Alaska News Nightly: April 30, 2015
Legislature Votes To Allow Hearings Outside Of Juneau; Mat-Su Gets First Look at Borough's FY16 Budget; ASD's revised budget cuts 57 filled positions; Death Toll Now at 2 in Shooting Near Talkeetna; U.S. House Panel Advances Fisheries Law; UAF Steps Into Spotlight Amid Arctic Council Transfer; Kick The Bucket: With Fleeting Funding, Projects Die; Campaign Silent On Revelations Of Military Service, Divorce; Red Chris Mine Inches Forward After Settlement; YWCA Alaska Holds Summit On Gender Pay Gap
U.S. House Panel Advances Fisheries Law
The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee today moved a bill to renew the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The sponsor, Alaska Rep. Don Young, says the bill makes minor changes to the fisheries law. But some fishermen and conservationists say it undercuts environmental protections and the requirement of science-based management.
ASD’s revised budget cuts 57 filled positions
The Anchorage School District plans to cut 57 currently-filled positions next year because of a $16.7 million funding cut from the state legislature. They will also eliminate the pilot programs but keep sports.
Military Construction Bill Has Money for F35s at Eielson AFB
The U.S. House today passed a military construction bill that includes $37 million for buildings at Eielson Air Force Base to support two squadrons of F-35s. The bill has almost as much for a new boiler at the Eielson power plant, and nearly $8 million for the Fort Greely gym.
Campaign Silent on Revelations of Military Service, Divorce, Forgery
New documents are coming to light that complicate the biography of Anchorage mayoral candidate Amy Demboski.
Legislature Votes To Allow Hearings Outside Of Juneau
While Gov. Bill Walker has ordered the Legislature hold its special session in Juneau, lawmakers may have found a workaround: He can’t control where they hold their committee meetings, or how often they have their floor session.
Sixteen-Year-Old Saxophone Sensation | INDIE ALASKA
In this episode of Indie Alaska, we meet Anchorage's own saxophone sensation and the local musical legends who have helped guide him through Alaska's music scene.
Rural Alaska Communities Struggle To Keep Water And Sewer Systems Running
Even rural communities that have raised the money to build modern sanitation systems face the threat of their ultimate failure due to the lack of funding for operations and maintenance, wiping away whatever health gains were achieved.
Troopers: Both Men Involved in Talkeetna-Area Shooting Have Died
The Alaska State Troopers say that both men involved in an overnight shooting on April 18 have died.
City Council Protests Two Liquor Store Licenses
It’s been four decades since Bethel had a liquor store, and for now that status will continue. The Bethel City Council voted Tuesday to protest two liquor store license applications from the Bethel Native Corporation’s Bethel Spirits and the Alaska Commercial Company. The debate now leaves city hall as citizens gear up for a new advisory vote.
Public Broadcasting Budget Cut Almost 25 Percent
Alaska’s public broadcasters dodged a bullet when the legislature’s regular session ended Monday. House and Senate negotiators decided on a 23.5 percent budget reduction. A proposed cut more than twice that size could have forced at least five stations off the air. It also would have dramatically reduced programming at other outlets.
Proposed Changes To US Fishing Laws Spark Conservation Row
A proposed update to federal fishing laws is sparking a debate among fishermen and conservationists about whether the changes will undo years of work to rebuild key fish populations.
Moose Deaths By Trains Hit 10-Year Low Due To Light Snowfall
Light snowfall kept moose deaths by train to a 10-year low this winter. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the animals have an easier time getting out of the way of oncoming trains when the tracks are clear.
Bethel City Council Votes To Deny Liquor Licenses
It’s been four decades since Bethel had a liquor store, and for now, that status will continue.
Anchorage Men Arrested For Stabbing Moose To Death
Three Anchorage men are under arrest and charged with cruelty to animals, wanton waste and tampering with evidence in a bizarre moose killing in a city park.
Alaska News Nightly: April 29, 2015
Walker Denies Request To Move Special Session To Anchorage; As PAC Money Pours Into Runoff, Some Numbers Still Missing; EPA Head: Alaska 'Uniqueness' Could Mean Immunity From CO2 Rule; Bethel City Council Votes To Deny Liquor Licenses; A Moving Target: Postal Inspectors Root Out Liquor By Mail; Kick The Bucket: Lack Of Funding Hampers Development Of Modern Sanitation In Rural Alaska; Anchorage Men Arrested For Stabbing Moose To Death; 'Story Map' Reveals Hidden Lives Of Anchorage Bears
Story Works Alaska gives high schoolers a voice
Think about being sixteen, in high school, and standing in front of a group of friends and strangers telling a story. Your story. That's what a new Anchorage organization called Story Works Alaska is teaching local students to do while helping them build community at the same time.
EPA Head: Alaska ‘Uniqueness’ Could Mean Immunity From CO2 Rule
Administrator Gina McCarthy says Alaska's request for an exemption from the power plant rule will get serious consideration.
As PAC Money Pours Into Runoff, Some Numbers Still Missing
Candidate Ethan Berkowitz has an overwhelming lead in terms of donors and funds, but with no polling data released by either campaign, the results are difficult to predict.
Walker Denies Request To Move Special Session To Anchorage
For days, the executive and legislative branches have been stuck on education funding, Medicaid, and the fundamental responsibility of paying for government. Now, they are disagreeing on where they want to disagree.