Alaska News Nightly: October 23, 2012

Individual news stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS.

Download Audio

FBI, APD Search Keyes’ Residence Again

Daysha Eaton, KSKA – Anchorage

The FBI is executing a federal search warrant with the Anchorage Police Department at the former residence of Israel Keyes in West Anchorage. 34-year-old Keyes was arrested and jailed for allegedly abducting and killing 18-year-old Samantha Koenig in February. Keyes was taken into custody in March in Lufkin, Texas. He was arraigned on a federal indictment on March 27 in federal court in Anchorage. During a previous search of his residence in March, the FBI took a shed from the residence to FBI headquarters. Koenig’s body was recovered from Matanuska Lake in April. A Vermont TV station reported in July, citing an anonymous source, that Keyes was a suspect in the murder of an Essex, Vermont couple in 2011. Federal Prosecutors declined to comment on the current search because the federal search warrant is under seal.  The trial date for Keyes is March 11, 2013 in Anchorage federal district court.

Email Absentee Voting Begins In Alaska

Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage

Absentee voters in Alaska can now cast their ballots by email. Yesterday, the state opened the new system to all absentee voters. Deployed military personnel have been able to vote by email since September. The system is designed to make it easier for Alaskans to vote. But voting integrity groups have big concerns about the security of email voting.

Group Protests National Super PAC

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

A small but vocal group of protestors rallied outside Alaska Republican Party  headquarters in midtown Anchorage at noon Tuesday to protest a national Super PAC that’s funding advertisements targeting members of the state Senate bipartisan coalition.

Crews Search For Fisherman Missing Near Skagway

Margaret Friedenauer, KHNS – Haines

A search is underway for a Haines fisherman that went overboard today near Skagway.

Search Suspended For Palmer Pilot

The Associated Press

The search for a Palmer pilot missing since Oct. 13 has been suspended.

The 11th Air Force Rescue Coordination Center says the search for 27-year-old Brendan Mattingly was called off Tuesday. Mattingly was last seen at the Soldotna Airport as he was leaving for Palmer in his PA-18 Super Cub.

The search for him has been extensive and involved the Alaska Air National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and the Alaska State Troopers. In all, officials say the search and rescue efforts have totaled 221 hours of flight time during 66 missions.

Scientists Focusing On King Salmon Activity In The Ocean

Mark Arehart, KYUK – Bethel

Biologists and researchers took the podium for the second day of the Chinook Salmon Symposium held in Anchorage.  Day two focused on what scientists know and what they have yet to learn about king salmon in the ocean.

Natives Lobby Obama Administration On Subsistence Rights

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

Alaska Natives from the North Slope are meeting with Obama administration officials this week. They hope to sway administration officials to support subsistence rights in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.

Young, Cissna Participate In Fairbanks Forum

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Long time U.S. House incumbent Republican Don Young and Democratic challenger Sharon Cissna took part in a forum in Fairbanks last week. The candidates highlighted some key priorities and shared differing views on issues ranging from resource development to health care.

Sealaska Testing Wood-Powered Generators

Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau

Sealaska, Southeast’s regional Native corporation, is testing wood-powered generators at a Hoonah mill. If they work, they could be used to reduce energy costs in other small Southeast cities.

Previous articleSustainable Development in the Arctic
Next articleSealaska Testing Wood-Powered Generators