A look at two rural Alaska communities who have turned to liquor store sales to keep their communities going. Plus, whipping up a tasty, soapy delicacy at southeast Alaska’s largest Native gathering. Those stories and more on tonight’s Alaska News Nightly, broadcast statewide on APRN stations.
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‘Downstream’ gas profits likely better for producers, worse for state
Dave Donaldson, APRN – Juneau
One of the major factors legislators have to overcome in deciding whether to approve a North Slope gas line supported by the Palin administration is the choice between an independent line operated by a professional pipeline company — TransCanada — or a producer-owned line that ConocoPhillips and BP say they are planning.
Will crab fishermen get emergency rationalization relief?
Casey Kelly, KMXT – Kodiak
Bering Sea crab fishermen are looking for emergency relief from the Crab Rationalization program, but it’s not what you might think.
Nulato opens city liquor store; expects to both create and solve problems
Tim Bodony, KIYU – Galena
City governments across Alaska are struggling. But a handful get a financial boost from the sale of what many consider to be the cause of Alaska’s most serious social problems: alcohol. The Yukon River village of Nulato is the latest community to open a city liquor store. Further up the river, municipal governments in Tanana and Fort Yukon have operated liquor stores since the early 1980s.
Study explains fuel price disparities among bush villages
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
The price of heating fuel is at a record high in many Alaska villages. But exactly how high that price is depends on a lot of different factors including village location, storage space and local sales tax.
Elevated lead, zinc, cadmium levels found along haul road near Red Dog mine
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
A national park study measuring dust emissions along the haul road from the Red Dog mine in northwest Alaska is partially completed. The study is considered a pilot, looking at how much toxic mine residue is escaping onto the road shoulders as it traverses Cape Krusenstern National Monument on trucks.
Soapberry treats clean up in Native cooking contest
John Ryan, KTOO – Juneau
The translucent red berries known as soapberries are tiny, bitter, and soapy to the touch. But in the right hands, soapberries can be whipped into a frothy treat. At Southeast Alaska’s largest Native gathering, women from Alaska and northern Canada competed to make the tastiest version of the rare delicacy.
