Irwin returns as DNR commissioner
Tom Irwin is back as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

That word from Governor Palin this afternoon (Friday).

Irwin was commissioner from January 2003 to October 2005 until he was asked to resign by former Governor Frank Murkowski.

Six high ranking officials resigned in protest including Marty Rutherford who has been serving as acting commissioner for the Palin Administration.

She now becomes deputy commissioner, according to a release issued by the Governor's Office this afternoon.

Authorities looking for information on shooting of kitten
The Gastineau Humane Society is seeking the public's help in tracking down those responsible for the death of a kitten in the Lemon Creek area last week.

Director Chava Lee says they were notified February 1st that the 3 and a half to four month old cat was found shot to death.

From what they've been able to determine so far, Lee says it wasn't an accidental killing.

The cat was found on Lund Street. Lee says they believe the cat was shot and killed somewhere in the Lemon Creek area.

It was a black male kitten with white markings. It was wearing a purple and white collar.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Gastineau Humane Society at 789-6997.

Alaska Air Guard rescues two from downed plane
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Two men are back in Dillingham today (Friday) after being rescued by the Alaska Air National Guard.

The men were rescued after their Aero Commander Lark 100 aircraft crashed last night.

The wife of a passenger on board the plane called the Kenai Flight Service station to report her husband was overdue from a trip from Dillingham to Togiak and back.

The Kenai Flight Service station called the Rescue Coordination Center to report the plane was overdue. The R-C-C responded by sending out a helicopter and a refueling tanker.

However, bad weather turned them back. Replacement crews were back in the air by 7 a-m this morning.

The crew aboard the Pavehawk helicopter located the two men walking about one-and-a-half miles from where the crash site was believed to be, halfway between Togiak and Dillingham.

The helicopter landed and picked up the two men.

Alaska State Troopers say the cause of the crash was caused by low-level flying in poor weather conditions.

Troopers say apparently the pilot was trying to fly under the cloud cover when the plane's landing gear hit tree tops causing the plane to lose speed and crash.

Storis relocation to Juneau pending an act of Congress
Work is continuing on a proposal to bring the decommissioned Coast Guard Storis to Juneau for use as a maritime museum.

Its pending an act of Congress.

Chief Keith Alholm is the Assistant Public Affairs Officer for the Coast Guard's Pacific Command in Alameda, California.

He says they're working very closely with the office of Senator Ted Stevens to get the vessel to Juneau.

In the interim, they're looking for a way to keep it  on the west coast, since the Coast Guard still has ownership of the vessel.

Until Congress acts, they need to find the most cost effective place to store the vessel until the State Alaska or the non-profit group, the Storis Museum and Maritime Education Center, takes it over.

Senator Stevens and Congressman Young inserted language in a Coast Guard bill last year directing that the Storis be sent to Juneau. That bill did not make it through the process.

Stevens said this week that allowing the Storis to remain under the care and watch of Alaskans would be a fitting end to the cutter's 64 years of service.

The Storis was decommissioned during a ceremony in Kodiak Thursday.

The vessel began service during World War II and conducted patrols in the North Atlantic

It was assigned to Juneau on September 15, 1948.

It stayed in Alaska and was later assigned to Kodiak

It was the oldest vessel in the fleet and with that distinction dubbed the "Queen of the Fleet"

The cutter Acushnet is now the ``Queen of the Fleet''.

The Ketchikan-based ship marked its 63rd ``birthday'' on Monday.

Video of the Storis ceremony is available at www.military.com/cgcstoris 

LeConte out of service February 20 through March 3
The state ferry LeConte will be out of service from February 20 to March 3 so more work can be done on it's steering system.

Alaska Marine Highway System General Manager Captain John Falvey says some of the maintenance will be performed while the LeConte is underway but the ship will have to be taken out of service for about 12 days.

LeConte service between Juneau and Haines during that time frame is cancelled and passengers are being contacted for rebooking to other vessels.

The M/V Glacier and M/V St. Aquilina have been contracted to provide alternative service to Hoonah, Tenakee Springs, and Angoon.

Meanwhile, Alaska Marine Highway officials provided an overview to a joint meeting of the Senate and House Transportation Committees yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

Captain Falvey told the committee that the ships are old and need more maintenance and repairs every year.

He says the Columbia was out of service for five months undergoing maintenance and the Kennicott was also out for several months.

Captain Falvey says the old ships are going to cost more and more to keep them going.

He said the system needs some new ships.

Falvey said newer ships would be more automated and efficient to run and cheaper to maintain. 

Housing panel elects officers and takes first action
The CBJ Affordable Housing Commission elected officers and approved its first recommendation Thursday evening. 

Mayor Botelho and the Assembly appointed the nine member commission to address the lack of affordable housing in Juneau.

At yesterday's meeting, former Assembly member Cathy Munoz was elected chair.

