State threatens eminent domain over Native allotment

• News Home
• More from News of the North

Saturday, November 21st, 2020 9:19am

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Whatsapp

Bethel, Alaska (AP) - The Alaska Department of Transportation says it plans to restart construction on a road that would better connect Bethel to its airport.

But one Alaska Native family whose property lies where the road would pass says the state agency isn’t making fair offers for their land.

The transportation department says it offered Warren Polk and his family $99,000 for their allotment next to the H-Marker Lake.

Shannon McCarthy, a spokesperson for the state agency, says the figure comes from an independent appraiser and was reaffirmed by another outside party.

Polk says the state agency told him if he doesn't accept their offer, they would take his land through eminent domain.

More from News of the North

• CBJ approves additional help for businesses

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The CBJ heard unanimous support from struggling business owners that supported using $2.3 million in federal dollars to help keep their doors open.

• CBJ approves additional help for businesses

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The CBJ heard unanimous support from struggling business owners that supported using $2.3 million in federal dollars to help keep their doors open.

• Assembly awards $1.5 million for SHI

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Sealaska Heritage Institute cleared a huge hurdle Monday when they received a grant from the CBJ to help construct the SHI Arts Campus.

• Ketchikan sees 2 new cases of COVID-19

  Ketchikan, Alaska (KINY) - There were two new positive cases of COVID-19 reported in Ketchikan today.

• Virus restrictions lead Norwegian champ to drop Iditarod

  Anchorage, Alaska (AP) - Norwegian musher Thomas Waerner says he won’t defend his title at next year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race because of restrictions and uncertainty over travel during the coronavirus pandemic.

• Temblor strikes at sea near Sitka on Monday

  Sitka, Alaska (KINY) - An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 occurred 32 miles southwest of Sitka, the United States Geological Survey reported on Monday.

• Accused murderer Fenton Jacobs appears in court

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - A man accused of murder appeared telephonically in a Juneau court on Monday afternoon.

• CBJ: More than 2 dozen COVID-19 cases over the weekend

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center is reporting 31 new individuals with COVID-19 in Juneau – 29 are residents and two are nonresidents.

• Pandemic has taken a bite out of seafood trade, consumption

  Juneau, Alaska (AP) - The coronavirus pandemic has hurt the U.S. seafood industry due to a precipitous fall in imports and exports and a drop in the catch of some species.

• Alaska DOC says inmate death COVID-19 related

  Juneau, Alaska (AP) - An inmate with underlying health issues, serving time at an Alaska prison that is experiencing a coronavirus outbreak, died from complications related to COVID-19, the Alaska Department of Corrections said.

• School superintendent outlines when more students may be able to return to classrooms

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - At what level will the Juneau School District be comfortable bringing students back to the classroom?

• Barge rate increase expected to raise Alaska consumer prices

  JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska’s largest barge operator has announced an increase in prices starting next month.