Augustine Volcano erupts Friday... airline schedules disrupted
The third eruption of the Augustine Volcano occurred at 11:22,  according to Geologist Jennifer Adleman at the Alaska Volcano Observatory.

She says it lasted about three minutes and 24 seconds and sent ash to 36,000 feet.

The first eruption occurred just before four a.m. and lasted 44 minutes.

The second, shorter eruption  at about 8:45  sent a second ash cloud heading east toward the Kenai Peninsula.

Adleman says the eruption sent a plume more than 30-thousand feet in the air. But a pilot reported the plume at about 52-thousand feet.

Pilots also reported lighting in the plume. Lighting is created in ash plumes when particles rub together and generating a static charge.

The volcano is about 180 miles south of Anchorage.
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On the Net:
Alaska Volcano Observatory: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/ 
National Weather Service Forecast Office, Anchorage: http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/augustine.php 

Alaska Airlines cancels 28 flights because of volcano eruptions
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Airlines has canceled 28 flights because of the possibility of volcanic ash from Augustine Volcano.

The Cook Inlet volcano has erupted several times today, sending clouds of ash into the air.

The airline says it canceled the flights as a safety precaution.

The flights were scheduled to operate this afternoon through tomorrow (Saturday) morning.

As of 3 p-m today, the airline will not operate scheduled flights between Anchorage and the Alaska cities of Juneau and Kodiak. Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle also are on the list.

In addition, the airline will not operate scheduled flights between Fairbanks and Seattle.

Alaska Airlines expects to resume these flights sometime after 8-30 a-m on Saturday.

An airline official advises passengers to call reservations.

Juneau based National Guard unit is out of Iraq and headed home
The approximately 140 members of the Juneau headquartered Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry of the Alaska Army National Guard is due back in the state today after serving a year  in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They unit was scheduled to arrive at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage this morning. (Friday) 

A ceremony was planned at one p.m.

They'll receive four days of leave and return to Fort Richardson for about a week of processing before they return to their homes.

Plans originally called for the unit to leave Iraq between the last week of January and through the first week of February.

One member of the unit, who was injured when he was pinned between two Humvee's last month, is at Fort Richardson to help welcome his fellow soldiers back home.

Sergeant Brent Bartlett  of Juneau suffered a  pelvic fracture in the incident. His non-combat injury was the only casualty suffered by the unit during its one year deployment to Iraq.

Major Mike Haller of the Alaska National Guard agrees that borders on the miraculous, but he also thought it was a real testament to their soldiering skills.  

He says unit members worked to forge good relationships with the Iraqis and to convince them they weren't there to harm them, but to help them.

Meanwhile, about 120 airmen are set to return to Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage Sunday. They've been serving in various parts of Southeast Asia since August and September.

Murkowski defends $400 million to buy portion of natural gas pipeline
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - During his State of the Budget Address last night, Governor Murkowski outlined his plan to spend 400 million dollars of the state's revenue toward a share in the proposed natural gas pipeline.

The gas pipeline is estimated to cost 20 billion dollars, meaning the state's share would cost four billion dollars.

He says financial advisers suggest the state finance 80 percent of that, leaving the state to come up with 800 million dollars in cash.

He says the state will need to put up its funds early to help pay its share of permitting and other construction related costs within 60 days of a contract's ratification. The state is still negotiating with three oil companies over contract terms.

Murkowski says it's prudent that the state set aside 400 million of the fiscal year's revenue for the pipeline. He says it's - quote - ``an investment that's going to pay handsome, handsome returns.''

Murkowski wants Alaska to own part of pipeline
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - In his State of the Budget Address tonight, Governor Murkowski says owning part of the TAPS oil pipeline is critical for the state.

He says the state's royalty oil -- 12 and a half percent -- moves through the pipeline, and the state pays a tariff.

Murkowski says the state can easily justify acquiring an interest equal to its throughput.

He says payment for the acquisition cost would come from the tariff adjustment.

The state has been in litigation almost constantly with the pipeline owners over tariff disputes. He says state ownership would reduce the likelihood of litigation.

Initial contact has been made with the pipeline owners, and Murkowski says there is interest in the proposal.

He says with an incentive proposal, production of new fields and heavy oil, the TAPS line will be in business another 30 years.

The state's team now negotiating the natural gas pipeline will pursue this once that work is done.

Murkowski proposes $565 million boost to education
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Governor Murkowski championed his 565 million dollar boost to education during his State of the Budget Address tonight (Thursday).

He says the funds will give school districts the opportunity to plan for the upcoming year, knowing the level of state support they can expect.

Some of the money also will fund the proposed teacher and support staff incentive program announced yesterday.

He's also proposing 500-hundred dollars be used to add a new Alaska Military Youth Academy facility north of the Alaska Range.

Murkowski wants more funds for Knik Arm, Gravina Island bridges
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Governor Murkowski says the state should spend the maximum amount of federal funds it received for the Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges.

