Legislature convenes 2007 session
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) and KINY - The first session of the 25th Alaska Legislature is underway.

The House convened shortly after 11 a.m. and selected Valdez Representative John Harris to serve as speaker once again.

The Senate gaveled in a few minutes after Noon.   As expected, Wasilla Republican Lyda Green was selected president.

She'll head up a coalition of Republicans and Democrats that numbers 15.

A roll call vote was necessary since one of the five Republican minority members objected to the motion.  The vote was 15 to 5 in favor.

The Legislature faces lingering business from last year.

The most pressing issue is a natural gas pipeline project.

The session also features much that is new, most notably, Republican Governor Palin and an unlikely alliance of Republicans and Democrats that will make up a majority in the Senate.

Lawmakers will be especially focused on a seemingly elusive natural-gas pipeline contract with oil and gas producers.

Former Governor Frank Murkowski had a deal last year with Exxon Mobil Corporation, ConocoPhillips and B-P, but the proposed contract failed to receive the Legislature's approval.

Palin reopened the negotiation process shortly after taking office last month with any group interested in the project, not just the big three oil companies.

House and Senate members have also vowed to restore the public's faith in government with ethics reform.

Members of both parties filing ethics-related bills well before the session started.

The state was beset by scandal last fall with an F-B-I raid of several lawmakers offices.

In addition, bribery charges were filed against state Representative Tom Anderson, an Anchorage Republican who didn't seek re-election and left office today.  

New bipartisan Senate Majority lists priorities
Senate President Wasilla Republican Lyda Green said she's pleased to be leading the Senate this year and the majority coalition has already established some of it's priorities.

She listed education funding, public safety, with an emphases on the gas pipeline

Bethel Democrat Lyman Hoffman co-Chairs the Finance Committee.

He said the major concern that he has with the operating budget is, primarily, the $150 million dollars in unallocated reductions that Governor Palin has presented in the budget.

Hoffman says he feels that Governor Palin needs to set her priorities through the operating budget.

He said the Governor should detail what she wants funded and shouldn't be funded.

Hoffman said without that direction, it's difficult for legislators and citizens to really see what her budget priorities are.

The other co-chair of the Finance Committee is Sitka Republican Bert Stedman.

Elton gets seat on Finance Committee
The bipartisan Senate Majority Working Group has completed the list of committee assignments for the 25th Alaska Legislature.

Juneau Senator Kim Elton will serve on the Finance Committee, Health, Education & Social Services and the Legislative Council.

House Majority cites proposed natural gas pipeline
A gas line contract is the most important issue facing the Legislature.

That's the opinion of House Majority Leader Ralph Samuels who told reporters today (Tuesday) that they'll hold tight for now and see how Governor Palin intends to move forward on the issue.

Samuels says they plan an general meeting during an open caucus to educate all lawmakers on the gas line contract issue.

Finance Co-Chair Mike Chenault cited as other key finance issues as increases to the PERS and TERS retirement systems; reinstatement of the longevity bonus, increased revenue sharing, and foundation formula increases.

He urged patience with the administration until it fine tunes its ideas.

Finance Co-Chair Mike Chenault said they have spoke with the Governor on her plans to cut the operating budget.

Personally, he said he likes the idea of a smaller operating and capital budgets.

Exxon appealing $2.5 billion Valdez award
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Exxon Mobil is asking a federal appeals court in San Francisco to reconsider its December decision demanding the oil giant pay two-point-five billion dollars in punitive damages to compensate Alaskans for the 1989 Valdez tanker oil spill.

The disaster soiled 15-hundred miles of Alaskan coastline.

An Anchorage jury had originally awarded the company to pay five billion dollars in punitive damages, but the Ninth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals cut the award in half.

Late Friday, the company asked the San Francisco-based appeals court to rehear the case with the same three judges or to empanel a 15-judge panel to hear it.

Juneau delegation ready for session
Juneau Senator Kim Elton finds himself as a member of a majority coalition in the upper chamber this time around.

He says it will allow him a better opportunity to be a spokesperson for Juneau.

One area of responsibility for Elton will be as a member of the Finance Committee where he'll closely scrutinize Governor Palin's proposal to pare the operating budget by $150 Million.

He says that will be difficult to do especially with the new spending being proposed by the Governor. Elton says it will put an awful lot of pressure on services that Alaskans expect.

Juneau Representative Beth Kerttula will assume the duties of the House Minority Leader.

Kerttula says the 16 member Democratic caucus is "a real force".

She says she's optimistic about the upcoming session. Kerttula says the Democrats have good working relationships with the Republican majority and she says Governor Palin's overtures have been very positive.

As far as the Governor's proposal to cut $150 million, Kerttula says there has been a decade of cut and the agencies are as slim as she can remember them. So she  says there really isn't a lot there to cut.

