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Hartig defends
ouster of scientist
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's environmental conservation
commissioner is defending a decision to kick scientist and clean
water advocate Gershon Cohen off an advisory panel on cruise ship
wastewater discharge.
Six Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday urged the governor to
reinstate Cohen, saying he's qualified to serve on the board and
that they were worried his ouster stemmed from pressure exerted by
the cruise ship industry.
On Wednesday, Commissioner Larry Hartig acknowledged hearing
concerns from within the industry about whether Cohen could be
unbiased.
Hartig said he admires Cohen's commitment to clean water issues
but that question should have been looked at before Cohen's
appointment.
Education
chief defends merit-based scholarship proposal
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — State Education Commissioner Larry LeDoux
is defending the governor's merit-based scholarship plan. LeDoux
says the scholarships should encourage students to aim high.
Some lawmakers have questioned whether the plan should also be
broadened to include not only good students but also those who
need help paying for college.
In a House Education Committee hearing today (Wednesday),
Anchorage Rep. Berta Gardner said a merit-only approach may create
a lost opportunity, because many families would pay for an
education on their own.
Governor Sean Parnell wants college and vocational scholarships
for high school graduates who complete a rigorous course schedule
with at least a C+ average.
Investment earnings from a $400 million set-aside of state
reserves would pay for the program.
Alaska's
population up...S.E. population increases slightly after decade of
losses
Alaska's population increased 10.3 percent, or 64,781 people over
the last decade.
A major reason for the increased growth was the influx of military
personnel and their families to Anchorage, according to the Alaska
Department of Labor, which released the estimates yesterday.
(Tuesday)
For the first time in five years, the state gained more people
than it lost due to migration.
Births far outnumbered migration as the source of the state's
population increase last year.
The state counted 11,454 births and 3,378 deaths last year.
Both births and deaths of Alaskans have increased steadily over
the past decade.
After losing more than 4,000 residents over the past decade, the
Southeast region's population was roughly flat last year, at
69,338, up 173 people.
The only census areas in the state that lost more than 100
residents last year were the Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area and
the Valdez-Cordova Census Area.
Alaska remains the 47th most populous state, bigger than North
Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.
Statewide, over the last decade, the population climbed 1.5
percent, up from 627,533 in 2000 to 692,314 in 2009.
Anchorage and the Mat-Su captured more than 75 percent of the
statewide population growth in the past decade.
Last year, the Juneau Borough's population was up eight-tenth's of
a percent at 30,661.
The Haines Borough was down 1.6 percent at 2,286.
The Skagway, Angoon, Hoonah census area was unchanged at 2,908.
The Sitka Borough was down two-tenths of a percent at 8,627.
The Prince of Wales Outer Ketchikan census area increased
six-tenths of a percent at 5,392.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough was unchanged at 12,964.
About
170 turn out for homelessness forum
Project Homeless Connect, a national program sponsored locally by
the Juneau Homeless Coalition, was conducted at Centennial Hall
Monday.
The program is designed to connect services to people experiencing
homelessness.
The annual "Point-in-Time Count" occurred the same day
which involves a one day count of people locally experiencing
homelessness.
Scott Ciambor is the Affordable Housing Coordinator for the Juneau
Economic Development Council and co-chairs the coalition.
He says about 170 showed up which pleased them since they figured
on about a hundred.
The final count of the homeless this year, which is overseen by
the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, is pending.
Ciambor says the agency will weed out duplicates and surveys that
were filled out incorrectly.
The corporation's overall count last year was 403 which included
youth who are homeless or are couch surfing.
Individual agencies were involved in the count in the past which
led to some discrepancies, according to Ciambor.
The count provides the data necessary to ensure federal and state
funding is available to address homelessness issues.
Ellis wants
alcohol tax funds to aid treatment
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — All alcohol tax revenue would go toward
drug treatment and prevention programs in Alaska under a bill
proposed by Senate Majority Leader Johnny Ellis.
According to Ellis' office, the state receives about $40 million a
year from excise taxes and currently half the revenue goes toward
substance abuse treatment and prevention programs.
Ellis has given Gov. Sean Parnell credit for wanting to crack down
on domestic violence and sexual assault in the state.