The two so-called ``bridges to nowhere'' lost their congressional earmarks, but the state still got the money. That leaves it to the Legislature to decide if they get funded.

Murkowski left no doubt of his support for the bridges in his State of the Budget address tonight (Thursday). He says the budget includes 94 million dollars for the Knik Arm crossing and 91 million dollars fro the Gravina Island bridge, plus the necessary state match.

He says that's obviously not enough to build the bridges, but he wants to keep the projects moving.

Murkowski says he's also asked his budget director to look for additional funding for both projects from future state revenue sources.

Murkowski wants to spend $86 million on easing traffic
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Governor Murkowski says he wants to spend some of the state's revenue in transportation infrastructure to relieve traffic congestion in the state.

He's wants 30 million dollars to go addressing Anchorage's traffic congestion.

Murkowski also is including money to make the Seward Highway between Anchorage and Girdwood safer. It includes 12 million dollars to reconstruct ``Windy Corner'' to realign a dangerous section of the highway and to add passing lanes. He's also directed Troopers to increase enforcement in the area, and proposes doubling the fines for moving traffic violations.

He's also proposing 12 million dollars for intersection improvements on the Palmer/Wasilla Highway. Another proposal includes spending funds to start work on the Big Lake-Burma road so it will be ready for construction in 2008. He didn't say how much, though.
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Among other proposals:
- eight million dollars to complete paving of K-Beach Road and the Kenai Spur Highway.
- six million dollars to complete reconstruction and paving of the road to the Aerospace Corporation's launch facility in Kodiak.
- two-and-a-half million dollars for access improvements to the new Fairbanks fire and police facility.
- six-and-a-half million dollars to continue repaving of Richardson Highway south of Fairbanks.
- 15 million dollars for maintenance of the Dalton Highway.
- nearly five-and-a-half million dollars for the new Wood River Bridge near Dillingham.

Murkowski says national marketing campaign is good investment
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Governor Murkowski says the state needs a national marketing campaign to changes the distorted view the rest of the nation has of Alaska.

Murkowski says the national distortion of Alaska comes from misled special interests in the national debate over opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.

During his State of the Budget Address tonight, Murkowski says the state will start with a more precise assessment of perceptions in the Lower 48, and what information might assist in correcting those misperceptions.

He says the state will seek help from sources inside and outside the state at first, which should not cost the state any funds.

Initial findings will then be evaluated with lawmakers, the congressional delegation and others before moving ahead.
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He says this endeavor is something the state must do.

Murkowski says the estimated return to the state if ANWR has passed was a half of the estimated lease bids. Those estimates were as high as five billion dollars.

He says a return of two-and-a-half billion dollars is pretty good on a national education effort that succeeds.

Murkowski speech answers re-election question for some
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Governor Murkowski hasn't said whether he'll run for re-election, but some lawmakers are taking his State of the Budget Address tonight as the clearest sign yet.

House Speaker John Harris (a Valdez Republican) says he has no doubt that Murkowski will be a candidate.

Murkowski covered a wide range of topics and proposed a number of initiatives in his speech to the Legislature. His budget proposal includes an increase of spending of nearly 500 million dollars compared to this year.

Harris says the governor can promise every program under the sun, but they have to be paid for somehow. He says the Legislature will establish a budget that's as sustainable as possible.

Democratic Representative Eric Croft (an Anchorage Democrat) says he heard no new ideas in Murkowski's speech, but a lot of retreads instead.

Croft, who is a gubernatorial candidate himself, declined to speculate whether Murkowski will run again

Crew  rescued off Kodiak after fishing boat sinks
A fishing boat sank southeast of Kodiak this morning (Friday), but all hands were rescued.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Tom McKenzie says they received a distress call from the 42 foot Kodiak based Horizon at 4:34 a.m.

He says the Command Center in Juneau released an urgent marine information broadcast and contacted the Kodiak Harbormaster. The harbormaster and the master of another vessel reported seeing the Horizon earlier near Sitkalidak Island.

A Coast Guard helicopter was launched and the fishing vessel Competition working nearby responded to the scene.

The crew of the Competition was able to safely transfer the Horizon's crew. No injuries were reported.

Plans call for taking the three crewmembers back to Kodiak this evening.

McKenzie says the Coast Guard will conduct a pollution overflight today.

The cause of the incident is unknown and under investigation.

Former Fairbanks mayor target of federal warrants
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - Federal agents this week served search warrants at the home of former Fairbanks Mayor Jim Hayes, his church and a nonprofit center run by his former wife.

F-B-I Agent Eric Gonzalez confirms agents searched Hayes' home, Lily of the Valley Church and LOVE Social Services Center. However, neither he nor other federal officials would say why those places were the target.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - citing two unnamed sources - reports this morning the agents were looking for evidence that there was misuse of federal grant money.

The paper reports LOVE Social Services Center has received almost three (M) million dollars in federal grants since Hayes and others formed the tax-exempt organization in 2000.
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In all, about 30 federal agents took part in searches Tuesday. The News-Miner reported the agents work for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service.

