British Columbia

The Nunaka Valley softball team scored four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to blow out Kirkland, Washington, 9-2 to advance to Saturday's Junior League Softball World Series Championship Game.  The 12 to 14 year old girls from Anchorage, who finished last year's tournament 3 and 2 and also qualified a Little League team for a World Series in 2009, will play for its first international championship against Layritz Little League, from Victoria,...

The Anchorage Health Department is investigating an outbreak of stomach illness after a meeting at the Dena'ina Center last week. Health officials confirm that 27 people who attended the Downtown Rotary Club luncheon last Tuesday came down with stomach illness, diarrhea and nausea. Most people recovered within 4 to 6 hours, according to the health department. Officials say initial signs point to potentially undercooked fiddlehead ferns from British Columbia. The ferns contain a natural toxin that can cause stomach illness.

by John Carpenter Wednesday, February 24, 2010 VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Thursday will be a big day for Alaska's skiers. Up at Whistler Kikkan Randall and Holly Brooks are scheduled to compete in the women's Nordic 4-by-5k relay. The relay is an event both women have been looking forward to. Randall is scheduled to start the race for the U.S. women with Brooks skiing the second leg. That means half of the U.S. relay team will come from Alaska, which is impressive.

The Coast Guard rescued two men and a pet dog from two 39-foot vessels that had lashed together in Gem Cove, 23 miles east of Ketchikan. The Canadian command center in Prince Rupert, British Columbia first notified the Coast Guard. The two men aboard the vessels had reported they were taking on water in Gem Cove. "These men made the right decision and contacted the Coast Guard when their situation began to deteriorate," said Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Harkins, a watchstander at the Sector Juneau command center.

The UAA men's basketball team began the second half of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule by avenging one of its prior defeats.  The Seawolves torched Central Washington, 98-68 to break a tie with the Wildcats in the conference standings.  UAA moves into sole possession of third place in league play at 6 and 4. Kyle Fossman tossed in 26 points while Teancum Stafford and Abebe Demissie scored 18 points apiece as UAA connected on...

After qualifying teams to World Series championship tournaments in both 2009 and 2011, Nunaka Valley Little League of Anchorage broke through on the big stage in 2012.  They claimed the title of the Junior League Softball World Series for 12 to 14 year olds, becoming the first Alaskan baseball or softball team to reach such heights.  Following a victory in the state tournament, Nunaka Valley went undefeated in the west regional against teams from...

by John Carpenter Friday, February 12, 2010 VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Kerry Weiland has been working toward this moment for a long time. The 29-year-old from Palmer is a member of the U.S. women's hockey team, and she expects Friday's opening ceremonies to be very emotional. "To, you know, to be there, to walk on that world stage and -- I think it will be hard to describe," Weiland said. "I have a hard time describing or even thinking of how it's going to feel, but I'm sure I'll just have a huge smile on my face, and a light heart and a happy heart, and just be grateful for everything that -- the opportunities I've been given.

by John Carpenter and Andrew Hinkelman Monday, February 22, 2010 VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Palmer's Kerry Weiland scored the first goal of her Olympic career in a 9-1 win over Sweden in the first women's hockey semifinal on Monday. Team USA will play Canada for the gold medal on Thursday after Canada beat Finland 5-0 in the other semifinal game Monday. The Americans are guaranteed no worse than a silver medal. Weiland, a defenseman, is still credited with Team USA's seventh goal of the game on the official Olympics Web site, but a TV replay shows the puck actually deflected in off the stick of teammate Karen Thatcher.

by John Carpenter Sunday, February 28, 2010 VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The last events of the 2010 Winter Olympics wrapped up Sunday in Vancouver, as this year's Games approached their official end at the closing ceremonies. James Southam was the final Alaskan to compete, skiing in the men's 50-kilometer Nordic classic Sunday morning and finishing 28th -- the top American skier in that race, helped out by a handful of familiar faces. "We had a whole posse of Alaska fans out there waving some Alaska flags," Southam said.

by John Carpenter Wednesday, February 10, 2010 WHISTLER, British Columbia -- Just two days remain until the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics, two days until the start of what Kikkan Randall has been targeting her whole life. To the casual observer Randall seems to be living a charmed life, but then there's almost no way to observe her life casually. The Alaska-raised Randall, who went to East High School and cultivated her love of cross-country skiing on the trails of Kincaid Park, has 14 national titles to her credit so far. She's the first American woman to win a gold medal in a World Cup event and the first American woman to medal at the World Championships.