Alaska news

• Revisiting the halfway house that got me sober

  10-12-2015 22:03
  With Alaska recidivism rates hovering just above 60 percent, helping prisoners transition back to society successfully is as important as ever. Some prisoners enter a halfway house and receive substance abuse treatment, housing, and help with employment and education.
  Tom Elasonga Milligrock at Gastineau Human Services. (Photo by David Purdy/KTOO)
  On my way out of prison, I lived at Gastineau Human Services in Juneau and and attended substance use services.
  Back in 2012, I’d been in for si
  
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• New report offers options to help Alaska reverse its growing prison problem - Alaska Dispatch News

  10-12-2015 22:03
  Alaska Dispatch News
  New report offers options to help Alaska reverse its growing prison problem
  Alaska Dispatch News
  The Alaska Criminal Justice Commission on Thursday released a set of recommendations for reforming the state's justice system that, if adopted, the commission says would significantly reduce the state's prison population and save $424 million over the ...
  Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015Alaska Public Radio Network
  Alaska Criminal Justice Commission Releases Prison Re
  

• Loren Holmes photo - Alaska Dispatch News

  10-12-2015 22:03
  Alaska Dispatch News
  Loren Holmes photo
  Alaska Dispatch News
  The Alaska Criminal Justice Commission on Thursday released a set of recommendations for reforming the state's justice system that, if adopted, the commission says would significantly reduce the state's prison population and save $424 million over the ...
  Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015Alaska Public Radio Network
  Report recommends way to curb Alaska prison populationFairbanks Daily News-Miner
  Alaska Criminal Justice Commi
  

• New Beginnings: Perspectives on Refugees in Alaska

  10-12-2015 21:58
  
  
  The Alaska World Affairs Council hosted a panel on refugees in Alaska. Panelists included Jessica Kovarik and Margaret Stock.
  Panelists:
  Jessica Kovarik, Program Director/State Refugee Coordinator, Refugee Assistance and Immigration ServicesJessica Kovarik, has served as State Refugee Coordinator/Program Director of Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services (RAIS) at Catholic Social Services since July 2014. Prior to her work with the RAIS Program, Ms. Kovarik has volunteered, interned and wor
  
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• Two Interior Energy Project proposals under consideration

  10-12-2015 21:44
  The Interior Energy Project remains focused on getting natural gas to the region at long targeted price point.
  IEP team leader Bob Shefchik says proposals being considered from 2 vying project partners would provide gas to customers at a price equivalent to 2 dollar heating oil.
  “The North Slope project from Spectrum and the Cook Inlet project from Salix have shown the ability to target that price,” Shefchik said.
  The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority overseeing
  
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• Alaskan dies in New Zealand hiking accident

  10-12-2015 21:33
  
  A 24-year-old Alaskan died in a hiking accident in New Zealand on Wednesday.
  Nicole Leman was the youngest daughter of former Lt. Gov. Loren Leman.
  Authorities and rescue personnel in New Zealand told local reporters she and an Austrian hiking partner were on a multi-day trek in Mount Aspiring National Park, on the south island.
  They were reportedly crossing the face of a waterfall – a notoriously steep and slippery part of a route through a remote mountain pass. L
  
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• 100Stone | INDIE ALASKA

  10-12-2015 21:26
  Sarah Davies struggled with suicidal thoughts and chronic illness for most of her life until two years ago. After discovering the cause of these symptoms and finding the solutions she was motivated to share her story.
  For two years Davies has worked on creating a massive installation on the shores of Anchorage. In the process she’s included hundreds of people touched by mental illness across the state. The end result was the 100Stone project.
  Video: Kaysie Ellingson & Eric KetoStory: K
  
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• Bethel considers organizing a borough as proposed Donlin Gold Mine advances

  10-12-2015 19:27
  Donlin runway and camp site in summer 2014. Photo by Dean Swope / KYUK.
  With the proposed Donlin Gold Mine appearing like a truer and nearer reality, the City of Bethel is looking at transforming into an organized borough. At Tuesday’s meeting Bethel City Council voted to give City Manager Ann Capela the go-ahead into mapping out the process.
  Council member Nikki Hoffman introduced the measure.
  Capela said, as a borough, Bethel would have greater control over land use and could tax Donlin
  
