Alaska News Nightly: September 20, 2011

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Governor Announces PFD Amount
Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

Governor Sean Parnell  opened a triple sealed envelope in Anchorage this (Tuesday) morning to announce this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend amount:  $1174.

Probe of Arctic Slope Native Corporation 8a Contract Requested by McCaskill
Joaqlin Estus, KNBA – Anchorage

U.S. Senator Clare McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat and Chair of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight, has asked the NASA inspector general to investigate a contract between NASA and an Arctic Slope Regional Corporation subsidiary. As KNBA’s Joaqlin Estus reports, McCaskill has been a frequent critic of the Small Business Administration 8(a) program that helped ASRC get the contract.

ACLU Wins Property Tax Case
Associated Press

An Anchorage judge says Alaska same-sex couples are entitled to the same senior citizen and disabled veteran property tax exemptions as married couples.

Fairbanks Voters Consider Air Quality Ballot Proposition
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Fairbanks Borough voters will consider a ballot proposition aimed at reducing wintertime fine particulate pollution.  A public meeting on the proposition was held Monday.  As KUAC’s Dan Bross reports, the measure targets emissions from wood and coal fired heaters.

State Wants Court to Force Ferry Builder to Replace Engines
Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska

Alaska’s Marine Highway System wants a court to order the fast-ferry builder to provide new engines for the ships.

Alaska Ship and Drydock Wins Ferry Contract
Deanna Garrison, KRBD – Ketchikan

The State Department of Transportation yesterday (Monday) announced that it has selected Ketchikan-based Alaska Ship and Drydock as the construction manager and general contractor for the new Alaska Class Ferry.

Cleveland Volcano Lava Dome Growing
Associated Press

A volcano in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands is sending out lava. The Alaska Volcano observatory reports today that Cleveland Volcano is erupting with the effusion of lava within the summit crater at the uninhabited island about 940 miles southwest of Anchorage.

NOAA Seeks Fisheries Histories from Alaska
Daysha Eaton, KDLG – Dillingham

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is calling for Oral history submissions from Alaska.    It’s for their project, ‘Voices From The Fisheries’.

Homer Looks for Homer Look Alike
Aaron Selbig, KBBI – Homer

The town of Homer is hoping to generate national publicity with a contest that celebrates a famous cartoon character with the same name.

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