AEL&P requests 14.4 cent emergency rate hike
Residential customers of Juneau's electric utility can expect to see a 14.4 cent hike in their bills starting this month.

Alaska, Electric, Light and Power, filed it's Emergency Cost of Power Adjustment with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska today. (Thursday)

AEL&P's Scott Willis says the E-COPA, for the diesel fuel used during January's avalanche repair, is 14.4 cents per KWh and will be in effect for one month.

For residential customers, adding the E-COPA rate to the normal winter rate of 9.6 cents will result in a total rate of 24 cents.

Willis says just over 1.5 million gallons of diesel fuel costing $3.8 million was used during the three weeks the Snettisham hydro-power plant was off line.

Willis says AEL&P customers will begin to see the higher bills beginning February 13.

He says after the one month billing period with the E-COPA, rates will return to their pre-avalanche level.

For residential customers, that's just under 11 cents per KWh.

AEL&P customers in different billing cycles have different billing periods.

AEL&P’s web site at www.aelp.com 

Lake Dorothy hydro project scheduled to serve Juneau by Fall
The Lake Dorothy hydroelectric project will start serving Juneau this Fall.

It will help in the event of future avalanches along the line to the Snettisham hydro plant, according to Scott Willis of Alaska Electric, Light and Power.

He says Lake Dorothy will only share the last third of the Snettisham line. It ties in for the last ten miles. So it bypasses the first 30 miles including the avalanche prone area.

Slides there January 12 and last April 16th knocked the line to the hydro plant to Snettisham out of commission.

If Lake Dorothy would have been on line for the latest disruption, Willis says it would have made a big difference by reducing the need for diesel by 40 percent.

It will come on-line in September or October, he says, depending on what kind of construction season it turns out to be.

Proposal made to hike waste disposal fee by a buck to cover paper & cardboard shipping
A possible answer has been put forth on how the City and Borough of Juneau can cover the cost of transporting paper and cardboard to the Lower 48.

The recycling center in Seattle where it's sent now is no longer paying for it.

It costs about $8,000 to ship the material there each month, according to City Manager Rod Swope.

He's told by Waste Management that  one of the solutions would be to charge Juneau residents an additional dollar to dispose of the mixed paper and cardboard.

Swope says the only concern he has is that it wouldn't be recycled, but rather end up in someone else's landfill instead of  Juneau's.

The dollar would be tacked on to the waste disposal fee  which appears on the monthly water and sewer bills paid by property owners and businesses.

Swope will now report back to the Assembly on that possible approach for covering the cost.  The Assembly asked staff during Monday's meeting to come back with possible solutions.

Docks and Harbors Board considers more funds for mercury testing at Douglas Harbor
Several action items are before the CBJ Docks and Harbors Board of Directors during their regular meeting tonight. (Thursday)

One calls for approving an additional $64,865 for mercury testing at Douglas Harbor that's being required by state regulatory agencies.

Port Director John Stone says they hope that will be the final amount to be spent on testing so they can proceed with dredging out the harbor when they replace the floats there.

Stone says that will bring the total spent on just mercury testing and permitting close to $300,000.

He says they're hopeful that test results will show that they can dispose of dredge spoils in the water there rather than trucking them to a remote site or even transporting them out of state.

Those results are due in another month and a half.

There's an amendment to the cooperative agreement for the Taku Harbor project that would add $93,000 to a Department of Fish and Game grant aimed at replacing the float there.

It involves a section that connects the main float to shore. Stone says they want to make sure it doesn't fall apart in the future.

Directors will work on developing the 2010 capital improvement plan to add docks and harbors projects for the CBJ budget document.

Which include the replacement of the Douglas floats, the rebuild of Statter Harbor and the Statter Harbor launch ramp, as well as continued work on downtown cruise ship facilities.

The panel is also scheduled to take action for rebuilding the cruise ship terminal in the Tram area. That includes replacement of the Visitor Center.

Stone says they're seeking direction from the board in terms of planning concepts.

The Docks and Harbors Board meeting gets underway at 7 p.m. in Assembly Chambers at City Hall.

Juneau man charged with sexually abusing a minor
A Juneau man has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing a minor.

Yesterday morning (Wednesday) police were contacted by officials at Juneau Douglas High School reporting that a juvenile female had said that she had been sexually abused by 48 year-old Nicholas Fawcett Jr. on Tuesday.

After conducting an investigation, police arrested Fawcett Wednesday afternoon on a $100,000 warrant after a search warrant was served at his residence.

Fawcett has been charged with two felony counts of first degree sexual abuse of a minor.

He was lodged at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center.

Police say the investigation is continuing.  

Palin, Ramras engaged in flap over aid to villages
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Questions over how much state assistance has gone to Alaska villages needing food and energy relief has become a public flap between Republicans Gov. Sarah Palin and Rep. Jay Ramras.

