Oil tanker aground on Kenai Peninsula
An oil tanker that's described as nearly full loaded is aground on the Kenai Peninsula after breaking loose from its moorings.

She's the 574 foot Seabulk Pride, according to Paul Webb in the Coast Guard's Juneau Command Center.

Officials say plans are to try to refloat the tanker on tonight's high tide around 10 p.m.

Webb says the vessel was loading fuel at the Nikiski terminal when it was hit by an ice flow. It was able to break free and ended up on a gravel spit north of the moorings.

When the vessel broke free from its mooring, Webb says they were loading a light oil on board.  He says about three barrels spilled on to the vessel when the spring arm at the facility broke loose.  Another two or three barrels went into the water at the terminal.  He says  less than 100 gallons went into the inlet.

Inspections done so far has not come up with water in any of the tanks or any oil seen outside the ship.  So Webb says it appears the vessel is intact.

A check of the company's web site indicates the Seabulk Pride is doubled hulled. It has a carrying capacity of 342-thousand barrels of oil. It is owned by Seabulk Tankers, Incorporated of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Tugs were sent to help the stranded tanker. No injuries were reported.

The Coast Guard was notified a few minutes after six this morning. The incident occurred about a half hour earlier. 

Feds search charter flight company and arrest man on explosives charge
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Federal authorities raided a charter flight company today (Thursday) that's linked to the fatal crash of a military-style jet in Ketchikan.

Authorities also arrested a company associate on a weapons charge.

F-B-I officials say 37-year-old Robert Kane is linked to Security Aviation Incorporated. He is charged with failing to register an explosive device -- in this case a rocket pod launcher.

Federal agents searched the company's Anchorage operations and a hangar in Palmer.

They also searched the office of Anchorage attorney Mark Avery, the sole shareholder of Security Aviation.

Officials are saying little about the case -- and charging documents filed against Kane in federal court are sealed.

But officials say the arrest and searches have no connection to the January 25th crash of a Czech-made Albatros L39.

F-B-I agent Eric Gonzalez says the plane was among several ordered by Security Aviation for possible purchase.

Alaska flight runs into trouble in Yakutat, cart bumps plane in Anchorage
Alaska Airlines Flight 66 from Anchorage headed southbound ran into trouble when landing in Yakutat last evening. (Wednesday)

Airline Official Amada Tobin says after the aircraft landed on the runway, it moved over to one side of the runway and then back to the center line.

She says they discovered the left engine was not properly functioning.

As a result, she says there was some damage to the right engine cowling area. It appeared that it may have made contact with one or more of the elevated runway lights.

An eye witness says the jet landed in a snow squall. Tobin says the information she has indicates there was light snow at the time. She says they did cancel a Yakutat flight later that night due to the snowy weather conditions.

There were no injuries reported.

Flight 66's stops in Juneau and Seattle were cancelled and passengers were forced to spend the night in Yakutat.

There was a problem on the ground in Anchorage Wednesday for Flight 64 from Anchorage to Juneau.

A vendor was preparing to put water on the aircraft when the cart made contact with the aircraft.

Tobin says the inspection did find a small amount of minor damage, a little bit of scuffed paint. The aircraft was found to be in fine condition to fly, says. "The biggest impact to passengers was that there was about a two hour delay."

In addition to Juneau, the flight had other stops in Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan before arriving in Seattle.

Juneau access final EIS released
The Alaska Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have released the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Juneau Access Improvements Project.

The preferred alternative is a road up the east side of Lynn Canal to Katzehin about 50 miles north of Juneau and about 18 miles from Skagway.

Shuttles will ferry vehicles and passengers to Haines and Skagway.

The proposed road will have to end before entering White Pass National Historic Landmark and Skagway.

The Highway Administration says roads cannot be constructed through the park because it's protected by the federal Transportation Act.

The original project, a road connecting Juneau and Skagway, was estimated to cost about 300 million dollars.

DOT officials say a shorter road will cut the cost by about 50 million dollars.

Highway Administration will issue a Record of Decision 30 days after publication of the notice in the Federal Register.

The Decision will summarize any mitigation measures that will be incorporated into the project.

Avalanche danger high in Juneau back country
A warning from the Southeast Alaska Avalanche Center today for Juneau residents.

Center director Bill Glude says there are quite a few human triggered and natural avalanches in Juneau's back country.

There were human triggered slides in the Mt. Stewart area near Eaglecrest Sunday. During their field work Monday, Glude says they saw natural avalanches.

So he says back country travelers should be extremely cautious. Any areas that effected by the wind are extremely unstable, he says.

He says its not a situation where there will be large avalanches rolling in to town or hitting the highways, but its definitely dangerous for back country travelers. 

Judge denies use of taped interview in Waterman trial
A point of contention in the murder trial of Rachelle Waterman in Juneau Superior Court today (Thursday) was a plan by prosecution to play the final interview Jason Arrant did with troopers.

Harriet Ryan of Court T-V reports that's the tape in which he said Waterman urged him to arrange her mother's murder and told him when her mother, Lauri Waterman, would be home.

Arrant was dismissed from the stand following his testimony Wednesday morning.

Defense Counsel Steve Wells that because Arrant's statements in the interview mirror what he said on the stand, it's cumulative evidence and hearsay because he's no longer on the stand. He says the state lost its chance when Arrant stepped down yesterday.

Judge Patricia Collins agreed with the defense objection.

The judge sent the jury out of the court room while the arguments were made on the defense objection.

The 17 year old Waterman is accused of asking Arrant and Brian Radel to kill her mother in November 2004.

Waterman's videotaped interview with State Troopers four days after her mother was killed was played in court this morning. (Thursday)

The testimony provided by Arrant and Radel has differed on the involvement of Waterman in the plot.

