http://aprn.org Alaska Public Radio Network Fri, 09 May 2008 02:07:00 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Convicted former lawmaker Vic Kohring was sentenced to 3-and-a-half years in federal prison this morning. He was found guilty in November of bribery, conspiracy, and attempted extortion for his role in the ongoing VECO corruption scandal.Download Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/08/vic-kohring-sentenced-to-prison/ The Special Session of the legislature the governor has called next month will have a new twist – it’s taking some of its deliberations outside of Juneau. Dave Donaldson, APRN - JuneauDownload Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/08/legislature-wants-to-take-special-session-to-the-people/ Waters on the Tanana River near Salcha have dropped several feet, reducing the risk of flooding in the area.  But National Weather Service Hydrologist Ed Plumb says the danger isn’t over yet. Yesterday an ice jam on the Tanana River caused the water to overflow its banks and flood about ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/08/tanana-river-flood-waters-begin-to-recede/ A researcher in Oklahoma State University thinks sled dogs can teach humans how to prevent exercise fatigue. Michael Davis says the dogs have the ability to switch their metabolism to a mode that makes them immune to the normal effects of exhaustion. He's using more than a $1 million in ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/08/military-funds-sled-dog-research/ The Anchorage Assembly has approved curbside recycling, but only for a minority of Solid Waste Service customers, the city-owned garbage operation. Len Anderson, KSKA - AnchorageDownload Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/08/anchorage-approves-curbside-recycling-sort-of/ Marine highway managers say a temporary docking setup in Prince Rupert is working well. Officials in the Canadian city shut down the regular ferry dock in late March after determining it was unsafe. But they arranged for use of a nearby dock operated by the British Columbia ferry system. Marine ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/08/prince-rupert-docking-a-success-for-amhs/ Alaska’s Marine Highway System is trying to get its fall-winter-spring schedule out early. The draft operating plan shows four of Alaska’s 11 ferries will be laid up for most of the winter: 3 for repairs and one to save money. The schedule has about as many sailings as were planned ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/08/ferry-system-pushes-to-get-schedule-out-early/ The Maxine and Jesse Whitney museum in Valdez has a new location to show off its impressive collection of native art. Amy Bracken, KCHU - ValdezDownload Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/08/valdez-museum-has-new-more-accessible-home/ Former legislator Vic Kohring is sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison, Plus, the legislature plans to take the special session across the state. Also, the military funds fatigue research that looks for answers from sled dogs. And a new home for the Whitney Museum in Valdez. ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/08/alaska-news-nightly-may-8-2008/ Democrat Jake Metcalfe has withdrawn his candidacy for the US House of Representatives. He made the announcement this afternoon. It comes after weeks of controversy surrounding derogatory web sites allegedly set up by a former campaign advisor. David Shurtleff, APRN - AnchorageDownload Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/jake-metcalfe-calls-it-quits/ The political battle over high oil and gasoline prices continued in Congress today. Democrats unveiled a plan that calls for a trust fund to spur renewable sources, energy efficiency and consumer price protection. It would be paid for by slapping a windfall profits tax on oil companies and repealing ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/congress-fights-over-high-oil-prices/ Congressman Don Young used a bill aimed at generating money to improve national parks to push his proposal for opening the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to development. The parks bill authorizes ways to generate more public and private funding in the lead up to the National ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/don-young-pushes-anwr-as-part-of-parks-improvement-bill/ Governor Palin’s Disaster Policy Cabinet is recommending the governor request an economic injury disaster declaration to help small businesses access low-interest loans during Juneau’s energy crisis. It comes none too soon for Juneau legislators, who have asked the governor to reconsider the disaster cabinet’s findings. Rosemarie Alexander, KTOO - JuneauDownload Standard ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/governors-disaster-cabinet-calls-for-economic-assistance-for-juneau/ Water overflowing the banks of the Tanana River flooded about 10 homes in the Salcha area today. Fairbanks North Star Borough spokeswoman Jennifer Yuhas says the worst flooding happened this morning in Salcha’s Starkeyville neighborhood. Libby Casey, KUAC - FairbanksDownload Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/tanana-river-flood-waters-on-the-rise/ As news about the international rice shortage spreads, customers in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta are stocking up on their own supplies. Angela Denning-Barnes, KYUK - BethelDownload Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/rice-panic-hits-y-k-delta/ Alaska’s first Ocean Rangers are in action. The cruise-ship pollution monitors began their work when the first large vessel arrived in Alaska waters late last month. Program managers say they are having no trouble recruiting rangers. But so far, they haven’t hired any Alaskans. Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska - JuneauDownload Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/first-ocean-rangers-swing-into-action/ Veterinarians in the Matanuska-Susita valley are caring for 25 severely emaciated and dehydrated sled dogs. The animals were removed from two properties in Lazy Mountain this week.The Borough says Doug Bartko owns all the dogs, but transferred 13 to his brother's property after animal care officers first contacted him on ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/25-abused-dogs-rescued-in-the-mat-su/ After 136 years, part of a French collection of Alutiiq masks have returned home to Kodiak for an exhibition. Anne Hillman, KMXT - KodiakDownload Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/alutiiq-masks-exhibited-in-kodiak/ A rare late night winning time was recorded in the Nenana Ice Classic last night. The ice on the Tanana river at Nenana shifted enough to move the tripod and trip the clock at 10:53 p.m. Amanda Wubbold with the Ice Classic organization in Nenana says it’s only the ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/nenana-ice-goes-out/ Democrat candidate for Congress, Jake Metcalfe drops out of the race. Plus, Congress does battle over high oil and gasoline prices. And the Governor's disaster cabinet calls for economic assistance for Juneau. Those stories and more on tonight's Alaska News Nightly, broadcast statewide on APRN stations. Individual news stories are posted ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/07/alaska-news-nightly-may-7-2008/ At a U.S. Senate hearing today, Ted Stevens prodded the head of NOAA to put more effort into curbing illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing on the high seas. Joel Southern, APRN - Washington, DCDownload Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/06/stevens-continues-push-for-federal-crack-down-on-illegal-fishing/ The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alaska is asking the U.S District Court to order the City of Bethel to provide effective oral language assistance for Yup'ik speakers. The request is part of a suit filed last year by the ACLU of Alaska, along with the Native American Rights ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/06/bethel-under-fire-for-possible-voting-rights-act-violations/ The Fairbanks North Star Borough has opened an Emergency Operations Center in response to flood danger in Salcha. Libby Casey, KUAC - FairbanksDownload Standard PodcastShareThis http://aprn.org/2008/05/06/salcha-area-flood-threat-prompts-fairbanks-to-act/ As Alaskans struggle with rapid increases in fuel costs, small communities are researching alternative energy concepts to lower their electricity expenses. Wind, solar and geothermal are possibilities for many Alaskan communities and in at least two, small nuclear reactor power sources are also being researched. Lori Townsend, APRN - AnchorageDownload Standard ... http://aprn.org/2008/05/06/seward-considering-nuclear-as-alternative-energy-source/