Alaska News Nightly: September 30, 2013

Individual news stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via emailpodcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn.

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State Braces For Government Shutdown

Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau

In just a few hours, we’ll find out whether the federal government will stay open. For days, Congress has struggled to pass a budget, because a bloc of Republicans want to cut out funding for the Affordable Care Act. If Congress doesn’t reach a resolution, it’ll be the first shutdown in nearly 20 years. APRN’s Alexandra Gutierrez explains what that means for Alaskans, laying out the five biggest impacts.

Health Insurance Marketplaces Set To Open

Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage

Despite the efforts of House Republicans, one thing the shut down won’t affect is the roll out of the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces. Alaska’s federally run marketplace is scheduled to open at 4 a.m. Tuesday morning. And several groups in the state are already getting the word out about how residents can sign up for health plans under the law.

YKHC Lays Off Workers, Cuts Programs

Angela Denning-Barnes, KYUK – Bethel

Sequestration federal funding cuts are across the board unless an exemption is made by Congress. The Indian Health Service has not been exempted and non-profit corporations all over the state, like the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation based in Bethel, are feeling the hit.

Alaska Tsunami Warning Center Gets New Name

Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage

This is the last day that the tsunami warning center in Palmer, Alaska will be the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center. Tomorrow, Oct. 1, the center’s new name will be the national Tsunami Warning Center.

Changes Coming Tuesday To Marine Weather Forecasts For Southwest Alaska

Mike Mason, KDLG – Dillingham

Also tomorrow, the National Weather Service is rolling out some significant changes to the marine weather forecasts.

Wrangell Considers Sales Tax Decrease

Shady Grove Oliver, KSTK – Wrangell

A ballot initiative to lower Wrangell’s city sales tax by 1.5 percent is up for a vote of the public in the October first general elections.

Hotel Impossible Wraps  Up Filming At Alaskan Hotel

Lisa Phu, KTOO – Juneau

Travel Channel’s reality show Hotel Impossible wrapped up filming at Juneau’s famed Alaskan Hotel this weekend. KTOO’s Lisa Phu caught up with the show’s host and designer during their third day of shooting and has this story.

Adventurer Publishes ‘Northern Exposures’ Book

Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks

Jonathan Waterman has traveled with camera and pencil from the top of Denali to the coastline of the Canadian Arctic chronicling more than three decades of adventures.  His latest book, Northern Exposures is out from the University of Alaska Press.  It’s a compilation of some of his previously published stories and many never before-seen photographs.

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