Governor Sarah Palin announced plans today for the state surplus, which is expected to total more than $4 billion. Plus, the search continues for a missing Medivac flight and government documents reveal St. Paul Island’s dark past. Those stories and more on tonight’s Alaska News Nightly, broadcast statewide on APRN stations.
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Governor releases savings plan
David Shurtleff, APRN – Anchorage
The Palin Administration has unveiled its plan for the state to save and invest more than $7 billion of increased oil revenues and reserves over the next two years. The majority of the windfall is the expected result of high oil prices and new taxes levied on the oil industry.
Chopper search yielding no results
David Shurtleff, APRN – Anchorage
After 48 hours of searching, there’s still no sign this evening of a medical helicopter that disappeared Monday night on its way from Cordova to Anchorage’s Providence Hospital with four people on-board.
Climate bill moves ahead in Senate
Joel Southern, APRN – Washington, DC
A bipartisan bill that would cap and regulate human-generated emissions that contribute to global warming moved out of the U.S. Senate Environment Committee today. The bill sponsored by Connecticut Independent Democrat Joe Lieberman and Virginia Republican John Warner would set up a credit trading system to control carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases.
Documents detail island’s dark past
Annie Feidt, APRN – St. Paul
For more than a century, the Pribilof Island fur sealing industry sent millions of dollars to the U.S. treasury. But when the operation came to an end in the early 1980s, the federal government left a legacy of mistreatment of the Aleut natives who live there.
MEA debate rages on in Mat-Su valley
Ellen Lockyer, APRN – Anchorage
Matanuska Electric Association wants the voters of the Mat-Su Borough to take a second look at a borough ordinance aimed at restricting the type and site of new power generation plants.
Decision may hinder Southeast plan to connect to power grid
Joe Viechnicki, KFSK – Petersburg
The British Columbia government is holding off plans to extend power lines to remote northwestern BC. That’s after two mining companies last week announced they were stopping work on a precious metals mine near a tributary of the Stikine River.
Dead humpback towed off Unalaska beach
Charles Homans, KIAL – Unalaska
Harbor officers yesterday pulled a dead whale loose from the shore at the north end of the Unalaska Airport’s runway.
Working for winter recreation
John Ryan, KTOO – Juneau
Skiers and snow machiners in Juneau are working together to develop an area that both could use. The Alpine Working Group met last night, and is focusing on developing a new winter trail near Lemon Creek and Blackerby Ridge.
Hearing held on popular Fairbanks trail
Ben Markus, KUAC – Fairbanks
The Fairbanks Borough is holding an open house tonight regarding a legal corridor for the Chena Hot Springs winter trail.
Scientist trying to save wolves
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
Independent wildlife scientist and advocate Gordon Haber is again asking the state to better protect Denali wolves that wander outside the National Park near Healy.
