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AP AK Daily News WatchMoved: 2/2/2012 04:47Latest Alaska news, sports, business and entertainment
SEWARD HIGHWAY-AVALANCHES
2 slides cause brief closures of Seward Highway
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Two small avalanches have caused short-term blockage of one lane of traffic on the Seward Highway.
Department of Transportation spokeswoman Meadow Bailey says in an email to The Associated Press that the slides blocked the lane of traffic at Mile 106, or about two miles north of Indian.
She says there may have been intermittent delays on the highway associated with the slides, but the highway wasn't closed.
She says officials will conduct avalanche mitigation efforts later Wednesday in the area, and travelers can expect delays of up to an hour Wednesday afternoon.
COPPER CENTER-FIRE FATAL
Body found in burned Copper Center cabin
(Information in the following story is from: KTUU-TV, http://www.ktuu.com)
COPPER CENTER, Alaska (AP) — Alaska State Troopers say a body was located at a cabin fire in Copper Center.
KTUU reports (http://bit.ly/w2XRbh) the fire completely destroyed the cabin Sunday morning at Mile 93.7 of the Richardson Highway, about 20 miles southeast of Glennallen.
The remains were too badly burned for identification, and were sent to Anchorage for an autopsy and identification.
The cabin's only resident is 71-year-old Harlan A. Parker.
Troopers say he was last seen at the cabin on Saturday.
MOTEL FOR ALCOHOLICS
2nd man dies at Karluk Manor
(Information in the following story is from: Anchorage Daily News, http://www.adn.com)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A second person has died at an Anchorage center that allows homeless alcoholics to drink in their rooms.
The Anchorage Daily News (http://bit.ly/xv9BQ6) reports Daniel Worthman died Tuesday at Karluk Manor. Police say a medical examiner will determine the cause of the 46-year-old man's death.
It's the second death reported at the center, which opened Dec. 8 in a former Red Roof Inn in downtown Anchorage. The first death was reported New Year's Day.
Karluk Manor is based on the Housing First model that maintains that chronic alcoholics are best-served by providing them with safe housing as a first step toward self-sufficiency and eventual integration into the community.
The manor was modeled after the 1811 Eastlake project in Seattle, where hundreds of housing units have been provided for chronic alcoholics.
HOTEL STABBING
Man dies from wounds in hotel stabbing
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A man who was stabbed in an Anchorage hotel has died.
Police say 50-year-old Andrew Wilson died after being taken Tuesday night to a hospital after being stabbed at the Inlet Inn.
Fifty-year-old Jackie Adams was charged with assault. Police say the Anchorage District Attorney will review the charges now that Wilson has died.
Police say a group was drinking in one of the rooms at the hotel when a dispute broke out late Tuesday night.
Witnesses told police that the hotel charges an additional fee for guests who stay in renters' rooms and Adams didn't want to incur the extra fee. Adams forced Wilson from the room, but Wilson returned and began banging on the door.
Police say that is when Wilson was stabbed.
ANCHORAGE STABBING
2nd man faces assault charges in fatal stabbing
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Another man has been arrested following a fatal Anchorage stabbing.
Police say 23-year-old Nicholas Moore has been charged with assault and was to be arraigned later Wednesday.
Police say he accompanied 21-year-old Richard Smith to an apartment, where they drank with Thomas Atkinson Jr. and his girlfriend on Sunday. Police allege Atkinson was attacked, punched and then stabbed. He died early Tuesday morning.
Police are awaiting autopsy results.
Smith was arraigned on assault charges Tuesday.
OCCUPY FAIRBANKS
Fairbanks protest to go into spring
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Occupy Fairbanks protesters say they plan to continue their Wall Street protest into the spring.
The decision comes after the borough had their chemical toilet removed from Veteran's Memorial Park last month, and after the group has clashed repeatedly with the borough over camping in the park.
Like the national Wall Street group, the Fairbanks protesters cite a wide range of reasons for devoting dozens of hours in very cold conditions to keep the protest alive and visible.
Some common themes are concerns about income inequality and civil liberties.
MURKOWSKI-FISHERIES AIDE
Gov't recommends less prison time for Fuglvog
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The government is recommending five months in prison for a former fisheries aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Arne Fuglvog (FOOG'-luh-vog) pleaded guilty in August to falsely reporting where he caught sablefish intended for interstate commerce. He is to be sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage.
Besides the five months, the government is recommending a $50,000 fine, $100,000 community service payment and a year of supervised release.
The plea agreement initially called for 10 months, but the U.S. Attorney's office is recommending the reduction because prosecutors say Fuglvog has accepted responsibility and is cooperating in the investigation of fisheries crimes.
His fishing violations occurred before he became part of Murkowski's staff.
