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Levy appointed to Juneau
District Court
Governor Murkowski has appointed Keith Levy to the Juneau District Court.
Levy, 47, currently serves as an Assistant Attorney General representing
state agencies in civil litigation, appeals and administrative proceedings.
He was one of eight applicants for the seat vacated by Judge Peter
Froehlich, who retired earlier this month.
Murkowski says Levy's background gives him the ability to both listen well
and make sound decisions that best serve the public.
Levy has lived in Alaska for 17 years and has worked in private practice and
government.
He served as Legislative Counsel to the Alaska Legislative Affairs Agency
from 1983-1987 and has also served as staff attorney to the Alaska Court of
Appeals.
Levy received a bachelor’s degree from State University of New York at
Binghamton in 1978 and a law degree from the University of Santa Clara Law
School in 1982.
Victim and fiancé comment
on sentencing of St. Clairs'
The victim and his fiancé are commenting on the sentencing of the couple Friday
responsible for hurting him during a stabbing and robbery of his taxi cab on January 7, 2004 in Juneau.
As reported earlier, Superior Court Judge Larry Weeks handed down the
sentences Friday. Aaron St. Clair was sent to prison
for 50 years with 15 years suspended.
St. Clair pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted murder in Juneau Superior
Court, October 22nd.
He was charged with the January 7th, 2004 stabbing and robbery of cab
driver Eric Drake.
As part of the plea deal, the other charges in the indictment, first-degree
assault, first-degree robbery and tampering with physical evidence were
dismissed.
Attempted murder carries a
penalty of a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of 99 years in prison.
In a plea agreement in
October, St. Clair's wife, 19 year-old Violet St. Clair, pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to commit robbery.
Judge Weeks sentenced her to eight years in prison with
four years suspended.
Drake tells us he wanted his
attacker to get more time in jail, but thinks Judge Weeks did a good job and
he's willing to leave it at that and move on.
Drake's fiancé, Maria Miller,
said they're glad to have someone like St. Clair off the streets.
Drake says he's doing fine
physically. He's working on his mental well being right now and says
that's going fine.
According to the police investigation, Violet St. Clair called for the cab
on her cell phone and sat in the seat next to Drake as her husband stabbed,
slashed and cut the cab driver's throat from the back seat.
The attack occurred on the night of January 7th outside a motel in the
Jordan Creek area.
Police say the St. Clairs' fled the attack on foot with $60 from Drake's
wallet.
Fire call made to the Fosby Apartments,
discarded cigarette blamed
Capital City Fire Rescue responded to the Fosby Apartments about a block from the Governor's Mansion at 7-43 this morning.
Fire
Marshal Rich Etheridge says they found heavy smoke on the second floor and in the furnace room.
He says the origin was a small plastic container in the furnace room caused by an apparently carelessly discarded cigarette.
They have the names of the people, who are described as young adults. The fire
marshal says they will speak with them and discourage them from smoking in the furnace room in the future.
House Majority leaders say Murkowski's budget will be scrutinized
The Governor's budget proposal won't be rubber stamped.
That from leaders of the majority in the State House during a press availability this morning.
Finance Co-Chair Mike Chenault says they will examine the Governor's proposed increases and decide which ones are justifiable and which are not.
Speaker John Harris reinforced Chenault's comment saying it won't be a rubber stamped budget, but rather based on the merits of the proposal.
Anchorage teen dies in snowmachine accident
TRAPPER CREEK (AP) - A 14-year-old Anchorage boy is dead after his snowmachine fell through ice near Talkeetna.
Alaska State Troopers say Benjamin Gadd and two others were riding their snowmachines Saturday near Trapper Creek west of Talkeetna.
Troopers say Gadd's machine rolled over and he fell through the ice.
The teen was taken to Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Girl sustains minor injuries when hit by pickup truck at Valley intersection
A 13 year old girl suffered only minor injuries when she was hit by a truck at the Loop Road and Stephen Richards Drive
intersection last evening.
Police were notified just before 6:30.
Their investigation determined the girl was in the crosswalk and had a signal to cross.
At that time, the pickup was making a left turn through the intersection and the crosswalk.
The 32 year old driver did not see the pedestrian, according to police.
The girl was transported to the hospital by ambulance, treated and released.