She says the panel's first order of business is to examine the City and Borough of Juneau's land use code, Title 49, for revisions that will allow for increased flexibility in building.

The commission's first action was to endorse a new concept called bungalow housing.

If adopted, bungalow housing would allow a 1,000 square foot home to built on a reduce sized lot.

The recommendation will now go the Assembly.

Steve Sorensen was elected vice-chair. Other members are Erin Walker-Tolles, Honey Bee Anderson, Greg Pease, Tamara Rowcroft, Alan Wilson, Lavonne Garvey, and Justin Shearer.

The commissioners will serve three years terms.

AP Interview: Palin confident of gasline plan
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has a simple message for federal lawmakers concerned about meaningful movement toward building a natural gas pipeline.

Palin says all is well.

Palin said today (Friday) that she has had to ease concerns of federal energy regulators and lawmakers over a recent report to Congress that said progress toward the multibillion dollar project has ``slipped considerably.''

The federal report said the prospects for a pipeline are ``more remote than last year.''

That's when former Governor Frank Murkowski got three oil companies to agree to a fiscal contract, but failed to convince lawmakers to sign on. Critics said the proposed contract had too many giveaways.

Palin says her administration is further along than Murkowski was in getting a contract that can deliver a pipeline.

Since taking office two months ago, Palin has made the gas line a top priority. Almost immediately after taking office she met with 12 companies interested in delivering 35 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas resources to a nation watching the reliance on imports grow.

Palin will personally deliver her positive message to federal authorities in a few weeks while attending a state governor's conference in the Lower 48.

BP stockholders request freeze on Browne's retirement package
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Two large B-P P-L-C stockholders asked an Alaska court this (Friday) morning to freeze millions in retirement benefits for outgoing chief executive John Browne.

The stockholders say Browne does not deserve compensation in light of recent crises at the oil giant's facilities in Texas and Alaska.

At stake is at least 140 million dollars in cash bonuses as well as stock, stock options, long-term performance pay and pension benefits. That's according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The motion, filed in Alaska's Superior Court, asks that Browne's retirement package be placed in a court-approved trust while shareholders litigate with B-P over alleged violations of worker safety and environmental protection laws.

B-P spokesman Daren Beaudo (BOW'-doh) says the company does not comment on pending legal matters.
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The lawsuit was brought by the London Pensions Fund Authority, which owns 3.2 million shares of BP stock, and the U-S-based Unite Here National Retirement Fund, a clothing, hotel and restaurant union that owns six thousand shares.

The lawsuit bases its claims on the partial shutdown of the massive Prudhoe Bay field in Alaska last year and a refinery explosion in Texas City, Texas, that killed 15 people and injured more than 100 others in 2005.

William S. Lerach, a San Diego-based attorney for the plaintiffs, asserted Friday that Browne was directly responsible for the company's failures.

Browne is scheduled to leave the C-E-O position by the end of July.

Regents wrap up Juneau meeting
The University of Alaska Board of Regents unanimously approved a new Bachelor of Science degree in construction management at its two-day meeting in Juneau this week.

The four-year degree will be offered through the University of Alaska Anchorage campus.

The state's construction industry contributed over $100,000 toward startup costs.

The regents also spent an afternoon meeting with lawmakers in the Capitol discussing the university's FY 08 budget request.

The board is seeking $352 million from the state.

The university's Kate Ripley says a major portion includes a $37 million increase in state run retirement programs primarily the Public Employees' Retirement System and Teachers' Retirement System.

In 2003, the university's entire retirement bill was $13 million.

Ripley says the projected cost in FY 08 is over $90 Million.

In addition to student tuition, university generated grant revenue, and contracts the university's total budget is $880 million dollars

The budget request also includes $6.7 million toward health care, engineering, fisheries and programs as well as $2 million toward student success initiatives.

The budget request also includes $6 million for university research.

According to university officials, every $1 in state funds invested in UA research leverages $6 to $7 dollars from other sources, such as federal science agencies.

Alaska construction expected to grow
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Construction in Alaska is expected to grow this year.

A new report says a surge in oil industry spending is fueling the construction business.

The University of Alaska Anchorage's Institute of Social and Economic Research says total construction spending is expected to reach 7 billion dollars.

That would be a 7 percent increase over last year.

Construction has been one of the state's biggest economic drivers in recent years.

The report notes that roughly two-point-seven billion dollars is expected to be spent on the North Slope this year.

The report points out that the state's biggest oil producers have ambitious spending plans.

Vladivostok delegation visit cancelled
Monday's 15th anniversary celebration of Juneau's sister city relationship with the City of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East has been scrubbed.

CBJ Clerk Laurie Sica says a delegation was scheduled to arrive Sunday night, but they were not able to obtain their visas.

She says its hoped they'll be able to visit in the future, but nothing's been scheduled at this point. 