But the Anchorage Democrat also has been among the lawmakers
calling for greater attention to substance abuse issues which they
believe often help fuel the violence.
Search for missing crewman
suspended
KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — The Coast Guard has suspended its search
for a 26-year-old man who reportedly fell from a container ship
south of Adak Island into 20-foot seas.
The Coast Guard says it suspended its aerial search shortly after
3 p.m. Wednesday after covering almost 900 nautical miles. No
signs of the man were found.
The Coast Guard was notified Tuesday night that one of the crew
was missing.
The container ship also issued a call for help from any vessels in
the area.
The 792-foot Cap Gilbert is a Liberia-flagged vessel sailing from
Ningbo, China, to Manzino, Mexico.
The crew member is from Myanmar, also called Burma.
Begich wants a vote on U.S.
Marshal for Alaska nomination
U.S. Sen. Mark Begich is calling on Republicans in the Senate to
stop delaying President Obama's nominees, including the nomination
of the U.S. Marshal for Alaska.
Begich says former Anchorage Police Chief Rob Heun was in line for
unanimous consent approval by the Senate last Friday, along with a
Rhode Island circuit court judge candidate.
But, he says, Republicans have refused to allow any further
nominees to be considered by the Senate, with the exception of a
district judge for Washington state approved Monday.
Begich says Republicans are trying to score political points by
attempting to block the president.
Young: Gas tax
suspension may undercut federal aid
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Rep. Don Young says a proposal by
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, to suspend the state motor fuels tax,
could undermine federal transportation funding.
In a statement Tuesday, the Republican lawmaker commended Parnell,
also a Republican, for trying to relieve Alaskans' "pain at
the pump."
But Young said the suspension also would make it harder to garner
support in Congress for drawing down transportation money.
Parnell spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said there was no effect in
2008, when then-Gov. Sarah Palin and the Legislature approved a
similar suspension.
The tax varies by fuel, but is 8 cents per gallon on regular gas.
Over two years, it would save buyers $81.7 million otherwise bound
for the state's general fund.
Aide: Dyson taken
to medical center
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — State Senator Fred Dyson has been taken to
Juneau's hospital early today (Wednesday) medical center for an unspecified condition.
His chief of staff, Chuck Kopp, said only that the Eagle River
Republican is not feeling well but he expected to return to work
in the next day or so.
He declined to provide more specifics, saying he wanted to be
respectful of Dyson's privacy.
Alaska Atty
Gen outlines endangered species fight
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan
has outlined plans for ramping up the state's fight against
expanded use of endangered species laws.
Sullivan told the House Finance Committee in Juneau on Tuesday
that he will approach other states to tell them about Alaska's
plan, which includes a request for $1 million next year to pay for
legal help to focus on the Endangered Species Act.
Sullivan says new listings under the act usually require Alaska
companies to consult heavily with the federal government before
investing in areas affected by a designation.
He says that can greatly increase the cost of doing business in
the state.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Two groups
receive Coast Guard Public Service Awards
The Coast Guard in Alaska is presenting two public service awards.
One is going to Sitka Mountain Rescue today (Wednesday) for the
difficult rescue of an injured hunter last October 15 from a cliff
at an elevation of 2,800 feet.
The other award will be presented in Juneau Thursday, February 4 to the Marine
Exchange of Alaska.
A Coast Guard release says the organization's real time vessel
tracking has directly supported high profile salvage,
environmental protection and mass rescue operations in Alaska.
In both cases, the awards will be presented by District 17
Commander, Rear Admiral Christopher Colvin.
Anchorage
home fire victim flown south for treatment
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — One of the two people rescued by
firefighters Tuesday from a burning home in Anchorage suffered
severe burns and has been flown to a hospital in Seattle.
The other person was treated at a hospital. One firefighter was
injured while helping with the rescue through a window.
(KTUU)
Man indicted in Seward Highway
crash death
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A 28-year-old Anchorage man involved in
a fatal crash was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on murder
and assault charges.
Thomas Lorah was indicted last week on counts of second-degree
murder, manslaughter and assault.
Alaska State Troopers say Lorah had a blood alcohol content nearly
four times above the legal limit July 26 when his truck crashed
head-on into a compact car, killing Ann Knofel and seriously
injuring Bruce Knofel.
