The City of Anchorage says it will investigate possible ethics violations surrounding a fundraiser for Senator Ted Stevens. Plus, the commercial king salmon fishery in Southeast Alaska will have its lowest harvest quota in a decade. Those stories and more on tonight’s Alaska News Nightly, broadcast statewide on APRN stations.
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Former Governor target of Anchorage ethics probe for possible Stevens campaign offense
David Shurtleff, APRN – Anchorage
A public watchdog agency is asking the city of Anchorage to investigate whether former Governor Bill Sheffield may have broken municipal ethics codes by offering to host a campaign fundraiser for Senator Ted Stevens.
Southeast salmon fishermen facing big quota cuts
Robert Woolsey, KCAW – Sitka
Commercial king salmon fishermen in Southeast will see their lowest harvest quota in a decade this season. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game announced today that it’s slashing the all-gear Chinook quota in Southeast by nearly half — a decrease of nearly 160,000 fish.
Commercial fish licensing may be curtailed in Cook Inlet waters
Dave Donaldson, APRN – Juneau
The establishment and mission of a task force to meet before next year’s legislative session to consider management issues of Cook Inlet salmon has driven a wedge between commercial and sports fishermen — and between most Mat-Su and Kenai legislators.
Marine Board investigating ‘Alaska Ranger’ disaster
David Shurtleff, APRN – Anchorage
Hearings looking into the sinking of the Alaska Ranger continued over the weekend in Anchorage, as the Marine Board of Investigation took testimony from the six Coast Guard members involved in the rescue. Saturday’s hearing mostly focused on one man’s death.
Tok manufacturer awarded grant for rural Alaska incinerator designs
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
A Tok welder has received a federal grant to build and test a waste incinerator for rural Alaska. Chris Marshal of Tok Welding and Fabrication has built incinerators for 30 bush communities, including Manley and Minto in the interior.
UAF students can soon sign up for electric car class
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
An upcoming class at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will teach students how to retrofit a car from gas to electric power.
National Geographic proposes ‘geotourism’ model at Sitka meetings
Melissa Marconi-Wentzel, KCAW – Sitka
Tourism is up around the globe and according to the National Geographic Society, it’s a double-edged sword. While tourism brings economic gains, the Society says it can also harm communities and ecosystems.
Juneau hosts historic gathering of Alaska statehood veterans
Rosemarie Alexander, KTOO – Juneau
As Alaska approaches its 50th year of statehood, there are few left who were part of the convention that wrote the constitutional framework of our state.
