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Swope
provides budget update on Capital Chat
City Manager Rod Swope planned to execute layoffs if the union
that represents the largest number of CBJ workers refused to defer
a scheduled pay raise for a year.
When the membership of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Associated
rejected that idea, Swope started to follow through with layoffs
until he was reigned in by the Assembly.
Swope he had been careful to keep the Assembly abreast of those
plans. He says it felt like they were on the same sheet of music,
but at the very end decided they didn't want to go to layoffs.
The Assembly Finance Committee decided during its meeting Monday
to halt those plans, at least temporarily
Members wanted to defer layoffs until the plan can consider other
budget areas that might be cut, so Swope says a meeting will be
held to see how differently the $1.2 Million can be pared.
Swope thinks there are some options available to the Assembly to
deal with budget questions that he doesn't feel are available to
him.
He cited as an examples raising taxes, cutting education, or
coming up with another source of revenue.
The Assembly line item amounts to about three and a half million
dollars, but only one member has suggested possible cuts there at
this time.
Swope, who was a guest on KINY's Capital Chat Friday morning, is
working to bridge a projected $8 Million budget gap.
Plane crashes
with 2 onboard near Sand Point
SAND POINT, Alaska (AP) — A Coast Guard plane and helicopter
from Kodiak are searching the water near Sand Point for a small
plane that crashed with two people onboard.
The Coast Guard said it received a call about 12:20 a.m. from Sand
Point police that fire department responders and others reported
debris in the water.
The ACE Air Cargo flight was leaving Sand Point for Anchorage
around midnight when people in the area saw it go down.
The Coast Guard identified the two people as 28-year-old Ameer Ali
and Emily Lewis, whose age was not immediately available.
The National Transportation Safety Board says there does not
appear to have been any other passengers on board.
UAA Chancellor
Ulmer announces retirement
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — University of Alaska Anchorage
Chancellor Fran Ulmer says she will retire in 2011.
Ulmer is a former lieutenant governor and in 2002 was the
Democratic candidate for governor. She was defeated by Republican
Frank Murkowski.
In a letter to UAA faculty and staff, Ulmer says there's a good
team in place at the school and her departure in 18 months should
not be disruptive.
She listed several things she hopes to accomplish and said some
may be difficult in her current position.
Ulmer says she hopes to work on public policy issues in Alaska,
either independently or affiliated with the university.
She also cites family concerns, her husband's retirement and the
birth of her first grandchild last year as reasons to make a
change.
Person of
interest sought by JPD in purse snatching case
Police are seeking a person of interest in a purse snatching case.
A 30 year-old woman contacted police Tuesday at about 6 p.m. to
report her purse was stolen from a shopping car in the Fred Meyer
parking lot.
The person of interest is identified as 19 year-old Sky
Stubblefield.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the
police department or Juneau Crime Line at 586-4243.
Callers to Crime Line may remain anonymous and still be eligible
for a cash reward.
The police department defines a person of interest as someone
investigators believe may have information about a crime. The
person is not necessarily a suspect, according to police.
A photo of Stubblefield can be found on the department's web site
at http://www.juneaupolice.com/
Three girls
reportedly forcefully remove cash from boy's pants pocket
Police are investigating a robberyfrom Friday morning.
It was reported just before 5 a.m. in the 9100 block of Mendenhall
Mall Road.
Investigation revealed that a 17 year old male was sitting on a
bench inside a business with several acquaintances when three
juvenile females, known to the victim, forcefully removed an
undisclosed amount of case from his pants pockets.
The department's Cindee Brown-Mills says the case remains under
investigation and leads are being pursued.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact police.
Judge sides with
state, Palin in e-mail suit
BECKY BOHRER -Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska judge has sided with former Gov.
Sarah Palin in a lawsuit over e-mails she sent outside of the
state's computer network.
Superior Court Judge Patrick McKay ruled Friday that current state
law does not forbid use of private e-mail accounts to conduct
state business.
The case stems from a records request made by Palin critic Andree
McLeod for e-mails related to state business that Palin sent from
state and personal accounts.
