Fast ferry's return to service further delayed, lack of parts blamed
The return of the fast ferry Fairweather has been delayed once again.

That word from the Alaska Marine Highway Monday.

Roger Wetherell of State DOT says the vessel's return to the fleet has tentatively been delayed to some time in July.

He says it was scheduled to return to service by June following an overhaul to her main engine, but a scarcity of parts forces an additional delay.

Wetherell says the engines used in the Fairweather are not widely used worldwide. As a result, many parts are being manufactured.

Resulting schedule changes will involved the additional use of the LeConte, he says.

UPDATE - Alaska awaits verification of swine flu finding
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — State health officials had expected to get verification Monday that a crew member aboard a cruise ship in Alaska waters contracted swine flu. But officials may have to wait a bit longer.

Ann Potempa, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Social Services, says it looks increasingly unlikely the verification will come by the end of the day Monday.

Dr. Jay Butler, Alaska's chief medical officer, announced Sunday that the crew member aboard the Serenade of the Seas had tested positive for swine flu.

No other people aboard the ship have reported flu-like symptoms since the woman became ill on May 2.

Swine flu claims life of Washington State resident
A Washington state man has become the third person to die in the U.S. from swine flu.

State health officials say the Snohomish County man, who was in his thirties, had an underlying heart condition and viral pneumonia but that he also had swine flu and it is considered a factor in the death.

Health Secretary Mary Selecky cautions the number of cases in Washington could rise but she advises people to follow basic health precautions, like washing hands with soap.

The other two U. S. deaths from swine flu were in Texas: a Mexican toddler and a pregnant woman who were also suffering from other illnesses at the time of death.

Airlines move to prevent spread of swine flu
HONOLULU (AP) — At least two airlines that serve Hawaii are taking extra steps to prevent the spread of swine flu.

Since last week, Hawaiian Airlines has been replacing blankets daily on every mainland and international flight departing from Honolulu.

Alaska Airlines has removed all pillows and blankets from its fleet.

Woman now leads Juneau fishing derby
There's a new leader in the Spring King Salmon Derby.

Leslie Isturis is with the Tlingit Haida Central Council which sponsors the annual derby.

She says the leader is now Tina Bergam.

Bergam turned in her 34.75 pound King to DeHart's at 5:30 Saturday afternoon.

The derby ends at the end of the month.

JDHS Art students selected in Google contest
The Google for Doodle contest has accepted designs from two Juneau Douglas High School art students.

Art Teacher Jan Neimeyer says they are Geordey Sherrick and Alexandra Crowder.

Their work was  selected from among 28,000.

Google selected the best designs for each state and also at the national level.

Sherrick is one of the top 40 artists in Google's national Icon Contest that is aimed at designing a logo for its home page.

He will travel to New York City May 20th to compete in the finals which could net him a $15,000 scholarship and a $25,000 technology award for his school.

Neimeyer says he's the only high school student who will represent Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, California and Oregon.

The designs will be on Google's website this week for the public to view and  vote for their favorite.

Although Crowder is not funded to go to New York, her teacher says her work will also appear on the Google website.

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Official Doodle Contest website:
http://www.google.com/doodle4google/ 

More information on the judging prizes awarded.
http://www.google.com/doodle4google/judging_prizes.html 

Tourism revenue detailed for Assembly
The Assembly tonight (Monday) is scheduled to hear a presentation on the economic impacts of tourism on Juneau's economy.

According to the study prepared by the McDowell Group in the 12-month period between October 2007 and September 2008, an estimated 1.1 million visitors came to Juneau, spending a total of $189 million.

Most of the visitation and spending is by cruise passengers.

Direct and indirect visitor industry-related employment totaled 2,750 jobs in 07-08, which represents 13 percent of all employment in Juneau.

Direct and indirect visitor industry-related labor income totaled $95 million during the same period, or 9 percent of Juneau's total labor income.

Cruise lines paid $8.7 million in dockage, moorage and passenger fees to the City and Borough of
Juneau in 2008.

The visitor industry accounted for an estimated $8.6 million in sales tax revenues to the City and borough of Juneau in 2007-08. This represents 20 percent of total sales tax revenues in fiscal year 2008 about $42 million.

The City and Borough of Juneau collected $1.3 million in room tax revenues in fiscal year 2008, of which $800,000 can be attributed to the out-of-state visitor market.

