Bill honoring Susan Butcher approved by House
A measure fast tracked in the Legislature that passed the House today establishes the first Saturday of every March as Susan Butcher Day.

The date coincides with the traditional start date of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Butcher won four Iditarods. She passed away last August at the age of 51 after battling leukemia.

House Bill 37 was approved 38 to zero and sent to the Senate.

Butcher will also be among the first inductees to the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame during its inaugural induction February 23rd.

Police tracking down burglary suspect, more burglaries reported
Juneau police are looking for a suspect in a string of burglaries.

So far this month there have been about a dozen residential burglaries from downtown to about 19 mile of the Glacier Highway.

Sergeant Paul Hatch says the targeted homes are burglarized during the daytime hours and  are generally hidden from public view by shrubbery or are not visible from a public road.  Most have been unlocked.

During the investigation, police found that medication, lap top computers, cash, and easily carried small electronic devices are being taken.

Witnesses have described a possible suspect as a dark complected male in his late teens or early twenties, about five foot nine with a thin to moderate build and black hair.

After he's spotted by citizens, the suspect leaves the area without a confrontation

Juneau police are reminding residents to lock their doors when away and to be alert to suspicious people in their neighborhoods.

Sergeant Hatch says they are pursuing leads in the case.  Anyone with information  is encouraged to call the department at 586-0600.

Meanwhile, two more burglaries were reported to Juneau Police Tuesday.

One was on La Perouse Avenue in the airport area. Entry was gained through a dog door in the rear of the home. Power tools were among the items taken.

The other came on Lund Street in the Lemon Creek area. Electronics were taken from that unlocked house.

Icy roads cause several traffic accidents
Slippery roads have contributed to at least three traffic accidents today (Wednesday).

Two rollovers earlier in the morning near the Pioneer's Home resulted in minor injuries in one case.

There was a report of a car on its side on Loop near Grant Street just before Noon.

One woman was in the car which was totaled.

She was transported to the hospital for evaluation of her injuries, according to police.   

Judge refuses to stop wolf control program
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A judge today denied a request to put a stop to an Alaska program that allows wolves to be shot from the air.

The request was made as part of a lawsuit filed by Defenders of Wildlife, The Alaska Wildlife Alliance and the Alaska chapter of the Sierra Club.

The wolf control program -- intended to boost moose and caribou populations -- is now operating in five areas of the state.

Under the program, now in its fourth year, 580 wolves have been killed.

Superior Court Judge William Morse denied the preliminary injunction.

However, he said, if the plaintiffs wanted they could ask for a trial.

Defenders of Wildlife said it was weighing its option.

New slogan chosen for Anchorage
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Anchorage officials have unveiled the city's new branding campaign.

The goal is to make Anchorage more enticing to visitors and businesses. The slogan chosen was ``Anchorage, Big Wild Life.''

Officials say whether skiing the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail on a lunch hour, summer fishing for wild Alaska salmon at Ship Creek or hiking Flattop, Anchorage residents lead a life that's bigger and a little wilder than most.

New study shows Exxon Valdez oil persists off Alaska coast
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A new report says lingering oil from the Exxon Valdez spill has weathered only slightly in some places almost 18 years later.

The 1989 spill was the nation's largest ever.

Research chemist Jeffrey Short with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other scientists worked on the report released today (Wednesday).

The report will be published in the February 15th edition of Environmental Science and Technology, the journal of the American Chemical Society.

Short says an estimated 85 tons of oil remaining at Prince William Sound is declining about four percent a year and likely even slower in the Gulf of Alaska.

He says samples taken from ten randomly chosen beaches show that thick, emulsified oil -- called ``oil mousse'' -- resists weathering and thus can be preserved in oxygen-containing sediments.

Mark Boudreaux -- a spokesman for Exxon Mobil Corporation -- says oil giant plans to closely review the study.

He says that based on an initial review of the findings, there is -- QUOTE -- ``nothing newsworthy or significant in the report that has not already been addressed.''

State transportation department orders materials for Lynn Canal Highway
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The state transportation department has ordered 20 million dollars worth of materials for construction of the Lynn Canal Highway.

Federal permits for the controversial project have not been issued yet.

