance may rebound.” Last year, the state imposed a series of restrictions on fishing due to lower-than-expected salmon runs across Alaska.

Alaska has the lowest neonatal death rate in the U.S. for a second time, according to a recent medical study . The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a report that says for the first four weeks of a child's life, Alaska averages 1.92 deaths per 1,000 live births. The report is based on the latest full set of birth data collected in 2010. For infants less than a year old that number rises to 3.75 deaths per 1,000 live births, but that's far down from the highs of the 80s. The number of infant deaths then was as high as 8.3 deaths per thousand live births.