Alaska News Nightly: April 13, 2012

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FBI Investigating ComSta Kodiak Shootings As Double Homicide

Jay Barrett, KMXT – Kodiak

The FBI has confirmed that they are investigating the deaths of two Coast Guard employees yesterday morning in Kodiak as a double-homicide. Bureau spokesman Eric Gonzales did not identify a suspect, who is still at large.

In-State Gas Line Bill Loses Steam

Dave Donaldson, APRN – Juneau

An in-state gas line might have moved a little further into the shadows Friday as a House bill setting up a pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral lost most of its content in the Senate.

The Measure has been the top priority of House Speaker Mike Chenault for the past two years –and was on the list of bills the governor supports and has said would be on the call for a possible special session.

The Senate’s Community and Regional Affairs committee this morning introduced a new version that was described as an attempt to provide the minimum resources and authority for the project to advance.  However, Sponsor Chenault said the committee’s idea of requiring legislative approval for further action adds a political element to a construction project.

Assembly Digs Into Election Mess, Weighs Investigation

Daysha Eaton, KSKA – Anchorage

Anchorage officials are still trying to sort out the ballot mess from the April 3 Municipal Election. Last week nearly half of the precincts ran out of ballots and some voters reported they were turned away at the polls.

Dillingham Voters Approve Nushagak Fishery Annexation, Fish Tax

Mike Mason, KDLG – Dillingham

In Dillingham, the final results are in from Tuesday’s special election and both ballot questions passed. On ballot question 1 voters approved annexing the Nushagak Commercial Fishing District and the Wood River Special Harvest Area into the Dillingham City Limits.  On ballot question 2 Dillingham voters have approved imposing a 2.5-percent local fish tax. It’s estimated to bring $700,000 in additional revenue to the City of Dillingham.

Reward Increases For Info About Old Fairbanks Murder

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

A reward for new information about an old Fairbanks murder has increased.  The Tanana Chiefs Conference is offering $35,000 for information leading to exoneration of four interior men, three of whom are Alaska Native, imprisoned for the 1997 beating death of Fairbanks teenager John Hartman.

Scientists Start Ice Seal Survey

Dave Bendinger, KDLG – Dillingham

A Joint Effort by scientists from the US and Russia to estimate the abundance of ice-seals in the Bering Sea kicked off this week. KDLG’s Dave Bendinger caught up with the team at Dillingham Airport, and has the story.

AK: Remembering The Tsunami

Elizabeth Meister & Dan Collison, APRN Contributors

On March 27, 1964 a 9.2 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska. The tsunami that followed killed more than 100 people and devastated many communities. The village of Old Harbor, on Kodiak Island was almost completely destroyed. Only two homes and a church remained standing. Recently, radio producers Elizabeth Meister and Dan Collison visited Old Harbor and spoke with Mary Haakanson and the Reverend Gregory Parker- of Three Saints Russian Orthodox church- about the earthquake and tsunami.

That was Mary Haakanson and the Reverend Gregory Parker speaking about the 1964 Good Friday earthquake and tsunami. The piece was produced by Elizabeth Meister and Dan Collison who visited Kodiak last fall. Their trip was funded by the Rasmuson Foundation and hosted by the Alutiiq Museum.

300 Villages: Point Hope

This week, were going north to Point Hope. The community of about 800 people on the Chukchi Sea is anxiously waiting for the right conditions to begin spring whaling. Steve Oomittuk is the mayor of Point Hope.

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