Tonight's Assembly work session gets underway at 6 at city hall.

Assembly to hear garbage incineration study
The Assembly tonight (Monday) is scheduled to hear details of a feasibility study on three ways of incinerating the city's garbage.

The report was prepared by the engineering firm of SCS of Tampa Florida.

The three disposal technologies are Pyrolysis gasification; Plasma-arc gasification, and Waste to Energy incineration.

According to the SCS report, Pyrolysis gasification is a proven technology with large capacity plants in operation in  Idaho, California, Arkansas, and Ontario, Canada.

The plants are designed for capacities in excess of 100 tons per day.

SCS engineers say the Plasma-arc gasification process is a newer technology with few successful operational plants.

The Plasco Energy Group has a new plasma-arc gasification facility in operation in Ottawa, Canada, which has an initial operational capacity of 85 tons per day and is designed for expansion to 400 tons per day.

A few small plasma-arc gasification plants in Japan have been reportedly operating well with a mix of municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes.

The plants are running up to 200 tons per day of solid waste.

According to the engineering firm, Waste to Energy incineration is a proven disposal technology for both municipal solid waste and sewage biosolids and successful incineration plants are in operation within the United States and around the world.

However, no new incineration plants have been constructed within the United States in the past decade due to citizen resistance due to environmental concerns, increasingly strict air quality regulations, and lower landfill costs.

Tonight's Assembly work session gets underway at 6 at City Hall.

Study: Alaska ethics rating declines
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska' rank in a rating of states' ethics laws is declining, and stands at 40th.

The list comes from the Better Government Association, which ranked all the states based on the strength of their ethics laws as of 2008.

The association says the strongest ethics laws are in New Jersey, followed by Rhode Island, Hawaii, Washington state and Louisiana.

The Better Government Association also did the ranking in 2002. Alaska was ranked 23rd then.
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Source: Better Government Association 2008 and 2002 Alper Integrity Index.

UPDATE - State sending supplies to flooded communities
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Ice jams from spring breakup continue to slowly move down the Yukon River, inundating small villages along the way.

The National Weather Service says the ice jam broke early Monday morning near Stevens Village, where severe flooding has been reported. Most village residents had been evacuated.

Dave Andrews with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security says a majority of homes in Stevens Village are reported to have water in them. A group of 20 people remained after weekend evacuations, and they have taken shelter at the school.

Cleanup also remains a big job farther upstream in Eagle, cleaning up from devastating damage from flooding and ice jams.

On the Kuskokwim River in western Alaska, Andrews says the biggest concern is in the community of Akiak. The state is sending necessary supplies like drinking water.

Chena Flood Control Project gets stimulus funds
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Federal stimulus funds will enable the Chena Flood Control Project to replace faulty drainage pipes and remodel its office.

The funds are part of nearly $50 million being awarded for Alaska civil works projects by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The facility, which can reroute flood water from the Chena River, was spurred by the 1967 floods that swamped much of Fairbanks and surrounding area.

The funding includes $4.6 million to remodel the project office at the Chena River Lakes Project and $900,000 to replace faulty "relief wells." Those are the large pipes that protrude from the 8-mile-long earthen dam. The pipes drain groundwater to protect the dam from erosion.

Design work will be completed this summer and most work done next year.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Coast Guard aids fishing vessel
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Coast Guard has delivered two dewatering pumps to a fishing vessel taking on water.

The pumps were delivered Monday morning to the Jamie Marie, located about 45 miles west of Kodiak.

Two crew members onboard the 50-foot vessel issued the call for assistance.

A Coast Guard helicopter made the delivery to the commercial seiner, and a Good Samaritan crew on the vessel Halycon responded with aide to the Jamie Marie.

The crew reported the water was removed from Jamie Marie, and they were returning to home port in Kodiak.

JPD to remember fallen officers
This week is National Police Week which is set aside to honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s law enforcement officers.

The Juneau Police Department will mark the week with its annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Observance on the lawn of the Alaska State Museum Tuesday.

The department's Cindee Brown-Mills says it begins at Noon.

She says the department has had four officers killed in the line of duty and the ceremony will honor those officers along with those who daily put there lives on the line for Juneau residents.

Senator Dennis Egan will give the keynote address.

