Child seriously injured in North Douglas Highway accident
A two car accident closed North Douglas Highway for about two and half hours this evening. (Tuesday)

A passenger in one of the cars, a five year-old girl, was seriously injured in the accident and has been flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The accident occurred just after 7 p.m. near the 5000 block of North Douglas Highway.

The highway was closed as police investigated the accident.

When more details become available this story will be updated.

Palin budget calls for reduced current year spending
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Governor Sarah Palin is calling for $268 million in spending cuts this fiscal year because of low oil prices

Palin submitted her supplemental budget to lawmakers today (Tuesday) calling for the budget reductions this year.

Legislators claim most of cuts aren't reductions at all.

A majority of that sum - $200 million - is actually unrealized tax credits for companies investing in oil and gas development in the state being returned to the treasury.

House Finance Committee Co-chairman Mike Hawker, an Anchorage Republican, says that's not a savings.

Palin last year requested a total $400 million to cover the tax refunds in this fiscal year but only half of those will be processed and paid this year.

Palin budget director Karen Rehfeld says the budget reductions are meant to reduce the amount they will ultimately have to draw from state reserves.

Palin is also seeking approval from lawmakers to tap those budget reserves.

The projected spending deficit is $1.65 billion - up more than $1 billion from estimates just two months ago.

Palin's reductions will lower the shortfall to $1.3 billion.

Budget experts say next year's shortfall could be as much as $3 billion dollars if oil prices don't rally.

Interim state revenue forecast released adjusting for drop in price of oil
Projected state revenue for fiscal year 2009 is now forecast to be $1.2 Billion less than outlined in the Fall revenue forecast.

That's according to an interim revenue forecast  compiled in January and released today by the Alaska Department of Revenue.

The department is  now projecting unrestricted revenue for FY '09 at $5.5 Billion.

The forecast is based on an oil price of $37.47 for the third quarter and $43.76 for the fourth quarter.

Governor Palin based his budget submission to the Legislature based on a price of over $75 a barrel.

A department release says production levels are relatively unchanged, falling about 3,000 barrels a day from the Fall 2008 forecast.

Commissioner Pat Galvin and Chief Economist Cherie Nienhuis will provide additional information during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee Thursday morning.

Snowy roads spur accidents
There was a multi vehicle accident inbound on Egan Drive at the Retaining Wall near DIPAC this morning. (Tuesday)

The call came in to Police at about 6:50. 

Captain Ed Quinto of Capital City Fire Rescue says it was a four vehicle accident.

One person was transported to the hospital, but Quinto says that person's injuries were not serious.

The scene was cleared by about 7-40.

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There was also a two vehicle accident on Calhoun Avenue downtown by the Governor's Mansion just before eight.

It was reportedly a damage only accident.

Police told  us early this morning that road conditions were very treacherous.  

New Juneau Harbormaster on board starting in March
The City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors Department has hired a new Harbormaster.

Phil Benner was selected from a field of twenty candidates and will start work on March 2nd.

He's been the Harbormaster for the Haines Borough for the past two years.

Prior to that job, Benner worked as a senior harbor officer for Kodiak Harbors.

He retired from the U.S Navy in 2004 after several tours in the Persian Gulf.

Consultant: Snettisham lines will never be risk free
The Juneau Assembly last night (Monday) heard an update on the avalanche mitigation issues regarding the Snettisham hydro-power lines.

Alaska Electric, Light and Power General Manager Tim McCloud said there were only three areas in the state that had lower average rates than Juneau this past year and that includes the cost of diesel.

He  said the utility wants to make sufficient investment in the line to mitigate or dissolve the danger of an avalanche, but not an excessive investment that causes rates to rise higher than they would otherwise.

AEL&P has hired consulting engineer Delbert LaRue to study the avalanche problem.

LaRue told the Assembly there are nine potential avalanche chutes along the line and "there's no one magic bullet" that's going to fix the problem.

He said the line is in a very difficult place and it's not ever going to be risk free.

LaRue said other  utilities around the world have come up with several measures including concrete wedges built around foundations, very heavily engineered transmission wires, and massive, so called super towers.

He said there's a concept called "design failure sequence" which means, save as much of line as possible when an avalanche inevitably occurs.

He said that would make repairs quicker and less expensive.

LaRue said  a land cable probably would not be a solution because they're required to be buried and that's not feasible due to the mountain's hard rock.

