Alaska News Nightly: November 5, 2007

Deliberations on new oil-tax shift into new gear in legislature; Mat Maid Milk flows towards last delivery and Alaska students push for action on global warming in Washington, DC. Those stories and more on tonight's Alaska News Nightly, broadcast statewide on APRN stations.Individual news stories are posted in the Alaska News category and you can subscribe to APRN's news feeds via e-mail, podcast and RSS.House and Senate get down to brass tacks on new oil taxesDave Donaldson, APRN - JuneauThe House and Senate Finance Committees are opening deliberations on new taxes for the oil industry -- and they could push he special legislative session to its thirty day constitutional limit -- or beyond. Legislature toys with Exxon-Valdez element in oil-tax rewriteDave Donaldson, APRN - JuneauA new legal tool was introduced yesterday that, supporters say, would put pressure on Exxon to pay the two-point-five million dollars it owes Alaska residents from damages caused by the Exxon-Valdez oil spill. For a few hours, it was in theoil tax re-write before the House Resources committee. But faced with the risk that the special session might have to beextended, members recanted their decision to put it in. However, it still could come back before the legislature finishesits work on the bill"Amiable Nancy" may play central role in Supreme Court ruling on Exxon-ValdezAmy Bracken, KCHU - ValdezIn February, the Supreme Court will look at what happened in the waters of Prince William Sound more than 18 years ago. But for legal precedence, the justices have agreed to Exxon’s request that they look back almost 200 years.Clock ticks down on Mat-MaidEllen Lockyer, APRN - AnchorageThe state's Creamery Corporation Board has set a final pickup date for milk bound for Matanuska Maid processing andscheduled a last delivery date for Matanuska Maid dairy products.Students push for action on global warmingJoel Southern, APRN - Washington, DCAlaska students took part in several Washington, D-C events today aimed at urging action on climate change.Governor Palin looks to create climate-change strategyJohn Ryan, KTOO - JuneauMembers of Governor Palin’s cabinet meet tomorrow (TUESDAY) in Fairbanks as they begin to create a climate-change strategy for the state. Alaska trails other western states, and even some of its own cities, in taking action to reduceclimate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. The Palin administration says there’s a good reason for that.Translating the language of oil taxesAnne Sutton, KTOO - JuneauA little more than a year ago, Alaska lawmakers overhauled the state’s oil production tax. Now they’re back in the capitalto consider major revisions, requested by Governor Sarah Palin. As legislators discuss the Petroleum Profits Tax, or PPT,they’re also talking about ACES and ELF and gross versus net, incentivizing and progressivity. Its the language of oiltaxes.State to explain approval process for mining in AlaskaDan Bross, KUAC - FairbanksThe State of Alaska is holding a series of meetings to explain the review and approval process for mining projects.Department of Natural Resources Mining Coordinator Tom Crawford says the public forums are being held in response toconcerns about mining impacts, including the potential environmental effects of the proposed Pebble Mine in southwestAlaska.