Alaska News Nightly: January 7, 2013

Individual news stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS.

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Lonnie, Karen Vernon Sentenced In Militia Trials

The Associated Press

An Alaska militia member will serve nearly 26 years in a federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and to amass weapons.

Shell Drill Rig Anchored In Kiliuda Bay

Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage

Shell’s Kulluk drill rig has been anchored in Kiliuda Bay, on the east side of Kodiak Island. It took the Kulluk about 12 hours to be towed 45 miles to the bay. It was re-floated a little after 10 pm last night.

Nearly 60 Bills Pre-Filed For Upcoming State Legislative Session

Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau

A list of nearly 60 bills and resolutions was released today in preparation for the upcoming legislative session in Juneau. The pre filed bills include everything from new gas line legislation to a call for pharmacy record audits.

Investigation Of Anchorage Apartment Fire Points To Arson, Woman Charged

Daysha Eaton, KSKA – Anchorage

An arrest has been made in connection with the fire that burned a midtown Anchorage apartment building last week.

POW Residents Feel Quake, Head To High Ground

Leila Kheiry, KRBD – Ketchikan

The big question in Southeast Alaska this weekend was, “Did you feel the quake?” In some communities, it was, “Where’d you evacuate too?” or “Did anything break?” The 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck at 11:58 p.m. Friday, with more than a dozen weaker aftershocks following for hours. The trembler, which some called “The Midnight Quake,” hit about 60 miles west of Craig, on Prince of Wales Island.  KRBD’s Leila Kheiry talked to people in Ketchikan and on Prince of Wales Island about the quake and its aftereffects.

Study: Otters Eating Sea Urchins Reduces Greenhouse Gas

Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau

There’s more scientific evidence that sea otters reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. That has meaning for Southeast Alaska, where the population is booming, and Southwest Alaska, where it’s dropped.

Dillingham Students Embrace Automotive Class

Dave Bendinger, KDLG – Dillingham

One thing teachers and parents hope to see from their students is motivation, to show a little enthusiasm daily about learning something new, to embrace a challenge, to make productive use of their time in school each day. In the Automotive Class at Dillingham High School, students undertake routine maintenance on vehicles for free, if owners provide the parts and materials.  The students are not only becoming pretty good at what they do, they’re also excited about it doing it.  KDLG’s Dave Bendinger noticed the students’ motivation when he dropped his truck off for some maintenance.

2 Winters Wide Apart

The Associated Press

When it comes to snowfall, this winter and last winter in Anchorage are wide apart.

So far the difference is more than 45 inches when comparing last year’s bounty and this year’s skimpy amounts of the white stuff.

Last year at about this time, Anchorage had more than 70 inches of snow. The National Weather Service says so far about 25 inches of snow has fallen in the city

The National Weather Service says snow lovers should not despair just yet. Forecasters say while things may seem sparse around town this actually isn’t a record breaking lack of snow. They say Anchorage still has plenty of time to add it its snowfall numbers.

Eastern Orthodox Christians Celebrate Christmas Today

Robert Woolsey, KCAW – Sitka

Monday, Jan. 7, is Christmas Day on the Julian calendar observed by the Eastern Orthodox Christians.

Western churches and most secular institutions follow the Gregorian calendar. In both calendars, however, Christmas falls on December 25th.

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