Ramras, of Fairbanks, says Palin has created a "vacuum of leadership" by not providing state transportation assets to move donated food to Emmonak and other Western Alaska communities hurt by a poor fishing season and the high costs of energy.

Ramras said it took "much pleading" for the state to offer a small plane to move more than two tons of food from Bethel to the impacted area.

Palin counters that the state is providing relief, including planes to move food. She says she was disappointed that he didn't bring the issue to her office, and instead is playing "politics as usual."

Ramras responded by saying Palin's efforts to cast him as politicizing the situation are "fool-hardy and Clinton-esque."

He says he's not playing politics when he says she has a lack of leadership in this issue. He says because of that lack of attention, the state has taken weeks too long to provide assistance.

Oil giant will not register lobbyists
By ANNE SUTTON - Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - One of three oil giants doing business in Alaska will not be registering its employees as lobbyists with the state this year, even when they're in Juneau.

ConocoPhillips says it's limiting involvement in the 2009 legislative session to avoid reporting requirements that it describes as excessively burdensome.

Lobbyists do not have to register if they spend less than ten hours in a 30 day period pushing their company's position on legislative issues.

While Conoco may be following the state's reporting laws, some lawmakers question whether the company is following the spirit of the laws, which is to let the public know how state business is being conducted.

Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat, says the public deserves to know who is lobbying in the building and how much that company is spending on lobbying.  

Spill reported at Kuparuk
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Corrosion is the suspected cause of a spill of wastewater effluent at the Kuparuk oil field on the North Slope.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating the 6,930-gallon spill discovered late Tuesday from a 6-inch pipeline near the edge of a gravel pad at the central processing facility.

The DEC says fluids leaked from an oval opening in the pipe for about eight hours before the spill was discovered. Responders worked in severe cold, halting the cleanup when effluent became slushy and could not be recovered through a pump hose.

Officials say oil production was not affected and most of the spill has been recovered. Cleanup will continue after breakup.

A corroded pipe also was blamed for a December spill of oily water at Kuparuk, which is operated by Houston-based ConocoPhillips.

Alaska Natives join Jesuit sexual abuse case
SEATTLE (AP) - Twenty Alaska Natives have joined a lawsuit claiming they were abused by Jesuits or those supervised as Jesuits, and a former regional head of the order has been added as a defendant.

With court papers filed yesterday (Wednesday) in Bethel, Alaska, 63 Alaska Natives are now suing the Society of Jesus.

They claim the sexual abuse occurred in remote villages from the late 1940s to 2001.
(The Seattle Times)

Redoubt unleashes seismic spurt
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Don't write off Alaska's Mount Redoubt just yet.

The volcano unleashed a short but intense burst of seismicity today (Thursday), the strongest since Jan. 30.

Geologists with the Alaska Volcano Observatory say the strong tremors lasted only four minutes, then tapered off.

Seismic events, however, remain above normal at the volcano about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage.

Geologist Michelle Coombs says an eruption of Redoubt is still more likely than not. She says that "contrary to popular opinion, it's still kicking along."

Palin rails against 'anonymous, pathetic bloggers
NEW YORK (AP) - Former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is still mad at media coverage of her candidacy, particularly "anonymous, pathetic bloggers" who she says spread falsehoods about her.

The Alaska governor also says she's addicted to Carmex lip balm, grew up playing flute and trombone, and says sports taught her everything she knows.

She shared those and other insights in the March issue of Esquire magazine, scheduled to hit newsstands Feb. 16.

In the interview, Palin, who rocketed to fame as John McCain's running mate in last year's election, reiterated her complaints about media coverage of the campaign.

Palin also reiterated her wish that she had had more input on strategy during the campaign.
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On the Net:
www.esquire.com 

Judge: Palin used her child as a "prop"
NEW YORK (AP) - A federal judge presiding over a case involving an autistic boy commented on former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for bringing her Down syndrome child on stage after a debate last year.

U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald made the remarks during a settlement conference with lawyers involved in a lawsuit against a luxury building in Manhattan.

The parents of an 11-year-old boy are fighting a 25-pound limit on dogs, saying a big dog is medically necessary to help their son cope with Asperger's syndrome.

"That kid was used as a prop," the judge said. "And that to me as a parent blew my mind."

Such conferences are often held behind closed doors, but the remarks were overheard by a reporter for the New York Daily news.

Buchwald, 62, was appointed by former President Bill Clinton.

Council moves to bar commercial fishing in Arctic
SEATTLE (AP) - The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has voted to prohibit commercial fishing on more than 200,000 square miles of U.S. waters in the Arctic.

The council, which advises the federal government on fisheries, voted unanimously Thursday to close the nation's waters in the Arctic Ocean off Alaska north of the Bering Strait and east to the Canadian border.

No large-scale fishing operations currently exist in those waters. Most commercial fishing is south of the Bering Strait in the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean.

The council's recommendation now goes to the U.S. Commerce Department, which will make the final decision.

Fishing companies seeking federal tax relief
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Executives from six fishing companies want help from the state's congressional delegation to block income taxes from Bering Sea operations.

The companies that harvest seafood on behalf of numerous Western Alaska villages could owe millions in back taxes otherwise.

The money is crucial for village economic development and for the companies' growth in the state's massive fishing industry.
(Anchorage Daily News)   

Troopers identify man killed in two-car crash
WASILLA, Alaska (AP) - State Troopers have identified the man killed in a two-car crash on the Parks Highway.

Troopers say the victim in the Wednesday night crash is 41-year-old Rodney C. Coalson of Big Lake.

They say Coalson was driving north when he lost control, spun sideways and entered the oncoming lane.

He collided with a southbound truck.

Troopers say he was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was treated for minor injuries.

Troopers say both drivers were wearing seat belts and they do not believe alcohol was a factor. The cause remains under investigation.

Spokeswoman Megan Peters says the accident forced troopers to close down the highway and reroute traffic for nearly five hours.

Up to half a foot of snow in Juneau forecast for late Friday
A winter storm watch has been issued for Juneau from Friday afternoon to late Friday night.

Snow accumulation of 3 to 6 inches is expected in the Capital City.

Meteorologist Corey Van Pelt says 5 to 10 inches is forecast for the northern Panhandle during that time.

Some Alaska lawmakers wary of stimulus package
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - State lawmakers in Alaska are voicing concerns about a federal stimulus package that could inject $1 (B) billion into the state's economy.

Despite those concerns, the state House passed a resolution Wednesday asking that Alaska get its fair share of the proposed $900 (B) billion package. The state Senate is expected to follow suit.

Republicans say they are worried that some provisions could dump costly new obligations on the state once the federal dollars are gone. They say they don't want to miss out on federal dollars for highway and school construction, but are worried about expanding social and educational programs.

Democrats say Republicans are grandstanding. They say such programs would help Alaskans who are also struggling to ride out the global recession.

President Obama's national stimulus package is currently bogged down in the U-S Senate after passing the U-S House last week.

The bill does not list specific projects or earmarks but would funnel money to states through formula programs.

For example, highway projects would be funded through the existing statewide transportation improvement program while school construction projects would come off the Department of Education's school construction and major maintenance list.

Projects must be "shovel ready" and be completed in a certain amount of time. That's also led to concerns that Alaska could lose out because of its short construction season and remote locations.

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Alaska's two U. S.  Senators disagree over the current version of the stimulus bill now working it's way through congress.

Senator Lisa Murkowski says the bill includes many provisions that will not stimulate the economy.

Senator Mark Begich is co-sponsoring amendments which, he says, are designed to improve accountability and oversight of the funding, and give state leaders the ability to decline the aid.

Under some versions of the bill Alaska could receive an estimated $1 billion.

Anchorage man gets 5 years on weapons charges
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A 39-year-old Anchorage man has been sentenced to five years in a federal prison after being convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick also ordered that Louis David Moon forfeit a 9mm carbine rifle, a .22 caliber rifle, and assorted ammunition.

The U.S. Attorney's office says authorities found the weapons when serving a search warrant in 2005 after he and six others were indicted by a grand jury in Palmer with various counts, including conspiracy to commit murder.

Moon was previously convicted of felony robbery in California in 1992.

State ferry Lituya awaits repairs
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) - The state ferry Lituya is awaiting repairs at the Ketchikan Shipyard.

The 181-foot ferry broke loose of its moorings because of high winds last Friday. It ran aground near Metlakatla.

Marine highway officials say the ferry has damage to its port-side keel cooler. The cooler helps keep lower the temperature of a vessel's mechanical equipment by allowing sea water to pass over tubes that circulate coolant through the engine.

The vessel's port side No. 4 void also has a hole or hairline fracture. Inspections also are planned for the ferry's internal bulkheads and its steering and line shaft alignment.

Officials say work is not scheduled to start until this weekend, at the earliest.
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Information from: Ketchikan Daily News

State historical commission plans Juneau meeting
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The Alaska Historical Commission will meet February 19 in the fourth floor conference room of the Willoughby Building.

Agenda discussion will include issues pertaining to national and state historic preservation issues, a review of geographic name proposals and a National Register of Historic Places nomination.

Public comment is 10:30 a.m.

Park Service names  new superintendent for preserve in Nome
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The National Park Service has a new superintendent for the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Nome.

She is Jeanette Pomrenke and she started last week.

This is her second stint with the Park Service. From 1994 to 1998, Pomrenke worked as an interpretation ranger at the Bering Land Bridge.

The preserve is 2.5 million acres and is part of the Seward Peninsula. It's also one of the most remote national park areas.

JDHS basketball teams back in action
The Lady Crimson Bears' basketball team starts a road trip in the Anchorage area Thursday

They'll play Service.

On tap Friday is West Anchorage.

The team moves to the Mat Su Borough Saturday to take on Colony.

The men Crimson Bears host Eagle River Friday and Saturday.