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Hudson heartened by
joint caucus on fiscal gap
Juneau Representative Bill Hudson, who co-chairs the bi-partisan Fiscal Policy
Caucus, is optimistic that Majority Republicans and Minority Democrats in the
House have agreed to meet in a joint caucus to come up with solutions to the
state's fiscal crisis.
Hudson thinks the joint caucus is an opportunity to bridge partisan politics and
take a look at the seriousness of the fiscal gap and the elements that will be
necessary to fill it.
This evening's initial meeting will not be open to the public and press. Hudson
said he recommended that it be held in public. But he said there was a desire to
talk about strategy and possible action in the Senate.
But Hudson calls it a marvelous first step.
Several majority members refuse to attend the joint caucus. They include Con
Bunde, Scott Ogan, John Coghill and Hugh Fate. Coghill says the meeting gives
the appearance that lawmakers are strategizing not against the other party, but
against Alaskans.
The caucus meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. today.
ANWR money approved by State Senate, but
reconsideration scheduled
The House measure granting Arctic Power about a million dollars to lobby
Congress on the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling
was approved on an initial 15 to 4 vote in the State Senate today.
It will be back before the body for another vote Friday on a resolution that
would allow amendment of the title to include marketing funds for the tourism
and salmon fishing industries.
Juneau Senator Kim Elton argued for the inclusion of those additional funds.
Elton said its appropriate to recognize the need of the oil industry to operate
in ANWR. But he argued for a package that deals with all economic sectors, as
proposed by Governor Knowles.
Elton moved to amend the bill, but it was ruled out of order by Senate President
Rick Halford since it requires a title change resolution. Halford said he had no
problem on reaching a vote on the question, so the bill was reconsidered for
another vote during Friday's session when the resolution will be introduced.
Bush calls for energy independence in
State of Union, but ANWR not mentioned
President Bush called on Congress during his State of the Union Address last
night to increase energy production at home so America is less dependent on
foreign oil.
Bush never specifically mentioned the debate on whether to open the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
Senator Frank Murkowski says he didn't mind since the president has done so
enough times recently that everyone knew what he meant when he called for more
domestic energy production.
Senator Ted Stevens says he saw more bipartisan enthusiasm during last night's
speech than he has in years.
Bid accepted by hospital board for
renovation project
The executive committee of the Bartlett Regional Hospital's Board of Directors
has accepted a bid for work to renovate the Medical Arts Building as part its
Project 2005 campaign.
Hospital Administrator Bob Valliant says the apparent low bidder is Northwest
Pacific Erectors of Juneau. He says the company's bid of about $800,000 was
below their estimate by approximately $40,000.
The proposal will now be submitted to the Juneau Assembly for its consideration
and approval.
New traffic light begins in flashing
mode
A new traffic light has been installed at the Anka Street and Old Glacier
Highway intersection to control the increased volume of traffic through the
area.
Pat Kemp of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities says
there's been quite a bit of reconfiguration of the intersection. It's been
changed from a "T" type to a four way traffic lighted intersection.
And island and sidewalk work has also been involved.
The total cost of the project is about $500,000 The department authorized the
light to begin operating in flash mode last Friday. Additional testing is
ongoing.
Pipeline shooter trial delayed
The trial of a man charged with shooting a hole in the trans-Alaska oil pipeline
has been postponed.
Superior Court Judge Ralph Beistline yesterday agreed to postpone the trial of
Daniel Carson Lewis until September 23rd. The trial was originally scheduled to
begin this week.
Lewis is charged with shooting the pipeline October fourth, causing a leak of
285-thousand gallons of crude oil. He's facing state felony charges of criminal
mischief, assault and drunken driving as well as misdemeanor charges of oil
pollution and weapons misconduct. In addition, he faces a federal firearms
charge.
Beistline did not rule on a motion to suppress statements Lewis made to Alaska
State Troopers immediately after his arrest. A hearing on that motion is
scheduled for March 11th.
Texas escapees have Alaska connections
Authorities in Alaska have been alerted to keep on the lookout for escaped
convicts from Texas.
The four men who escaped late Monday night from a jail in Montague, Texas, have
relatives and friends in Alaska. Officials say the four may have split up and
fled after escaping.
Two of the men were serving life sentences for the 1996 murder of a 16-year-old
Oklahoma cheerleader. The other two inmates were charged with killing an elderly
couple in Texas.
Coast Guard plans beefed up patrols to
safeguard Valdez terminal
Fishermen and tourists will see armed Coast Guard boats patrolling the waters of
Prince William Sound this summer.
The Coast Guard established security zones in the Port of Valdez and Valdez
Narrows to protect the Alyeska marine terminal and tankers after the September
terrorist attacks. The fishing and tourism seasons had pretty well wrapped up at
the time the increased security was put in place.
Coast Guard officials say they plan to shrink the security zone to accommodate
fishermen and tour operators this spring. But they say things will still be very
different from the way they were before the terrorist attacks.
Coast Guard Lieutenant Keith Ropella says the Coast Guard is mapping out new
security zones that will become permanent in the next six months. Ropella says
the agency is trying to strike a good balance between security and use of the
port.
Hotel tax hike requested in Anchorage
A group promoting construction of a new convention center in Anchorage has asked
the city Assembly to put an increase in the hotel tax before voters.
The ballot measure would increase the hotel tax from the current eight percent
to twelve percent. The money would help pay for bonds that would finance the
proposed 100 million dollar convention center.
The group, Anchorage Convention and Civic Center Yes, is funded by hotels and
other groups. The Assembly would have to approve a hotel tax ordinance February
12th to get it on the April second municipal ballot.
Oil company project budget to remain
about the same
Unocal Alaska says its 2002 capital budget will keep pace with last year's
budget. The company says it plans to spend 80 million dollars this year.
That's about the same amount as last year, and up steeply from 35 million in
2000.
Juneau high school students to compete
home building contest in Atlanta
Five Juneau Douglas High School students are headed to a national home building
construction competition in Atlanta, Georgia, next week.
They are part of the student chapter of the National Association of Home
Builders which is sponsoring the competition. Their instructor, Craig
Mapes. He described on KINY's Capital Chat this morning the problem
they've been assigned. It calls for a design of a Habitat for Humanity home at
just over a thousand square feet in size to be built in Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina.
The competition is scheduled for February 8th. Mapes says there are about 20
schools involved, including several two year college programs.
The students going to the competition include Sarah Croteau, Christina Perez,
Zoe Olson, Taryn Bachman, and Jordan Sanders.
His class completed construction of a home on Kanata Drive in the Valley which
sold last summer. Another home there is close to completion.
© Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News)