Alaska News Nightly: June 6, 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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Holder: Appeal Expected On Attorney Discipline

The Associated Press

The U.S. Justice Department is expected to appeal a judge’s ruling that overturned the suspensions of two federal prosecutors over their handling of the Ted Stevens’ case.

Attorney General Eric Holder says he does not agree with the judge’s decision. He says he expects Justice would appeal that decision to the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Holder’s comments were in response to questions from Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski during a subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C.

An administrative judge in April reversed the suspensions of federal prosecutors who allegedly failed to provide evidence to the defense in Stevens’ corruption trial.

Judge Benjamin Gutman found the Justice Department violated its procedures by having a member of its management decide the case. But he did not address whether the prosecutors committed misconduct.

Jewell Opposes ANWR Drilling

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell sat before the Senate Energy Committee today – her first time since being confirmed for the job nearly two months ago.  Lawmakers threw questions on home state issues at her – which they’ll likely do throughout her tenure.

Oil Leasing Official Hearing Input on Arctic Exploration

Steve Heimel, APRN – Anchorage

The Interior Department’s top oil leasing official is in Alaska. Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Tommy Beaudreau heads to Barrow on Friday to hear what people have to say about Arctic leasing.  He got a preview Thursday in Anchorage.

Oil Leasing Official Hearing Input on Arctic Exploration

Daysha Eaton, KSKA –

Alaska’s Attorney General held a press conference Thursday in Anchorage to admit that the state made a mistake in how they handled past cases involving Jerry Active. Active is accused of killing a Cambodian-American couple and sexually assaulting their 2-year-old great granddaughter and a 92-year-old great, great grandmother in late May.

An Anchorage Women Steps Up To Help Seng Family

Julia O’Malley, Anchorage Daily News

Community support has been pouring in for the Mountain View couple who came home to find Jerry Active in their house on Memorial Day weekend. Last week, an event for the family at the Northway Mall raised nearly $25,000. It was organized in just a few days by an Anchorage woman who didn’t know the family but wanted to find a way to help.

Coalition Forms In Support Of Immigration Reform

Ellen Locker, KSKA – Anchorage

A new coalition has formed in Anchorage in support of immigration reform.   According to Felix Rivera, who is a member of the AFL-CIO and a spokesman for Alaskans For Immigration Reform, there are about eleven thousand undocumented immigrants in Alaska.

NYT Puzzle Master Will Shortz Adds Alaska To His Table Tennis Quest

Lisa Phu, KTOO – Juneau

NPR’s puzzle master Will Shortz will be taping his weekly puzzle for Weekend Edition from Anchorage, where he’s exercising his other passion – table tennis. Anchorage is the second stop of a seven-day table tennis tour in Alaska that Shortz is taking with Caribbean table tennis champion Robert Roberts.

‘In Pursuit of Alaska’ Highlights State’s Earliest Visitors

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage

Author and historian Jean Morgan Meaux lived in Alaska during the hectic and heady days of oil pipeline construction. She returned to her native Louisiana after many years here, but has never forgotten her adopted state.  Meaux will travel through Alaska later this month to promote her book In Pursuit of Alaska, a collection of accounts of some of the earliest visitors to the Great Land, starting with John Muir.

She says she got the idea for the anthology many decades ago when she visited the rare book collection at the UAA library and found a book full of unique stories.

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