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Murkowski delivers State of
the State speech to lawmakers
JUNEAU (AP) - Governor Murkowski wants more oil revenue collection and oil
pipeline acquisition to be part of Alaska's future.
In his State of the State speech tonight (Wednesday) Murkowski unveiled a
plan to collect more production taxes from North Slope crude oil and asked
the Legislature to look into acquiring a portion of the trans-Alaska oil
pipeline.
Murkowski says that beginning February first, the administration will
increase its oil revenue collection by including six Prudhoe Bay satellite
oil fields when figuring the North Slope's production tax. Combined, the six
fields produce about 85-thousand barrels per day.
Murkowski also says the state should consider acquiring a portion of the
trans-Alaska oil pipeline because of the excess capacity now in the line.
Murkowski says ownership of the portion of the line that carries the state's
royalty oil could reduce the cost of shipping oil through the pipeline.
After the speech, Democratic lawmakers said Murkowski had correctly
identified the problems -- high oil tariffs and a tax structure that allows
millions of barrels of oil to escape production tax. However, the Democrats
say, the solutions are wrong or don't go far enough.
Power restored to most
homes Kaktovik, National Guard lands with more help
ANCHORAGE (AP) - North Slope Borough officials say power has been restored
to many of the homes in Kaktovik on the Beaufort Sea.
An Alaska Air National Guard helicopter delivered technicians and equipment
to the village yesterday (Tuesday).
The community was thrown into the deep-freeze four days ago when it lost
power in a blizzard.
Borough chief administrative officer Dennis Packer says technicians were
able to restore power to about three-quarters of the village.
The cause of the power outage is not known but Packer says it may have been
caused by power lines slapping together and arcing during the powerful
storm.
Plans to get a caravan of Sno-cats into Kaktovik were postponed in favor of
trying again to get a C-130 there today.
Major Mike Haller of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
says the North Slope Borough decided late last night to put the caravan on a
standby mode.
A National Guard cargo plane left Kulis Air National Guard Base in Anchorage this morning to
pick up the load at Deadhorse and move it to the village. It landed at Kaktovik
shortly after two this afternoon. Previous
attempts have been rebuffed by weather.
A team of at least ten people, including everything from electricians to
plumbers, and additional equipment was on board the cargo plane.
A second cargo plane was
hoping to get in later today with food and other supplies including
such things as diapers, according to Haller.
French says its time to consider possibility of impeaching Renkes
The word "impeachment" was sounded on the floor of the State Senate today in connection with the case of Alaska Attorney General Gregg Renkes
Renkes promoted a company called KFx to the state. He had personal ties to the company, and also held more than 100-thousand dollars in stock when he helped broker a deal with Taiwan that would benefit
KFx.
The Denver-based company is trying to commercialize a coal-drying technology.
A former federal prosecutor has been tapped at the Governor's request to review the potential state coal deal with
Taiwan and k-f-x.
Murkowski says he's waiting until the investigation is complete before deciding how to respond.
But the report due December 31st has been delayed now until February 28th.
The delay frustrates Anchorage Senator Hollis French.
He said under special orders during today's session that its time for lawmakers to consider the possibility of impeachment. He quickly added that he is not directly calling for the impeachment of the attorney general, but rather, its time to think about it and debate it.
Fairbanks Senator Ralph Seekins, chair of the Judiciary Committee in the Senate, countered by saying lawmakers need to wait until all the facts are on the table.
Another Majority Republican member of the body, Kodiak Senator Gary Stevens, also preached patience by waiting for the report.
Renkes was asked about the probe during this afternoon's House Judiciary Committee overview of the Department of law.
Anchorage Democrat Les Gara asked the attorney general if he would provide in writing assurances as to why the committee should not be concerned about the allegations so they don't become a distraction.
Renkes said he was committed to supporting the current process and believes its close to completion.
He added that he appreciated the patience and support of those who are willing to allow the independent review process to be completed and to have all the facts before jumping to conclusions.
Murkowski delivers State of the State speech to lawmakers
JUNEAU (AP) - Governor Murkowski wants more oil revenue collection and oil pipeline acquisition to be part of Alaska's future.
In his State of the State speech tonight (Wednesday) Murkowski unveiled a plan to collect more production taxes from North Slope crude oil and asked the Legislature to look into acquiring a portion of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.
Murkowski says that beginning February first, the administration will increase its oil revenue collection by including six Prudhoe Bay satellite oil fields when figuring the North Slope's production tax. Combined, the six fields produce about 85-thousand barrels per day.
Murkowski also says the state should consider acquiring a portion of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline because of the excess capacity now in the line. Murkowski says ownership of the portion of the line that carries the state's royalty oil could reduce the cost of shipping oil through the pipeline.
Another focus of Murkowski's speech was his proposed budget, which the Legislature will examine this session.