The driver was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Money for parking garage repairs up for Assembly approval
An ordinance up for action at tonight's Assembly meeting calls for the approval of a $293,000 appropriation for repairs at the downtown parking garage.
City Manager Rod Swope
says most of the work is general maintenance and includes replacement of sprinklers,
restripping, and concrete repairs.
About $3,000 of marine passenger fees will be transferred to help underwrite the expense. The lion's share of the funding comes
from parking fees, according to Swope.
A resolution on the agenda increases the port development fee imposed on cruise ships and other vessels carrying passengers for hire by one dollar per passenger.
The increase would generate about $900,000 in 2005 and $950,000 in 2006 for the Port Development Fund.
The Assembly meeting begins at 7 p.m. in Assembly Chambers at City Hall.
Measure would ban automated phone solicitations
JUNEAU (AP) - A Soldotna legislator has introduced a bill to ban automated telephone political campaign messages.
The bill by Republican state Representative Kurt Olson seeks to amend state law covering telephone solicitation.
Current law already prohibits phone solicitation of anyone identified in the telephone directory as not wanting to receive such calls, or who has registered with the national do-not-call registry.
It also prohibits calls to people who have previously notified solicitors they do not want to receive calls.
Solicitors also are barred from originating calls advertising a product or service through automated or recorded messages.
Olson's amendment would add automated political solicitations to the list of prohibited calls.
Documents track Renkes-coal links
ANCHORAGE (AP) - Documents released by the state shed more light on the connections between Alaska Attorney General Gregg Renkes and a proposed coal deal with Taiwan involving a company he was long associated with.
Renkes is under investigation for possible ethics violations as a result of his efforts to advance the coal project and because of his stock ownership in KFx Incorporated, a Denver company trying to commercialize a coal-drying process.
The Anchorage Daily News reports that documents released by Governor Murkowski's office include draft letters, talking points, a business development plan, and official and personal e-mails.
Neither Renkes nor Murkowski have commented on the documents.
Murkowski says he's reserving judgment until after an outside counsel he hired turns in his report.
Robert Bundy, a former U-S attorney investigating Renkes, says his report may hit the governor's desk
today. (Monday) following a four-month investigation.
Red Cross in Alaska says tsunami relief had lowered support work in state
The American Red Cross of Alaska's tsunami fund has far exceeded the original goal of $50,000
The organization's Kelly Hurd says contributions have exceeded all their wildest expectations.
She says at his point the fund is at $860,000 and rising.
Hurd says they appreciate the generosity, but want Alaskans to know that there are people in Alaska that also need help.
Hurd
says with the overwhelming generosity of donations for the tsunami and 9-11 they have seen a decline in local contributions for Alaska disasters.
She say the Red Cross helps at least three Alaskans every day with food, shelter and clothing as a result of a disaster like a house fire.
Hurd says during their recent fundraising effort in December, a large number of envelops came back with Alaska Disaster Relief crossed out and tsunami disaster relief written in.
The Red Cross website is
www.alaska.redcross.org
Light earthquake strikes Kodiak region
KODIAK (AP) - A light earthquake occurred in the Kodiak region Sunday morning,
The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says the quake occurred at 10-26 a-m and had a preliminary magnitude of four-point-one.
It was centered 78 miles south of Old Harbor near the southeast end of Kodiak Island.
There are no reports of the quake causing any damage.
Palmer resident dies as result of hockey injury
PROVO, Utah (AP) - A college student from Palmer has died from injuries he suffered during a club hockey game.
Seventeen-year-old Jaxon Logan -- a student at Brigham Young University in Utah -- died after being struck in the chest with a puck.
Logan was struck in the chest Friday night while blocking a slap shot against a club team from the University of Northern Colorado.
The team's Web site says the shot caused Logan's heart to stop.
Logan played for the Provo
IceCats, a club team that includes students but is not (NOT) affiliated with the university.
Crimson Bears rebound to
win second game with Ketchikan
The Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears nipped Ketchikan 60 to 57 Saturday night to
take the second game of the weekend.
The men's team lost Friday
night's basketball contest 71 to 57.
