New hospital wing opens for public tours today
The new three-story wing of Bartlett Regional Hospital was unveiled to the public today. (Tuesday)

The new wing adds close to 55,000 square feet to the original 110,000 square foot structure. 

It includes a heliport on top of the structure. 

The Mental Health Unit will occupy the top floor.

The second floor will house the Critical Care Unit and obstetrics-nursing unit and the emergency services will be located on the ground floor.

Construction commenced in August 2004 at a cost of $25 point 2 Million.

Hospital CEO Jim Richardson says departments will begin a month long move into their new quarters following the public opening.

After that's completed, a renovation of the original structure, that will take approximately two years, will get underway.

The ground floor entry near the ambulance bay will become the temporary main entrance during Phase Two construction.

University regents to convene meeting in Juneau
The University of Alaska Board of Regents begins a two day meeting in Juneau tomorrow (Wednesday).

In addition to their agenda, University official Kate Ripley says regents will take time to lobby lawmakers and the Governor on their budget request.

The meeting gets underway Wednesday morning at Centennial Hall. The regents will spilt up in the afternoon for individual meetings with lawmakers.

A meeting is also planned with Governor Palin.

They'll reconvene at the University of Alaska Southeast campus Thursday. The day starts with public testimony at 8 a.m.

A new degree program is up for approval. Its a bachelors of science in construction management.

Ripley says that would be an expansion of the two year associates degree program in Anchorage.

She says its in response from industry to expand to a four year degree program.

Ripley says the number of degrees awarded in University of Alaska programs considered high demand by the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development have grown each year.

She says they were up seven percent in the last year alone and 23 percent since 1999.

Ripley says this proposed new program will help continue that progress.

In the meantime, Ripley doesn't know if Regent Jim Hayes will attend the Juneau meeting in person. He may call in instead.

Hayes and his wife, Chris, are facing federal indictment on 92 counts of fraud, theft, money laundering and misappropriating government funds in connection with the nonprofit LOVE Social Services run by Chris Hayes.

In response to Governor Palin's call for his resignation recently, Hayes refused and said he intends to serve out his entire appointment which doesn't end until 2011.  

BP, ConocoPhillips make annual donations to UA
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - The University of Alaska announced a couple of big donations today. (Monday)

ConocoPhillips and B-P announced their annual donations totaling nearly seven million dollars to University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton.

B-P's donation was just over three million, and ConocoPhillips donated more than three-point-six million dollars as part of its charter agreement.

Hamilton says that brings the total charter-agreement gifts to the university to 29-and-a-half million dollars since 2000, when the charter agreement between the companies and state of Alaska was put into place.

Hamilton says the donations allow the university to do things it simply could not afford to do otherwise.

The donations go to the U-A Foundation, the private, nonprofit, fund-raising entity that solicits, manages and invests private donations on behalf of the university.
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The donations stem from a charter agreement between the oil companies and the state regarding the BP merger with ARCO in the late 1990s. ARCO's Alaska holdings were sold to Phillips, and Phillips then merged with Conoco. Part of the charter agreement identified public higher education as a top priority, with the companies subsequently providing annual donations to the U-A Foundation.

Alaska residents worry coal project could ruin subsistence habitat
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A Canadian mining exploration company wants to drill for high-grade coal in an area practically surrounding the community of Chickaloon.

Many residents in the community of 250 people are opposed to the proposal. They say it could ultimately ruin a habitat rich in moose, fish and other subsistence foods.

Full Metal Minerals has applied for a state exploration permit for the 21-thousand-acre area about 60 miles northeast of Anchorage.

Michael Williams is the president of the Vancouver, British Columbia-based company.

He says that any actual mining would largely be underground with little impact on the environment. Any work beyond exploration would need further government authority.

Lisa Stevenson -- who heads an opposition group called the Castle Mountain Coalition -- says many residents don't believe their community can coexist with the venture.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is holding a community meeting tomorrow night (Wednesday) along with company representatives who will discuss the proposed project.

Public testimony will be taken at the meeting and through the comment period that ends next Monday. The state then has 60 days to decide on the application.

Astronaut charged with attempted-murder freed on bail
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A NASA astronaut accused of planning to kidnap and harm a romantic rival is no longer behind bars.

Prosecutors in Orlando, Florida, have charged Lisa Nowak, a 43-year-old Navy captain, with attempted kidnapping and attempted first-degree murder. She's been freed after posting more than 25-thousand-dollars bail.

Orlando police say the evidence linked to Nowak includes a steel mallet, knife, rubber tubing and large garbage bags. A police spokeswoman says those items point to an intent ``to do serious bodily injury or death.''

Nowak was released from jail with a jacket covering her head. She was escorted by chief astronaut Steve Lindsey and a bail bondsman on her way to get fitted for an ankle bracelet to track her whereabouts.

If convicted of attempted murder, she faces between 30 years and life in prison.

Police say she confronted a woman she believed was a competitor for the affections of Navy Commander William Oefelein, an unmarried fellow astronaut.

Oefelein, who is originally from Anchorage, Alaska, piloted the space shuttle Discovery in December.

He and Nowak trained together but never flew a mission together.

Budget work session planned by School Board...
                                    ....snow day make up on regular meeting agenda
The School Board tonight [Tuesday] will conduct a work session to work on the district budget which has to be completed and submitted to the Assembly by the end March.

The work session will be followed by the regular meeting.

The major item up for action is a revision to the school calendar.

The district had some snow days at the beginning of the school year.

In order to have the required minimum number of student classroom days one day has to be added.

The administration is recommending to change an in-service day to a student day in April.

The board will also hear several presentations.

One is about the McDowell Group's study on early childhood education and childcare services in Alaska

Another is a report on Project Articulate which is an art grant in which the Juneau district participates.

The work session begins at 5 and the regular meeting at 6 in the high school library.

Capital project discussion highlights Assembly work session
The Assembly conducted a work session last night [Monday] to take up the major projects proposed for docks and  harbors, the new high school,  and the city and borough.

The school district list includes renovation of several schools and additional improvements to the new Thunder Mountain High School scheduled to open in August of 2008.

They include finishing the auditorium at an estimated cost of $3,000,000 and a standard grass turf football and soccer field and running track estimated to cost between $1.3 million and $5 million.

Funding would come from the state and revenue bonds.

The CBJ projects list includes sewer in-fill and expansion funded by the one percent sales tax and LID assessments to property owners.

A portion of the one percent sales tax would be earmarked for facility improvements at Auke Lake at an estimated cost of $1.3 million; a consolidated Public Works facility is estimated at between $10 to 12 million; and the downtown fire suppression project,  that would fund between 25 and 40 percent of the sprinkler installation costs for the downtown area, is estimated at between $1 million and $1.6 million.

Also on the CBJ list are airport and docks and harbors improvements and building maintenance and repair.

The Docks and Harbors Department made a presentation on dock designs and renovations.

The first project is major maintenance of the existing dock infrastructure. The estimated cost is $13.5 Million.

The project does not address dock length issues at the Steamship Dock, accessibility of the docks as a sea walk, or long-term security issues.

The project is the least expensive alternative, but according to the Docks and Harbors Board, it may not be cost-effective and the board is not recommending that the Assembly choose the alternative.

The panel is recommending the second proposed project, which is replacing the downtown docks.

Two 1000 foot long floating berths would be built seaward of the existing docks. The project is estimated at $45 million.

The third project is part of the Subport redevelopment efforts.

The Docks and Harbors Board is recommending that a new 1000 foot long floating berth be built in the area of the old Standard Oil fuel dock near Gold Creek.

An uplands staging area, small boat harbor, and waterfront park would be built as part of the project.

The estimated cost is $27 million. The project would allow a total of five ships to dock, the current maximum number in port at one time.

The owners of the old fuel dock have expressed interest in financing and operating the cruise ship dock.

Crimson Bears' basketball teams earn top rankings
The Juneau Douglas High School men's and women's basketball teams are both ranked first in the state this week.

The top rankings come in the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network's Prep Basketball Poll.

The men were ranked number one last week. Their hold on the top spot was strengthened by last week's perfect road trip that included three wins in the Interior.

The women were ranked second last week behind Wasilla. 

The Warriors were one of the teams the Lady Bears defeated while winning the Lady Lynx Tournament at Dimond High School in Anchorage over the weekend.

Wasilla is ranked second this week.

The women host Kenai Wednesday and then they're off until homecoming weekend February 16th and 17th when they entertain Ketchikan.

The men also don't play again until homecoming weekend when they take on West Valley of Fairbanks.

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.

BP 4th-quarter earnings fall 22 percent to 2-year low
LONDON (AP) - B-P says today (Tuesday) that its fourth-quarter profit dropped 22 percent to a two-year low.

Officials say profits were driven down by the declining price of oil and increased safety spending after a series of high-profile mishaps including a deadly refinery blast in Texas and an oil spill in Alaska.

The oil company also slashed its growth targets and raised its capital expenditure forecast for this year.

B-P's adjusted net profit dropped to two-point-nine billion, from three-point-seven billion a year ago.

BP's earnings were the lowest of the three biggest oil companies.

Last week, Royal Dutch Shell PLC reported a fourth-quarter net income of nearly five-point-three billion and Exxon Mobil Corporation posted net income of ten-point-three billion.

Oil companies have been recently stung by a steady decline in crude oil prices, which have plunged more than 20 dollars per barrel from their peak last summer.

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 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.

Three accused of running large check fraud ring
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Police say three people are accused of masterminding a large check-fraud ring that allegedly cost Anchorage businesses thousands of dollars.

Police say 33-year-old Monique ``Nick'' Henderson faces 84 counts, including scheming to defraud, theft, forgery and solicitation to commit a crime.

26-year-old Tuisheka Hughes and 28-year-old Rashad Arnsworth are both wanted on similar charges.

Police say all three have criminal records.

Investigators say the three generated and cashed fake paychecks from 44 businesses totaling close to 120-thousand dollars.

Investigators say Henderson, Hughes and Arnsworth enlisted strangers willing to take money in exchange for cashing bad checks or making copies of their paychecks.

Detective Michele Logan says more than 100 others were involved in cashing bad checks or allowing their checks to be copied.

The Anchorage Police Department, Alaska State Troopers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U-S Postal Service were involved in the investigation that started in 2005.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Earthquake reported by residents in Southcentral Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says residents in Anchorage and Eagle River reported an earthquake at around one a-m this morning (Tuesday).

The magnitude three-point-four quake was located about 20 miles north of Anchorage at a depth of 34 miles.

The center hasn't received any reports of damage caused by the quake. 

Alaska parks would get $6 million more under Bush budget proposal
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - President Bush's proposed budget for the 2008 fiscal year would allot more than six million dollars to national parks in Alaska.

The money would focus on visitor services, resource protection and maintenance.

About one-third would go to hiring seasonal staff.

National Park Service Alaska Regional Director Marcia Blaszak says the proposed budget treats Alaska very well.

The increases bring the proposed 2008 budget for national parks in Alaska to almost 60 million dollars.

Nationwide, the National Park Service budget for 2008 is proposed to be a record two-point-four billion.

Huggins appointed to bridge authority's board
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Republican State Senator Charlie Huggins of Chugiak has been appointed to the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority's Board of Directors.

The Republican says the bridge will open up thousands of acres of land to spur new economic opportunities for both Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Huggins replaces Senate President Lyda Green on the board. The other state legislator position on the board is held by state Representative Bill Stoltze, also a Republican from Chugiak.

The board will hold its next meeting on Tuesday in Juneau.

Red and blue king crab larvae expected in fishery program
SEWARD, Alaska (AP) - The University of Alaska Fairbanks Seward Marine Center is expecting more than one (m) million king crabs to hatch in the coming weeks.

The red and blue king crab larvae are part of an effort to rebuild wild king crab stocks around Kodiak and the Pribilof Islands.

The program was launched in 2006 at the urging of coastal communities and fishermen from Kodiak and the Pribilof Islands.

This first batch of crab will not be released into the wild.

That phase of the project is several years away, and will require a state permit following studies on the impacts of the crab on the environment and research of crab survival, predation and genetics.

Red king crab stocks around Kodiak have not recovered since crashing in 1982, when commercial fishing was halted.

Stocks of Pribilof and St. Matthew Island blue king crab have been low since the mid-1980s.

Easy-Bake ovens being recalled
WASHINGTON (AP) - Lots of children have an Easy-Bake Oven, or have a friend who has one.

Now, Easy-Bake Ovens that have been sold since last May are being recalled because kids can burn her hands on them.

Hasbro says it has received 29 reports of children getting their fingers or hands caught in the oven's opening. Five children have been burned.

Just under a million of the ovens are being recalled. They are purple and pink and resemble a kitchen stove with four burners on top and a front-loading oven. The ovens are model number six-five-eight-zero-five, which is stamped into the plastic on the back.

The recall affects Easy-Bake Ovens sold between May and now at such retailers as Toys ``R'' Us, Wal-Mart, Target and K-B Toys.

The recall does not include Easy-Bake Ovens sold before last May.

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