Pittsburgh priest to become new bishop for Southeast Alaska
PITTSBURGH (AP and KINY) -  Monsignor Edward J. Burns,  the rector of St. Paul Seminary in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, will be the new bishop of the Diocese of Juneau, Alaska.

The 51 year old Burns was ordained  a priest in 1983.  

Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik will ordain Burns as a bishop on March 3 in Pittsburgh, and he will be installed as bishop in Juneau on April 2.

Burns told reporters in Juneau this morning  (Monday) that Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Pope's representative in the United States, will be in Juneau for his installation.

When asked how it came about that he was selected to replace Bishop Michael Warfel, he said it is a "mystery of the faith."

This is his fourth trip to Alaska. The one previous to this was for ten days in April 2006 during Holy Week at the request of Bishop Michael Warfel who left over a year ago to become bishop of the diocese of Great Falls - Billings, Montana.  

When asked how he would address the challenges facing the church world wide in the Juneau Diocese, the bishop-elect said he would face them "head on" with a level of responsibility.

In relation to the child sexual abuse scandals, Burns commented, " I think that it's important to probably echo the words of Pope John Paul II who said that there is no room in the priest hood for anyone who would harm a child."

Burns arrived in Juneau Sunday afternoon just in time to watch his favorite team, the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers, and meet members of the community.

He was introduced at the news conference.

The Juneau diocese has about 7,300 Catholics in 11 parishes, served by nine priests, three deacons and two other male clergy.

Capital Chat guests: Obama's inauguration helps fulfill Dr. King's dream
The celebration of Martin Luther King, Junior's birthday on this national holiday was punctuated by the prospect of Tuesday's inauguration of America's first black president.

Dr. Kim J. Patterson, who spoke at the Martin Luther King, Junior Day program in Juneau, talked about the significance of Barack Obama's inauguration, while a guest on Capital Chat.

He said it shatters the glass ceiling that has existed among not only African Americans youngsters, but other minority children as well, that the highest office in the land is off limits.

Dr. Patterson is the director of Student Support Services at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

Ken Cook, president of the Black Awareness Association of Juneau who joined Dr. Patterson on the program,
thinks Dr. King is probably dancing in heaven.

He added, "It's like a prayer that's been answered."  

Bush unlikely to pardon Ted Stevens
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A White House spokesman says President Bush, on his last day in office, is unlikely to pardon former Sen. Ted Stevens.

The Anchorage Daily News quotes spokesman Stuart Siciliano saying no more pardons or commutations, which would lessen a sentence, are expected from Bush. 

Sen. Lisa Murkowski had requested a pardon for her former colleague, who was defeated for re-election following his October conviction on corruption charges.

Good weather allows for good progress on Snettisham repair work
Alaska Electric Light and Power reports crews made pretty good progress on repairs to the Snettisham line damaged by last Monday's avalanche.

The good weather was credited.

The utility's Scott Willis says they tied off the conductor wire at both towers 3-4 and 4-1 and cut it free from the wire on the ground as they work to bypass Tower 3-5 which was destroyed by the slide.

He says that's significant because while it was still connected another avalanche could come down and damage or destroy the adjacent towers. That's what happened last April 16th when three avalanches came down.

The barge with equipment and shelters made it to Snettisham Sunday. Additional lineman are due there today. (Monday)

Juneau's legislative delegation identifies budget making as top challenge facing next session
The First Session of the 26th Alaska Legislature convenes Tuesday afternoon following the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States.

What challenges face this legislative session in the estimation of Juneau's legislative delegation?

Senator Kim Elton says Governor Palin's prediction of 76 dollars a barrel for oil in fiscal year 2010 is very optimistic and could present budgeting problems for lawmakers.

He notes that over 80 percent of the states' revenue is generated from the oil industry.

Downtown Representative Beth Kerttula, who will once again lead the Democratic Minority in the House, concurs that budget making will present the greatest challenge.

Kerttula also thinks keeping jobs in Juneau, maintaining the Capital stature and maintaining the economy in Southeast Alaska are critical.

Mendenhall Valley Representative-elect Cathy Munoz, who will be sworn in prior to the start of business agrees with Elton and Kerttula on the budget challenge which she considers the number one priority

Munoz says for her that means coming up with a budget that preserves essential services, but doesn't go beyond the state's ability to balance

In addition, Munoz says it's important to work to strengthen Juneau's position as the Capital City.

She's committed to bottling up a measure introduced by Mat Su Representative Marc Neuman that seeks to move legislative sessions elsewhere.

The House is scheduled to convene Tuesday at 1 p.m. and the Senate one hour later.

Governor Palin will present her State of the State Address Thursday evening at seven.  

Missing teens feared dead
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaska State Troopers say the search for two teens missing since last week is now a body recovery task. Troopers say it's likely the two Pikta Point teens fell into a river ice hole close to St. Mary's.

Troopers say 17-year-old Rondy Lamont and 14-year-old Matalena Tinker were en route home to Pitka's Point from St. Mary's Wednesday night. They were reported missing on Thursday.

Those searching for the teens found fresh snowmachine tracks leading to a large open spot in ice where the Andreafsky River meets the Yukon River.

Troopers believe the two went into the river with the snowmachine.

Salvage operations are underway for listing Valdez vessel
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Coast Guard officials in Valdez are monitoring an area where a pleasure boat has reportedly began sinking near a dock over the weekend.

Coast Guard personnel say salvage operations are underway for the 60-foot Ginny Lee.

A contractor has already assessed the area and plugged one fuel vent.

The vessel is listing to one side, keeping people from accessing that side's fuel vent. No fuel has been seen from that vent area.

Only a minor sheen has been seen in the entire dock area.

Contractors were scheduled to raise the vessel Monday.

BP loses lease argument in court
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A federal judge has ruled against BP in a lawsuit over a lease to land on the edge of the Prudhoe Bay oil field.

The judge found that BP has been pumping oil from Lisburne, an oil field in the Prudhoe area, in violation of its lease.

The decision is a victory for an Inupiat family that owns the land.

Crimson Bears hockey team earns another win
The Juneau Douglas High School hockey team concluded its last home stand this weekend with a sweep of Monroe Catholic of Fairbanks.

The Crimson  Bears skated to a 5 to 0 shutout Friday night and won 6 to 1 Saturday night.  

The Bear's record is now at 14 and 4 on the season.

The team is on the road for a four game set in the Fairbanks area from January 28th through 31st.

During that road trip, the Bears will make a push for the playoffs in the Mid-Alaska Conference, just four years after the hockey program's inception.  

Minn. State, Mankato beats Alaska-Anchorage 7-1
MANKATO, Minn. (AP) - Zach Harrison scored two goals and assisted on two others as Minnesota State, Mankato beat Alaska-Anchorage 7-1 Saturday night.

The Mavericks led 1-0 on a Geoff Irwin goal late in the first period. Then they broke the game open with a three-goal second period that included two goals by Harrison.

Harrison had been held without a goal since Oct. 17, when the junior forward had scored three short-handed goals in a win over North Dakota.

Kael Mouillierat, Justin Jokinen and James Gaulrapp added third-period goals.

Paul Crowder's power-play goal with about five minutes left helped the Seawolves prevent the shutout.

Kurt Davis and Rylan Galiardi each had two assists each for Mankato.

Alaskan part of sprint team making history
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Anchorage's Kikkan Randall has made history.

Randall Sunday teamed up with Liz Stephen of East Montpelier, Vermont, to place fourth in the team sprint race at Whistler Olympic Park, the site of next year's Winter Olympics.

It was the highest finish in history by an American sprint team.