The Juneau Police Department Honor Guard will present the Colors.

Brown-Mills says the ceremony is open to the public.

Fisher urges UAF graduates to get involved in government
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Longtime Alaska statesman Vic Fisher urged graduates at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to develop their value systems, remain open to new ideas and to participate in their communities.

Fisher told the more than 1,100 graduates Sunday) that government is not a spectator sport.

He adds: "We're all in this together."
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Man dies in motorcycle crash in Fairbanks
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Fairbanks police say a 28-year-old motorcyclist has died after crashing during an apparent high-speed race.

Police identified the victim as Nathan Gray, a member of the Alaska Air National Guard.

Police Sgt. Gary Yamamoto says Gray looked to have been racing a driver of a car westbound on the Johansen Expressway late Friday night when his motorcycle left the road.

Yamamoto says it appears Gray was driving at more than 100 miles per hour when the motorcycle left the road at a small curve and demolished about 150 feet of fencing.

Yamamoto declined to identify the other driver but says information about the accident has been sent to state attorneys for possible charges.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Bellevue broker sentenced for mislabeling fish
SEATTLE (AP) — A Bellevue man has been fined $160,000 and sentenced to 30 days in jail for intentionally mislabeling turbot (TUR'-bot) from China as higher-priced halibut.

Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Law Enforcement in Seattle said Monday it's one of the strongest sentences imposed for such a violation.

Kevin D. Steele pleaded guilty in November to buying 65 tons of turbot from China and relabeling it as halibut. The Bellevue fish broker then sold it to stores and restaurants in Texas and Utah at the higher prices halibut fetches.

Steele was sentenced last month in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Japan Airlines resumes seasonal flights to Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Japan Airlines has scheduled 17 charter flights to Alaska this summer.

This is an increase of three flights from last year.

The first charter is scheduled to land in Anchorage on June 20, with the first scheduled landing in Fairbanks set for Aug. 22.

Airport officials say all charters are operated on Boeing 747-400 wide-body airplanes, which can seat 356 passengers.

Frontier to fly to Anchorage
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Frontier Airlines has resumed daily nonstop flights between Denver and Anchorage.

The Denver-based airline says the seasonal service will operate through Sept. 21.

The daily flight leaves Anchorage at 10:55 p.m. and arrives in Denver the next day at 6:10 a.m.

The airline says flights leave Denver at 6:10 p.m., arriving in Anchorage at 9:47 p.m.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Ketchikan Library fire extinguisher malfunctions
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — A malfunctioning fire extinguisher has created a huge mess at the Ketchikan Public Library.

The extinguisher malfunctioned shortly after the library closed Sunday. No one was in the building at the time.

The large metal extinguisher sits over the inside of the book drop, which is in a janitor's closet. Either the door was open or the force of the extinguisher going off opened the door.

Either way, Library Director Judith McQuerry says it "blew chemicals all over the building."

The library is closed Monday to allow staff to clean the building and equipment.
(Ketchikan Daily News)

Gravel mining planned in Anchorage
BIRCHWOOD, Alaska (AP) — A Native corporation will begin mining gravel on a site in Birchwood.

The three-year project will eventually pave the groundwork for a new 162-acre industrial park just north of Anchorage.

Eklutna Inc. says to prepare the site, gravel will be shipped by train to a South Anchorage operation run by Central Paving Products.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Volunteers clear litter from Anchorage waterways
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Spring is here and the big clean up is on in Anchorage.

The good news is that it looks like the annual Creek Cleanup in Anchorage may have produced less trash this year.

Holly Kent, executive director of the Anchorage Waterways Council, says about 10 tons of trash were collected last year. But after Saturday's Creek Cleanup, Kent says there appears to a ton or two less.

Hundreds of residents took part in this year's effort, which target 17 locations from Eagle River to Girdwood.

Members of Girl Scout Troop 10 of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton took part.

Ten-year-old Aunica Campbell says one of the exciting finds was a pizza. She says the cheese was still on it.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Anchorage police: secure dogs in pickup beds
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Anchorage police say with the change of season, officers are seeing more dogs riding around in pickup beds without being restrained.

Anchorage police spokesman Dave Parker says that's against municipal code, and the drivers could be charged with a misdemeanor for cruelty to animals.

Parker says pet stores sell cross-tethers to legally and safely secure the pooches.