The Hayes did not return phone calls to the Fairbanks newspaper seeking comment. The center's board of directors also either declined comment or couldn't be reached, the News-Miner says.

LOVE Social Services operates tutoring programs in the South Fairbanks center and at the state's youth jail.

Robbers steal drugs, ignore money at pharmacy
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The owners of a Wasilla pharmacy that was robbed this week say it's the third time in three years their business has been held up -- each time for drugs.

Two armed men who robbed the pharmacy Wednesday evening fled with prescription drugs after forcing workers to lie on the floor.

They took no money.

Store owner Mary Mundell says she was getting ready to close the story for the night when the robbery occurred.

Mundell says three employees walked out the front door, but they were pushed back inside by two men wearing ski masks, hoods and gloves.

The men were each carrying guns as well.

Alaska State Troopers say the robbers took drugs valued at more than eight-thousand dollars.
(Anchorage Daily News) 

Police arrest 21-year-old woman after robbery
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Anchorage police say a 21-year-old woman was arrested Thursday after a gas station robbery.

Sulaika Mendez is charged with robbery, assault, theft and weapons misconduct.

Police say a woman wearing a distinctive nose ring walked into the Mountain View Shell at about seven a-m and robbed it.

Police say the woman was wearing two sweat suits and she quickly shed one after the robbery.

Mendez was arrested near the gas station.

Police say they recovered the outer-layer sweat suit and the gun.

Police official Paul Honeman says the employee at the station identified Mendez as the robber.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Big game guide cited on five counts
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A big game guide has been cited on five counts.

Alaska State Troopers say 39-year-old Shawn Hooton of Juneau was cited yesterday (Thursday) for a number of things.

The citations include guiding a nonresident hunter and taking a mountain goat within an unauthorized area, unlawful possession and transportation of a mountain goat and falsifying a mountain goat permit report to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Hooton is scheduled to be arraigned February 7th in Juneau District Court.

Marlow to take over for  Gilbertson at CBJ Lands and Resources
Heather Marlow has been picked to be the new Lands and Resources Manager for the City and Borough of Juneau.

Marlow, who was born and raised in Juneau, started her career as a planner in the CBJ Community Development Department.

She's currently the Director of Planning for the County of Klamath Falls, Oregon.

She'll start her new job March 31.

City Manager Rod Swope says Marlow was one of five finalists selected from a pool of 12 applicants for the position. 

She replaces  Steve Gilbertson, who retires from his post on March 31, after over 32 years of service to the City and Borough of Juneau.

Ousted commissioner calls on lawmakers to closely watch gas deal
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Former Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Irwin told state lawmakers today (Thursday) that they would have to be Alaska's champion for any natural gas pipeline deal.

Irwin was removed from his job in October after he wrote a memo critical of Governor Murkowski's negotiations with B-P, ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil for terms to build a 20 billion dollar gas line.

His ouster prompted the resignations of six of his top deputies in the state Department of Natural Resources, including Division of Oil and Gas Director Mark Myers.

Irwin has stayed out of the public eye since then. But today, he and Myers answered legislators' questions before a packed House Finance Committee room on what they see as shortcomings of the deal.
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Irwin says lawmakers need to scrutinize the contract when it comes to them. He says not to look at how much a deal will bring the state, but how much it could have made.

Myers was blunt, saying the deal Murkowski's team is working on doesn't protect the state's interests.

Mike Menge, who replaced Irwin as natural resources commissioner, had a chance to respond. He says the points made by Irwin and Myers are without the context of the whole proposal, which is being kept secret.

He says lawmakers may take a different view when a contract is released.

If a contract is agreed upon, it will then be released for a public comment before being submitted to the Legislature for approval or rejection.

Homeless advocates rank Anchorage among the 'meanest' of cities
Anchorage is the 16th meanest city in the country.

The label comes from the National Coalition for the Homeless, which is based in Washington, D-C.

The factors include the number of anti-homeless laws, the enforcement of those laws, and the general political climate toward homeless people in the community.

Sarasota, Florida is ranked first. Ranked second is Lawrence, Kansas, followed by Little Rock, Arkansas -- which used to be ranked as the meanest.

Other ``mean'' cities in the latest rankings include Atlanta, Las Vegas, Dallas and Houston. There's also San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santa Monica, California; and Flagstaff, Arizona.

Lady Bears earn victory at Anchorage Tournament
The Juneau Douglas High School Lady Crimson Bears' basketball team defeated South Anchorage by a score 55 to 49 today [Thursday] at the East High Tournament in Anchorage

The Tournament continue tomorrow in Anchorage.

The men's team hosts Service of Anchorage  tonight and Saturday.

Tip off both nights on KINY is at 8 p.m.

Hockey team hosts Nikiski
The Juneau Douglas High School Hockey squad faces off against  the Nikiski Bulldogs this weekend.

The puck drops at the Treadwell Arena at 8:15 tonight and 7 p.m. Saturday.