McLeod also requested e-mails of Palin's husband, Todd.
According to court records, McLeod argued the governor's office
had a responsibility to save as public records e-mails related to
state business — regardless of the accounts via which they were
sent.
Supreme Court
intervenes in DUI case
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled that
a police officer signaling a driver to back up constitutes a
"seizure" and that officers must have a legitimate
reason for doing so before making an arrest.
In a decision released Friday, justices intervened in a drunk
driving case, sending the matter back to the trial judge to
determine whether the arresting officer had reasonable suspicion
to stop the driver.
The case involved the arrest and conviction of Anton Majaev in
October 2004 outside Homer.
Alaska State Trooper Travis Bordner responded to a call of an
underage drinking party at a road turnout that was the site of
previous drinking parties.
After waiving Majaev back, Bordner smelled alcohol and spotted
beer cans in the back of Majaev's truck.
Majaev failed sobriety tests and was charged with driving under
the influence.
Woman arrested on flight to
Anchorage
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A 32-year-old Fairbanks woman was
arrested after a disturbance on board a flight to Anchorage.
Rhoda N. Kelsey was charged Thursday with interfering with a
flight crew.
FBI Agent Kevin Fryslie says that 20 minutes into an ERA Aviation
flight, Kelsey went to a lavatory near the flight deck and then
started pounding on the door from the inside.
Kelsey partially opened the door for a flight attendant and asked
where the toilet paper was.
The flight attendant pointed out the toilet paper and tried to
close the door, but Kelsey yelled at her not to leave, called her
a name and hit her in the face.
Fryslie says passengers removed Kelsey from the lavatory and
restrained her until she was arrested in Anchorage.
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 this 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.
Alaska's unemployment rate at 8.8
percent
Alaska's December seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8
point 8 percent.
That's up from November's revised rate of 8 point 4 percent.
State labor economist Neal Fried says Alaska is still
significantly below the national average.
However the state is 2 points above last years' December rate
which was 6 point 8 percent.
The total number of jobs declined last month by about 4,000 due to
seasonal decline.
Over the past year the number of jobs declined by about 2,700.
The biggest loses over the year were in food services,
construction, and retail.
The sectors where more people are employed than a year ago include
health care and social services.
The total number of unemployed last month was about 31,800
compared to about 27,000 one year ago.
The overall unemployment rate in Southeast did not increase as
much as it did in the rest of the state.
Fried says that could be due to government sector jobs.
The number of unemployed in Southeast increased a little less than
the rest of the state.
Juneau's unemployment rate for November was revised to 6 point 2
percent.
In December it increased to 6 point 6 percent, about six-tenths of
a percent higher than a year ago.
The number of unemployed went from 646 to 772.
Haines' rate increased from 11 point 3 to 13 percent.
The number of unemployed went from 127 to 142.
The Skagway, Hoonah, Angoon census area had the highest
unemployment rate in the state last month at 24 point 6 percent.
The number of unemployed went from 336 to 374.
Sitka's rate increased from 6 point 9 percent to 7 point 9
percent.
The number of unemployed went from 302 to 347.
The Prince of Wales Island outer Ketchikan census area's rate last
month went from 15 point 2 percent to 16 point 8 percent .
The number of unemployed last month increased from 340 to 400.
Ketchikan's rate increased from 8 point 4 percent to 9 point 9
percent.
The number of unemployed went from 640 to707.
Anchorage's rate increased from 6 point 6 percent to 7 percent.
The number of unemployed increased from 10,400 to almost 11,000.
The Mat-Su Borough went from 9 point 5 percent to 10 point 4
percent.
The number of unemployed went from about 4,000 to about 4,400.
The Fairbanks' rate increased from 7 point 7 percent to 8 point 3
percent.
The number of unemployed increased from about 3,400 to about
3,700.
The low for the state in December was the North Slope Borough at 5
percent.
Alaska to
intervene in Shell leasing suit
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska is intervening in the federal
appeals court case that challenges Shell's exploration plan in the
Beaufort Sea.
Attorney General Dan Sullivan says he'll represent the state's
interests in promoting jobs and resource development.
