Juneau Daily News Online

Monday,  January 21, 2002

Martin Luther King, Junior Born January 15, 1929 Read more about Dr. King here. Listen to clips of Dr. King's speeches here.

Government offices and schools closed for holiday
Today is the Martin Luther King, Junior national holiday marking the birthday of the civil rights leader. His actual birthday is January 15th. Federal, state and city offices, public schools and the University of Alaska Southeast are closed today.

Two robberies net three arrests
Three men were arrested for two separate robberies investigated by Juneau Police Sunday.

A man contacted police before nine last night to say he had been assaulted and robbed in the parking lot of Frontier Suites off Glacier Highway in the Valley. He said he was walking across the Madsen parking lot when two men chased him to the Frontier Suites parking lot and assaulted him. The men took his wallet and cell phone and left the area on foot.

Two men, fitting the descriptions provided by the victims, were found by police outside Unit 33 of Madsen Apartments. They were identified as 21 year old Gustavo Ramirez, 21 and 18 year old Ian Patterson. Peterson fled on foot, but was caught on the opposite side of Glacier Highway.

Both were charged with Robbery in the Second Degree and jailed at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center on no bail. Police says no guns were used in the robbery.

The Williams Express Gas Station and Convenience Store was the scene of the other robbery occurred Sunday morning. The clerk told police a man, wearing a dark ski mask, entered the store brandishing a pipe and demanding money and cigarettes. After taking a small amount of cash from the till and several packs of cigarettes, the suspect fled on foot in the direction of Switzer Trailer Park.

Police located two men in the trailer park. Information from the gas station clerk and other sources led to the arrest of 19 year old Logan Toy Henkins. Cash and some unopened cigarette packs were seized from a car owned by Henkins.

He was charged with Robbery in the First Degree and jailed at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center on $50,000 bail. An investigation continues, according to police.

Supplemental budget proposal detailed by Governor's Office
Governor Tony Knowles plans to ask the Legislature for $21 Million to market Alaska's salmon, vacation spots and its oil. Knowles wants to set aside $10 Million each for tourism and salmon marketing and another one (m) million to lobby Congress to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.

Responding to early warnings that Alaska's tourism industry will be hurt by the September 11th attacks, Knowles is seeking nine-point-eight (m) million dollars for the Alaska Travel Industry Association. The Alaska Marine Highway System would receive $200,000 to promote ferry travel.

Alaska's salmon industry has been hit hard by a glut of farm-raises salmon and a Knowles spokesman says the state spends nothing to counter this trend. But under the Knowles plan the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute would get five (m) million dollars for general advertising and another five (m) million would be available for regional and niche marketing grants. The lobbying group Arctic Power would also receive one (m) million dollars to continue the push to open ANWR.

It's similar to a House Republican proposal that emerged last week. Knowles will ask the Legislature for a ``fast track'' supplemental to pay for his proposal in this year's budget.

Income tax measure sponsored by Hudson
Juneau Representative Bill Hudson has introduced a bill that would phase in a statewide income tax on Alaskans over two years. Hudson says the bill is a reworking of a measure introduced last year to impose such a tax to generate revenues.

The Juneau Republican favors a tax that begins at one percent of a person's taxable income and increases to two-point-three percent after a year. It would eventually raise $280 Million an effort to help close the state's budget deficit. Last year Hudson's bill imposed a two-percent tax that never made it out of committee.

Governor Tony Knowles has asked the Legislature for a graduated income tax that is based on the federal tax Alaskans pay. It would raise $350 million and is part of a larger package to close a projected one-point-two (b) billion dollar deficit by 2004.

State Chamber opposes cruise ship passenger tax  offered by Knowles
The Alaska State Chamber of Commerce has gone on record in opposition to the Governor's proposal for a cruise ship passenger head tax.

Pamela La Bolle, the organization's president says the levy is not fair or equitable since it singles out one segment of one industry. She added its a bad time to add costs to Alaska travel. She points out that bookings for the upcoming visitor season down by as much as 25 percent statewide.

She says they recognize that there will probably be a need for looking a taxation, but it should be a broad based tax where everybody pays something.

Stevens in Juneau
Alaska's Senior United States Senator Ted Stevens is in town. He's preparing to address a joint session of the Legislature in the Capital tomorrow. He scheduled various meetings with lawmakers and administration officials today.

Scientists comparing notes on impact of Exxon Valdez spill
More than three dozen scientists studying the effects of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill are meeting in Anchorage this week. The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council is sponsoring the workshop, which opens tomorrow at the Egan Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage.

In addition to lingering damage from the spill, the scientists will discuss a long-term monitoring program, designed to track changes in the ecosystem of the Gulf of Alaska. The monitoring program will cost $6 Million annually and will begin in October.

Molly McCammon, executive director of the trustee council, says the monitoring program will study oceanography, climate and marine life in the Gulf. The conference runs through Friday.

Residents near Anchorage's airport to get help with noise
Anchorage residents living near the airport could soon get some peace and quiet. The Federal Aviation Administration and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport will pay $15 Million dollars over the next decade to insulate homes rattled by noise from airplanes.

The F-A-A is paying for most of the project, which will cost 30-thousand to 50-thousand dollars per home. The work involves installing new, sound-blocking windows and doors and insulating attics and walls.

The program is one of several the airport has launched to deal with noise complaints. Airport officials say they also plan to buy up some vacant residential land near the airport. And they're promoting special building standards for neighborhoods affected by airport noise.

Projects funded by federal money planned by railroad
Three-hundred (M) million dollars in federal money is fueling an Alaska Railroad building boom. Officials say more than two dozen construction projects are planned along the 500-mile railroad from Seward to North Pole.

Over the next few years, two new depots will be built. Railroad lines will be straightened to increase safety. And new track sidings will be constructed. And that's only a few of the projects.

One of the projects with the highest visibility will be the new depot at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. It mainly will serve cruise ship tourists traveling between Seward and Anchorage. It is expected to be finished by September.

Bears take two from Ketchikan
The Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears took two games in a match up with Ketchikan over the weekend. The Bears men executed complete routs of their opponent. Saturday's score was 97 to 52. Friday night's contest ended 76 to 38.

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