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• Hearing set for Friday in Fairbanks 4 case

  10-12-2015 19:24
  A hearing has been scheduled in the case of four men seeking post-conviction relief in the 1997 death of a Fairbanks teenager.
  The hearing is Friday morning, but the purpose wasn’t immediately known. Neither the attorney general’s office nor a defense lawyer will comment until paperwork is filed in court.
  Three Alaska Native men and one American Indian man were convicted of killing teenager John Hartman in 1997. All are still in jail except one, and they are seeking to have their con
  
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• Ex-leaders not budging after losing Alaska tribal dispute

  10-12-2015 19:24
  
  Former officials in an Alaska Native village are refusing to relinquish their old office and tribal records, despite a federal appeals panel’s finding that they’re no longer in charge.
  Andy Patrick is a member of the old tribal council in the Yup’ik Eskimo community of Newtok that is no longer recognized as legitimate. Patrick said Wednesday he’d like to see village elders polled to determine who should be in charge.
  Last week, the new leadership asked a federal judge to
  
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• Adventure show star charged with Alaska hunting violations - Military Times

  10-12-2015 18:59
  Military Times
  Adventure show star charged with Alaska hunting violations
  Military Times
  Theresa Vail, 25, he star of "Limitless with Theresa Vail," is charged with killing a grizzly bear in May without possessing a state bear tag for the animal. Loading… Post to Facebook. Adventure show star charged with Alaska hunting violations Theresa ...and more »
  

• ConocoPhillips capital budget cuts for 2016 largely spare Alaska - Alaska Dispatch News

  10-12-2015 18:04
  Alaska Dispatch News
  ConocoPhillips capital budget cuts for 2016 largely spare Alaska
  Alaska Dispatch News
  A slide from a ConocoPhillips presentation on its 2016 operating plan, unveiled Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, shows Alaska spending levels only slightly reduced from 2015's $1.3 billion. Courtesy ConocoPhillips. ConocoPhillips has laid out its global plans ...and more »
  

• Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015

  10-12-2015 03:40
  
  
  Stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn.Download Audio
   
  Gov rolls out budget overhaul, including income tax, PFD reduction
  Rachel Waldholz, APRN – Anchorage
  Wednesday morning Gov. Bill Walker released his plan for dealing with the state’s mammoth budget deficit. It includes Alas
  
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• Gov calls for permanent fund overhaul, income tax, cuts to PFD

  10-12-2015 03:37
  
  
  Gov. Bill Walker released his plan today for dealing with the state’s mammoth budget deficit. It includes Alaska’s first income tax since 1980, and a complete overhaul of how the state uses the permanent fund — effectively cutting PFD checks in half next year.
  Download Audio
  Walker: Welcome, good morning, thank you all for being here…
  Walker announced his budget standing in a hangar owned by the transit and logistics company Lynden. He was joined by mayors from arou
  
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• Education reform ditches only part of No Child Left Behind

  10-12-2015 03:35
  
  
  The U.S. Senate today passed an education reform bill, and the president is expected to sign it tomorrow. Both Alaska senators voted for it, as did Congressman Don Young in the House.  Many lawmakers say they’re happy to dump No Child Left Behind. But, the new education bill leaves in place major elements of the law, and that may not be a terrible thing.
  Download Audio
  Before No Child Left Behind, school districts didn’t really have to come clean about their failures. Bad school
  
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• EPA: Failure to report Wainwright munitions dump was oversight

  10-12-2015 03:34
  
  
  Fort Wainwright has settled alleged violations of its hazardous waste permit for $60,000. The Environmental Protection Agency says the Army failed to report an abandoned ammunition dump.
  Download Audio
  For 25 years Ft. Wainwright has been on the books as a Superfund site. EPA officials say it’s not uncommon for Army posts to have areas where buried munitions and unexploded ordinances create public health problems, many may not even be documented.
  That was the case in 2013 when a new explos
  
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• VPO accused of raping teen previously celebrated at AFN