The November order includes steel culverts for the road and concrete girders and steel pile pipe for bridges.

House Republican Bill Thomas of Haines says he is troubled that the state is spending money on a project that has not received a final go-ahead.

But D-O-T officials say that ordering the materials ahead of time will save the state time and money, allowing contractors to begin work quickly once the permits are in hand.

Governor Palin has written to the Army Corps of Engineers asking them to put the permits for the Juneau road on the front burner.

The proposed 50 mile highway would link Juneau and the northern Lynn Canal communities of Haines and Skagway via shuttle ferries from the Katzehin (CAT-zuh-HEEN) Delta across from Haines.

Review of new Tulsequah Chief Mine proposed requested
The Transboundary Watershed Alliance is calling for a review of a Canadian company's plan to use a barge to ship mineral concentrate, equipment and supplies to and from the Tulsequah Chief Mine.

Redfern Resources Limited wants to reopen the mine located in British Colombia along the Tulsequah River 13 miles upstream of the Taku River, 40 miles northeast of Juneau.

The Taku River crosses into Alaska from Canada and flows into Taku Inlet 10 miles south of Juneau.

Transboundary Watershed Alliance's Chris Zimmer says, because the proposal is so new and untested and goes through rich salmon habitat and fishing grounds, it needs an extensive review on both sides of the border.

He says they hope Governor Palin takes a look at the issue and communicates with the Canadian government to insure there is a proper review that includes all Juneau stakeholders including the public.

He says it's also time for an overall watershed plan for the Taku, involving both the Canadians and the United States that allows for development and also protects the fisheries and recreation opportunities.

Zimmer says the Alliance is trying to set up a meeting with Governor Palin, but understands she is busy these days.

He says they'd also be happy to meet with the Governor's staff because Redfern company officials are coming to Juneau next week.

Zimmer says the Alliance wants to make sure the new administration is armed with up to date accurate information and understands the concerns of the Juneau community.

A feasibility study commissioned by Redfern Resources recommends using the Taku River as the primary access and transportation route to the mine.

That would eliminate the need for the construction of a 100 mile long access road from Atlin, British Columbia.

The new plan calls for a six mile haul route down the Tulsequah River from the mine site to a barge landing site on the main stem of the Taku River.

An air cushion barge would be towed by an amphibious tug, operating year-round on the Taku River.

Juneau would be the shipping hub for equipment and supplies.

Socked-in governor goes to school
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) - Governor Sarah Palin had planned to meet with Exxon officials Tuesday in Juneau, but her plane landed in Ketchikan instead because of poor weather.

Palin spent the day reading aloud to children at Houghtaling Elementary School. She also answered questions about the governor's job and talked to them about the importance of reading at home.

Other air travelers, including 14 members of the Legislature, were also rerouted from socked-in Juneau.

Palin says she'll soon learn more about Exxon.

She did express some frustration about the giant oil corporation, saying ``Their mode of operation is just litigation'' on every issue up for negotiation.

Palin said she remains very confident regarding proposed ethics reform in the Legislature and in the executive branch.
(Ketchikan Daily News)

Sidney Sheldon's visit to Juneau remembered
Sidney Sheldon is being remembered warmly in Juneau.

The author of best-selling novels, who was also known for award-winning achievements on stage, screen and television, has died at the age of 89.

Judy Bowler is the owner of "A Cozy Log Bed and Breakfast."

She says Sheldon and his wife visited here on a cruise in 2000.

Sheldon wanted to include Juneau in the book he was writing at the time, "The Sky Is Falling."

There was a missing person involved in his story, so Sheldon made contact with Judy's husband, Bruce, who leads the SEADOGS here.

Judy escorted them around town so he could see places that he wanted to incorporated into his book.

Judy, Bruce and their dog "May Day" were included in that chapter of the book by name.

Sheldon's book came out a year after that visit to Juneau. She and her son at lunch at their home in California after the book came out. He signed several copies of the book for them.

The action in the book was set at Eaglecrest, Hanger at the Wharf, the Prospector, and Bowler's bed and breakfast among other locations.

Central New York community mourns fallen soldier
CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) - A 25-year-old Army private abducted and executed in a surprise attack in Iraq is being mourned today during funeral services in his upstate New York community.

