Alaska News Nightly: November 11, 2008

One of the jurors from Ted Stevens trial talks about the trial how they reached the guilty verdict. Plus, the Fairbanks Roman Catholic Diocese calls for last-minute abuse claims before a court-ordered deadline expires.  And on this Veterans' Day, interior vets call for a cemetery of their own in Fairbanks. Those stories and more tonight on 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.Download Audio (MP3, 30 min)Juror from Ted Stevens trial speaks publiclyLibby Casey, APRN - Washington, DCOne of the jurors who deliberated in the trial of Senator Ted Stevens is revealing what went on behind the scenes.  Stevens was convicted last month on seven counts of lying on his financial disclosure forms about gifts worth more than 250-thousand dollars.  At the time of the verdict, none of the jurors on the Washington DC panel wanted to speak publicly.  But one is now coming forward – and even has a blog about the trial.Click here for Juror's blog Fairbanks Catholic Diocese highlights abuse claim deadlineDan Bross, KUAC - FairbanksThe Fairbanks Catholic Diocese is trying to get out the word about an upcoming legal deadline for people who claim abuse by clergy.  The Diocese filed chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year under a hail of sex abuse lawsuits dating back decades, primarily in western Alaska villages. The filing began a process that includes a deadline by which all abuse claims must received by the court. Alaska Energy Authority examines energy use across the stateDave Donaldson, APRN - JuneauThe Alaska Energy Authority is in the final weeks of preparing its short and long-term plans to help cut back on the use of non-renewable energy in the state.   The first and perhaps the most difficult step is determining what fuels Alaskans are currently using.Exploring gas and oil lease sales in the northern Cook InletEllen Lockyer, APRN - AnchorageThe state’s oil and gas division is working on updating a document that would outline a new areawide oil and gas lease sale. Its called a "best interest" finding. Public comments are being taken until December first. The sale covers Northern Cook Inlet shoreline from the City of  Kenai to the river drainages of the  Mat- Su Valley.Pollock fishery closes with near all of the quota caughtAnne Hillman, KUCB - UnalaskaThe pollock fishery has closed for the year. All together the sectors caught nearly all of the quota.  NOAA Fisheries in-season manager Josh Keaton says this indicates good things about the fishery.Interior Vets push for a veterans cemetary in FairbanksDuncan Moon, APRN - AnchorageOn this Veterans Day, activists in the interior are renewing a long term goal to establish their own cemetery. Vietnam Vet Raymond Clark has been a leader in that effort. He was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps from 1967 to 1969. Currently their are only two veterans cemeteries in Alaska - in Sitkaand Anchorage.Yukon Quest trail shaping up nicelyDan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks.Consistent cold weather this fall is boding well for the Yukon Quest trail.   Trail Coordinator John Schandlemier says ice on the Yukon River is setting up smoother than normal.