Alaska News Nightly: January 11, 2010

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Download Audio (MP3)Anchorage Police Union Offers Reward
Len Anderson, KSKA – Anchorage
The Anchorage Police Department on Monday issued an update on its search for suspects in the early Saturday morning shooting of APD Officer Jason Allen. Also today, the police union announced it was offering several thousand dollar reward for the arrest and successful prosecution of the suspects in the shooting.

Sitka Grand Jury Indicts Woman on Murder Charges
Ed Ronco, KCAW – Sitka
A Sitka grand jury has indicted a woman on murder charges, some 22 years after the crime allegedly took place. 45-year-old Jane Limm faces charges of first degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of her then-husband Scott Coville. According to the indictment, Coville died on or about April 12, 1988 – what would have been his 26th birthday. Limm, who was 24 when the crime took place, is charged with killing Coville and disposing of the body. The case is being prosecuted by assistant attorney general and cold-case prosecutor Pat Gullufsen. Gullufsen says Coville’s body has never been recovered, and that authorities know Limm’s whereabouts.

Begich Reviews Last Session in DC
Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) met with the press Monday morning in Anchorage to recap the last Congressional session and to outline the federal administration’s priorities for the coming year.

Palin Signs with FOX News
Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage
Former Governor Sarah Palin, a Republican, has a deal with FOX News. The network says Palin has a multi-year contract and will be contributing political commentary and analysis across all FOX news platforms. She will also host periodic episodes of a new program called “Real American Stories.” FOX describes the show as “a series exploring inspirational real life tales of overcoming adversity throughout the American landscape.” The network didn’t announce terms of the deal.

Ft. Richardson Soldier Killed
The Associated Press
The Pentagon announced that a soldier assigned to Fort Richardson has been killed in Afghanistan. The department says Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hickman of Tennessee died January 7th when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was 35 years old and arrived in Alaska in May 2008.

Deadline Passes on Filing Abuse Claims
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
The deadline for filing sex abuse claims against the bankrupt Society of Jesus Northwest province has passed. The Oregon based Jesuits provided clergy to western Alaska villages throughout past decades when abuse is alleged to have occurred. The majority of people that have filed claims against the Jesuit order are from Alaska.

Dillingham Says No to Pebble Charitable Fund
Mike Mason, KDLG – Dillingham
The Dillingham City Council passed a resolution last week that precludes the city from applying for or accepting money from a charitable fund created by the partnership that is pursuing the proposed Pebble Mine near Iliamna Lake.

Agency to Investigate Forest Service Whistleblower Case
Matt Lichtenstein, KFSK – Petersburg
An independent federal agency will investigate allegations that the Forest Service retaliated against a whistleblower employee on the Petersburg ranger district of the Tongass National forest. The office of special council is reopening the case of Glen Ith, a Forest Service biologist who died in 2008.

Jeff King Wins Copper Basin Race
Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage
Jeff King won the Copper Basin 300 Sled Dog race this afternoon, beating second place finisher Allen Moore by seven minutes. At the last checkpoint, King was only two minutes ahead of Moore but King pulled away on the final 24-mile run to Tolsona lodge.

Cook Inlet Tribe Expanding Educational Programs
Ben Stanton, KDLL – Kenai
The Alaska Native tribe that has been in the Cook Inlet area for centuries has expanded educational programs they offer to their Kenaitze youth and the community. As part of our continuing series on Native Education in Southcentral Alaska, KDLL’s Ben Stanton reports, even people that are not Kenaitze have become interested in preserving the
tribe’s culture and history by passing along those values to young people:

Park Service Opens New Museum in Kotzebue
Jennifer Canfield, KNBA – Anchorage
The National Park Service has opened a new museum in Kotzebue and it features some interesting exhibits that highlight life in the Northwest Arctic.

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