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by Channel 2 News staff Friday, July 2, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The federal government has launched a new website aimed at helping provide information on health insurance options. The site was set up by the U.S. Department of Health and Social Services. Sen. Mark Begich calls it a new tool to help Alaskans find affordable insurance. Begich supported federal health insurance reform efforts earlier this year.

Anchorage has once again made its way on a top-10 list, but this time it's taking first place. The website livability.com has named Anchorage as the best winter city for the second consecutive year. According to the website, anchorage is a favorite cold-weather town due to its beauty, numerous winter activities, and stable economy. Other cities on the list this year included Fargo, N.D., Bozeman, Mt. and Logan, Utah. Contact Jordana Anderson

by Channel 2 News staff Saturday, May 22, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A new version of Alaska's 2-1-1 website was launched this week. The 2-1-1 line is a popular phone number that Alaskans can call to find listings for up to 900 health and human services providers, and nearly 2,000 locations across the state. Now that information is on a newly expanded website. It's a free service operated by the United Way of Anchorage. The revamped site gives people access to information on services like tax preparation assistance, food pantries and homeless financial assistance programs.

Is Anchorage “tattoo unfriendly?” The website Total Beauty ranked Alaska near the top on its list of “Cities With The Least Tattoos,” just before Salina, Kansas. The website says Anchorage has around six tattoo studios in the immediate area, or about two per every 100,000 people. Second-generation tattoo artist James Allen, whose father Larry Allen founded Anchorage Tattoo Studio in 1975, says it's true that there aren't a huge number of studios in town but that the reason is likely tough licensing requirements.

Channel 2 reporter Dan Fiorucci was terminated Friday, after allegedly engaging in online sexual innuendo involving a person who purported to be a 14-year-old girl. A transcript of the remarks surfaced last week at a website set up to snare child predators. The incident began with a series of conversations from Oct. 7 to Oct. 12, transcripts of which were posted Oct. 15 on the website huntingapredator.com. The website describes its mission as “Teaching child predators a lesson since 2011” and posts chat transcripts between men and alleged underage girls, but provides no details about its ownership or operators.

Brandon Chicotsky used his head when coming up with his new marketing strategy. Chicotsky advertises businesses atop his bald head through his website, BaldLogo.com. For $320 he and his team will walk through the city of Austin stirring up attention while promoting his paying customer's business. According to Chicotsky's website, he began losing his hair while he was managing a campaign office for President Barack Obama. The website BaldLogo.com donates a share of its profits to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation , which supports individuals with autoimmune diseases that cause hair loss.

Top 10 Winter City, Anchorage ranks in first place, according to the website Livability.com. The website enlisted enlisted an expert in glacial geography, Patrick Coleman, CEO of the Winter Cities Institute, to compile its list. Anchorage ranks first for its numerous outdoor winter activities, breathtaking terrain, and big-city cuisine. It also notes the city's economy saying Anchorage “has remained warm in spite of a national cool down.” According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, Anchorage gained more than 5,200 jobs between 2005 and 2010.

The film “Everybody Loves Whales” has a new name. It's now called “Big Miracle.” Universal Pictures recently announced the change on its website. The website shows a release date of Jan. 13, 2012, though other film industry websites have been reporting a Feb. 3, 2012 release. “Everybody Loves Whales” was a working title and was subject to change during post-production. The PG-rated movie was shot in Alaska in 2010 and is based on a true story of how people from around the world came together to save a pair of whales trapped in arctic sea ice near Barrow.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has changed the way it notifies hunters for big game drawing hunts. Hunters who have applied for these hunts will now be notified by e-mail. The department will send out the e-mails early Friday morning and by noon on February 15, a link to the results will be posted on the Department of Fish and Game's website beneath the hunting section. The new e-mail method is an effort by the department to better serve the hunters and to reduce congestion on their website after the hunting results are posted.

We are excited about the increased awareness and popularity of our great snowmobile race across Alaska. To help us promote and celebrate our 30th Anniversary, magazines have added Iron Dog content including the cover story on Alaska Magazine and inside the Alaska Airlines magazine (p 18).   On Monday, February 28, 2013 the Today Show also mentioned and showed the cover of Alaska Magazine. (not likely covering the Iron Dog, but it still gets the word out there!) The added exposure of the race and projects like our  Iron Dog Urban Rural Student Exchange is great!