  10-12-2015 03:33
  
  
  A substitute village police officer from the dry village of Selawik is in jail in Nome awaiting trial. Brent Norton is charged with supplying alcohol to a minor and having sex with her while she was unconscious. The 16-year-old girl was found dead hours later.
  Download Audio
  One month earlier Norton received an award at AFN for his dedication to public safety. His case brings up important questions about how VPOs are vetted in villages throughout the state.
  Brent No
  
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• Centennial celebration gets audit for ‘financial mismanagement’

  10-12-2015 03:32
  
  
  The Anchorage Assembly is requesting an official audit after a review surfaced alleging financial mismanagement in the city’s Centennial celebration.
  Download Audio
  A review of expenditures still outstanding connected with the summer’s Centennial celebration in Anchorage.
  Assembly Member Bill Starr of Eagle River chairs the audit committee, and asked the Assembly to delay paying $69,000 from the Areawide General Fund for outstanding bills related to the Centennial last summer.
  A
  
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• Centennial celebration gets an audit for ‘financial mismanagement’

  10-12-2015 03:32
  
  
  The Anchorage Assembly is requesting an official audit after a review surfaced alleging financial mismanagement in the city’s Centennial celebration.
  Download Audio
  A review of expenditures still outstanding connected with the summer’s Centennial celebration in Anchorage.
  Assembly Member Bill Starr of Eagle River chairs the audit committee, and asked the Assembly to delay paying $69,000 from the Areawide General Fund for outstanding bills related to the Centennial last summer.
  A
  
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• Sidney Huntington remembered for hard work, passion

  10-12-2015 03:31
  
  
  Interior elder Sidney C. Huntington died on Tuesday in Galena. He was 100 years old. He leaves behind not only a long list of accomplishments, but an entire philosophy of life.
  Download Audio
  Sidney Huntington on the trapline, 1958. Photo: Alaska State Library, Keller Family Photo Collection.
  Sidney’s biography could go on for hours. His story is so intertwined with the story of Alaska over the past 100 years.
  His dad came to the territory of Alaska in the Klondike gold rush. He watched th
  
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• Settlement reached over Seward coal facility dispute

  10-12-2015 02:45
  The Alaska Railroad and Aurora Energy have agreed to an out-of-court settlement in a dispute involving a water permit. More than a year ago, a federal court sided with the Sierra Club and Alaska Community Action on Toxics in a suit against Aurora and the railroad, alleging that Aurora’s coal loading facility in Seward spilled coal into Resurrection Bay.
  Plaintiffs complained that Aurora was violating the Clean Water Act, because the coal-loading company’s general stormwater perm
  
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• Special Holiday Programming on KSKA

  10-12-2015 02:38
  Art by Sarah Glaser/Alaska Public Media.
  Saturday, December  12
  Song Travels: Home for the Holidays  (NPR)  Join Michael Feinstein for an hour of yuletide cheer and music. This edition of Song Travels journeys from Hollywood’s vintage silver screen to New York City’s iconic Birdland club. (no news comp/Dec 1) 59:00.  Part of KSKA Night Music. 8:00 p.m.
  Monday, December 14 
  Candles Burning Brightly Encore 2014 (APM) An encore presentation of our 2014 program.
  
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• Alaska governor calls for income tax - USA TODAY

  10-12-2015 00:55
  USA TODAY
  Alaska governor calls for income tax
  USA TODAY
  As oil prices remain low, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker on Wednesday called for the state's first income tax in 35 years. In a speech and in a series of tweets, Walker announced the proposal that is part of what is called the New Sustainable Alaska Plan. The ...
  Alaska is considering a personal income tax for the first time in 35 yearsQuartz
  Ready or not, Alaska faces a choice on taxesMSNBC
  Alaska governor proposes state's first income tax in d
  

• Ex-Leaders Not Budging After Losing Alaska Tribal Dispute - ABC News

  10-12-2015 00:29
  Ex-Leaders Not Budging After Losing Alaska Tribal Dispute
  ABC News
  Former officials in an Alaska Native village are refusing to relinquish their old office and tribal records, despite a federal appeals panel's finding that they're no longer in charge. Andy Patrick is a member of the old tribal council in the Yup'ik ...and more »
  

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