Alaska News Nightly: December 12, 2007

The loss of ice is killing the walrus population in the Chukchi Sea, and the Senate prepares to vote on an energy bill that could dramatically improve carbon emissions. 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.Senate to vote on key energy billJoel Southern, APRN - Washington DCThe U.S. Senate is expected to take a procedural vote tomorrow to see if an energy bill focused on renewable sources and conservation can move forward.Ice loss dramatically affecting walrus populationAnnie Feidt, APRN - AnchorageBiologists are getting a clearer picture of how walrus responded to the early and rapid ice retreat in the Chukchi Sea last summer.Plan would return sea birds to infested islandLori Townsend, APRN - AnchorageThe federal government released a plan today to exterminate rats from Rat Island, on the Aleutian chain.Adak processors left out of pollock planCharles Homans, KIAL - UnalaskaAn attempt by Adak fish processors to snag a piece of the Bering Sea pollock fishery fizzled on Tuesday, the last day of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s meeting in Anchorage.27% cut in halibut for SoutheastMatt Lichtenstein, KFSK - PetersburgSoutheast Alaska longliners will see a deep cut in the amount of halibut they are allowed to catch next year under recommendations from fishery scientists.Citgo to donate $8 million worth of fuelAngela Denning-Barnes, KYUK - BethelMore than 15,000 Alaskan households will receive 100 gallons of free heating fuel this winter.Over 7% of Alaskans walking to workJohn Ryan, KTOO - JuneauDespite Alaska’s weather extremes, a greater percentage of people walk to work on the Last Frontier than in any other state.