Several environmental groups are challenging the approval of
Shell's plan for offshore exploration.
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.
NEW - Kruger:
ExxonMobil seeks predictability in Alaska
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The president of ExxonMobil Production Co.
said Alaska is in an "enviable position" to provide
natural gas to the state, Lower 48 and Canada.
Rich Kruger said his company is ready to be a part of projects,
such as a long-hoped-for major gas pipeline in Alaska. But, he
said, said the state also must step up.
In a speech Friday in Anchorage, a copy of which the company
provided, Kruger again called for predictable financial terms for
those committing to the project, and he pushed for development at
Point Thomson.
Chevron
accused by EPA of violating air pollution permits
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency suspects Chevron knowingly violated air pollution permits.
An Anchorage federal court magistrate authorized the agency's
Criminal Investigation Division to seize computers, files, photos
and other records at Chevron's Trading Bay Production Facility and
Granite Point Tank Farm.
Chevron says it's cooperating with the investigation.
Haines man sentenced to 25
years
HAINES, Alaska (AP) — A 41-year-old Haines man convicted of
sexually abusing a minor has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Alfred Martin Anderson Jr. was sentenced Thursday to 35 years in
prison with 10 suspended.
Alaska State Troopers say they began an investigation in January
2008 after receiving a report of abuse.
Anderson was formally charged with 29 counts of sexual abuse of a
minor.
Troopers say that as part of a plea deal, the charges were
consolidated into one count.
Troopers say that after Anderson is released from prison, he will
be on probation for 10 years, with a prohibition against
contacting juveniles without written permission.
Anchorage
man convicted of killing his landlord
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A 61-year-old Anchorage man has been
convicted of first-degree murder in the 2006 death of his
landlord.
A prosecutor says Michael Wagner developed a nonromantic fixation
on his landlord's wife.
The woman suffers from a debilitating illness, and Wagner thought
he could provide better care.
Bristol Palin files for
child support
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol, is
seeking child support from the young man who fathered her baby two
years ago.
A court document filed Thursday says Bristol Palin is seeking
$1,750 a month from Levi Johnston. It says Bristol is providing
nearly 100 percent of Tripp's care, and that Johnston has paid
only $4,400 in more than a year.
Johnston lawyer Rex Butler says on several occasions his client
wanted to give Bristol money for the baby's care, requesting that
she bring Tripp with her, but she was a no-show.
State party leaders differ on Supreme Court campaign spending
ruling
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The head of the Alaska state Democratic
Party, Patti Higgins, says the U.S. Supreme Court decision lifting
restrictions on political campaign spending could lead to a
corrupting influence.
The Alaska Republican Party chairman, Randy Ruedrich, told The
Anchorage Daily News Thursday's ruling was a victory for the
First Amendment.
(Anchorage Daily News)
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 they 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.
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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/
No injuries
reported in Anchorage trailer fire
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A fire at an east Anchorage trailer
home last night displaced a woman and her adult son.
KTUU reports they're getting help from the Red Cross. Firefighters
controlled the flames in about 20 minutes.
State says
Anchorage, Fairbanks get more flights
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Anchorage and Fairbanks airports
will see both new and expanded service this year.
State transportation officials say the passenger service will come
from United, Sun Country Airlines, Continental, America and
Frontier airlines, along with Air Canada, Delta and US Airways.
Officials say Fairbanks this spring will see direct flights to
Denver and Salt Lake City.
Anchorage travelers will get expanded service direct to
Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Portland and
Houston.
Fairbanks
borough to fight city annexation effort
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — The Fairbanks North Star Borough
Assembly voted Thursday night to go to court to fight an
annexation by the city of Fairbanks.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the area in question is the
Fred Meyer West subdivision that supplied the borough with
$340,000 in property tax revenue last year and more in alcohol
taxes.
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.
Anchorage
looking to hire hundreds for election work
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Municipality of Anchorage will need
almost 600 election workers for the 121 polling precincts for the
April 6 election.
The city is hiring workers who will earn at least $9.50 an hour.
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