Hilcorp completed its $90 million pipeline project that allows the company to transport oil across Cook Inlet via an underwater pipeline. Instead of being transported by cross-inlet tankers, oil now traverses the inlet through an undersea pipeline that previously carried natural gas. The project required construction of approximately six miles of new pipe from the Tyonek Platform to the existing pipeline network. It also saves Hilcorp money: shipping oil by tanker across Cook Inlet costs approximately $3 per barrel while using the pipeline costs about $2 per barrel. The pipeline addresses environmental and spill concerns as well by eliminating spills/incidents involving tankers and because the Drift River oil terminal is no longer a necessary piece of infrastructure. hilcorp.com

Cook Inlet Housing Authority opened two housing developments in the Muldoon area of Anchorage. Creekview Plaza II features eighteen one-bedroom apartments in a mixed-use building, with retail space at the street level. Woven House offers independent senior rental housing to residents fifty-five years or older. These developments are the continuation of the Creekside Town Center concept to bring affordable, independent living opportunities to Muldoon, which began with the construction of Grass Creek Village in 2008. Completion of Creekview Plaza II and Woven House bring to 282 the number of rental housing apartments at Creekside Town Center. cookinlethousing.org

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced the state’s minimum wage increased from $9.84 to $9.89 effective January 1.

Alaska Statute 23.10.065(a) requires the Alaska minimum wage to be adjusted using the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers (CPI-U) in the Anchorage metropolitan area for the preceding calendar year. The Anchorage CPI-U increased 0.5 percent in 2016, rising from 217.830 to 218.873. labor.alaska.gov

Beginning summer 2019, Fairbanks will be the destination for two new nonstop flights from the contiguous United States when United Airlines launches service to Denver and San Francisco.

The San Francisco route will be in operation from June 6 to August 18, 2019. The Denver service will be in operation from June 7 to August 18.

United Airlines has been offering nonstop summer seasonal service from Fairbanks to Chicago since 2013. Fairbanks is also served seasonally with direct flights to Minneapolis through Delta Airlines, and year-round with service to Seattle through both Delta and Alaska Airlines. explorefairbanks.com

Southcentral Foundation opened the newly expanded Four Directions Outpatient Treatment Center located in the former Blood Bank of Alaska building at 4000 Laurel Street in Anchorage.

The center provides substance abuse and dual diagnosis assessments, substance abuse and mental health counseling, and group counseling addressing a range of topics including alcohol and drug abuse, parenting, domestic violence, anger, relationships, anxiety and depression, life skills, and health and wellness. Four Directions serves Alaska Native and American Indian people. southcentralfoundation.com

The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) announced the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) as winner of the 2018 CDFA Distinguished Development Finance State Agency Award. The CDFA Excellence in Development Finance Awards recognizes outstanding development finance programs, agencies, leaders, projects, and success stories. aidea.org