According to Manilla.com , an account-organization service that helps individuals organize and manage their expenses, Anchorage was identified in the top ten markets for credit card balances as of the end of December 2012. Anchorage was ranked seventh on Manilla.com's list of the top ten U.S. regions with the highest credit card balances. Baton Rouge, Louisiana ranked tenth on the list and Pensacola, Florida was listed as first.   Contact Jessica Ridgway  

If you plan to vote in the upcoming April Municipal Election, then Sunday is the last day to get registered. A few hours remain on March 3 for voter registration or to make changes to your address or name. The application can be found at the state's website or by calling the state's Division of Elections at 907-522-8683. Last month , 17 candidates filed for the Anchorage Assembly and School Board seats. The Municipal Election will take place April 2, 2013.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has changed the way it notifies hunters for big game drawing hunts. Hunters who have applied for these hunts will now be notified by e-mail. The department will send out the e-mails early Friday morning and by noon on February 15, a link to the results will be posted on the Department of Fish and Game's website beneath the hunting section. The new e-mail method is an effort by the department to better serve the hunters and to reduce congestion on their website after the hunting results are posted.

We are excited about the increased awareness and popularity of our great snowmobile race across Alaska. To help us promote and celebrate our 30th Anniversary, magazines have added Iron Dog content including the cover story on Alaska Magazine and inside the Alaska Airlines magazine (p 18).   On Monday, February 28, 2013 the Today Show also mentioned and showed the cover of Alaska Magazine. (not likely covering the Iron Dog, but it still gets the word out there!) The added exposure of the race and projects like our  Iron Dog Urban Rural Student Exchange is great!

The Fur Rondy sled dog races will still happen, despite concerns over a lack of snow , according to the Alaska Sled Dog and Racing Association. Officials have monitored the trail conditions and made the decision shortly before 5:30 p.m. Sunday. The races are scheduled to take place the first three days of the ten day festival. Fur Rondy begins February 22nd and runs through March 3rd. Registration for Fur Rondy events is available on their website . This is a developing story.

Any Alaskans who experienced problems with the Permanent Fund Dividend's website on New Year's Day can once again apply online, after a website error was fixed. Starting Tuesday, eligible Alaska residents have started signing up for their 2013 PFDs. Because of a database overload, however, the Permanent Fund Division says at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday the site showed an error for people trying to fill out an online application. Fund officials say the problem happened after too many people tried to access the application, which caused residents to see the error on the initial page.

Anchorage has once again made its way on a top-10 list, but this time it's taking first place. The website livability.com has named Anchorage as the best winter city for the second consecutive year. According to the website, anchorage is a favorite cold-weather town due to its beauty, numerous winter activities, and stable economy. Other cities on the list this year included Fargo, N.D., Bozeman, Mt. and Logan, Utah. Contact Jordana Anderson

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has a website for anyone who wants to know more about Santa's reindeer. Accoridng to Fish and Game, the reindeer go by the semi-scientific name of saintnicolas magicalus. Mr. and Mrs. Claus, as well as a few specially trained elves, care for the nine reindeer at the North Pole. ADFG says even though there are only nine reindeer, they are not listed as a threatened or endangered species, because their life expectancy is infinite. The nine reindeer are named: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.

Following in the footsteps of the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, the Anchorage Daily News announced Wednesday that it will soon be implementing its own version of a paywall for online readers. Starting Dec. 18, the ADN will charge a fee for unlimited online access to all of its news platforms. Readers who don't sign up for paid unlimited access will be limited to viewing 15 pieces of content on the newspaper's website during any 30-day period. Current print newspaper subscribers will be able to access online content for an additional charge of $2.60 per month.

Brandon Chicotsky used his head when coming up with his new marketing strategy. Chicotsky advertises businesses atop his bald head through his website, BaldLogo.com. For $320 he and his team will walk through the city of Austin stirring up attention while promoting his paying customer's business. According to Chicotsky's website, he began losing his hair while he was managing a campaign office for President Barack Obama. The website BaldLogo.com donates a share of its profits to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation , which supports individuals with autoimmune diseases that cause hair loss.