JUNEAU DAILY NEWSMINUTE

By Chris Burns - kiny@ptialaska.net

Tuesday, January 16, 1996 (c) Alaska Juneau Communications

*The House State Affairs Committee voted 6 to 1 this morning in favor of a bill designed to move the Legislature to Anchorage. The lone dissenter was Juneau Representative Caren Robinson. Despite testimony from Mayor Dennis Egan and Alaska Committee Chair Jamie Parsons detailing improvements Juneau has made in upgrading access to the Capital City, no minds were changed. The bill moves next to the House Judiciary Committee which is chaired by the one of the measure's co-sponsors. House Speaker Gail Phillips has told the Juneau delegation that the bill is not a priority for a full floor vote this session.

*Congress has approved an authorization bill for a new NOAA facility in Juneau to be built at Auke Cape near Indian Point. Senator Ted Stevens' office says it is hoped the new NOAA office will create local jobs, and keep federal regulators closer to the source. Many of NOAA's regional decisions are now made at offices in Seattle and elsewhere. The National Marine Fisheries Service would also be in the building. Planning is slated to be completed by May, but funding has yet to be approved.

*A second crossing to Douglas could become a reality if the C.B.J. and Goldbelt continue pushing for development of the west side of the island. A state D.O.T. plan would put the crossing at a point where it could connect with the Mapco intersection to solve two problems with one major infrastructure change.

*About 1,500 skiers traversed the slopes of Eaglecrest during its first 3 days of operation. After the latest opening in history, the ski area saw 560 skiers arrive on Saturday, 360 on Sunday, and another 560 on the holiday, yesterday. Poor snow cover on the lower slopes has crews continuing to run snow-making machines today, but the ski area plans to open again on Thursday.

*Several parcels of land in Southeast went on sale today. They're left over from the recent state land auction. Most of the parcels are in the 2 to 4 acre range and run from $5,000 inland, to $30,000 with frontage on the water.

*A new national study shows that troubled youth who participate in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program are less likely to drop out of school, their usually grades improve, they get along better with their parents, and are less violent. In Juneau, Executive Director Rene Akre (AY-kuhr) says the average match between been Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the youth is a year and a half.

*U.A.S. and KTOO-tv have teamed up to begin offering interactive- television courses for educators. Those enrolled watch the live tv class, and then respond via an 800-number phone line.