News

Author Discusses Abusive Priests

By Dan Bross

Fairbanks, AK – THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ISN'T THE ONLY FAITH COPING WITH THE PROBLEM OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY CLERGY, BUT THE RELIGION HAS HAD A FAR HIGHER NUMBER OF CASES GO PUBLIC. KUAC'S DAN BROSS ASKED UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT CHAIRWOMAN ELINOR BURKETT, WHAT SHE LEARNED ABOUT THE CHURCH AND THE INCIDENCE OF SEX ABUSE BY ITS' CLERGY, IN RESEARCHING HER 1993 BOOK ON THE SUBJECT.

Fairbanks Man Describes Recovery from Priestly Abuse

By Dan Bross

Fairbanks, AK – THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTES IS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO CIVILLY COMMIT EX-CATHOLIC PRIEST AND CONVICTED PEDOFILE, JAMES PORTER. PORTER HAS SPENT OVER A DECADE IN PRISON FOR CHILD MOLESTATION AND MANY FEAR HE IS STILL A THREAT. DOZENS OF PEOPLE IN 5 STATES SAY PORTER SEXUALLY ABUSED THEM AS CHILDREN IN THE 1960'S AND 70'S. ONE OF THEM IS NOW LIVING IN FAIRBANKS. AS ALASKANS DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY CLERGY, HIS STORY SHOWS HOW DAMAGING THE OFFENSE CAN BE. KUAC'S DAN BROSS REPPORTS.

Five Fairbanksans Win Free Speech Award

By Robert Hannon

Fairbanks – THE ALASKA COMMUNITY COLLEGES' FEDERATION OF TEACHERS IS HONORING FIVE FAIRBANKSANS. THE UNION IS OFFERING ITS FIRST ACADEMIC FREEDOM AWARD THIS YEAR. AMONG THE RECIPIENTS ARE TWO U-A-F STUDENTS, SHARICE WALKER MANAGING EDITOR OF THE SUN STAR AND TOM DeLAUNE ALSO WITH THE SCHOOL'S PAPER.
ROBERT HANNON TALKED WITH JOHN CREED WHO HELPED SELECT THE AWARD-WINNERS. CREED SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION WAS LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MODELED THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.

2nd Candidate for University of Alaska Fairbanks' Top Job Visits Campus

By Robert Hannon

Fairbanks – DR. JAY NOREN IS A FINALIST FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS' CHANCELLOR'S POSITON. HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AT THE UNIVERISTY OF NEBERASKA.

KUAC'S ROBERT HANNON ASKED NOREN ABOUT THE IDEA THAT UNIVERSITIES HAVE TO BECOME MORE BUSINESSLIKE TO SUCCEED.

KUAC Restores service to Circle area

Circle, AK – KUAC FM and the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks worked together recently to restore service to public radio listeners in Circle, Central and Circle Hot Springs. On November 11, Brian Lawson, of the Poker Flat Research Range, and KUAC's chief engineer Willy Forgue collaborated to install new batteries and a wind turbine to augment the solar powered translator on Boulder Hill, 13 miles northwest of Central, AK.

Sesame Street Celebrates 35 Years on PBS

Alaska – For 35 years, one television series remains the benchmark for the very best in educational programming. The world's largest informal educator of young children, Sesame Street celebrated its 35th anniversary with a PBS primetime special Sesame Street Presents: The Street We Live On. This special episode premiered on Alaska One on Sunday, April 4 at 7 p.m. It will re-air in the daytime beginning Monday, April 5 on PBS KIDS as the series' season opener (check the schedule at www.alaskaone.org).