PFD plans criticized by
former governor
Jay Hammond testifies before lawmakers
A conservative Republican plan for a constitutional amendment requiring a
vote of Alaskans before the Permanent Fund Dividend is altered has not won
the endorsement of former Governor Jay Hammond. Hammond testified to a joint
meeting of the Senate Judiciary and State Affairs Committees this 
morning.
He voiced concern about what would happen if the proposal was rejected by
the voters with no back-up plans. He also worried that it wouldn't have a
catastrophic escape clause provision. He called it restrictive. Hammond
counseled avoiding such a system if the goal can be accomplished through a
simpler approach. Hammond (left) also dismissed the proposal to close out the dividend
forever after issuing a $25,000 check to every eligible Alaskan. Hammond
suggested that what might work in its place is a system that would allow
people to borrow $25,000, paid off with their future dividends. He talked to
the sponsor, Craig Senator Jerry Mackie, and told him that rather than a
slice of the golden goose, it might prove to be nothing more than fumes from
wild turkey. Hammond talked about other possible revenue enhancers including
bringing back a state income tax with exemptions for residents. He argued
against the elimination of the state income tax when he was in office and
suggested that it simply be suspended instead and resurrected if needed
again in the future.
Charter boat IFQs?
Charter boat operators have introduced a last-minute proposal to create
individual fishing quotas for their fleet. The quotas are offered as an
alternative to a guideline harvest limit on
halibut to be considered by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in
Anchorage next week. Mike Bethers, executive director of the Alaska
Sportfish Council, says IFQs would give sport guides control of their own
destiny. Bethers and Bob Ward, who owns a Homer charter company, submitted
the new option to the council yesterday.
Ketchikan says no to head
tax
For the second time in less than a month, the Ketchikan City Council has
turned thumbs-down on a head tax for cruise-ship passengers. Last night's
vote was 4 to 3 to not put a cruise tax measure before voters in the October
city election. In January, the council voted against enacting a $5 head tax
itself. Councilman Tom Coyne has been pushing the cruise-ship head tax idea,
saying growth in the cruise industry in Alaska has created financial burdens
the city must bear. Juneau has already adopted a $5 cruise-ship
passenger taxe. Opponents of the tax idea say they don't want to do
anything to threaten Ketchikan's tourism industry, which already provides
the city with significant sales tax revenue. After Juneau voters passed a
cruise ship passenger fee last October, Princess Cruises responded by saying
it would spend less time docked in Juneau and more time in Ketchikan.
BP, Arco dive on Wall
Street
Shares
of BP-Amoco and Arco are taking a beating in the stock market this week.
Traders are responding to the Federal Trade Commission's opposition to the
BP-Amoco/Atlantic Richfield merger. The BP-Amoco share price closed under
$50 in New York. That's down more than 5.5 percent today alone. BP-Amoco
shares traded at about $55 a share the day before the FTC announced it would
oppose the Arco deal. So since Tuesday, the BP share price is down around 10
percent. Arco shares fared better today, but still they were down another 2
percent at $68 and change. But Arco shares are still down more than 12
percent this week alone because of the FTC intervention.
The cruel among us
Some cold-hearted scam artists set up a website after Monday's Alaska
Airlines crash Monday off California -- trying to get the credit card
numbers of people interested in contributing to a fund for the families of
the 88 crash victims. A spokesman for the Seattle-based airline, Brian Petro,
says the page's Internet host removed the website Wednesday at the airline's
request. He says no one has called the airline to report being victimized.
Windows 2000 team visits
Juneau
Microsoft sent several of its representatives to Juneau for Comtech 2000 to
preview the new, much anticipated operating system for business, Windows
2000, which will be officially launched on February 17th. Software
Developer Adam Barr (left in photo),
who has worked on the new OS for the past 3 years, and Technical Specialist
Anthony Natoniewski (right in photo)
were guests on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. The pair is also presenting
workshops on Windows 2000 at Comtech today. They told listeners this morning
that the focus of Windows 2000 will be on business, and it is not a
replacement for home users who are running Windows 98. Said Barr, "If
you're happy with Windows 98, and it does what you want on your home
computer, you probably don't need to move to Windows 2000." The new
operating system will replace Windows NT 4.x in the business and networking
environment.
