Juneau Newsminute
01-09-97     1300

*A report of a shotgun being fired at a carload of teenagers at
an apartment complex in Switzer Creek had Juneau Police
responding at 6 o'clock last night.  Sgt. Kevin Siska says he
believes only one shot was fired in the direction of the car, but
no one was injured.  When officers responded, they contacted a
resident who matched the description of the alleged shooter, and
after obtaining a search warrant, searched the apartment.  Items
were taken into evidence, and the investigation is
continuing.<HR>

*The overall housing vacancy rate in the City and Borough of
Juneau has nearly doubled in the past year, that means more
choices in housing opportunities.  Housing Coordinator for the
CBJ, Michael Rody, says the greatest areas of gain were in single
family housing, where rates grew from half-a-percent to one-point-seven-percent.  The Valley was the big winner, with a
vacancy rate of just over two percent.  The biggest area of need
for housing, Rody says, is in the median income range, where
families may have steady jobs, but are not able to make a down
payment on a house that costs $180,000.<HR>

*Representative-elect Bill Hudson says he disagrees with a
proposed cruise ship head tax that Fairbanks Senator Bert Sharp
has pre-filed.  The plan would have every cruise ship passenger
that comes to Alaska paying $25 for every port the ship visits. 
Sharp maintains that this would raise as much as 37 million
dollars a year, that would then go to help fund municipalities,
who have suffered state cuts in recent years.  Hudson thinks that
taxing one segment of an industry is wrong, and he thinks Sharp's
other plan, of a 2 percent statewide bed tax, would better serve
the state.<HR>

*Anyone who has a question or comment for Governor Tony Knowles
or Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer can ask them face to face today,
thanks to the first of the Open Door sessions.  The sessions were
designed to open the doors of government wider, and give the
citizens a chance to interact with the state's two top
administrators.  The sessions will be video-conferenced to
Anchorage and Fairbanks.  The first Open Door session starts at
4:30 this afternoon, and Juneau residents can speak with the
Governor in his conference room, on the third floor of the
Capitol Building.<HR>

*For everyone who dreads having to make a public speech, but has
to do it, Perseverance Theatre has some good news.  By popular
demand, a second public speaking seminar will be offered on
January 23.  Artistic Director Molly Smith and Producing Director
Lynette Turner will conduct the session.  They have set a cap on
how many can attend, and the first lucky 20 to sign up will be
it.  Early registration ends January 18.  The seminar will
combine lectures, practical exercises and group discussions.<HR>