Concern
raised that Kodiak recreation area may be closed for rocket launches
KODIAK (AP) - A Kodiak borough assemblyman says the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation may be trying to close access to Narrow Cape, a popular Kodiak Island recreation area.
Kodiak Island Borough Assemblyman Tuck Bonney says a letter from the corporation to Governor Murkowski shows the corporation is trying to close Narrow Cape to public access.
The Kodiak Launch Complex is at Narrow Cape 45 miles south of the city of Kodiak.
Corporation president and chief executive officer Pat Ladner says the state agency has no intention of permanently closing Narrow Cape, or closing the road during non-hazardous operations.
But Assemblyman Bonney cites Ladner's letter indicating the Department of Homeland Security has suggested the corporation seek authority to permanently close the public road that runs through the facility for safety and security reasons.
The letter also expresses Ladner's displeasure over a compromise reached by the state Department of Natural Resources on the request by aerospace corporation to close an additional 14-thousand acres of land during rocket launches.
The compromise keeps the land under the state department's management.
Borough Mayor Jerome Selby is calling for dialogue with aerospace corporation officials to discuss the long-term plans of the corporation in the community.
Senator
Stevens sells investments that drew scrutiny
WASHINGTON (AP) - U-S Senator Ted Stevens has sold his interest in Anchorage
and Fairbanks real estate and put the money in a blind trust.
The Alaska Republican says he did so to spare his former partners the
scrutiny created by his investments and to stop questions about his own
potential conflicts of interest.
Steven did not disclose the amount he sold the property for but says he has
no control over the trust.
Stevens in 19-97 began investing with Anchorage developers Jonathan Rubini
and Leonard Hyde.
One of his investments was in a limited liability corporation called
Centerpoint, which owns the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation's headquarters
building in Anchorage.
A Los Angeles Times article about the investment highlighted that Stevens
has pushed a long list of bills desired by Arctic Slope Regional.
Stevens says he's made small investments and some of them have been
successful and others terrible.
Stevens says no one ever asks him about the losses.
Proposal calls for six railbelt utilities to unify
JUNEAU (AP) - Six utilities serving the area between Fairbanks and Homer are considering teaming up.
Under the proposed arrangement, the utilities would form a single entity that could share such efforts as training, accounting and lobbying.
The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority and Alaska Energy Authority are involved in the effort to set up a ``joint action agency.''
Mike Barry, board chairman for the state agencies, says it would be a cost-effect move to have one entity, rather than six utilities, handle responsibilities for what is commonly referred to as the railbelt grid.
The railbelt grid serves about 75 percent of Alaska's population and is responsible for about 85 percent of the electricity generated in the state.
Fairbanks-based Golden Valley Electric Association is already moving ahead with the concept, along with the Chugach Electric Association and Anchorage Municipal Light and Power.
The other railbelt utilities are the city of Seward Electric System, Homer Electric Association and Matanuska Electric
Association.
America West offers new
routes to Alaska
ANCHORAGE (AP) - America West Airlines -- the nation's second largest
low-cost airlines -- is offering new routes to Alaska.
The airline says it will initiate new nonstop jet service between its Las
Vegas hub and Anchorage, as well as Pittsburgh.
With this new service, America West will operate 146 daily departures to 61
nonstop destinations from Las Vegas. The airline says that's more than any
other carrier.
The service to Anchorage will begin on May 1st.
That means one-stop service from Anchorage to 66 cities in the United States
and Mexico.
Kolund named district ranger of Misty Fiords
ANCHORAGE (AP) - Federal officials say Lynn Kolund has been named district ranger of the Tongass National Forest's Ketchikan-Misty Fiords.
Kolund has been serving as the acting ranger of Misty Fiords, and has been selected to continue as the leader of the district.
The district has more than 50 permanent employees. Kolund also will be responsible for more than three (M) million acres.
He has been acting director for four months.
The Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger District is one of ten ranger districts in the 17-(M) million acre Tongass National Forest.
Alaska Railroad reducing train noise
ANCHORAGE (AP) - The Alaska Railroad is trying to reduce train noise in Anchorage.
The project is expected to cost more than one
million dollars in federal money.
The Alaska Railroad has been experimenting with two different ways to make trains travel more quietly though the city. It already is testing one method at one street crossing. And it plans this summer to reduce noise at others.