Official expects high
failure rate on new exams
The educator helping to design Alaska's high school qualifying exam says he
expects a high failure rate when the test is administered next month. Nick
Stayrook told members of two legislative committees yesterday that the test
is designed to cover subject areas seniors should know before they leave
school. Sophomores will be taking the test in about 5 weeks.
Get your fishing license
online
Governor Knowles inaugurated the Fish and Game Department's online licensing
system today by purchasing his sport fishing license over the Internet.
Online applications will be 
processed
as they come in and the licenses mailed out within two business days,
according to the department. Fish and Game processes about 680,000 licenses,
tags, and stamps each year. Under the current licensing system, it can take
up to 4 months to enter new material into a database. The new Internet
system creates the on-line data file immediately. Have a credit card ready
and go to the ADF&G website to obtain your 2000 license here.
Cops looking for stolen
handgun
A theft of a handgun is the focus Crime Line this week. Juneau Police
received the report of the theft from an unlocked vehicle in the Valley on
January 4th. The stainless steel 38 caliber handgun is described as a Rossi
M-88. It's a 5-shot with a 2-inch barrel. The gun is valued at $200. Anyone
with information is encouraged to contact Juneau Police or Crime Line. The
Crime Line number is 586-4243. Callers may remain anonymous and still be
eligible for a cash reward.
Da Bears...
The homecoming week opponent for the JDHS men's basketball squad this
weekend is North Pole. Tip off tonight and Saturday is 8:00pm. The games
will be broadcast by KINY Radio, and can be heard live here.
The women Crimson Bears host Colony this weekend with those games beginning
at 6:15 tonight and Saturday. The women are now ranked 4th in the state.
Colony is 10th in the latest poll.
Boozer hits hot hoops
Former JDHS Basketball star Carlos Boozer (right) was Duke's hero in last night's overtime win against North
Carolina. Boozer scored 7 points in overtime to lead the Blue Devils to the
90 to 86 win.
Students shadow
USCG
Some Juneau-area high school students took their classrooms into
the community Wednesday and Thursday with the Coast Guard to learn
about various career opportunities in
the transportation field. Four
students visited Coast Guard Station Juneau and the Coast Guard Buoy
Deck, a dining facility, to learn and
perform skills used by Coast Guard men and
women, while others shadowed Coast Guard 
employees
at the federal building
here. (In photo at left, Petty Officer Will Ray distributes tools and parts to Juneau-Douglas High School Seniors Justin Roberts and John Magalotti at Coast Guard Station Juneau during Groundhog Job Shadow Day
activities.) Seniors John Magalotti
and Justin Roberts worked alongside Coast Guard Petty Officers
Will Ray, Ryan Savage and Fireman Patrick Hernandez to complete
assembly on the station's utility
vehicle. "I'm taking
a small engine course now, so this type of work with these guys
seems like a lot of fun," said
Magalotti. Junior R.L.
Workman assisted cook Manuel Macias at the Buoy Deck on Egan Drive
as they prepared ready-to-order meals for lunch today. Workman said
he's interested in a culinary arts
career. Feb. 2 (Groundhog
Day) is Groundhog Job Shadow Day, sponsored by Junior Achievement,
America's Promise, National School-to-Work Opportunities Office
and the American Society of Association
Executives. The Coast Guard, Federal Aviation
Agency and Federal Highway Administration will be working with
students throughout the state.
Additionally, these Department of Transportation
agencies will continue to offer job shadowing opportunities throughout
the year.
(Captions
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Photographers/Public Information
Officers:
KINY is actively soliciting photos of timely local news
events. Please email us for details.
