JUNEAU DAILY NEWSMINUTE
By Chris Burns - kiny@ptialaska.net
Monday, January 8, 1996 (c) Alaska Juneau Communications
*The 1996 session of the Alaska Legislature convened this morning
in Juneau for its 121-day run. Mostly ceremonial activities early
today, with more formal work scheduled throughout the remainder
of the day. While most lawmakers have found housing, many staff
members were still scrambling today to find a place to live. The
Legislative Affairs Agency says many of them are in Juneau for
the first time and are appalled by the cost of renting.
*Increasing the Capital City's housing supply is on the agenda at
tonight's Assembly meeting when the Lands Committee presents a
proposal to provide builders with zero-interest loans for the
construction of new multi-family homes. Finance Committee Chair
Rod Swope says he generally favors the idea, but is concerned
that there is no recent data on actual housing availability.
Swope believes some legislators are too picky about where they
want to live, and are using the shortage to promote moving the
Capital out of Juneau.
*Alaskans remain about equally split on the issue of a Capital
move. Results of a statewide survey taken in November show that
47-percent of Alaskans favor a move, and 47-percent do not.
However, the number of those who would support a move has dropped
over 10-percent since 1994, and moving the Capital ranked near
the bottom of a list of priorities cited by state residents.
*A Juneau woman was medevaced to Harborview Medical Center in
Seattle today when she suffered serious injuries after being
struck by a car downtown. Vickie Boone sustained head injuries
and a fractured leg in the accident which occurred at about 7:30
this morning.
*Juneau teachers and the school board are gearing up for a round
of contract talks. The first session will be this Wednesday when
negotiating teams lay down ground rules for the talks. School
Superintendent Mary Rubadeau believes the sides can find some
common ground, and forge a new labor agreement even in the face
of the district's fiscal problems.
*Hundreds of U.S. Forest Service employees were back at work in
Juneau today as the partial government shutdown temporarily
ended. The current stop-gap funding measure runs out on January
26th. A spokeswoman says the mood of employees is generally
upbeat, but they're wary of being thrown out of work again in 3
weeks.
*Eaglecrest is still waiting for more snow. It rained there
yesterday, too, and melted much of the snow which fell on
Saturday. Officials say the top of the mountain is getting snow
today, but there are still only a few inches at the lodge.