Railroad officials say the change is being made because new federal rules take effect this spring that allow for quiet zones, as long as approved safety measures are in place.
Medical marijuana cards booming
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The number of Oregonians with medical marijuana cards has doubled in less than two years, with nearly 10-thousand residents now
eligible to use the drug.
Oregon is one of ten states -- including Alaska -- where medical marijuana use is legal.
The fee-based program in Oregon has grown so fast that it built up a cash surplus of nearly one
million dollars last year. To reduce it, state officials recently slashed the annual fee for a medical marijuana card from 150 dollars to 55 dollars.
For Oregon Health Plan patients, the fee dropped to 20 dollars.
More than 15-hundred Oregon doctors have signed at least one patient application, according to state figures through 2004.
But ten doctors account for two-thirds of the current and pending marijuana card requests.
Critics say the growth shows that medical marijuana cards can serve as a cover for recreational drug use.
Defenders say it reflects growing acceptance of marijuana as an alternative to mainstream medicine.
Learn to Ski deadline is Tuesday afternoon
The application deadline for the Eaglecrest Learn to Ski Weekend is at 3 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday).
The ski area's Jeffra
Clough says a drawing will be held on Wednesday's edition of KINY's Capital Chat to select this year's 45 participants.
She says the goal of the program is to introduce the sport to kids in grades 3, 4 and 5 who have never skied.
Application forms are available at all elementary schools, Foggy Mountain Shop, Nugget Alaskan Outfitter,
Play It Again Sports, Eaglecrest Snowsports School, and the Eaglecrest Business Office.
The Learn to Ski Weekend will be held this year on January 29th and 30th.
Retreat for women who survived cancer set for next month
The Retreat About Balance For Women Cancer Survivors coming up next month was the topic of discussion on KINY's Capital Chat this morning.
The retreat sponsored by Cancer Connection is facilitated by Dr. Maureen Longworth.
She started the retreat last year and is scheduled for February 25th through the 27th at the Shrine of St. Therese this year.
Event coordinator Tish Griffin-Satre says they want to limit participation to twenty.
A pre-registration fee of $50 is required, although Dr. Longworth says there are five scholarships available for those who need help with the fee.
Call 796-CARE to register.
UAS expands research lab in Juneau
JUNEAU (AP) - The University of Alaska Southeast has expanded one of its
labs, and hopes to attract faculty.
The Southeast campus recently purchased a former state laboratory building.
It has added a natural science lab for faculty research and hopes to build a
separate seawater lab at the Auke Lake campus.
Meanwhile, U-A-S continues to lobby for more state funds for a University of
Alaska Fairbanks fisheries lab at Lena Point.
And the university plans to convert a building to a campus bookstore and
offices.
The school also is asking the state Legislature for funds to remodel a
classroom building and annex.
Offshore platforms getting permits
renewed
KENAI (AP) - Oil and gas companies that own offshore production platforms in
Cook Inlet are in the process of having their discharge permits renewed.
The permits are issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, which
regulates materials dumped from the platforms into the inlet.
Many of the platforms dump materials, such as produced water, drilling muds,
drill cuttings, treated sewage and cooling water into the inlet.
Some companies and organizations point to studies that show discharges do
not have negative effects on the environment.
Susan Saupe, director of science and research for Cook Inlet Regional
Citizens Advisory Council, says her organization has conducted numerous
studies looking at the impacts of the discharges. She says so far,
hydrocarbons from the platform discharges found in Cook Inlet have been
shown to have no direct environmental impact.
However, environmental groups and the village of Port Graham are not
convinced. Village officials say they've noticed lesions on fish, and are
worried about contamination.
Curbside recycling may get second
chance
ANCHORAGE(AP) - Curbside recycling in Anchorage may get a second chance.
The company that has been doing the pilot program is planning to pull it at
the end of this week. That's because not enough customers had signed up to
make the program financially worthwhile for the company.
But now a second company says it wants to revive the program, if it can get
financial support from the municipality.
The service is currently provided by Waste Management of Alaska.
Anchorage-based Alaska Pacific Environmental Services would like to take it
over.
Customers pay five dollars a month to have recyclables picked up every other
week. The program was being tried out in west Anchorage.
(Copyright ©2005 Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio)
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