Alaska New Nightly: February 18, 2014
Employers Struggle With Ballooning Cost Of Workers’ Comp Medical Bills; Delta Western, Employees Clash Over Unionizing; Fairbanks Assembly Votes To Participate In Education Suit; Democrats Use Driver’s License Bill As Vehicle For Gay Rights Fight; APOC Reviewing Tosi Complaint; Tok Residents Trying to Revive Biomass-Fueled Power Plant Project To Cut Energy Costs; Save Our Schools Rallying Cry Heard On Capitol Steps; Supporters Cheer Alaska Native Language Bill
Download Audio
Democrats Use Driver’s License Bill As Vehicle For Gay Rights Fight
A bill that would save military spouses the trouble of going to the DMV has triggered an unlikely battle over gay rights in the state legislature.
Employers Struggle With Ballooning Cost Of Workers’ Comp Medical Bills
Employers in Alaska pay the highest workers compensation premiums in the country. And most of that cost goes toward medical claims. The Alaska State Chamber of Commerce has for several years, made reforming the system one of its legislative priorities. And this year, at least one state lawmaker is working on legislation to help control workers compensation costs.
APOC Reviewing Tosi Complaint
A complaint was filed today (Tues. 2/18) with the Alaska Public Offices Commission against Anchorage Assembly candidate Mao Tosi. The complaint alleges Tosi's campaign for an East Anchorage Assembly seat violates Alaska's campaign laws on 15 counts.
NTSB Says Pilot Error To Blame In Fatal Midair Crash
The National Transportation Safety board has found that pilot error was to blame in the 2011 crash that killed one pilot and injured another in separate planes.
Alaska News Nightly: February 17, 2014
Iditarod to start in Willow, GOP seeks changes to court nominees process, Alaska backs same sex-marriage bans, AFN asks for voting-rights help, not all happy with fish board, VPSO bill moves ahead, new geese habitat emerging, woman claims killing dozens.
Iditarod to Start in Willow, Not Fairbanks
The Iditarod Sled Dog race will start from Willow as planned. The Iditarod Trail Committee has been weighing moving the race start to Fairbanks in the last week because of low snow and icy conditions on the 65 miles of trail between Willow and Skwentna.
Measure Would Increase Public Seats On Judicial Council
A group of Republican state senators want to change the make-up of a commission tasked with vetting judges for the governor. But some critics worry that could shift the balance of the judicial system itself.
AFN Asks For Help in Voting-rights Campaign
Alaska’s largest Native organization is challenging a Southeast group to lead the regional campaign to regain federal voting-rights protections.
Alaska Supporting Same-Sex Marriage Bans
Alaska has a constitutional amendment that bans same sex marriage and state attorneys have filed support briefs for states fighting to preserve their own constitutional bans.
Woman Claims Killing Dozens, Some in Alaska
A woman accused of murdering a man in Pennsylvania says she killed dozens of others in four states, including Alaska. The case, involves allegations of serial killing and Satanism.
VPSO Firearms Bill Moves Ahead
A legislative proposal creating a path for qualified Village Public Safety Officers to carry firearms has cleared another hurdle. SB 98 was passed on Thursday by the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee. But some serious concerns were raised about the proposal.
Not All Happy With Fish Board Decisions
The state's fisheries board wrapped up two weeks of meetings on Upper Cook Inlet commercial and sports fisheries late last week. This session, management changes were approved for Kenai River early and late king runs, and for the central district sockeye management plan. Supporters of the changes say that the new regulations are expected to allow more salmon to pass through the inlet. But those opposed to the changes say that commercial driftnetters and setnetters will be hurt, and that they have suffered a disproportionate hit in fishing time and area.
Legislation Would Reinstate Medevac Membership Programs
An Airlift Northwest Lear Jet waits for a medevac call at Juneau’s airport. Airlift is ending its medevac insurance program in Alaska after losing a regulatory exemption. An Airlift Northwest Lear Jet waits for a medevac call at Juneau’s airport. Airlift Northwest could bring back its popular membership program under legislation introduced in the Alaska House and Senate.
New Geese Habitat Emerging on North Slope
The US Geological Survey says melting Beaufort sea ice is creating new habitat for geese on the North Slope and that new habitat could have implications for conservation inside the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
Choosing Capital Projects
Tradition is an important part of politics. The Alaska Legislature has long followed the tradition of keeping the state's capital budget process confidential until the last minute, and then releasing and voting on it in the final days of the session. Some people think that leads to bad decisions. We'll talk about Anchorage's recent tennis court controversies, and other impacts of how the legislature does its job. Is there a better way?
KSKA: Wednesday, 2/19, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Listen now:
I Am A 98-Year-Old Bowler
Bettie Upright is a bowler. She picked up the game nearly 30 years ago, at the age of 70.
Now at 98 (and a half), Bettie continues to live an active lifestyle, both physically and socially.
http://youtu.be/RzgIjZDK_HI
John Kerry Creating Arctic Position at State
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he is creating a new Arctic position. In a letter to Sen. Mark Begich, Kerry says he will appoint a person of high stature to serve as “Special Representative for the Arctic Region” in order to elevate U.S. attention on the far North.
Download Audio
Fuel Spilled In Dalton Highway Tanker Truck Rollover
A tanker truck rollover on the Dalton Highway near Deadhorse resulted in a substantial fuel spill. More than 2,100 gallons of diesel leaked from the tanker following Tuesday’s accident near mile 309 of the Haul Road.
Download Audio
Former Alaska Territorial Governor Mike Stepovich Dies
Former territorial governor Mike Stepovich died early this morning, after being injured in a fall. Stepovich served as governor in the late 1950s and was a major advocate for Alaska statehood. He was 94 when he died. Stepovich was born into a Fairbanks mining family. Alaska Edition host and Anchorage Daily News columnist Michael Carey was a teenager when Stepovich was Governor. He says Stepovich was a strikingly handsome man who was Governor at at critical time in Alaska history.
Download Audio