Village's two shores will finally meet (The Bristol Bay Times): Aleknagik residents have been waiting for years for a bridge that would not only connect the village's north and south shores but would also end schoolchildren's dangerous river crossings by boat and snowmachine. Alaska voters passed a bond proposition Nov. 4 that allocated $20 million for the construction of a Wood River bridge.
288 now claim abuse by Catholic priests, workers (The Catholic Review): The number of people claiming to have been sexually abused by Catholic priests and other church workers in the Fairbanks diocese over the past six decades more than doubled since the diocese filed for bankruptcy protection in March. See also:
Fairbanks diocese to file for bankruptcy (ADN, 2/13/08)
Arctic 'greening' linked to retreating sea ice (Science Daily): Scientists led by a UAF researcher say they have strongly linked sea ice changes to changes in Arctic land-surface temperatures and increased tundra greenness. Changes in vegetation will have important consequences for the status of permafrost, snow patterns, hydrological cycles, wildlife and human uses of land, they say.
With Stevens' fall, a lobbyist pipeline shuts off (The New York Times): Sen. Ted Stevens wielded unrivaled power over industries like fishing, forestry, communications, aviation and the military, steering billions each year to pet Alaska projects like Eskimo whaling, missile defense and even salmon-based dog treats called Yummy Chummies. So when Alaska voters narrowly rejected Stevens' bid for re-election last month, it was in some ways like the closing of the plant in a company town.
Palin: Letting McCain campaign call shots was 'scary' (Human Events): In a Dec. 12 interview with the conservative D.C. newspaper Human Events, Gov. Sarah Palin talks about the auto industry bailout, the future of earmarks for state projects, working with Sen.-elect Mark Begich and how putting her career, family and reputation in the hands of McCain campaign planners was "kind of a risky thing." See also:
Palin: Conservative of the Year (Ann Coulter, Human Events)
Barrow alcohol limits proposed (The Arctic Sounder): A small group of Barrow residents has filed an application to petition for a 50 percent reduction on the legal limit of alcohol imported into the Arctic coast community.
In Aleut Christmas album, language takes a holiday (The Bristol Bay Times): Dillingham composer, performer and teacher Lynda Lybeck-Robinson this week will release "Aleutian Noel," a collection of Christmas songs in Unangan (Aleut), Russian and English. The album is a follow-up to the 2007 album "An Aleut Lullaby" and the second in a planned series of six albums that will feature the Unangan language. See Lybeck-Robinson's albums here.
Cheney: Palin has no lock on 2012 presidential candidacy (FoxNews): In a long interview on "Fox News Sunday," Vice President Dick Cheney said Gov. Sarah Palin is no shoo-in for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. "She'll have to go out and earn it just as anybody else would have to," he said. Video link is here.
Alaska 2010 poll cornucopia (Daily Kos): A new poll shows Gov. Sarah Palin would soundly defeat Sen. Lisa Murkowski in a 2010 matchup for Murkowski's U.S. Senate seat. See also:
Murkowski to Palin: Leave my seat alone (Politico)
Last show for "AK" (APRN): The Alaska Public Radio Network aired the final edition of its popular "AK" show over the weekend. Lack of sponsorship support doomed the show, public broadcasting officials said. Hear the final show here.
Return to Alaska Newsreader through the day for new links.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM RECENT NEWSREADERS:
Remains of Alaskan who died at Pearl Harbor finally ID'd (Stories in the News, Ketchikan)
Kenai River study will focus on angler ‘experience' (Peninsula Clarion)
Willie Hensley: 50 years and 50 miles (Anchorage Press)
State fund managers avoided Madoff (Juneau Empire)
Old Alaska license plate is America's most valuable (Forbes)
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.