Skagway hires new City Manager
Valdez Harbor Master Alan Sorum gave the city two weeks’ notice that he will be leaving his job after accepting another job outside of Valdez.

“I’m Skagway's new city manager,” he told The Valdez Star in a brief interview Tuesday morning. “My last day with the city is the sixteenth.”

Sorum, who has been the Valdez Harbor Master for seven years, says that he and his family are not completely severing their ties to Valdez as of yet.

Sorum’s wife, Ruth Knight, is a teacher with Valdez City Schools, who is still on contract. They also have a child who is a senior at Valdez High School and the family does not plan to leave before graduation this May.

“My wife's still employed here,” said Sorum. “She's not moving on yet.”
(The Valdez Star)

Troopers ID body found near Kasilof River
KENAI, Alaska (AP) - Alaska State Troopers have identified the adult male whose body was found Monday on a beach near the mouth of the Kasilof River.

Troopers say the victim was 18-year-old Jared Struthers. He was reported missing after attending a party in Kasilof, prompting unsuccessful air and ground searchers.

Troopers say the identity could not be confirmed until the body was sent to the Medical Examiner's office.

Struther's next of kin have been notified. Troopers continue to investigate Struther's disappearance and death.

Man camping in unfinished Anchorage building died of hypothermia
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Anchorage authorities say a homeless man found frozen in an apartment that was under construction died of hypothermia.

Painters remodeling the Spenard-area building found the body of 41-year-old Nicky Rock crouched on the floor of an apartment a week ago.

Police say he had been camping in the single-story, multi-unit building for at least several days.

Detectives say Rock was positively identified through fingerprints this week.

An autopsy also revealed Rock had a high blood-alcohol level.

Police say the alcohol likely impaired his ability to properly defend himself against the cold.

The apartment was unheated, had no electricity and was gutted down to wood frames.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Saxman voters approve land sale
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) - Residents of Saxman have voted in favor of selling land to the Cape Fox Corporation.

The corporation plans to build a technology training center on the parcel near its headquarters.

The vote in Tuesday's special election was 57 in favor of the sale and 6 against. The land the corporation has leased for its headquarters building also was in the sale.

Cape Fox officials say the technology training center will train workers operating federal contracts such as light assembly, manufacturing, information technology and data management.

The land has an assessed value of more than 371-thousand dollars.
(Ketchikan Daily News)

State plans to air ads targeting teen pregnancy
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The state is planning public service announcements this year aimed at reducing rates of teen pregnancy.

Health officials say the ads will encourage young people to stick with others their own age in sexual relationships.

They will also try to communicate that sex can carry lifelong consequences.

Stephanie Birch is a family health supervisor with the state Department of Health and Social Service.

She says the messages are expected to air this spring.

The state health department will air the ads using federal grant money.
(Anchorage Daily News)

American Indians have highest diabetes rate, experts say
WASHINGTON (AP) - Government health experts tell Congress that American Indians and Alaska Natives suffer from diabetes more than any ethnic group and the disease is increasingly affecting young Indians.

Charles Grim is the head of the Indian Health Service. The told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Thursday that in some communities, the prevalence rate is as high as 60 percent among adults.

Grim said that agency statistics show that diabetes increased 128 percent among teens ages 15 to 19 between 1990 and 2004.

He says the disease increased 77 percent among young people younger than 15 during the same time frame.

A program that has established diabetes prevention and treatment programs in Indian country is set to expire next year. Two North Dakota doctors testified at Thursday's hearing, urging the committee to renew it.

Fight being waged over naming of game refuge
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The Pebble Mine project continues to create debate.

A fight may soon take place in the state capitol over a proposed game refuge a mining company claims is being used to block the project.

The proposal would establish a game refuge in the watersheds that make up the headwaters of Bristol Bay. It would be named after the late governor Jay Hammond, who made his home at Lake Clark and spent a lifetime protecting Alaska habitat.

The game reserve would encompass the land Northern Dynasty Mines Incorporated wants to use for an open-pit copper and gold mine.

Brian Kraft, a fishing lodge owner who is the Southwestern Alaska director of Trout Unlimited and a member of the anti-Pebble Mine group Renewable Resources Coalition, says the mine company would have to prove that it can coexist with the game refuge.

But he says the game refuge is not an attempt to shut down the mine.
(Thanks KTUU-TV, Anchorage) 

New cruise ship terminal in Seattle could unload sewage
SEATTLE (AP) - A new cruise ship terminal in Seattle could include a facility for pumping sewage sludge ashore where it could be treated.

Port Commission President John Creighton wants to study the idea, although it could add substantially to the cost of the 60 million dollar facility (at Terminal 91).

Cruise ships currently dump the waste when they are 12 miles offshore.

About 150 cruises are scheduled this summer between the Port of Seattle and Alaska. The ships have wastewater treatment systems, but they leave a concentrated waste.
(Seattle P-I) 

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