Alaska News Nightly: January 13, 2010

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)Murkowski Defends Ties with Lobbyists Libby Casey, APRN – Washington DCThe environmental group Greenpeace has filed a Senate Ethics complaint against Senator Lisa Murkowski for consulting lobbyists as she wrote an amendment.  But Murkowski, a Republican, and her staff say the criticism is overblown, and that her office did nothing wrong.Tribal and State Summit Focuses on Suicide Prevention Lori Townsend, APRN - AnchorageA three-day gathering of tribal and state agencies focused on the staggering numbers of suicide in Alaska wrapped up today in Anchorage. Brenda Moore, chair of the statewide suicide prevention council says the summit is the first time such a broad cross section of people have gathered to focus on what works and how to replicate it.Fairbanks Examining New Ways to Help Homeless Inebriates Dan Bross, KUAC – FairbanksThirty below temperatures in Fairbanks this week underline the urgency of getting homeless people off the streets.  State housing officials met with local service providers on Tuesday to discuss a new approach to dealing with homeless inebriates.Three Groups Sue to Block SE Timber Sale Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – JuneauThree environmental groups are suing to block the Logjam timber sale on Southeast’s Prince of Wales Island. They say the Forest Service’s timber-cutting plan would threaten wolves, deer and salmon. The timber industry says the lawsuit threatens one of the last mills operating in the Tongass National Forest.Anchorage Nearing End of Giving Swine Flu Shots Len Anderson, KSKA – AnchorageThe city of Anchorage is preparing to end its campaign to inoculate residents against the H1N1 flu. Anchorage will hold its last two free clinics this month. City officials are considering the vaccination push a success.Navy Wants More War Games in Alaska Waters Jay Barrett, KMXT – KodiakThe Alaska Marine Conservation Council is questioning the Navy's plan to conduct more extensive war games in the Gulf of Alaska. The Navy is presenting a draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposal to a handful of Alaska's coastal communities. But Dave Kubiak, the chairman of the board for the Alaska Marine Conservation Council, says the Navy could not have picked a more problematic place.UAF Wins Grant to Study Invasive Plants Mike Mason, KDLG – DillinghamThe U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted hundreds of thousands of dollars to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to study the impacts of some invasive plant species.