Alaska News Nightly: January 21, 2008

The Legislature picks up the pace. Also, a fuel shipment to Nikolski is aborted under high winds, and the Priblilof Islands struggle economically . Those stories and more on tonight’s Alaska News Nightly, broadcast statewide on APRN stations.

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Legislature moves at a brisk new pace
Dave Dondaldson, APRN – Juneau
The legislature has been in session seven days now and seems to be running a faster race against the clock than in previous years.

Amicus brief filed in Exxon Valdez case
Amy Bracken, KCHU – Valdez
Last week, the Alaska Legislative Council filed an amicus brief on behalf of the legislature and former Alaska governors in the Exxon-Valdez litigation. The 26-page document claims that the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act of 1973 confirms the validity of the plaintiffs’ case against Exxon.

Fuel shipment aborted in Nikolski
Charles Homans,KIAL – Unalaska
High winds scuttled another attempt to alleviate the fuel shortage in Nikolski and damaged a piece of heavy equipment there.

Pribilofs struggle with economic hardship

Annie Feidt, APRN – St. Paul
The Bering Sea communities of St. Paul and St. George are sitting in the middle of one of the world’s richest oceans. But both are struggling economically. The crash of the opilio crab stock in 1999, hit the communities especially hard. And both villages have watched families lose good jobs, pack up and move away.

New report identifies Alaska’s biggest polluters

John Ryan, KTOO – Juneau
A new Department of Environmental Conservation study of greenhouse gas emissions says Alaskans pour nearly 60 million tons of heat-trapping gases into the sky each year.  And for the first time, the state’s biggest climate polluters have been identified — by name.

Seavy wins sloppy Kusko 300

Shane Iverson, KYUK – Bethel
Mitch Seavy of Seward won the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog race in Bethel last night.  The race course, which runs up, and then back down, the Kuskokwim River deteriorated over the weekend as warm temperatures melted the trail. The soggy conditions changed the outcome for many racers.

Canada’s First Nation says mine project must negotiate

Vic Istchenko, CBC – Whitehorse
In Canada, the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation is demanding benefits from the proposed Carmacks Copper project. Chief Eddy Skookum says the mining company needs to negotiate an agreement with his government.

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