Alaska News Nightly: October 28, 2014

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

Download Audio

‘Shaming’ Letters Aim to Boost Voter Turnout

Liz Ruskin, APRN

Letters from an unknown group calling itself the Alaska State Voter Project are appearing in Alaska mailboxes. They purport to be aimed at boosting voter turnout by listing the voting history of the addressee – along with that of other community members. Many recipients are outraged, saying the letters are an attempt to shame them into voting.

‘CEO of the City’ Campaigns to Bring Anchorage Business Acumen to Governor’s Cabinet

Zachariah Hughes, KSKA – Anchorage

Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan is the lower profile Sullivan candidate in the upcoming elections. Affixed to incumbent governor Sean Parnell’s campaign for re-election, Mayor Sullivan’s bid for state-wide office has been low-key: few lawn signs, no press releases, and the campaign doesn’t have its own website beyond a Facebook page not updated since July. Sullivan wants to bring his focus on fiscal issues to the governor’s cabinet.

Fire Burns Bethel Alcohol Treatment Center Construction Project

Daysha Eaton, KYUK – Bethel

Officials are investigating a large fire in Bethel that started just after 8 o’clock Monday night, behind the post office. The Fire destroyed an alcohol treatment center under construction by the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation.

Diocese: Fairbanks Priest Held on Federal Child-Pornography Charges was Screened

Tim Ellis, KUAC – Fairbanks

A Fairbanks Catholic priest accused of trying to produce child pornography, underwent a two stage screening process as part of his hire and ordination.

City engineer: No Good News On Juneau’s Sewage Sludge Disposal

Jeremy Hsieh, KTOO – Juneau

The way the City and Borough of Juneau currently disposes of its sewage isn’t sustainable, and the long-term solution consultants are recommending will be expensive. That was the message to the Juneau Assembly at a committee meeting Monday night.

Bethel Food Pantry Struggles to Open

Daysha Eaton, KYUK – Bethel

The Bethel Food Pantry is having trouble getting enough food to open. They usually open in August or September according to officials, but this year they won’t open until November.

Is Someone Poisoning Sitka Bears?

Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau

Someone appears to be poisoning bears near Sitka’s Sawmill Creek Road. A young male found dead earlier this month may be the latest to be killed.

Why Alaska Researchers Want To Use Drones To Find Hibernating Bears

Kayla Desroches, KTOO – Juneau

For the first time, Alaska researchers plan to use drones with thermal cameras to detect hibernating polar bears and grizzly bears on the North Slope.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks team is working without dedicated funding, but is seeking industry support for the project.

Previous articleFire Burns Bethel Alcohol Treatment Center Construction Project
Next article“CEO of the City” Campaigns to Bring Anchorage Business Acumen to Governor’s Cabinet