Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, April 30, 2019

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House committees take different approach on crime bills

Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau

House members have brought different ideas on addressing crime to the House Judiciary and House Finance committees.

Senate bill to change PFD formula advances

Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau

Senate Bill 103 would split the annual draw from permanent fund earnings evenly between dividends and state government.

Mine opponents ask SEC to investigate Pebble’s parent company

Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.

Two groups allege Northern Dynasty Minerals has described a massive deposit to potential investors while Pebble’s permit application describes a mine barely a tenth that size.

Fairbanks joins others in lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

The City of Fairbanks has filed a suit against manufacturers of PFAS containing firefighting foams, which have contaminated ground water in an area on the city’s south side.

House Fisheries urges pressure on B.C. over transboundary mining

Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska – Juneau

A legislative committee heard from mine critics on both sides of the border during a hearing in Juneau this week. It’s part of an effort to pressure British Columbia to tighten its mining regulations to reduce the threat of pollution from transboundary mines.

Trial date set for Sitka herring suit

Katherine Rose, KCAW – Sitka

A lawsuit over management of the Sitka Sac Roe herring fishery will go to trial later this year.

Sitka Assembly calls for city hiring freeze

Katherine Rose, KCAW – Sitka

At a special budget meeting last Thursday, community members appealed to the Sitka Assembly to boost funding for Sitka’s schools amid the threat of state budget cuts. Instead it instituted a hiring freeze on city staff and boosted funding for the library to stay open on Sundays.

Thanks to makeshift driftwood sign, Coast Guard rescues stranded ATV drivers

Maggie Wall, KMXT – Kodiak

Two men who needed help after being stranded near Saltery Cove this past weekend did just what they needed to do to be rescued—including using driftwood to spelling out the word ‘HELP.”

Pilot study of black-tailed deer underway near Petersburg

Joe Viechnicki, KFSK – Petersburg

A three-year pilot study is underway to come up with an estimate of Sitka black-tailed deer numbers on Mitkof Island near Petersburg. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will use a combination of techniques for counting deer and could use the results elsewhere in the region.

Meet the first girls of Juneau Cub Scouts

Zoe Grueskin, KTOO – Juneau

The first girls to become Cub Scouts in Juneau have met both support and confrontation in the community.

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