Freshman House member Andrea Doll, representing District 4 in the Mendenhall Valley, is also concerned with the budget proposal.

A secondary concern, she says, is over the shortfall in the PERS and TERS retirement systems that's hitting every department. Doll says priority issue is getting that situation solved.

The House convened shortly after 11 a.m.  The Senate is scheduled to convene at Noon.

The anticipated highlight of the first week will be Governor Palin's first State of the State address to a joint legislative session at 7 Wednesday evening.

House minority committee assignments finalized
Valley Representative Andrea Doll's standing committee assignment is State Affairs.

That's always been viewed as a pivotal assignment for Juneau lawmakers given capital and legislative move bills over the years that must flow through that committee.

Committee assignments for the House minority were finalized Monday.

Doll will also served on the Special Economic Development and Trade Committee and the joint Armed Services Committee.

In addition to her Minority Leader duties, Downtown Representative Beth Kerttula will serve on the Rules Committee and the special Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

Legislative reception scheduled for community members
The 22nd Annual Juneau Community Legislative Welcome Reception is Tuesday evening at Centennial Hall.

Beth McEwen, a member of the reception committee, says the entire community is invited.

She says it is a community reception, so they want as many members of the public as possible to attend.

Its scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Kodiak Tanner crab quota lower
KODIAK, Alaska (AP) - The Kodiak Tanner crab season has opened with a lower quota and fewer location options than last year.

Guideline harvest levels for the season that kicked off Monday are set at 100-thousand pounds for the Kodiak District's northeast section and 700,000 pounds in the eastside section.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says last year's quota was two-point-one million pounds.

Agency biologist Nick Sagalkin expects this years season to go fairly quickly.

Also, the district's southeast and southwest sections were open last year, but they're closed this year because of high numbers of undersized crabs.

Sagalkin expects quotas in the next few seasons to shrink because of a declining Tanner population.

But he says a strong population of younger crab should be ready in about three years.
(Kodiak Daily Mirror)

Senator Murkowski to appear on Good Morning America
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski will be participating in Good Morning America's feature on the 16 women of the United States Senate.

The interview conducted by ABC's Diane Sawyer will focus on the largest group of women to ever serve in the Senate and will mark the first time they will be interviewed together.

The interview will air in two parts. Part one airs Wednesday, January 17th in the first hour of the program. Part two will air Thursday, January 18th in the second hour.

Senate continues work on ethics bill
CAPITOL HILL (AP) - The U. S. Senate is winding up work on an ethics reform bill that includes a vote today to shed more light on the touchy issue of earmarks.

Those are the pet projects that are often secretly added to bills to benefit specific companies.

The earmark proposal being voted on today would increase the number of special projects that have to be disclosed.

The Senate is also about to vote on a proposal that would change the rules regarding lawmakers' use of corporate jets.

School board calendar highlights board agenda
The Juneau School Board is scheduled to finalize next school year's calendar at its meeting tonight. [Tuesday]

They will be setting the beginning, ending, breaks and school conference dates.

Superintendent Peggy Cowan says the discussion last time centered around scheduling of the fall conferences and spring break and their relationship with both the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament and the state high school qualifying exam.

The board is also scheduled to some initial information on next year's budget.

Some special presentations are also on tonight's agenda including awards and recognition of students.

High school principal Bernie Sorenson will make a presentation on some of the student success initiatives.

Consultant Enid Lee, who's visiting the district to do instructional audits and observations, will present recommendations on practices that could make more students successful.

The School Board meets tonight beginning at 6 in he high school library.

Project updates to highlight facilities committee agenda
The School District Facilities Committee meets today. ( Tuesday)

Superintendent Peggy Cowan says the committee will be looking at some site work at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School, planning for Harborview renovation, and artist designs for Floyd Dryden Middle School.

Cowan says the panel will consider various bond packages for voter consideration during future elections. Cowan says that's based on their capital improvement plan submitted to the state.

The panel will also receive an update on the new high school's program planning and on ongoing projects.

The meeting starts at noon  at the district office main conference room at 811 12th Street.

Panel releases report on safety of BP's plants
HOUSTON (AP) - An independent panel says oil giant B-P failed to emphasize safety at its U-S refineries before an explosion that killed 15 at one of its Texas refineries in 2005.

The panel's much-anticipated report on safety and management at B-P's U-S operations was released today.

The 11-member panel is led by former Secretary of State James A. Baker the Third. Baker is now a senior partner at the Houston-based Baker Botts law firm.

It comes less than a week after London-based B-P said Chief Executive John Browne would step down by the end of July, more than a year ahead of schedule.

The new C-E-O, Tony Hayward, will assume the task of trying to repair the company's reputation in the wake of a series of well-publicized mishaps.

They include the Texas explosion and last year's giant oil spill on Alaska's North Slope.

