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School Board approves
voluntary drug testing program
The voluntary drug testing has been approved by the Juneau School
Board.
The program will kick off on Wednesday.
Superintendent Glen Gelbrich says students who sign up by
Wednesday afternoon will get a free movie pass.
Those who sign up during the first week will be entered in a grand
prize drawing for 25,000 Alaska air miles.
The mandatory program for student athletes started up earlier and
has not resulted in any positive tests to date.
The board will also be adopting legislative priorities and capital
fund needs that will be submitted to the Assembly.
There will be a presentation by the high school principals on the
Next Generation planning process which the superintendent says
includes some changes for next year.
Case of
missing nose under investigation by JPD
Juneau Police are nosing around looking for more information on a
case involving a 40 year old Juneau man who is missing the tip of
his nose.
Police responded to that report at about 2 a.m. Tuesday
and are investigating the possibility it was bitten off due to the
nature of the wound.
Capital City Fire Rescue took the man to the hospital where he was
treated.
He was uncooperative and would not tell officers what had
happened, however he did say he was assaulted by one or more
people.
Officers located the missing piece of the nose in the downtown
Marine Park area and rushed it to hospital staff to evaluate
whether or not it could be reattached.
The case is under investigation as a possible felony assault due
to the level of the injury.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the Juneau Crime Line
at 586-4243.
State Troopers
seize booze headed for Angoon
The Alaska State Troopers say two Angoon residents were caught
trying to bring alcohol into the dry community of Angoon.
On February 5th, State Troopers in Juneau say they received
information that two vehicles would be traveling from Juneau to
Angoon on the Alaska Marine Highway and they would be transporting
alcohol to Angoon.
On February 6th, after the ferry docked in Angoon, State Troopers
and the Angoon VPSO, met with 23 year-old Chenara Kookesh and 29
year-old Travis See and conducted warranted searches on their
vehicles.
Troopers say items seized from the vehicles in the search included 12
bottles of whiskey, 9 bottles of vodka, 6 cases of beer, a bottle
of rum and a bottle of schnapps.
Charges are being forwarded to the District Attorneys Office in
Sitka.
Discovery
Channel: "Deadliest Catch" captain dies
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A spokesman for The Discovery Channel
says the captain of the "Deadliest Catch" fishing vessel
Cornelia Marie has died.
Capt. Phil Harris suffered what his family described as a massive
stroke on Jan. 29 while the boat was in port at St. Paul Island,
Alaska.
The 53-year-old fisherman was flown to Anchorage for
surgery.
A Discovery spokesman says the Harris family contacted the network
Tuesday evening with word of his death.
Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman issued a statement
on behalf of Harris' sons, Jake and Josh It says in part, "It
is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad - Captain
Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be
until the end."
In the network's own statement, Hillman says, "We will miss
his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous
heart."
She said no additional information was immediately available.
The Discovery Channel reality show depicts the crab fishing
industry in the dangerous waters off Alaska.
Harris' fishing vessel was based in Seattle.
Judge again
declines new trial for Kott
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A federal judge has declined to review
his decision to deny a new trial for former Alaska state Rep. Pete
Kott on corruption charges.
U.S. District Judge John Sedwick said Monday that he won't
reconsider his Jan. 13 ruling denying Kott a new trial or
dismissal of charges.
In his ruling, Sedwick said new information that surfaced the day
after his January decision was insignificant.
Kott, who is appealing his case, has argued that federal
prosecutors improperly withheld information he could have used in
his defense at his 2007 trial.
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Information from: Anchorage Daily News
Chief Justice:
Cooperation key to curbing crime
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Walter
Carpeneti says cooperation among all branches of government is key
to curbing crime, recidivism and inefficiencies in the criminal
justice system.
The comments came in Carpeneti's State of the Judiciary address to
a joint session of Alaska Legislature Wednesday.
The issues he highlighted are focal points of a Criminal Justice
Working Group whose members include state department heads and
court system representatives.
