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High winds expected tonight
Wind chill could drop to 30-below
The high wind watch for Juneau and Douglas is back for tonight and tomorrow. There was a possibility of that last night, with some winds of considerable magnitude, according to National Weather Service Forecaster Bob Shontz,. The the highest gust measured 49 miles per hour at the Rock Dump just south of the downtown area. Gusts to 60 miles per hour and higher are possible tonight and tomorrow. The forecaster says that will plunge the wind chill to 30 below zero. In the meantime wind advisories have been in effect today for Juneau and Lynn Canal including Glacier Bay, Skagway and Haines. Gusts to 45 miles per hour are lowering wind chills to 25 below in Juneau and to 30 below in Skagway and Haines.
John Lindauer's apology to Alaskans is in the state's 3 largest newspapers today. Lindauer pleaded no contest last week to charges of violating Alaska's campaign laws. As part of his plea deal, he agreed to run ads in newspapers apologizing to Alaskans. The apology was published in the daily newspapers in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.
Governor Knowles delivers a joint State of the State and Budget Address tolawmakers this evening. Press Secretary Bob King says Knowles won't be offering any sweeping revenue proposals like last year's plan to impose an income tax and transfer $4-billion from the Permanent Fund to the budget reserve. The plan was rejected by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The Governor (left, at his desk this morning working on tonight's speech) combined the speeches for the first time last year. King says the Governor feels the State of the State is the State of the Budget, given the budgetary impacts of the major issues facing Alaska. The speech is scheduled for 7:00pm and will be broadcast on KINY Radio, or listen you may listen live here.
A Goldbelt-owned cruise ship was saved from sinking in Ketchikan yesterday. The Coast Guard says the 57 foot Glacier Fjord was discovered taking on water and listing to port at the Goldbelt Dock shortly after 11:00 in the morning. Divers found a cracked pipe leading from the sewage tank to the vessel's sea chest. Open valves were also discovered which officials believe contributed to the flooding. The Marine Safety Detachment in Ketchikan is investigating.
The 174 crab boat North Command with a crew of four is disabled in the Gulf of Alaska about 350 miles Southeast of Kodiak Island. Coast Guard Lieutenant Michael Paterson says an electrical problem knocked out the vessel's steerage. He says the boat is in no immediate danger. Another boat is standing by in the event the crew must abandon ship. The cutter Storis is in route from Sand Point and is expected to arrive at 6:00 tomorrow morning to take the vessel in tow if necessary.
Getting a grip on the budget and a long term budget plan and finding a subsistence solution tops the list of priorities for House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz (right). On the issue of funding state employee contracts, Berkowitz said on KINY's Capital Chat this morning that his minority will probably be supportive of the Governor's position. Contract talks are now underway with the state's 12 bargaining units. Berkowitz had no specific comment on the recommendations embraced by the Legislature's Privatization Task Force, which includes moving legislative sessions to Anchorage, other than to say that he's concerned with how the process was conducted. He thinks a road to the capital wouldn't make any difference on dampening the desire by some to move the capital or legislative sessions.
The Senate Minority brought up items during today's floor session they said were missing from the majority's list of priorities disclosed to the press yesterday. Minority Leader Johnny Ellis said not finding a subsistence solution took their breath away. He said the federal takeover is obnoxious and offensive to Alaskans. Majority leader Jerry Mackie responded by saying that they share that concern, but that it's a matter of finding some common ground in the way of a solution. The Minority also voiced concern about an explicit commitment to the repair and construction of rural schools. Finance Committee Co-Chair Sean Parnell says those concerns in both rural and urban areas are expressly listed in the majority's "Commitment to Alaska."
The State House took steps during today's short session to fix the measure relating to the definition of a disaster. Language in the conference committee report requires the Governor to call a special legislative session before declaring a disaster. The original intent was for the Governor to confer with the presiding officer of each body before declaring a disaster. Representatives voted unanimously to send Senate Bill 101 to a third conference committee to fix the problem. The Senate took similar action earlier this week.
Canadian boot maker Sorel has agreed to become the title sponsor of the Yukon Quest International sled dog race. The company's announcement this morning did not disclose the amount the company would pay for sponsorship of the 1,000-mile race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse. The race takes place next month.
A permit allowing the development of a seasonal horse stabling facility at the end of Montana Creek Road was approved by the Planning Commission last night. The facility will house 16 to 20 horses from May to September for tours of the area. Community Development Director Cheryl Easterwood says the panel heard a number of concerns from those testifying. Those concerns largely related to the potential degradation of Montana Creek and conflicts with existing users of the trail. Members of the Juneau Gun Club worried that its activities would eventually be found to be incompatible with horses. Easterwood says the commission placed a number of conditions on the permit to mitigate the impacts and decided that it would expire in 2 years.
Some Alaskan workers may be eligible for a refund in unemployment insurance contributions made last year. Anything over the maximum amount of $132.50 is refundable. Forms are available by calling the Department of Labor office in Juneau at 465-2757. The form is also available at the department's web site, here.
Two Russian climbers who abandoned their bid to climb Mount McKinley's (right) north face in winter are safely back in Talkeetna. They had reached the 11,000 foot level of the mountain, but gave up their quest a week ago when they realized they didn't have enough food and fuel to get to the summit and back.(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)
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