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Alaska governor
gives State of State address
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell is taking aim at the
federal government in his first State of the State address.
He says Alaskans — not Washington — should control the state's
destiny.
The Republican is also using the speech to lay out his legislative
agenda, one that includes proposals ranging from creating
scholarships for good students to suspending the motor fuels tax
and digging into the state's list of deferred maintenance
projects.
He wants lawmakers who began meeting this week to approve the
funding for his infrastructure plan by March 1 so construction can
begin this summer.
Parnell took office last summer, after then-Gov. Sarah Palin
resigned. He faces a potentially tough election bid later this
year.
Parnell: Alaskans thoughts
with people of Haiti
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell remembered the
earthquake victims in Haiti.
He also paid tribute in his State of the State Address on
Wednesday to Alaska service members sent to Haiti to help with
relief efforts.
Parnell says Alaskans also admire the courage of siblings Christa
and Julian Brelsford.
The Alaskans were in Haiti when their building collapsed. Christa
was airlifted to Miami, where her leg was amputated.
Parnell said he spoke to her this week, and notes nothing could
crush her spirit.
She told him she's grateful for the support of Alaskans for her,
her family and the people of Haiti.
She encouraged Alaskans to be thankful for everything and to count
life as a "big blessing."
Parnell: Companies must
commit to jobs, Alaska
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell says he doesn't support
giving tax breaks to oil and gas companies without commitments the
companies will invest — and create jobs — in the state.
The comments came in his first State of the State address
Wednesday.
He has proposed greater incentives for companies, including
expanding tax credits for drilling and well work costs, as a way
to spur additional development. He's said the estimated hundreds
of millions of dollars in additional credits are a small price to
pay for the jobs and opportunities they'd create.
The plan doesn't go as far as some House Republicans want. They
worry Alaska's oil and gas production tax is stifling development.
The issue is expected to be discussed during the current
legislative session.
Parnell: Talk on
tax certainty premature
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell says it's
premature to talk about providing long-range certainty on the
state's tax structure to companies considering involvement in a
major gas pipeline.
In his State of the State address Wednesday, Parnell expressed
optimism that construction of a long-hoped-for pipeline could
start as early as four years from now. He cited milestones, such
as pending open seasons, as reasons for his hope.
But he told reporters Thursday there are constitutional limits on
the level of fiscal certainty the state can offer.
He also said it's not in the state's interest to try to satisfy a
range of companies. He'd rather see the state work one-on-one with
a project.
Parnell urges
crackdown on domestic violence
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell says Alaska must
confront the "private evil" of domestic violence and
sexual assault.
Parnell has made a crack-down on abuse a centerpiece of the
legislative agenda for the coming year.
Among other things, he says he wants to increase funding for
shelters, put new public safety officers in villages and make it
mandatory for sex offenders registered in other states and move to
Alaska to register here as well.
Parnell said the issue is personal; in his State of the State
address Wednesday, he said he knows change is possible because
he's seen it happen across generations of his own family.
Senate Majority
weighs in on State of State speech
Several members of the Senate Bipartisan Majority Coalition
commented on Governor Parnell's State of the State speech
Wednesday night.
Senate President Gary Stevens says he was impressed with the
governor's firm position on how the federal government is
interfering with Alaska's destiny.
Anchorage Democrat Johnny Ellis said Parnell's vow to fight the
feds is not a new development for an Alaskan governor.
Ellis said he's worked with six governors and they all made
similar speeches to the Alaska legislature.
He said Parnell's speech was "the latest iteration."
Meanwhile, Senate Finance co-chair Lyman Hoffman said he's not sure
the Senate can move at the governor's March 1st time frame to
approve deferred maintenance projects and capital projects
including the crime lab and UAF Life Science Building.
Sen. Bunde
questions gas tax suspension
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The leader of Alaska's Senate minority
says he doesn't think a proposal to suspend the state motor fuels
tax sends the right message at a time when fiscal belt-tightening
is needed.
Republican Senator Con Bunde says he sees lean years ahead. Alaska
relies heavily on oil revenue to run, and forecasts have called
for slumping oil production.
Gov. Sean Parnell is pushing a two-year suspension of the
8-cents-per-gallon motor fuels tax as a way to ease the financial
burden on Alaskans who he says pay some of the highest food, fuel
and living costs in the country.
