Individual news stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn.
Sealaska Chairman Kookesh Flown to Anchorage After Heart Attack
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
Former state senator Albert Kookesh was medevaced to Anchorage Monday morning after suffering a heart attack. His eldest daughter Elaine says the 64-year old Kookesh was in Juneau preparing for a trip out of state, when he called his wife saying he was having chest pains and was going to the hospital. His wife also was in Juneau and was able to fly with him. He was stabilized and flown to Providence Hospital and Medical Center.
Interviews, Physical Evidence Led to Arrest in Kake Homicide
Matt Lichtenstein, KFSK – Petersburg
Numerous interviews and physical evidence led Alaska State Troopers to arrest the 14-year old Kake boy they believe is responsible for the death of 13-year old Mackenzie Howard. That’s according to the Deputy Commander of the Major Crimes Section for the Alaska Bureau of Investigation.
Kodiak Murder Suspect to Appear in Court This Week
Brianna Gibbs, KMXT – Kodiak
Suspect James Michael “Jim” Wells is expected to appear in court this week. An arrest was made on Friday for a double-murder at the Communications Station on Coast Guard Base Kodiak last spring.
Alaska Supreme Court Orders Redistricting Board to Redraw Boundaries
The Associated Press
The Alaska Supreme Court is ordering that the state’s redistricting plan be redrawn for the 2014 elections. In a opinion released Friday, the court denied the Alaska Redistricting Board’s petition for rehearing on a December court decision. The Alaska Supreme Court had ordered the board to redraw the state voting map to be in line with the Alaska Constitution.
Parnell Says Gas Pipeline Has Reached Milestone
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
Governor Sean Parnell gave an update in Fairbanks on Friday on what he called a significant milestone in plans for building a gas pipeline in Alaska. In his State of the State Address a few weeks ago, the governor had given the companies, BP, ConocoPhillips, Exxon and Transcanada a deadline of February 15th to come forward with details of their proposed project. A letter from the companies, delivered on Friday stated they had made a project concept selection. The governor called that an important phase in building a line.
Bergen Awarded Yukon Quest’s Red Lantern Award
Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks
Bells jingled as Dyan Bergen pulled her team across this year’s Yukon Quest finish line. “They’re really bear bells,” she said. “We always put bells to let the buffalo and moose and wolves know we’re coming. The one time I didn’t have the bells this year, we got chased by a wolf, so I put the bear bells back on.” Bergen, from Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories, was the 20th and final musher to arrive in Fairbanks. She traveled nearly the entire Quest trail from Whitehorse by herself.
Ilisagvik College: Helping Students Get Ahead While Keeping Their Identities
Anne Hillman, APRN – Anchorage
There are 37 tribal colleges in the United States. Barrow, Alaska is home to one of them. Ilisagvik College was founded in the 1980s but didn’t become an independent, accredited tribal school until the 2006. Now it offers a blend of traditional college classes, technical trade training, and Inupiaq culture that gives students from around the North Slope the chance to get ahead -without leaving their identities behind.
Charter Boat Captain Convicted of Distributing Drugs
Aaron Selbig, KBBI – Homer
A Homer charter boat captain who pled guilty to distributing drugs to minors and possession of child pornography has been sentenced to ten years in prison. The captain, 34-year old Randall Hines also will have to pay $160,000 in restitution.
Alaskans Celebrate Peratrovich Day
Casey Kelly, KTOO – Juneau
Alaskans marked Elizabeth Peratrovich Day on Saturday, in honor of the Tlingit woman whose testimony to the territorial legislature helped pass an Anti-Discrimination Act in 1945. A small crowd gathered at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau to hear a talk from Barbara Cadiente-Nelson, a board member of Sealaska Native Corporation, the Douglas Indian Association, and a member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood.
