Alaska News Nightly: October 24, 2014

Stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via emailpodcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn

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Congressman Young Apologizes For Remarks On Suicide

Liz Ruskin, APRN

Alaska Congressman Don Young angered many of his constituents this week with remarks about suicide at Wasilla High that he later acknowledged were insensitive. Friday, he used his annual speech at the Alaska Federation of Natives to apologize.

Begich, Sullivan Meet At AFN Senate Candidate Forum

Jennifer Canfield, KTOO – Juneau

Candidates for U.S. Senate Dan Sullivan and Sen. Mark Begich met on-stage at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Anchorage Friday.

Alcohol Advertising Near AFN Prompts Complaints

Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau

Fostering healthy communities has been a regular theme of the Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention. Health associations set up booths with literature on substance abuse, and all official AFN events are sober. If anyone shows up under the influence, that person is escorted out.

State OKs Flint Hills’ Refinery Cleanup Plan

Tim Ellis, KUAC – Fairbanks

State officials have approved a plan proposed by Flint Hills Resources-Alaska to continue an ongoing cleanup of sulfolane and other contaminants that have leaked from its North Pole refinery since the 1970s. The agreement may help improve the chances of Flint Hills eventually selling the refinery, which it closed in May.

Is Someone Poisoning Sitka Bears?

Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau

Someone appears to be poisoning bears near Sitka’s Sawmill Creek Road. A young male found dead last week may be the latest to be killed.

AK: Sea Star Mystery

Anne Brice, APRN Contributor

A trip to the coast usually means you’re going to see sea stars. But a mysterious disease is killing them along the West Coast. There had been a few reports of sick sea stars in Alaska, but recently in Sitka, the first mass die offs in the state were detected. Scientists in Sitka are tracking the progress of the disease.

300 Villages: Hydaburg

This week, we’re heading to Hydaburg on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast. Natasha Peele is city administrator of Hydaburg.

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