Parnell's plan would cost the state about $40 million a year in
revenue. His overall proposed budget is $10.5 billion.
Parnell
wants more time to response to Pt. Thomson ruling
Governor Parnell says the state needs more time as it prepares an
appeal to a ruling that concluded the state improperly terminated
ExxonMobil's leases to develop the Point Thomson gas fields on the
North Slope.
The Governor telling reporters this afternoon (Thursday) that ten
days is probably not a sufficient amount of time for their
response, so they're asking the court for an extension.
At the same time, the Governor says the state is also pursuing
discussions with Exxon to see if the Pt. Thomson litigation can be
resolved.
Superior Court Judge Sharon Gleason said in a 30-page decision
earlier this month that Department of Natural Resources
Commissioner Tom Irwin did not follow proper procedures regarding
hearings to which Exxon was entitled.
Murkowski's
EPA resolution debated on Senate floor
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski's resolution to block efforts by the
Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gases under
the Clean Water Act was debated on the Senate floor today.
(Thursday)
Murkowski told her colleagues her goals are two-fold.
She wants to ensure Congress has sufficient time to work on
climate legislation and that a massive expansion of the Clean Air
Act does not occur before that task is finished.
Opposing Murkowski's resolution was California Senator Barbara
Boxer who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee.
She called the resolution a direct assault on the health of the
American people.
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Upon introduction, a
disapproval resolution is referred to the committee of
jurisdiction, which in this case will be Boxer's committee.
If the committee does not favorably report the resolution, it may
be discharged upon petition by 30 Senators.
Once a disapproval resolution is placed on the Senate calendar, it
is then subject to expedited consideration on the Senate floor,
and not subject to filibuster.
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Three Democratic
senators have joined Murkowski's effort.
Democrats Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, and
Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas have signed onto the resolution.
If the resolution is eventually approved by Congress, it must also
be signed by President Obama.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu said today that the President is
unlikely to sign it.
Resources Committee in
State Senate makes energy funding recommendations
The co-chairs of the Senate Resources Committee released their
recommendations today for budget appropriations that will help
lower energy costs for Alaskans and move communities towards
greater energy independence and sustainability.
Anchorage Senators Bill Wielechowski and Lesil McGuire told
reporters today that their recommendations build on previous
legislative efforts such as weatherization spending and home
energy efficiency rebates.
The recommendations were based on the committee's hearings conducted
around the state over the last eight months.
The recommendations include:
-$25 Million for more weatherization;
-$175,000 for a public education campaign to help Alaskans learn
how to lower their costs through inexpensive efficiency
improvements;
-$10 Million for continued feasibility studies and pre-permitting
work on Southcentral hydroelectric projects including Susitna and
Chakachamma;
-$100,000 for technical assistance to help businesses decrease
energy related expenditures and improve profitability;
-$2.5 Million for the Renewable Energy Fund to follow through on
the Legislature's commitment to provide $300 Million over 6 years
for clean and affordable renewable energy.
Seventeen specific budget recommendations were forwarded to the
Senate Finance Committee.
The senators pointed out that some of the projects are expensive
and will take years to complete.
Black Bear
chairlift gets second new shaft this weekend...experts to assess
problem
The Black Bear chairlift at Eaglecrest will undergo repairs this
weekend.
Last Sunday during a routine maintenance check, ski area staff
determined that the auxiliary shaft on the Black Bear Chair gear
boxes had once again sheared apart.
A local machine shop is fabricating another shaft.
Eaglecrest General Manager Kirk Duncan says when the shaft is
installed his weekend several local experts in shaft alignment
will also be determining the cause of the shaft problem.
The new shaft that was installed last month, at a cost of $5,000,
broke after 60 hours of use.
Duncan says all new chairlifts have a break in period.
He says they would have liked to have put some hours on the lift
last fall but the construction schedule did not allow for that to
happen.
Eaglecrest will operate the Ptarmigan Chairlift from 9 to 3:30 and
the Hooter and Platter lifts will operate 9 to 4 today through
Monday.
Oil tumbles as stock market
stumbles
CHRIS KAHN - AP Energy Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices dropped today (Thursday) to the lowest level
in a month after a government report showed the country continues
to use less energy than last year, raising doubts about the
strength of the fragile economic recovery.
A proposal by President Barack Obama for tougher bank regulations
also pulled the stock market sharply lower and left traders
wondering how it would affect commodities markets.
