Alaska News Nightly: May 21, 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)Alaska's Senators Split Their Votes on Financial ReformLibby Casey, APRN – Washington DCAlaska’s Senators split their votes last night on a financial reform bill that passed 59 to 39.  Democrats largely supported it, and all but four Republicans were against it.Bethel Senior Center Slashes ServicesAngela Denning- Barnes, KYUK – BethelThe Eddie Hoffman Senior Center in Bethel means a lot of things to a lot of elders: It’s food, it’s transportation, its friendship. But starting Monday, these services are being dramatically cut back.3-year-old Killed by Dog in NapaskiakAngela Denning-Barnes, KYUK – BethelA 3-year-old girl was mauled to death by a dog in Napaskiak. It happened Thursday evening. Alaska State Troopers responded to the village to investigate.Buckland Assess Flooding, Braces for MoreEllen Lockyer, APRN – AnchorageFlooding has damaged some streets and power poles in the community of Buckland,  southeast of Kotzebue. Darlene Hadley, acting city administrator, says the water came up earlier this week, starting on Sunday, when a jam on the Buckland River broke free.BP Shareholders Sue Company Executives Annie Feidt, APRN – AnchorageBP shareholders filed suit in Anchorage Superior Court yesterday (Thursday) alleging serious mismanagement at the company has led to reckless environmental and safety practices.Commerce Secretary Approves Chinook Bycatch PlanLaureli Kinneen, KNOM – NomeCommerce Secretary Gary Locke recently approved the Chinook salmon bycatch plan proposed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.Low Water on the Copper River Could Hamper FisheryDan Bross, KUAC – FairbanksUnusually low water on the Copper River could be a factor as salmon move upstream. Upper river state management biologist Mark Somerville says the Copper River is the lowest it’s been in many years, and that could accelerate or slow fish movement.Alaska Supreme Court Decision Settles Riverboat DisputeDan Bross, KUAC – FairbanksThe Alaska Supreme Court has handed down a decision in a long running dispute between the state and the owners of the Riverboat Discovery in Fairbanks.  The court says the Binkley family owned company has to pay the state for operating a wharf on the Chena River, but not as much as the state wants it to.New Law Sends More Local Produce to Alaska SchoolsEllen Lockyer, APRN – AnchorageThe state's efforts to boost markets for locally grown products include a program to include Alaska produce in schools.  Governor Sean Parnell has signed into law a bill that would create a Farm to School Program to improve nutrition in elementary school student diets.Book Project Shows Off Kids' Creative TalentsLori Townsend, APRN – AnchoragePreliminary results from spring standardized testing of Alaska's school children are in with mixed results.The state Department of Education released the statewide figures Tuesday, reporting gains in the number of students passing the reading, math and science tests, but declines in writing. In an age of text messages and twitter, the long form story may be in danger of extinction. But at the Pacific Northern Academy in Anchorage, Sarah Mariner's fourth grade class loves writing.