Alaska News Nightly: October 2, 2009

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Lone Methadone Clinic in Anchorage Closes
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
The only methadone clinic in Anchorage is so overcrowded its turning away pregnant women. The Narcotic Drug Treatment center downtown has 87 patients right now, but funding for only 75 patients. The center places heroin addicts it can’t serve on a wait list- a limbo that can last up to 250 days.

Senators Propose Banning Development in Roadless Forests
Libby Casey, APRN – Washington
Two Democratic Washington state lawmakers have re-introduced a bill in Congress that would prevent logging and development in America’s roadless forests.

Mat-Su Voters to Decide on Sales Tax Tuesday
Ellen Lockyer, APRN – Anchorage
Matanuska-Susitna Borough voters will decide on how Borough government is funded at the general election on Tuesday, October 6. Real property taxpayers say they’ve shouldered the burden long enough, and that consumers should pay, too.  A proposed sales tax on the ballot would add three percent on the dollar to Borough coffers, but many question the new tax’s cost to local businesses.

Southeast to Vote on School and Park Improvements
Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau
Southeast Alaskans will decide how they want to spend some of their money in Tuesday’s municipal elections. They’ll consider funding school and park improvements, health programs, and at least one swimming pool. Several communities are also considering setting up a regional landfill.

Alaska Gasline Port Authority Could Provide Cheap Energy
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
The Alaska Gasline Port Authority’s proposed purchase of Fairbanks Natural Gas would provide energy at cost to consumers.  The Port Authority’s acquisition is aimed at leveraging the private gas company’s plan to truck the North Slope resource south to Fairbanks and potentially beyond.

Food and Film Fest Kicks Off in Anchorage
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
Local food will be on the menu and on the big screen this weekend at the Bear Tooth in Anchorage. The theater is kicking off a week long Alaska Local Food Film Festival today, that pairs food themed movies with food specials that highlight local ingredients.

Solo Sailor Pulls into Unalaska
Anne Hillman, KUCB – Unalaska
Sixty-eight year old David Cowper is on his sixth solo circumnavigation of the globe. He started in England, passed through the Northwest Passage and arrived in Unalaska earlier this week.

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