Alaska News Nightly: Monday, Nov. 16, 2015
Walker sacks DOC commissioner after scathing report; House lawmakers scour prison stats; FBI to investigate controversial Sitka arrest, tasing event; Railroad hopes Congress fixes expensive math gaffe; Trans-Pacific Partnership nixes sockeye tariffs; BC tells Tulsequah mine to control leakage; Forum: Alaska holding out against emission-cutting policies; Dillingham youth center to close as funding runs dry
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Walker sacks DOC commissioner after scathing report
An investigation into the state's Department of Corrections finds numerous problems that have contributed to dozens of recent deaths within Alaska's prisons and jails.
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House lawmakers view prison stats
Data gathered by the Pew Charitable Trusts is aimed at guiding Alaska's legislators in making policy changes that could lead to reducing state prison populations. The state House committee heard the numbers Monday morning.
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FBI to investigate controversial Sitka arrest, tasing event
The Anchorage FBI office will be taking a leadership role in the investigation of the 2014 tasing of a teenager in a Sitka jail cell.
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Railroad hopes Congress fixes expensive math gaffe
The Alaska Railroad has a lot riding on a highway bill pending in Congress. The railroad CEO says he hopes it will fix a technical mistake in a 2012 law that has shortchanged the Railroad $3 million a year.
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Trans-Pacific Partnership nixes sockeye tariffs
A new Pacific trade deal could make Alaska sockeye a little more affordable in other countries.
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BC tells Tulsequah mine to control leakage
British Columbia is telling owners of a leaky mine that it’s time to stop polluting a river that flows into Alaska.
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Alaska holding out against emission-cutting policies
The Arctic is on the front lines of climate change. Alaska is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the planet. A group called Alaska Common Ground hosted an all-day forum in Anchorage over the weekend to answer the question, "What are we doing about it?"
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Dillingham youth center to close as funding runs dry
At the end of November, the Myspace youth center at SAFE shelter in Dillingham will likely close its doors, as its grant funding runs out.
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Family remembers man who died at AFN
Anthony Choquette’s brother-in-law said the family did everything they could to help him before he committed suicide last month at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage.
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Search underway for missing Wrangell boater
Alaska State Troopers, the U.S. Coast Guard and Wrangell Search and Rescue are searching for an overdue boater in the Wrangell area.
Gold dreams scrapped at Nome’s defunct mine
It’s been a long and unproductive road for the Rock Creek Mine, but now that its being liquidated, money will finally flow into the pockets of its current owner, Bering Straits Native Corporation.
Haines distillery finds its niche with tasting room, bang-up cocktails
The Port Chilkoot Distillery was brewing hooch before it opened a tasting room -- and one of its owners was influential in convincing the state to let distilleries do so. A year after their tasting room opened, it's become a community hub... where cocktails pack a uniquely Alaska punch.
Review spurred by inmate deaths faults with DOC policies
A review of the Alaska Department of Corrections ordered by Gov. Bill Walker found outdated policies, cases of lax or informal consequences for apparent employee misconduct and mistrust between corrections staff and management.
Still no sign on 5th day of search for missing hiker
Rescue crews and family members of 22-year-old Justin Nathan continued searching for him on Sunday, the fifth day that he has been missing on Deer Mountain, but found no clues.
Juneau committee asks for additional sales tax on pot
Juneau's Marijuana Committee has decided to recommend the Assembly consider an 8 percent tax on marijuana sales.
Nenana to hold election after mayor’s abrupt resignation
The Interior city of Nenana will elect a new mayor in January following an abrupt resignation.
Recall targets North Slope mayor in family spending controversy
Residents are working to recall the mayor whose staff spent public money on purchases from and for her family members.
No suspects in West Juneau double murder
The Juneau Police Department is treating two deaths discovered in a West Juneau condo on Sunday afternoon as a double murder -- with no suspects.
For Alaskan home from Paris, attacks resonate
The world watched in horror today as multiple attacks struck Paris. Paris officials say the death toll could exceed 120. For one Anchorage woman, the tragedy hits close to home.
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