Alaska News Nightly: September 7, 2009

Individual news stories are posted in the Alaska News category and you can subscribe to APRN’s news feeds via email, podcast and RSS.Download Audio (MP3)Fairbanks Youth Dies of Swine Flu Dave Donaldson, APRN – JuneauA Fairbanks elementary student died of the H1N1 flu over the weekend.  His is the second death attributed to the Swine Flu in Alaska.Ft. Richardson Soldier Dies in Afghanistan The Associated PressA Fort Richardson soldier has died in Afghanistan. The Pentagon says Lt. Darryn Andrews died Friday when his vehicle came under attack by rocket-propelled grenade fire and an improvised bomb. The attack happened in the Paktia province along the Afghan-Pakistani border south of the Afghan capital of Kabul. The 34 year old Army officer was from Dallas.Vets Getting Better Access to Health Care Adam Kane, KDLG - Dillingham Veterans living in rural Alaska will now have easier access to health care.Groups Send SOS to United Nations Steve Heimel, APRN – AnchorageFishermen and others participated in an aerial artwork Saturday - spelling out the words "SOS acid ocean" with nets and vessels in Kachemac Bay.  The oceans grow more acid as more carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere, and organizations put together the giant artwork to send a message to this winter's United Nations climate treaty talks.Lawmakers Questioning Hiring DecisionBen Stanton, KDLL - Kenai Lawmakers are reviewing a request to hire the husband of a legislative aide to write a report on the thorny issue of management of Cook Inlet Salmon. Anchorage Rep. Craig Johnson wants to give Mark Higgins the $20,000 contract. At a Salmon Task Force meeting, other lawmakers questioned whether it would be ethical.Scientists Studying Salmon Near Big Cities Joshua McNichols, Northwest News NetworkBig cities make for poor habitat for salmon. Not much fish food grows on a bare concrete bulkhead. Some scientists hope to change that. They're looking at new ways for salmon to live in the city. Fairbanks Mission Opening Recycling Center Dan Bross, KUAC – FairbanksThe Fairbanks Rescue Mission is opening a recycling center. The faith-based nonprofit which provides housing, food, job training and other services for the homeless will collect paper, cardboard and aluminum every Saturday.Vaccinations Slowing Meningitis Alice Criswell, KYUK – BethelThe bacterial disease, meningitis used to be a lot worse in the Y-K Delta among babies. Haemophilus Influenza type B or “Hib” caused a lot of the meningitis among infants at a rate that was six times higher than the rest of the country. Over the last 25 years, vaccinations have dramatically curbed the disease.Battered Eagles Released in Juneau Anne Sutton, KTOO – JuneauTwo eagles that were treated at the Juneau Raptor Center returned to the wild last week. About a hundred people showed up at the parking lot next to Brotherhood Bridge to watch them go.