Private First Class Shawn Falter and three other soldiers were killed last week after being taken by gunmen disguised as Americans from a provincial police headquarters in Karbala, Iraq.

Falter was an infantryman stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage.

His funeral is being held at Grace Christian Fellowship Church in Cortland, New York. Falter grew up in the neighboring town of Homer.

Hundreds of mourners attended viewing hours last night for the fallen soldier.

A 1999 graduate of Homer High School near Cortland, Falter enlisted in the Army in 2005, following his three older brothers into the military.

Crude edges higher
LONDON (AP) - Oil prices are on the rebound, a day after crude fell more than a dollar a barrel.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Saudi Arabia has told its customers it will cut supply by another 158-thousand barrels a day, beginning February first.

Traders have been closely monitoring reports about how many OPEC members are complying with output goals. That and cold weather, which has settled in to the northeastern U-S, are cited for sending crude prices higher.

Light, sweet crude for March delivery rose 31 cents to 54 dollars, 32 cents a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange in Europe.

Appointment announced to oil and gas industry watchdog panel
Governor Palin has reappointed a woman to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission who was initially appointed to fill out an unexpired term.

Cathy Foerster was initially appointed to the three member commission in March 2005 to fill out the term of Randy Ruedrich, the chair of the Alaska Republican Party, who resigned.

Foerster has 30 years of oil industry experience. 

Gold Medal includes new bracket this year
The 61st annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament sponsored by the Juneau Lions Club is scheduled for March 25th through the 31st.

Club members and tournament officials were guests on Capital Chat this (Wednesday) morning.

Tournament Co-Chair Edward Hotch said there's a new bracket this year.

The Masters is for men 41 and older.

The four teams in the new bracket this year will be Angoon, Klawock, Yakutat and Juneau Green Team.

The four Intermediate teams, ages 18 to 23, include Angoon, Kake, Yakutat, and Juneau UAS.

The "B" Bracket lineup, 18 and up, consists of Haines, Metlakatla, Kake, Hydaburg, Sitka, Hoonah, Yakutat and Angoon.

The "C" Bracket teams, 32 and up, are Kake, Hoonah, Klukwan, Angoon, Sitka, Hydaburg, Yakutat, and Metlakatla. The age for this bracket was dropped from 35 years old.

The Women's Bracket, which is 18 years old and up, includes Anchorage, Prince of Wales, Sitka, and Metlakatla

Tickets will go on sale later and when they do they'll be available at Hearthside Books. The price is the same as last year.

Residents of the villages can place their order over the telephone when they go on sale. 

Stevens proposing limits on Web traffic in schools and libraries
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Web content on computers in schools or libraries could be restricted under a bill proposed by Alaska Senator Ted Stevens.

The legislation is intended to shield children from online predators and sexually explicit sites.

The building blocks of the bill have been proposed before to opposition from some free speech advocates. And a nearly identical bill stalled in the Senate last year.

One provision would require schools and libraries that get certain federal funding to block or limit access to social networking Web sites, including the popular MySpace, Facebook and Friendster.

The wide-ranging bill also proposes stiffer penalties for failure to report child pornography and would require Web sites to label sexually explicit material.

Critics have said such legislation is unconstitutional and question whether it would actually control pornographers.

Stevens' staff members said the bill is a work in progress and they are gathering input from potential critics, as well as industry and family groups.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Deep snow complicates life for Alaska's urban moose
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The snow piling up in Anchorage this winter is making life more difficult for the moose around Alaska's largest city.

More of them are choosing major roads, plowed sidewalks and groomed trails to avoid the massive cushion of snow in neighborhoods and greenbelts left by storms that dumped almost 76 inches in the past month.

Moose are even showing up downtown.

State wildlife biologist Rick Sinnott says it's not that the animals enjoy interacting with people, traffic and dogs.
But they don't want to walk through deep snow either.

Some 130 moose can die in a normal winter from car collisions.

But with more moose on the roads, Gary Olson of the Alaska Moose Federation is afraid there could be two or three times the usual number of casualties with the snowiest months still ahead.

                       Copyright ©2007 Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio)