Misstep may have foiled so called "cat burglar"
It could be dubbed the cat burglar case.

A suspect who allegedly stepped into a pile of used cat litter at a home burglarized last Wednesday had his shoes seized by police.

He was arrested Saturday following an investigation that's been ongoing since a string of 17 burglaries began January 1st.

Sergeant Dave Campbell, who heads up the Investigations Unit for Juneau Police, says their investigation heated up last Wednesday when a homeowner on Tee Way returned home a few minutes after 2 p.m. to find a ladder propped up against the bathroom window.

He also saw a strange vehicle parked in a nearby parking lot. When the home owner entered the residence, a loud commotion was heard near the back of the house. The vehicle in the parking lot then left the area.

The vehicle was located before three p.m. at another residence near 19 point 5 mile of the Glacier Highway.

Sergeant Campbell says Department of Motor Vehicle records indicated that the vehicle was parked at its owner's residence.

Officers contacted 18 year old Brendan Doyle at that address.

Officers obtained a search warrant and recovered property that had been stolen from the Tee Way home. The shoes that had walked through the used cat litter and his vehicle were also seized.

Doyle was not arrested at that time

The sergeant says the district attorney obtained an arrest warrant for burglary in the first degree on Friday. Doyle was arrested on the $10,000 warrant at about 7:30 Saturday evening.

In the meantime, Sergeant Campbell says the investigation continues into the similarities of this burglary to the 16 others.

Lost snowmachiner found in Spaulding Meadows
A 45 year-old woman was located in good shape Sunday after getting lost on a snowmobile outing in the Spaulding Meadows area.

State Trooper Mark Granda says he was notified by Juneau Police at about 2 p.m. that Sherry Brakes became separated from her boyfriend during the outing.

He explains she was able to get to an area with limited cell phone coverage and called her son who, in turn, called police.

She told her son she did not know where she was located. Her boyfriend and several other snowmachiners searched without success.

Trooper Granda says he contacted volunteers from the Juneau Snowmobile Club and other volunteers in the area to help in the search.

They located her stuck snowmachine at about 5 p.m. They saw her foot tracks leading from the area and followed them for about an hour before finding her.

Trooper Granda says Brakes was cold and wet, but not injured. She explained she wasn't familiar with the area and got turned around.

Brakes was taken back to her snowmachine. The volunteers dug it out and took her back to the trail head at the University of Alaska Southeast parking lot.

Rash of vehicle vandalisms reported to Juneau Police
A number of vehicle vandalisms were reported to Juneau police Sunday morning.

Windows were broken out of vehicles in the downtown area on Behrends Avenue and "D" Street and in Douglas on Savikko Road.

A tire was reported slashed on a vehicle located at a Glacier Highway address in the Lemon Creek area.

A backpack containing rescue equipment and $25 in change were taken from a vehicle on 12th Street downtown.

A 25 year old man was arrested late Saturday night in a vehicle rifling case. Ryan Gutknecht was jailed at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center on a trespass charge.

Palin appoints successor to lieutenant governor
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Governor Palin today (Monday) appointed Attorney General Talis Colberg as successor to Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell in the event the office of lieutenant governor becomes vacant.

Palin says -- quote -- ``In the event something should happen to me and -- or -- the lieutenant governor, the state would be in very capable hands under the direction of Talis.''

Palin says state law allows the governor to appoint a person to the office of lieutenant governor if the office becomes vacant.

Palin's office says Colberg would serve for the remainder of the term vacated or until a special election is held.

If confirmed by the Legislature, the appointment would be effective immediately.

Binkley to head new cruise ship association
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Former gubernatorial contender John Binkley has been chosen to head the newly formed Alaska Cruise Association.

The group says it intends to work with the public and business leaders to build a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship between the cruise industry and Alaskans.

Binkley's family operates two popular tour attractions in the interior, the Riverboat Discovery and the El Dorado Gold Mine.

Peter Ratcliffe, C-E-O of Princess Cruises, says Binkley is the perfect choice to take the association forward.

Binkley served in the Alaska Legislature from 1984 to 1990, including four years in the Alaska Senate. Last year, he made a bid for governor, running as an independent.

He is currently chairman of the Alaska Railroad Corporation board.

Binkley says the group is an excellent opportunity to open up a dialogue with Alaskans about the cruise industry and formalize a two-way conversation with the public.

Stevens expresses concern over critical pipeline report
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Senator Ted Stevens says he's concerned about progress of a natural gas pipeline for Alaska.

This comes on the heels of last week's federal report that said the pipeline has -- quote -- slipped considerably.

Stevens said today (Monday) the problems concerns him because -- quote -- it lays out a problem that can't be solved here in Washington.

Stevens spoke after getting reassurance from John Katz, the state's advocate in Washington, D-C, that the pipeline is on track.

Stevens says he was pleased with the meeting, but warned the federal government's message of urgency must be heeded.

Katz regularly meets with members of Congress and federal agencies to tout Alaska's prospective role in energy security.

But today, his job took on additional urgency in his morning meeting with Stevens.

Katz is scheduled to meet with Senator Lisa Murkowski later this week.

Senators meet with Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska U-S Senators Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski met today (Monday) with members of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission.

They discussed efforts to protect the commission's bowhead subsistence whaling quota.

The bowhead whale quota will be up for renewal at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission, which will be held from May 4th through May 31st, 2007 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Stevens says ensuring the subsistence hunting are protected is one of his top priorities.

Murkowski says -- quote -- ``subsistence whaling defines our Eskimo people in Alaska.''

She says she will work with Stevens and Congressman Don Young to protect ``this unique and rich culture.''
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Alaska Natives in coastal villages in northern Alaska have hunted the bowhead whale for thousands of years.

The whaling commission works with the international group and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to manage subsistence whaling in Alaska.

The commission is composed of members from ten subsistence whaling communities, four of which were represented at today's meeting in Washington.

Local commission members will also participate in the United States' delegation to the I-W-C at this year's meeting in Anchorage.

A three-fourths vote of member nations at the I-W-C meeting is needed to reauthorize the western Arctic bowhead quota for another five-year period.

BP looks to restore reputation upon posting financial results
LONDON (AP) - Struggling oil major B-P P-L-C will seek to reassure investors about its battered reputation when it posts annual results and a strategy update tomorrow.

Analysts expect B-P to report a significant drop in profits after six successive quarters of lower oil and gas production, despite soaring oil prices. But the focus will be on the company's plans to restore confidence in its business following a series of high-profile mishaps, including a deadly refinery blast in Texas and a giant oil spill in Alaska.

The company has already taken some steps toward repairing its reputation with investors and the public, particularly in the United States.

It announced last month that Chief Executive John Brown would step down by the end of July, bringing his expected departure forward by more than a year.

School fire under investigation in Alakanuk
State Troopers are investigating a case of arson at the school in the Yukon River village of Alakanuk.

Witnesses reported a student started a fire inside a bathroom.

There were no injuries, due to the immediate response by the principal and teachers, according to the State Trooper dispatch.

State Troopers in Emmonak were notified Saturday afternoon.

An investigation is continuing.

Capital project discussion on tap for Assembly work session
Discussion on the funding of city and borough and school district capital improvement projects highlights tonight's Assembly Committee of the Whole work session.

The projects on City Manager Rod Swope's list include sewer in-fill and expansion; building maintenance and repair; facility improvements at Auke Lake; a consolidated Public Works facility; the downtown fire suppression project; and airport and docks and harbors improvements.

The school district list includes additional improvements to the new Thunder Mountain High School scheduled to open in August of 2008. They include finishing the auditorium and an artificial turf football and soccer field and running track.

The Docks and Harbors Department will make a presentation on dock designs and renovations. One is at the Steamship Wharf location and another proposal at Gold Creek.

The work session gets underway at 6:30 this evening in Assembly Chambers at City Hall.
Lloyd named Fish and Game commissioner
Denby Lloyd was appointed to the Fish and Game Commissioner's job over the weekend.

Governor Palin made the appointment Saturday.

His appointment followed a joint resolution from the Boards of Fish and Game with Lloyd as the unanimous choice.

Lloyd has worked in numerous positions at the Fish and Game department and other resource management agencies in Alaska since 1974.

State names new director of public health division
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Health and Social Services Commissioner Karleen Jackson has announced the appointment of Doctor Jay Butler as director of the Division of Public Health.

Until his appointment Butler was serving as the Public Health Deputy Director for Science and Medicine

He had held that position since 2006.

Jackson calls Butler a highly competent and skilled epidemiologist who will help promote and protect the health and well-being of Alaskans.

Butler came to the department in 2005 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, serving as the Chief of Epidemiology and State Epidemiologist.

He replaces Dr. Richard Mandsager, who left in November 2006 to direct the Providence Children's Hospital in Anchorage.

House pursuing single ethics bill
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The House of Representatives began moving toward a single ethics reform bill Saturday.

House rules committee chairman John Coghill announced the plans to meld eight bills, which includes an offering from Governor Sarah Palin, into one bill.

Coghill, a North Pole Republican, says he would like to have an omnibus bill to the state affairs committee by Friday.

Coghill is running a three-person subcommittee asked by House State Affairs Chairman Bob Lynn to pare down the eight bills.

Ethics reform has been hot topic in Alaska since last fall when the F-B-I raided several lawmakers' offices. No indictments have resulted from the raid yet.

The House and Senate have been working toward tightening the rules in the executive and legislative branches since the session began January 16th.

Palin introduced her bills to the House and Senate last month.

The Senate already has two bills of its own bills moving through its committees and appear headed for a full vote soon.

Seabird involved in Northwest logging battles declining in Alaska
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - A new federal review says the marbled murrelet, a threatened sea bird whose nesting in old-growth forests made it a factor in Northwest logging battles, is also declining dramatically in Alaska and Canada.

The review of existing population surveys was requested by the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service as the Bush administration considers whether to take it off the threatened species list in Oregon, Washington and California.

Protection for old-growth trees where it nests in the three states has dramatically reduced logging on some national forests.

The first comprehensive look at population surveys in Alaska and British Columbia found an overall decline of about 70 percent over the last 25 years.

Missing Mat- Su snowmachiner was fugitive from justice
Alaska State Troopers are looking for a woman wanted for an Anchorage robbery who was hospitalized for hypothermia overnight.

26-year old Tacie Hoffman was reported overdue Sunday evening while on a snowmachine trip near Sutton. She was traveling with a 14-year old girl. Their snowmachine apparently broke down.

A search helicopter spotted the pair near Slipper Lake. They were experiencing advanced hypothermia when they were rescued.

Department of Public Safety official Tim DeSpain says Hoffman was released from the hospital before officers could contact her.

Anchorage Police have a warrant for Hoffman's arrest.

She allegedly took part in a robbery earlier this month. her uncle, Richard Hoffman, is also charged in the case.

He's accused of claiming to be a police officer while holding the victims at gunpoint.
(KENI-Anchorage)

Woman's body found under vehicle
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - Fairbanks police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found under a vehicle.

Police say the woman had been dragged under the vehicle for four blocks to a residence.

They say a nine-one-one caller reported the body yesterday (Sunday).

Fairbanks Police Sergeant Gary Yamamoto says the driver at the residence where the vehicle was found was being questioned by police.

Yamamoto says the driver had not been arrested nor charged as of Sunday evening, but the district attorney's office was being consulted.

Yamamoto says he suspects alcohol was a factor in the case.

The woman's body is headed to Anchorage for autopsy.

Police weren't releasing the name of the woman or driver.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Airline stocks mixed as latest attempt to increase fares stumbles
NEW YORK (AP) - Airline stocks were mixed Monday, as carriers abandoned attempted fare increases over the weekend.

The Amex Airline Index dipped half of one percent, with eight of its eleven stocks declining.

Among the index's biggest percentage decliners was Alaska Air Group Inc., which fell 87 cents, or 2 percent, to 41-dollars and 74 cents in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company says January traffic at its Alaska Airlines unit fell by point-eight percent despite a two-point-eight percent increase in capacity.

That translated into occupancy declining to 66 and a half percent from 69 percent in January 2006.

Crude oil prices, which have great effect on airline stocks, were little changed in afternoon trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Oil was up 6 cents to 59 dollars and eight cents per barrel.

Alaska pipeline operator fails to find missing pig piece
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An equipment piece that went missing in the trans-Alaska oil pipeline in December has still not be found.

A spokesman for operator Alyeska Pipeline Service Company says an aggressive cleaning device sent through the pipeline Saturday failed to find the 20-inch diameter metal ring.

The missing metal is part of another cleaning tool called a scraping pig that broke apart inside the 800-mile pipeline.

A later scraping pig pushed out other missing pieces. The pigs are run every seven to 14 days.

The cleanings have removed wax build-up from the pipeline's 48-inch diameter walls.

Alyeska spokesman Mike Heatwole says the paraffin is currently on a barge heading south for processing. The barge is expected to arrive in Seattle late this month.

Once there, Alyeska plans to sift through the paraffin to look for the ring.

Kenai River ice bill could top $5 million
KENAI, Alaska (AP) - Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor John Williams says damage from moving ice jams along the Kenai River could top five million dollars.

Williams gave that estimate to Governor Palin during a tour of the area yesterday (Sunday).

The governor Palin flew over the area in a helicopter with Williams to view the damage from a huge ice jam, which tore stairs, docks and boardwalks from their moorings.

Palin says government's role is to step in and help rebuild.
(Peninsula Clarion)

Tazlina River causes minor flooding
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska State Troopers say several homes near the Tazlina River on the Richardson Highway were evacuated yesterday (Sunday) due to flooding.

Troopers say everyone who wished to leave was evacuated.

After about two hours the Tazlina River began to subside and returned to it banks.

Trooper say the exact cause of the flooding is unclear but one theory is that an ice jam broke loose upstream from the Tazlina bridge.

Troopers today reported no deaths or injuries.

They say the amount of damage hasn't been determined.

East Coast communities prepping for remote chance of tsunami
MIDWAY, Ga. (AP) - While tsunamis are primarily considered a threat on the Pacific Coast, emergency officials are paying closer attention to the potential for killer waves on the Atlantic Coast.

Vigilance has increased since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people in 11 countries.

The government's West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center now watches out for the East Coast.

Emergency managers along the coast are planning to post warning signs depicting a stick man running uphill from a monstrous wave and declaring the surrounding area a ``Tsunami Hazard Zone.''

A few local governments along the East Coast have enrolled in a National Weather Service program to prepare for the remote chance of killer waves spawning in the Atlantic.

The Tsunami-Ready program is also used by communities in tsunami-prone Alaska.

It aims to set standards to alert and evacuate people during tsunami warnings.

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