He added the cable's 45 mile length makes a underwater cable technically unfeasible due to electrical engineering principals.

LaRue said there's none in the world that long.

Repairs to the Snettisham line were completed Sunday and hydro power restored at 5:05 p.m.

Juneau electric rate payers will face a one month period of higher rates
Alaska Electric, Light and Power is now working up the final numbers on the cost of diesel fuel during the three week period the Snettisham line was out of commission.

That number will be submitted to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska for permission to impose a fuel surcharge, or emergency cost of power adjustment, on electric bills.

Right now that charge is estimated at 15 cents per kilowatt hour. That will be tacked on to the regular rate of just under ten cents per kilowatt hour.

The utility's Scott Willis said on Capital Chat Monday that everyone will have one high bill at an estimated 25 cents per kilowatt hour at this point.

But the billing periods vary since meters are read on every day of the month.

Willis says its important for customers to know when their high billing period will be since that's when their conservation effort will make a direct difference on their bill.

He explains that there's a table on their web site where customers can look up their billing period. All they need is their A-E-L and P account number to determine when they'll be billed at the higher rate.

The web site address  is www.aelp.com 

Like it did following last Spring's avalanches that shut down the line, Willis says utility will work with customers needing more time to pay the higher bill, including levelizing the extra charge over a one year period of time.

Assembly approves funds for swimming pool's ground heat pump and resistance channel
The Assembly has unanimously approved funds for a ground source heat pump system and a resistance swimming channel for the Dimond Park pool.

The Assembly is transferring about $2 million dollars in sales tax money into the CBJ Sustainability Fund.

About $1 million will go for the ground source heat pump and $400,000 will go for the resistance channel.

According to consultant hired by the city, the heat pump should save about $200,000 a year in heating costs for the facility.  That savings will be placed back into the CBJ Sustainability Fund.

CBJ Manager Rod Swope stressed during the meeting that the money going into the fund won't be profits.  He said, as is the case with most swimming pools, the Dimond Park pool will never make a profit.

Swope said the $200,000 going back into the CBJ Sustainability Fund every year will be CBJ general fund monies.

The Sustainability Fund money could be used for other projects that the Assembly deems qualify for funding.

Contract for Public works facility and money for Thunder High auditorium okayed
The Assembly last night (Monday) approved a bid award for the new CBJ consolidated public works facility.

North Pacific Erectors, Inc. submitted the low bid of $4,934,701.

The engineer's estimate is $5,807,915.

Three additive alternates costing $500,000 will be included, bringing the total bid award to $5,401,258.

That amount is still below the engineer's estimate.

The maintenance bay will built to the original planned size and foundations will be poured for administration space.
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The Assembly also approved an ordinance appropriating $300,000 to complete the auditorium at Thunder Mountain High School.

The money will come from the Thunder Mountain High School CIP fund which has accrued nearly $569,000 in unbudgeted general obligation bond interest income.

Permit for Valley communication tower to be appealed
Several people indicated to the Assembly at Monday night's meeting their intention to appeal the Planning Commission's approval of placement of an AT&T wireless communication tower in the Mendenhall Valley.

The 150-foot tower would be located at 3921 Mendenhall Loop Road.

Several testified about their worries of adverse health effects caused by the tower.

Luann Powers cited several studies conducted in Europe and the Middle East.

The appeal would be heard by the Assembly.

Juneau Access cost revision will include an independent analysis
The state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is updating its cost estimate for the Juneau Access project.

Rueben Yost is the project manager for the Juneau Access Improvements Project.

He says federal highway administration regulations require an annual cost update for projects that cost more than $100 Million.

In addition to their revision, he says the department has decided to spend $300,000 for an independent cost estimate by the Federal Highway Administration's Western Federal Lands Division.

He says they're doing that in view of the controversy and skepticism over their estimate of $350 Million that was compiled in 2007.

Yost says their new estimate will adjust for inflation and additions based on suggestions in an engineering geotechnical report.

He says their revision will be out next week with the independent estimate due in March.

The project as currently configured calls for a road up the east side of Lynn Canal to a ferry terminal at Katzehin where shuttles ferries will be used from there to Skagway and Haines.

PRAC to hear year in review report
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will listened to a year in review report from the CBJ Parks and Recreation Department tonight. (Monday)

CBJ Parks and Recreation Director Marc Matsil says it was another notable year of partnerships and collaborations.