Radel said Waterman never told him that she wanted her mother dead. Arrant contends she was part of the plot.

Governor drops bulky spending request on Legislature
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Governor Murkowski is asking the Legislature to approve 294 million dollars from the state's general fund to supplement this year's budget.

That's almost 10 percent of the 3-point-1 billion dollars in general-fund spending the Legislature approved last year.

The Republican governor has filed three bills that ask for 164-point-6 million in state money to recoup rising and unanticipated costs by public agencies since last July.

Plus, Murkowski submitted a separate bill to spend 129-point-5 million dollars in state money for public works maintenance and construction projects.

The request brought immediate condemnation from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who say state spending is growing out of control in this time of high oil prices and budget surpluses.

Murkowski budget director Cheryl Frasca says legislators should look at each request. She says for the government to continue providing its current level of service, that is what it will cost.

Suspect arraigned in Anchorage fatality
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A 21-year-old man was arraigned in Anchorage for allegedly stealing a truck and then causing an accident, in which the father of three was killed.

Kristopher Felber faces eleven criminal counts. He was arraigned yesterday on a variety of charges, including second-degree murder, manslaughter, and vehicle theft in the death of 35-year-old Stephen Strain.

He also faces charges of eluding police, driving under the influence and driving without a license.

District Judge Sigurd Murphy set bail at 500-thousand dollars.
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Court papers show Felber first faced criminal charges when he was 10 years old, when he was charged with assault, theft and trespassing.

As an adult, he has been convicted of vehicle theft and drunken driving.

William Strain, the brother of Stephen Strain, told Felber yesterday in court that he ... quote ... ``took away a very good father of three.''
(Anchorage Daily News)

New oil tax pitched again, details still uncertain
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Details and a timeline are still unknown, but Governor Murkowski made another pitch to lawmakers Wednesday to restructure the state's oil production tax.

Murkowski's lead consultant, Pedro van Meurs, and Department of Revenue economist Roger Marks presented scenarios of how much more money the state would take in if it taxed the net profits of companies.

The tax rates examined were between 17-point-5 and 25 percent. In those scenarios, the state would take in between 1-point-1 billion and 2-point-6 billion dollars above what it does now when oil is at 60 dollars per barrel.

Both van Meurs and Senate President Ben Stevens (an Anchorage Republican) say the rates presented are not necessarily what would be proposed in a bill. Van Meurs called it background information meant to help lawmakers' deliberations.
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A net profits tax would be based on oil companies' gross production revenue from their wellheads, minus their capital and operating expenses, royalties and property taxes.

Murkowski has said he wants to see a bill introduced this session, but has not said when. It also is not known whether the governor will introduce the bill or whether it will come from a legislative committee or an individual lawmaker.

Judge sentences Juneau man for importing oxycontin
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a Juneau man has been sentenced for importing the prescription drug oxycontin.

Forty-eight-year-old Kevin Burke was sentenced yesterday to six and a half years in prison plus three years of supervised release.

Burke also pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He forfeited ten guns and 77-hundred dollars in cash.

Acting U-S Attorney Deborah Smith says it's the longest sentence handed out for importing illegal, addictive pain medication.

Prosecutors say Burke imported more than eight-thousand oxycontin pills from Canada from August 2001 through last July.

Prosecutors say he was stopped by Royal Canadian Mounted Police trying to fill multiple prescriptions using false identification.

Stevens says earmarks do not need reforming
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Senator Ted Stevens says there is no need for earmark reform.

What is needed, the senator says, is a better public understanding of how the process works.

Stevens made his statements yesterday in reaction to President Bush mentioning earmark reform in his State of the Union speech this week.

Politicians are increasingly demanding changes in the way lawmakers each year add projects to national spending bills to benefit their home states. Stevens has been particularly good at earmarking (B) billions of dollars for Alaska.

In his speech, Bush called for a line-item veto to fix the problem.

Stevens says it is Congress' job to write the spending bills. He says a line-item veto by the president would be unconstitutional.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Lady Bears win first game of road trip
The Juneau Douglas  Lady Crimson Bears are on the road in the Mat-Su  Borough this week.

The Lady Bears defeated Wasilla in double overtime yesterday [Wednesday] 62 to 61.

Coach Leslie Knight says Talisa Rhea and Lexi Garvey had 16 points, and Veronica Lietz contributed 10 points.

The Lady Bears play Colony today. [Thursday]

WISEWOMAN program celebrates health hearts
The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium's WISEWOMAN program is celebrating National Heart Month this month. 

SEARHC's Gail Waltzer says the goal is to improve the cardio-vascular health of women.

She says heart disease is the number one killer for women in Alaska and the United States.

She says the focus is on Southeast Alaska Native Women who are beneficiaries of SEARHC between the ages of 30 and 64.

Waltzer say they'll screen for heart disease risk factors like total cholesterol, blood pressure, height, weight, waist measurement and glucose levels.

She says they focus on the top four risk factors for cardio-vascular disease; managing stress, physical fitness, eating patterns and smoking.

After women are screened in their initial enrollment, they're offered programs to keep them motivated.  They include weight training, cooking classes, one on one goal consulting, tobacco cessation counseling, and discounts for the swimming pool and yoga classes.

Friday is National Wear Red Day. On that day, women are encouraged to wear red to show your pledge to take care of your heart.

All the different WISEWOMAN sites are having events to encourage women to be aware of their heart health.

During a luncheon in Juneau, a woman with a history of heart disease will speak about her experiences at the SEARHC Clinic conference room.

The Juneau WISEWOMAN program will supply greens and grains, while participants should bring red foods such as red apples, red beans, red raspberries and red salmon.

For more information on the Juneau lunch, contact Gail Waltzer at 364-4451.

For details in other SEARHC communities, call 1-888-388-8782.