Goldman Sachs and other major banks have helped funnel billions of
dollars of speculative money into oil and natural gas contracts
during the past several years.
Obama's call to limit speculation by commercial banks could make
it more expensive for them to buy oil contracts, according to
hedge fund manager Mike Masters.
Masters, who called for tighter scrutiny of energy markets last
year, cheered Obama's announcement. "If you can reduce the
impact of banks in commodities, you're going to have much less
volatility in food and energy prices," Masters said.
Benchmark crude for March delivery fell $1.66 to settle at $76.08
a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract dropped
as low as $75.66 earlier in the day, the lowest price since Dec.
23.
Palin to campaign with Perry Feb.
7
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former vice presidential candidate Sarah
Palin is heading to Texas to campaign with Republican Gov. Rick
Perry on Feb. 7.
The Perry campaign issued a statement Wednesday saying the former
Alaska governor will join Perry at a rally in the Houston area.
More details will be released in the coming days.
Perry says he and Palin share "conservative values of limited
government, low taxes and individual freedom." Palin endorsed
Perry in his re-election big last year, and it was expected that
she would campaign with him at some point.
Perry faces U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and party activist
Debra Medina on March 2 in the Republican primary.
Palin joins McCain to campaign
again
PHOENIX (AP) — Sarah Palin and John McCain will be together
again.
McCain's former running mate in his 2008 presidential bid will
join him in Arizona in March to help him campaign for re-election
to the U.S. Senate.
Details of the trip will be announced later.
McCain says he's looking forward to getting back on the campaign
trail with the former Alaska governor.
McCain is a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who was first
elected to the Senate in 1986.
Before that, he served in the U.S. House.
Sheldon
Fisher to run against US Rep. Don Young
MARY PEMBERTON - Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A former telecommunications executive
says he will challenge Rep. Don Young — Alaska's sole
representative in the U.S. House — in the 2010 primary election.
Republican Sheldon Fisher made his announcement today (Thursday)
in Anchorage.
Fisher recently resigned from Alaska Communications Systems, where
since 2004 he has worked as a senior vice president in sales and
service.
Before that, Fisher worked for Sprint's wireless broadband
business. He has a law degree from Yale Law School and a degree
from Brigham Young University.
Young is seeking his 20th term. In 2008, he defeated then-Lt. Gov.
Sean Parnell by 304 votes in the Republican primary. He defeated
Democrat Ethan Berkowitz in the general election by more than
16,000 votes.
UPDATE - Tainted
food pulled from store shelves in Alaska
The suspected tainted Parkers Farm food products were distributed
throughout Alaska.
Kimberly Striker is an environmental program manager with the
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
She says the stores named in the company's press release that
operate in Alaska include Costco, Sam's Club, Wal-mart, Safeway
and Target.
So Striker says the presume the products were distributed
statewide.
But she says the stores were aware of the recall and pulled all
those products from their shelves.
If residents purchased products prior to the recall, Striker
suggest going to the Federal Food and Drug Administration web site
to confirm that the product that they have is part of the recall.
If it is, she says they can return it to the store for a refund.
----
The FDA says the products have the potential to be contaminated
with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious
and sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly
people, and others with weakened immune systems.
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http://www.fda.gov/
Reward
increased in Anchorage police officer shooting case
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The reward for information about the
shooting of an Anchorage police officer is now up to $25,000.
Investigators hope the reward will lead to the arrest and
conviction of whoever shot Officer Jason Allen in the early
morning of January 9 as he sat in a patrol car.
The head of the Anchorage police union, Sgt. Derek Hsieh (syeh),
says Allen may be permanently disabled.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Taco toss
puts Fairbanks man in jail
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska man who hit a Taco Bell
manager in the face with a double-decker taco has been sentenced
to one day in jail and one year probation.
Warren Strickland of Fairbanks must also pay a $100 fine after
pleading guilty to disorderly conduct Tuesday.
The 31-year-old says he threw the taco because it contained spit
after he went through the drive-thru twice because the restaurant
messed up his order. He claims the manager accused him of lying to
get free food.
Strickland is barred from Taco Bell during his year of probation.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Probation officer will
fight charges
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A state probation officer plans to
fight charges he accepted cash and sexual favors in exchange for
ignoring positive drug test results.
At Wednesday's initial court appearance, Michael Moberly, the
attorney for James Stanton, characterized the alleged crime as a
"victimless" public administration violation.