Witnesses told troopers they saw Lorah fishing on the Kenai
Peninsula and drinking from a bottle of liquor. After a river
trip, Lorah headed north toward Anchorage towing his raft.
Troopers took reports of an erratic, high speed driver. Lorah's
truck struck the Knofels' car at Mile 89.7 Seward Highway.
Fort Richardson soldiers to
return from Afghanistan
FORT RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — About 250 paratroopers from Fort
Richardson in Anchorage will soon be home from Afghanistan.
The soldiers are expected to return today (Wednesday) from their
year-long deployment to the eastern provinces of Afghanistan.
They are assigned to the 3,500-soldier 4th Airborne Brigade Team.
Already about 350 other soldiers have returned home, with the
remainder scheduled to arrive next month.
Price for road to Nome estimated
at 2 Billion
Governor Parnell is asking for 2-million dollars to study the
route for a road to Nome.
The total price tag could run over 2-billion dollars.
The State House and Senate were presented with the latest analysis
of a 600-mile road to connect Nome with the Elliott Highway
northwest of Fairbanks.
The study by Dowl HKM estimates the road could cost about 2 and a
half billion dollars, plus 40 million each year for maintenance.
Dowl produced a study last spring that estimated the road would
enable tens of billions of dollars' worth of economic activity by
providing access for mining and tourism, as well as linking
villages along the route to the state's road system.
Governor Parnell highlighted the road in his state of the State of
the State speech last week.
Plan looks at
guided use in national forest
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Forest Service staff are working
on a plan that would establish allowable levels of guided
recreation on 3.2 million of acres of national forest land.
Through a series of public meetings, Forest Service staff have
developed a map of 28 recreation areas in the Ketchikan-Misty
Fiords Ranger District.
A public meeting to discuss the plan is scheduled for Thursday at
the Ted Ferry Civic Center.
Lorelei Haukness, a wilderness and recreation specialist with the
district, says the focus is on guided use of the areas, not
unguided use.
She says nearly all of the areas being looked at could accommodate
more visitors.
----
Information from: Ketchikan Daily News
UPDATE - Another Alaskan going to
the Olympics
Yet another Alaskan got the call to join the U. S. Olympic team in
Vancouver.
Anchorage skier Holly Brooks was notified Tuesday morning that
another slot had opened up in the U. S. cross country ski team.
Brooks is a ski coach at Alaska Pacific University.
She and two other APU skiers -- Kikkan Randall and James Southam
-- are heading to the World Cup event in Alberta this week to
train for the Olympics.
The three skiers join four other Alaskan Olympians -- Biathletes
Jay Hakkinen and Jeremy Teela; hockey player Kerry Weiland; and
snowboarder Callan Chythlook-Sifsof.
(KENI - Anchorage)
Bogus car deal sought by
Anchorage Police
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Anchorage police are asking the public
to help locate 38-year-old Matt Sims who is wanted on an arrest
warrant accusing him of theft.
Police say he advertises cars at a low price and tells would-be
buyers he doesn't have the title.
Police say he takes money to "hold" the car and never
gives the buyers the car or their money back.
Fish Board hears testimony
on Yukon kings
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Board of Fisheries has heard
impassioned testimony from fishermen about Yukon River king
salmon, the state's largest subsistence fishery.
A standing-room-only crowd of about 150 greeted the board Tuesday
on the first day of a six-day meeting in Fairbanks.
People living on the upper river are arguing for proposals to get
more and larger fish on spawning grounds, while those from the
lower river want to reject the same proposals.
Both sides say their subsistence way of life is threatened if the
changes are or aren't made.
Those issues have been debated for years, but have gained
importance because of three consecutive weak chinook runs that
resulted in severe restrictions this season.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Cleaning out Fairbanks home could
be explosive
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Authorities say Wednesday's cleanup of
chemicals at a home in the Chena Ridge neighborhood of Fairbanks
could be explosive.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports fertilizer, battery acid,
ethanol and other explosives were discovered after a 20-year-old
man was injured Jan. 10 in an explosion at the home.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough said many chemicals reportedly
are stored in an unsafe manner and there's a risk of another
uncontrolled explosion.
Alaska state troopers have been guarding the home and the FBI and
other federal agencies are helping with the investigation.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
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