Among the measures Murkowski hopes legislators support is a 126 (m) million dollar education spending proposal and 37-and-a-half million dollar package to help cover the costs of the state's retirement systems.
Money for jet in Governor's
budget
Included in the Governor's budget request to the Legislature is funding to
lease a jet.
The line item is for $1 point 4 Million dollars and is justified by saying
it will help the Department of Public Safety respond to emergencies and for flying state prisoners to and from a private prison in Arizona.
When not being employed for those purposes, it would be used by the
Governor.
The previous plan to use funds from the U. S. Department of Homeland
Security was panned. Ultimately, the use of that money for that purpose was
rejected by the federal government.
The proposal in the Governor's budget calls for the use of state general
funds.
Warning issued by water utility on
frozen water lines
Do all you can to prevent frozen water lines during the next several days.
That advice today from CBJ Water Utility Division.
Water Superintendent Grant Ritter told us late this morning that they had a
waiting list of about three people who need frozen lines thawed.
Their thaw machine is old and not very reliable. It was being fixed and
expected to be available today.
Apparently plumbers are in high demand with the cold weather. Ritter says
people have told him when they call plumbers for help in thawing their pipes
they are being referred to the city's water utility.
At a minimum, Ritter advises keeping water running at a trickle to avoid the
freezing of water pipes. He says wrapping with heat tape is better.
Temperatures tip to below
zero, Taku wind fails to materialize
Brrrr, its cold!
We talked to Meteorologist Linnae Neyman at the Juneau Forecast Office
before six this morning. She said the latest observation at the airport then
was four below zero.
It was 13 below at the forecast office on Back Loop Road which she says was
a record for that spot.
She says it will remain cold for another day or so and warm up a bit in to the
teens and 20s with a front bringing snow from the Gulf of Alaska. The
forecaster says it will be many days before it gets above freezing again.
It would have been a lot colder, but the strong Taku winds did not develop
as forecast. Gusts to between 30 and 40 were reported through the night.
The high wind warning issued by the forecast office last night called for
gusts to 65 miles per hour.
The wind advisory in effect
overnight was cancelled about mid-morning.
Asphalt plant operation in support of state road work approved
The Juneau Planning Commission took up a request last night for a conditional use permit for a temporary asphalt plant on the state highway right of way near Eagle Beach.
Community Development Director Dale Pernula says the permit was approved with conditions that the plant only operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
It will be used to provide asphalt needed for repaving the highway from Point Stephens Road to Amalga Cove.
Agreement on taxi cab driver health certificates
close
The City and Borough of Juneau and representatives of Juneau's taxi drivers are close to working out a compromise on health certificates to qualify for a taxi permit.
When the taxi ordinance was revised last year, the health certificate requirement for drivers was made more rigorous.
Taxi drivers now have to pass the same physical exam required by the state to get a commercial drivers license.
As a result, many Juneau taxi drivers are failing their physical exams.
The Assembly directed staff to research the possibilities of amending the health certificate requirement portion of the ordinance without having to redo the entire measure.
City Manager Rod Swope says, last Friday, city staff met with cab driver representatives and talked about their concerns and discussed a number of different options, but no final decision was made.
They're scheduled to meet again on the 21st and Swope says the general feeling is that they're pretty confident that they'll be able to figure something out that will work for the cabbies.
Cab company officials estimate that they stand to lose 30 percent of their fleet.
House members brought up to speed on gas line progress
JUNEAU (AP) - More than 30 House Republicans and Democrats Tuesday had a primer on plans to build a gas pipeline from the North Slope.
Representative Ralph Samuels told the lawmakers that approving terms for a gas pipeline could be the biggest decision they make in the Legislature, but they won't be part of the negotiations. That's the job of the state administration.
But, he says, lawmakers need to learn about the issues now. When the administration delivers a contract for their approval, legislators will be able to make comments and ask the state to iron out the details before taking a yes or no vote.
Samuels says the main issues for lawmakers are the state's risk if it took partial ownership in a pipeline, what kind of access Alaska users would have to the line and the access explorers would have when they discover more reserves.
State negotiators and representatives with B-P, Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips are working on a contract proposal for fiscal terms with the state. Those companies have proposed a pipeline route from the North Slope through Canada and to markets in the Midwest. The project has been estimated to cost 20 (b) billion dollars.
Legislator's wife recovers after being hit by truck
ANCHORAGE (AP) - State Representative Harry Crawford missed legislative sessions in Juneau today because he is joining his wife Gwen Perry-Crawford on a flight back to Alaska.
The Anchorage Democrat says he is looking forward to spending some time together with his wife and children.
Perry-Crawford was at a Seattle hospital after being hit by a truck with a snowplow walking home on Christmas Eve.
She was treated for a broken pelvis and a crushed tailbone at Providence Alaska Medical Center before being flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The truck's driver, Joseph Dodson, fled the scene and was later arrested by the police. He is charged with assault, driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.