Alaskan
wants to withdraw plea in South Dakota murder case
DEADWOOD, S.D. (AP) — An Alaskan who pleaded guilty nine years
ago to killing a man near Spearfish, South Dakota, wants to
withdraw his plea and is looking to a former state crime agent for
help.
Former agent Chad Evans has sent letters to the governor,
prosecutors and others alleging improper handling of evidence and
prosecutor misconduct. Evans does not offer specific examples.
Piper, of Anchorage, Alaska, pleaded guilty to murdering
19-year-old Chester Allan Poage (POHG) near Spearfish in March
2000.
The South Dakota Supreme Court last summer overturned his death
sentence, ruling that a jury and not a judge should have decided
if Piper got death or life in prison. A new sentencing trial was
ordered.
Two other men were involved in Poage's killing. One was executed
in 2007 and another sentenced to life in prison.
(KOTA-TV, http://www.kotatv.com)
Wasilla
girl found in Anchorage
WASILLA, Alaska (AP) — A Wasilla girl who went missing two weeks
ago has been found safe in Anchorage and returned home.
Alaska State Troopers say 16-year-old Pearl Lyle was found at a
home Tuesday afternoon.
She had been missing since Jan. 5.
Kopp serves as
legislative aide
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Chuck Kopp, who briefly served as former
Gov. Sarah Palin's public safety commissioner, is working as a
legislative aide to Republican Sen. Fred Dyson.
An aide to the Eagle River lawmaker said Dyson was not immediately
available Wednesday but confirmed Kopp's new position.
Kopp, a former Kenai police chief, was appointed public safety
commissioner by Palin following her controversial firing of former
Commissioner Walt Monegan in what became known as Troopergate.
Kopp resigned days into the job after an undisclosed reprimand
stemming from a sexual harassment claim against him came to light.
Review:
NOAA must revamp fishery law enforcement
BOSTON (AP) — A federal review of how the nation's fisheries are
policed says policy changes are needed to address complaints by
New England fishermen that the process for penalizing them is
arbitrary and unfair.
The report released today (Thursday) by the U.S. Inspector
General's office says National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration officials must do a better job of overseeing
fishery law enforcement.
It also says the agency should consider restructuring its
law-enforcement staff. Ninety percent are criminal investigators,
even though most fisheries infractions are misdemeanors.
NOAA head Jane Lubchenco requested the nationwide review in June
after fishermen complained of excessive fines and retaliation.
Local lawmakers asked Lubchenco for the review, saying mistrust
between enforcement officers and fishermen was "at an
all-time high."
Bethel
residents don't want booze there
BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — Results of an advisory vote on alcohol in
Bethel show residents don't want liquor stores or bars.
The mayor, Joe Klejka, says the city can use yesterday's vote
results to protest license applications.
The Anchorage Daily News says the western Alaska city of 5,700 is
a hub for dozens of smaller communities that prohibit liquor
because of a long struggle with alcohol-related accidents, crimes
and deaths.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Open house
planned at JPD
There will be an open house at the Juneau Police Department
Monday, January 25th.
It's scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m.
Department staff will be offering tours of the building,
specialized equipment will be on display and officers will provide
demonstrations.
The open house is to celebrate the fact that the department
recently achieved accreditation, making Juneau Police the only
department in the state that is accredited.
A department release says some refreshments will be provided.
The police department is located at 6255 Alaway Avenue off of
Glacier Highway in the Lemon Creek area.
Black
bear in Minnesota about to bear cubs live on Internet
WASHINGTON (AP) — A black bear named Lily is may be about to
give birth in the wild live on the Internet.
Biologist Lynn Rogers says the birth in Lily's den outside Ely,
Minnesota, is a video first.
Rogers and his North American Bear Center put a camera in Lily's
den that streams her activity live.
Rogers says Lily appears to have started labor around 11 a.m.
Alaska Time today. (Thursday)
Since then, Lily has pawed at her face, left her den, and then
returned and has tried going back to sleep. She brought in balsam
fir to set up bedding and her mammary glands appear swollen.
Rogers has been studying bears for 43 years and never seen a
birth. He predicts the 3-year-old Lily will give birth Friday.
It's hard to capture a black bear birth live because they don't
usually den near where live cameras can be set up.
___
On the Net:
North American Bear Center: http://www.bear.org/website/visit-us/lily-den-cam.html
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