DNR-MISSION STATEMENT
Parnell defends DNR change in mission statement
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell says he had a role in the Department of Natural Resources proposing a new mission statement.
Parnell says he asked his departments to examine their mission statements and to make sure they fit with state law and the constitution.
DNR's mission statement has been to "develop, conserve and enhance natural resources for present and future Alaskans." The proposed mission is to "responsibly develop Alaska's resources by making them available for maximum use and benefit consistent with the public interest."
This has riled some lawmakers, as well as conservationists worried about a pro-development bent.
Parnell says conservation is implied in the constitution.
He says if lawmakers have something better than the constitution as a basis for a mission statement, he'll work with them.
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
Parnell makes supplemental budget request
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell is proposing a $97 million supplemental budget to cover what he says were unanticipated increases in delivering state services and programs for the current year.
The request includes $38 million for legal settlements, $3 million for disaster funding and $4.9 million for wildland firefighting. There's also money for emergency road and bridge repairs; low-income heating assistance programs; and inmate housing and transportation.
The budget includes $3.1 million for oil and gas litigation and $5.5 million for ferry work to maintain Coast Guard certifications.
The legal settlements include one for $18 million, announced last week, in a long-running lawsuit over education quality.
Of the total supplemental request, $16.3 million is federal funds.
RURAL EDUCATION
Rural educators out of step with state regulators
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Educators from a western Alaska school district described to the House Education Committee Wednesday morning a relationship with state regulators they say is plagued by a lack of dialogue and inconsistent priorities.
The committee is considering HB256, which would remove the state's ability to intervene in struggling districts when it's perceived as being punitive.
Howard Diamond, superintendent of Yupiit School Districts, told the committee that state efforts have faltered because collaboration with rural districts when enacting improvements is lacking. He also said "one size fits all" approaches often fail in bush Alaska.
Rep. Peggy Wilson said varying ideals of the state's four governors in the past decade and five education commissioners since 2005 have complicated state efforts to help struggling districts.
Testimony will continue Friday.
IRAN DIVESTMENT
Parnell wants Alaska divested from Iran
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell is calling on the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. to divest investments in companies that either do business in Iran or with Iran's ruling government.
Parnell, in a letter to the corporation's executive director, says some believe free markets, and not government policy, should direct investment choices. But he says the "very real threat" posed by Iran requires action.
Parnell cites, among other things, nuclear concerns raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Parnell says the "sanction" is a last resort, but he says this is a time to stand on "principles of life and liberty."
State lawmakers are also considering legislation that would ban Permanent Fund investments in companies conducting business in Iran.
PARNELL-PENSION PROBLEMS
Gov not inclined to equity infusion for pension
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell says he's not inclined toward an infusion of equity, perhaps in the billions of dollars, to address Alaska's unfunded pension liabilities.
Parnell says he'd rather see the state stay on its current payment plan or move to a level plan.
Parnell says the state will meet the obligation, which currently stands around $11 billion. He says he'd rather see that done with cash, rather than "dumping" in billions of dollars in savings that would essentially be off limits if the state got in a financial pinch. Parnell says the state also risks losing value of the money if the stock market tanks again.
At least one bill has been proposed that would put $2 billion into a pension trust.
CANADA-ALTAGAS-SEMCO
AltaGas to buy Alaska natural gas utility
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — AltaGas Ltd. has agreed to pay more than $1.1 billion for natural gas businesses in Alaska and Michigan, which it says are a good fit with its own assets and part of a strategy of becoming a top North American energy infrastructure company.
The Calgary-based gas processor and pipeline operator said Wednesday it has agreed to buy SEMCO Energy of Port Huron, Michigan, from Continental Energy Systems LLC, another Michigan company.
SEMCO owns a regulated natural gas distribution company in Alaska through ENSTAR Natural Gas and part ownership of a gas storage terminal being built in Alaska. It also has gas distribution and storage businesses in Michigan.
ENSTAR is the largest natural gas distributor in Alaska, serving 132,000 mostly residential customers.
ICE CLASSIC
Ice Classic tickets go on sale
(Information in the following story is from: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, HYPERLINK http://www.newsminer.comhttp://www.newsminer.com)
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Tickets for the annual Nenana Ice Classic are on sale.
The guessing game is going into its 96th year with the ice on the Tanana River the thinnest it's been in years. But, what that means for breakup is anyone's guess.
The object of the game is to guess the exact day and time the Tanana River ice will go out in Nenana.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (HYPERLINK http://bit.ly/yf3klxhttp://bit.ly/yF3KLX ) says last year, 22 different ticket holders shared a record $338,062 jackpot when the ice went out on May 4 at 4:24 p.m. AST.
Each winning ticket was worth $15,366.45 before taxes.
Tickets for this year's Ice Classic went on sale Wednesday and are available at almost 200 different locations across the state.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
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