Matsil says visitations to CBJ Parks and Recreation facilities remains strong at about 500,000 visits and several capital projects were begun.

Also on the agenda is a presentation from Ed Grossman with the U. S. Forest Service.

He's scheduled to field questions about the potential for all terrain vehicles use on federal lands.

There's also an action item to address statewide transportation improvement plan priorities.

Matsil says the focus will be on the submission of CBJ Parks and Recreation priorities for non-motorized transportation like trails and bike paths.

Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meets tonight at 6 in the Assembly Chambers.

Bush caucus in State House attracts new members
First, rural Democrats joined the Majority Caucus in the State house. Now, Republicans are joining the House Bush Caucus.

Kotzebue Representative Reggie Joule welcomed six new members to the long-standing sub-group of lawmakers from rural districts.

They include House Majority Leader Kyle Johansen of Ketchikan, former Speaker John Harris of Valdez, Representatives Peggy Wilson of Wrangell, Alan Austerman of Kodiak, and Cathy Munoz of Juneau.

The other representative from Juneau, Democrat and Minority Leader Beth Kerttula, is the sixth new member of the Bush Caucus.

Joule and three Democrats from rural districts left the minority caucus after the November election and joined the Republican-led majority.

Joule says the bush caucus will be focusing on the high cost of energy and the economic sustainability of rural communities.

Rep. Don Young aide implicated in lobbying scandal
WASHINGTON (AP) - A second former staffer to an Alaska congressman has been implicated in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigation as the scandal sweeps up a growing number of ex-Capitol Hill aides and lobbyists.

Fraser Verrusio, who worked under Republican Rep. Don Young when the congressman chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, figures in plea deals reached recently by two former Abramoff associates and a one-time congressional aide.

Identified in federal court papers only as "Staffer D," he's described accepting an all-expenses-paid trip to Game One of baseball's 2003 World Series from lobbyists who wanted his help.

Two attorneys familiar with the case said Monday that Staffer D is Verrusio, who was policy director on the transportation committee for about five years. The attorneys spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.

An attorney for Verrusio, Paul Rauser, didn't immediately return a call. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined comment.
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The lavish trip to the series game between the Florida Marlins and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium has already helped prosecutors win corruption-related guilty pleas from three people: Trevor Blackann, a former aide to two Missouri Republicans; James Hirni, a former Abramoff lobbying associate; and Todd Boulanger, another former Abramoff deputy.

Mark Zachares, also a former Young aide, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in April 2007. Zachares acknowledged accepting gifts and a golf trip to Scotland from Abramoff's team in exchange for official acts for them.

Young's spokeswoman, Meredith Kenny, declined comment Monday. Young has denied wrongdoing but in December he stepped down under pressure as lead Republican on the Natural Resources Committee, saying he wanted to focus on clearing his name in an unrelated corruption investigation in Alaska.  

Task force will fight human trafficking in Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Federal and local law enforcement have teamed up to fight human trafficking.

The FBI, the U.S. Attorney's office in Alaska and the Anchorage Police Department on Tuesday announced the formation of the Innocence Lost Task Force.

It will investigate and prosecute those involved in human trafficking. Officials say an emphasis will be placed on those who traffic children for sex.

The FBI and the Anchorage vice detective unit will take the lead investigative role, and will work with specially designated prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's office.

Authorities nab federal fugitive
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An Anchorage man wanted on numerous federal and state charges has been captured by U.S. Marshals.

Marshals say they grabbed Curtis Ronnell Bey while he was carrying a loaded pistol late Tuesday morning.

Authorities say Bey has been on the lam for at least three months.

He's wanted on federal charges alleging firearms and narcotics violations.

He's also wanted on state charges that include allegations of theft.

Bey was captured by Alaska Fugitive Task Force, which is made up of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Juneau resident to participate in winter games at Special Olympics in Boise
A Juneau resident is among five Alaskans who are headed to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho.

Raymond Carpenter will compete in Alpine Skiing.

Jim Balamaci, the President and CEO of Special Olympics Alaska,  explains that everyone winning a medal in state competition has their name put in a hat. A random drawing decided who goes to the World Winter Games, he explains.

The games, scheduled from this Saturday, February 7th through February 13th, will involve more than 3,000 athletes representing 85 countries.

Carpenter leaves Wednesday for Anchorage where he will join the other four Alaskan athletes headed for Boise Thursday.