Fluoridation of Juneau's water ends
The City and Borough of Juneau stopped adding fluoride to Juneau's water supply effective Monday.

City Manager Rod Swope says depending on where you live in relation to the variety of reservoirs located throughout the borough, fluoride will remain in your water for between a few days to possibly as long as several months.

The decision to end fluoridation of Juneau's water supply came after a long public process.

A commission appointed to study the question was split on the issue.

A separate recommendation was submitted by commission chair Bart Rozell.

He concluded that while evidence tends to support fluoridation, studies done so far are inadequate and further examination is required before final conclusions can be drawn.

Rozell recommended the city follow the maxim, "first do no harm" and recommended that Juneau discontinue the practice until further studies are done that address its safety and effectiveness.

The Assembly voted 6 to 3 at its November 20th meeting to end fluoridation.

Troopers identify two dead in Parks Highway crash
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska State Troopers say two people were killed in a vehicle crash on the Parks Highway yesterday (Monday).

Officials say Karen Westlake of Wasilla and her only passenger, William Anthony of Wasilla, both died in the collision near mile 50 of the Parks Highway.

Investigators say the 44-year-old Westlake was traveling northbound when her vehicle crossed the center line and was struck by a pickup traveling southbound.

The driver and sole occupant of the pickup, 48-year-old Keith Jolliff, of Pendleton, Oregon, was injured in the collision.

Troopers say Jolliff is undergoing medical treatment at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

Troopers say this is the second fatal collision within 30 days in the Parks Highway Traffic Safety Corridor.

Soldotna mother sues Kenai woman over son's ATV death
KENAI, Alaska (AP) - A Soldotna mother is suing a Kenai woman over the death last year of the plaintiff's teenage son.

Nicole Hollenberg alleges 29-year-old Melody Luze gave alcohol to 16-year-old Holden Hollenberg before his fatal four-wheeler accident.

Holden Hollenberg died in July after his vehicle crashed into a gate on a gravel utility access road in Kenai.

In her civil complaint, Nicole Hollenberg says Luze regularly held parties where she encouraged Holden and other minors to drink alcohol.

Court documents do not say how much alcohol, if any, was found in Holden's blood the night he died and Kenai police say they can't comment.

Luze has denied the allegations.
(Peninsula Clarion)

Unalaska shelves wind power research
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - On paper, Alaska has some of the best potential for wind power in the nation.

But in the wind-scoured Western Alaska city of Unalaska, leaders have stopped studying wind energy as a power source.

The problem? Too much wind.

In November, Chris Hladick, Unalaska city manager, returned a 300-thousand dollar federal grant to study wind power over a three-year period.

Hladick says for now, getting power from wind is too uncertain.

He says the chief reason is that wind gusts in the Aleutian Island community often exceed the maximum speed of 60 miles per hour that the turbines can take.

Above that, the turbines automatically shut down so the blades don't break.

Hladick said the city must focus instead on building a diesel-fueled power house to provide reliable energy.

The lone council member opposing the decision, former public utility director Dick Peck, says wind power deserves more study.

But wind power is slowly gaining ground elsewhere in Alaska.

Peter Crimp of the Alaska Energy Authority says seven Alaska communities get at least a portion of their energy from wind, compared to three five years ago.

He says another 40 or so are looking into it.
(Anchorage Daily News) 

Learn to Ski application period now open
The 26th annual Learn to Ski Weekend is coming up later this month at Eaglecrest.

The ski area's Jeffra Clough says its scheduled from January 26th through the 28th.

She says the event is for first time skiers in grades three, four and five.

Applications are available at all elementary schools, Foggy Mountain Shop, Nugget Alaskan Outfitter, Play It Again Sports, the ski area and on the web at ski juneau (dot) com.

The deadline is Wednesday, January 24th at 3 p.m. Winners will be announced on KINY Radio's Capital Chat on Thursday, January 25th.

The applications need to be returned to school offices or Eaglecrest.

The Learn to Ski Weekend is sponsored by Mendenhall Auto Center Subaru.

Attorneys trying to get client wages from seafood company
DILLINGHAM, Alaska (AP) - Attorneys for 30 employees of the Wild Alaskan Seafood Company and the Strategica Financial Group have been working to get some compensation for their clients.

According to a lawsuit, the two companies didn't pay or only partially paid roughly one hundred workers and dozens of fishermen in 2004.

And Manny Soaries of the state Environmental Conservation Department says the companies wasted over 800 thousand pounds of salmon in 2004, the worst waste of salmon in over a decade.

K-D-L-G Radio in Dillingham reports that the wages and transportation expenses for the employees who filed suit amount to about 65 thousand dollars.

Plaintiff lawyers say the case against WASCO and Strategica could turn out to be fruitless, but they will have ten years to try to get payment through either garnishing wages or seizing assets.
(KDLG-Dillingham)

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