Alaska News Nightly: April 3, 2012

Individual news stories are posted on APRN News page and you can subscribe to APRN’s news feeds via email, podcast and RSS.

Congressman Young Criticizes Federal Oceans Policy at Anchorage Hearing
Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

Invited panelists spoke out against a new National Oceans Policy at a Congressional subcommittee hearing in Anchorage this (Tuesday) morning.   Congressman Don Young  chaired the subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs oversight hearing, with Senator Lisa Murkoski sitting beside him on the dias as an invited guest.

Derelict Vessel Adrift in Southeast Waters
Annie Feidt, APRN Anchorage

The Coast Guard is monitoring a derelict shipping vessel in U-S waters off Alaska’s coast that washed out to sea during the tsunami that struck the coast of Japan a year ago. The vessel is drifting in a busy shipping area 170 miles from Southeast Alaska in the Gulf of Alaska.

Koenig’s Body Found
Daysha Eaton, KSKA – Anchorage

Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew announced yesterday that a forensic dive team has discovered what investigators believe to be the body of Samantha Koenig. He made the announcement at Anchorage Police Department Headquarter late Monday.

Coastal Managment Initiative Worker Charged with Forging Signatures
Casey Kelly, KTOO – Juneau

A Fairbanks woman has been charged with submitting fraudulent signatures for the Alaska Coastal Management Program initiative.

Senate Oil Tax Bill Moves Out of Committee
Dave Donaldson, APRN – Juneau

An oil tax bill is finally on the table in the Senate Finance Committee.   The committee today (Tuesday) released a draft of its re-write of the bill the Resources Committee passed to them nearly a month ago.

Lawmakers Consider FASD Legislation
Casey Kelly, KTOO – Juneau

A bill that would allow judges to consider FASD as a mitigating factor in criminal sentencing had a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee yesterday (Monday).

Alaska Senators Highlight Chronic Underfunding at IHS Health Clinics
Joaqulin Estus, KNBA – Anchorage

Alaska U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich recently wrote to Indian Health Service Director Dr. Yvette Roubideaux asking why the agency isn’t meeting its obligation to pay the full costs of running health clinics in rural Alaska.

5,600 tons in second Sitka herring opening
Ed Ronco, KCAW – Sitka

The Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery will stand down until Thursday, in order to give processors time to catch up with the incoming catch.

Fairbanks Will Have New Co-op Selling Locally Grown Foods
Tim Ellis, KUAC – Fairbanks

Former downtown Fairbanks supermarket is scheduled for renovation this spring.  The building will become the home of a new co-op, specializing in fresh, locally grown and organic foods.

Mediators Will Work to Resolve Fairbanks Teacher Contract Dispute
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Parties on both sides of the Fairbanks teacher contract dispute will likely employ a private mediator to jump start stalled negotiations, and expedite a resolution. Negotiating teams for teachers and the district reached an impasse last week, and announced plans to go to mediation.

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