Alaska News Nightly: September 18, 2009

Cruise ship at Jno dock 8-08

Photo by Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau

The cruise industry filed suit to throw out the passenger head tax.

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Obama’s Missile Decision Draws Alaska Reaction
Libby Casey, APRN – Washington DC
Alaska’s US Senators are reacting to President Obama’s announcement on Thursday that he’s scrapping the Bush-era missile defense system in Europe in favor of a more mobile, cheaper system.

Cruise Industry Sues to Throw Out Head Tax
Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau
The cruise industry is suing the state to throw out most of the passenger head tax.

Murkowski Pondering Limits for EPA
Libby Casey, APRN – Washington
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is considering proposing an amendment that would limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gasses. Environmentalists are slamming the possible legislation.

Officials Check Out AK Wind Turbines
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
The lieutenant Governors of Alaska and Vermont travelled to two western Alaska villages this week to see Vermont made wind turbines that are helping the remote communities lower their power costs.

Forest Service Sees Surge in Requests for Electric Projects
Deanna Garrison, KRBD – Ketchikan
The Forest Service is reporting a surge in requests to build hydro electric projects on the Tongass National Forest.

Petersburg to Keep an Office of Children’s Services
Matt Lichtenstein, KFSK – Petersburg
Petersburg will keep an office of Children’s Services social worker.

Authorities Hopeful About New Student Retention Program
Ellen Lockyer, APRN – Anchorage
Project Puqigtut just may open the way for a high school diploma for at-risk Alaska Native kids in city high schools.

Closure of Seward’s Shellfish Hatchery Could Spell Trouble
Deanna Garrison, KRBD – Ketchikan
The potential closure of a shellfish hatchery in Seward could spell significant problems for southeast Alaska’s fledgling mariculture industry.

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