Click here for the best computer you can buy
Juneau Daily News Online

Wednesday, February 3, 1999  © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News

Duncan may join Knowles Administration
   GOP legislators might object
Former Juneau Senator Jim Duncan (left) is being considered by the Knowles Administration for a position as Special Assistant to the Administration Commissioner in charge of Labor Negotiations, but majority republican lawmakers may have objections. Duncan vacated his Senate seat last year to run against Congressman Don Young. Duncan was under consideration for the recent vacancies in the Governor's Cabinet, but that wasn't possible since the salaries of those positions were increased while he served in the Legislature. In those cases, one year must go by before a lawmaker can be appointed. The position now under consideration would be a new position. Union officials contacted by News of the North last week confirmed that the Governor was considering Duncan for the post. Administration officials were hesitant to go on record then until they ran it by legislative leaders.

Central Dup workers to get back-pay
An arbitrator has issued a supplemental decision on the state's shut down of Central Duplication in Juneau last year. The decision awards back-pay ranging from two thousand to 97-hundred dollars to the workers. Eleven of the twelve workers were re-employed in other state jobs following the shut down of the facility last year. One opted to resign. They were re-employed at the salary level of their Central Duplication jobs, but the arbitrator also ruled in this latest decision that the higher rate of pay will end June 30. The positions of the state and union were submitted to the arbitrator following failure to resolve the pay issue.

Majority seeks wage freeze for unions
A dozen contracts with state unions are up this year, and the Senate wants negotiators to take a tough stand on pay increases. Department of Administration officials presented an overview of employee negotiations to the Senate Finance Committee this morning. Co-Chairman Sean Parnell of Anchorage said afterward negotiators should not expect the committee to back pay increases. The Anchorage Republican says legislative approval of pay increases would be nearly impossible to obtain. The state faces an estimated one-point-four (b) billion dollar difference between expected spending and earnings this year.

Loescher pushes ahead with new capitol building proposal
The effort to to raise funds to build a new capitol building in Juneau was updated on KINY's Capital Chat today. Sealaska President and CEO Bob Loescher (left) announced that plan prior to the first of the year. He says the initial thrust will be made in the private sector before contacting local and state government officials. Juneau voters rejected a proposal to bond for construction of a new capitol building several years ago. Two measures are now in the legislative hopper calling for the relocation of sessions to Anchorage.

NOAA facility funds in Clinton budget
President Clinton has included money for the NOAA facility at Lena Point in his budget, according to Juneau Mayor Dennis Egan, who calls it a positive sign even though the project may be scaled back slightly. The President's plan calls for a one million appropriation in Fiscal Year 2000. If that spending is approved, Egan says design of the fisheries research center could begin this summer. Clinton is also proposing 15 million dollars in F-Y 2001 and 20 million in F-Y 2002 for the facility.

Snowstorm evaporates, snow removal underway
The big snow that was forecasted to amount to between 10 to 15 inches by morning is now off. The National Weather Service downgraded its storm warning for heavy snow to an advisory before noon. Three to five inches are now expected by evening, with just occasional snow tonight and showers tomorrow. The man in charge of state road crews in Juneau and Southeast says the plowing of sidewalks along Egan Drive is not his top priority. Complaints were registered about the sidewalks at Tuesday night's meeting of the Juneau Assembly. Bob Martin, the Regional Director for the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, says his goal is to preserve budget dollars to keep main roadways open. He says they'll get to the sidewalks (left) when they can. They were cleared yesterday.

Internet traffic jam may be alleviated
If all goes according to plan, Alaska will have a much larger pipe to the Internet and other telecommunications services beginning tomorrow (Thursday). Long distance telephone company General Communications is set to turn on a fiber optic cable that links Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau to Seattle.

New high school plan is focus of forum tonight
The fourth in a series of eight public forums on the proposed high school plan is scheduled for this evening at the Dzantik'l Middle School. School district officials are asking residents to comment on the proposal that calls for a new school at Dimond Park and the remodeling of the current facility. The forum begins at seven.

(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)

Photographers/Public Information Officers:
We are actively soliciting photos of timely local news events. Please email us for details.