Review yields no big changes to Tongass management plan
JUNEAU (AP) - National Park Service officials say no major changes are planned for the Tongass National Forest's 15-year plan.
The announcement this week comes after completion of a review of the 1997 land and resource management plan for the 17-million acre forest.
Juneau environmentalists are upset because the review didn't call for a major revision of the Tongass timber sale program.
Earthjustice attorney Tom Waldo says the current plan is based on overestimated market demand on timber. Earthjustice is suing the U-S Forest Service over the plan's timber market demand projections.
The two sides are scheduled to meet next month in Seattle's 9th District Court of Appeals.
At issue is whether Forest Service should be forced to revise the forest plan due to the timber market demand miscalculation.
Man who murdered mother gets 99 years
ANCHORAGE (AP) - An Anchorage man who murdered his mother and then sealed her body in a breakfast bar has been sentenced to 99 years in prison.
Forty-year-old Kenneth Padgett was sentenced yesterday. Judge Larry Card also made it so Padgett is not eligible for parole until he has served two-thirds of his sentence.
Charlotte Miles' body was not discovered until December 20th of 2001 -- more than a month after she was last seen alive.
The defense claimed that Miles died of natural causes and Padgett put her in the breakfast bar because that's what she would have wanted -- to stay in the trailer home that she loved.
The jury did not buy that argument.
After his mother's killing, Padgett rented the trailer, sold his mother's belongings and booked a flight to Texas.
He was arrested after declaring he had a gun in his luggage, and a background check showed that he was a parole violator.
Fire damages Anchorage
condominium
ANCHORAGE (AP) - A fire caused an estimated one-hundred-thousand dollars to
an Anchorage condominium last night on the Old Seward Highway.
Anchorage firefighters say the fire apparently started shortly before six
p-m in the condo office at a desk after a report had been printed.
About 25 firefighters responded.
No residents were injured in the fire but the one pet cat was killed.
One resident says there was a power surge about 15 minutes before the fire.
Firefighters contained the blaze to one unit of the six-unit condominium
structure.
Councilman in Fairbanks mugged in
downtown parking garage
FAIRBANKS (AP) - A Fairbanks city councilman was mugged in a downtown
parking lot.
Police say the mugger hit City Councilman Jerry Cleworth on the back of the
head with what Cleworth described as a billy club -- knocking off Cleworth's
glasses.
The mugger then stole Cleworth's briefcase.
The councilman said his briefcase did not contain anything valuable.
Cleworth was placing something in his car on the second floor of the
Downtown Transportation Center and Parking Garage yesterday when the attack
occurred.
He says he barely felt being hit because he was bundled up for the
40-below-zero weather. He says he did not get a good look at the man who
assaulted him.
Meth lab uncovered in converted bus in Big Lake
BIG LAKE (AP) - Alaska State Troopers say they uncovered a methamphetamine lab in Big Lake.
Troopers say the meth lab was set up in a converted bus.
Troopers arrested 22-year-old Gregory Nicholas Lee and 31-year-old Terria Creech. They were charged with multiple counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance as well as reckless endangerment.
Lee also was charged with tampering with evidence.
Both are being held in the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility. A grand jury is expected to hear the case today.
Police estimate that the two had been cooking the drugs in the bus for months.
Troopers say Creech's 13-year-old son told the Mat-Su drug team that his mother ``was known to cook the best meth in the Valley.''
The boy was taken to a shelter after his mother's arrest.
Anchorage Assembly endorses convention center plan
ANCHORAGE (AP) - The Anchorage Assembly has endorsed a plan to build a 93 (M) million dollar convention center.
Under the plan, the center would be paid for through an increase in the city's hotel tax.
The assembly yesterday unanimously approved the plan.
The city has signed an agreement with local developers to build the 193-thousand-square-foot facility in the downtown.
It would be built in what is now a parking lot between the Conoco Phillips building and the Atwood building.
Anchorage voters must still approve the funding. That means approving raising the city's hotel tax from eight percent to 12 percent.
Crimson Bears stalking
Moose in Palmer at start of road trip
The men's basketball team from Juneau Douglas High School starts a long
string of games on the road this evening.
They'll be in Palmer to take on the Moose.
Tip off is at 7 with pre-game at 6:55 on KINY.
Juneau's moves to Anchorage the next day for the start of the West
Tournament.
The Bears travel to Ketchikan January 21st and 22nd and then its back to
Anchorage for the Bartlett Tournament January 27th through the 29th.
The tourney will include the 7th and 23rd rank teams in the nation. A team
from North Carolina is ranked 7th and the 23rd rank squad is from
Washington, D. C.
The next home game is against Sitka on February 4th.
The Lady Crimson Bears are in Anchorage this evening to play Service.
They'll participate in the East Tournament Thursday through Saturday.
The team is back home again January 28th and 29th for games against
Ketchikan.
Copyright ©2005 Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio)
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