Carpeneti praised the group, and the Legislature's funding of it,
for easing administrative bottlenecks and creating programs like
those to smooth the transition of inmates from prison.
Senate
majority wants more capital spending
BECKY BOHRER - Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Members of Alaska's Senate majority would
like to spend more than $100 million on community capital
projects. They see that as the limit the governor has asked them
to stay under.
Senate President Gary Stevens said lawmakers agreed last year to
hold back on capital requests because of state budget
uncertainties. But a recent revised revenue forecast, cited by the
Parnell administration, projects a surplus of more than $2.2
billion for the fiscal year ending June 30, largely due to higher
than expected oil prices.
Members of the Senate bipartisan working group agree with Parnell
that $1.5 billion is off limits, reserved for education and paying
back a debt to a reserve fund.
But Stevens said many lawmakers would like to see four to five
times the $100 million spent on local projects.
Parnell told
reporters later that he wasn't governor last year and he's
preaching restraint this year despite the surplus revenues.
Still, he says, his proposed capital budget is significantly
higher than the one last year.
Exxon says it
drills 1st test well at Pt. Thomson
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Exxon Mobil says it has drilled the
first development well for the Point Thomson project.
Exxon also announced Monday that a 60-mile ice road has been
completed from Endicott to Point Thomson, allowing the transport
of heavy equipment and material to the site on the North Slope.
The well was drilled to a depth of more than 16,000 feet. The
company says the shore-based rig was directionally drilled under
the Beaufort Sea to a gas reservoir more than 1 1/2 miles
offshore.
The company says the project about 60 miles east of Prudhoe Bay is
scheduled for production in 2014.
Tax proposal
would rewards in-state hiring
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A House committee has agreed to consider a
revamped oil and gas measure that would create tax breaks for
companies whose work forces are comprised of at least 80 percent
Alaskans.
The in-state hiring incentive was attached Monday to a bill
sponsored by Republican Rep. Craig Johnson. His measure would
partially roll back industry taxes created in 2007 under the
Alaska Clear and Equitable Share, or ACES.
Discussions on the overall bill are expected in the coming weeks.
The jobs incentive appeared to have bipartisan support in the
House Resources Committee, though partisan lines are forming on
the overall bill.
Anchorage Democratic Rep. Chris Tuck says he would prefer the
in-state hiring incentive stood as its own bill so it would be
more likely to pass.
Death penalty
bill likely to die
The sponsor of death penalty legislation fully expects it will die
when this Legislature adjourns in April.
House Speaker Mike Chenault introduced House Bill 9 last year to
restore the death penalty in Alaska.
It would permit lethal injections for first degree murder cases
and possibly child molesters.
It was reported out of the House Judiciary Committee, its first
committee of referral last year and is now pending in Finance.
Chenault commented during a press availability last session that
he would be surprised if the bill actually passed, but his hope
was to begin a dialogue.
The Legislature debated restoring the death penalty in 1998 and
again in 2000, which resulted in making the maximum 99-year prison
sentence mandatory for certain murders.
The death penalty in Alaska was abolished by the Territorial
Legislature in 1957.
The last execution in Alaska was a hanging in the early 1950's in
Juneau at the gallows of the Territorial Courthouse located where
the current State Office Building sits.
Alaska Rep: gas regulating
bills need work
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A key House committee chairman says two
bills that would regulate Alaska's wholesale gasoline prices are
dead unless their sponsors make changes.
The measures would place a ceiling on the price of gasoline as it
leaves the state's two gasoline-producing refineries.
If either passes, Alaska would become the only state to regulate
gasoline.
House Labor and Commerce Committee Chair Kurt Olson of Kenai tells
the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner that after speaking with a state
Department of Law specialist he thinks the so-called price gouging
bills need work.
One of the bills' sponsors, Fairbanks Rep. Scott Kawasaki, says
he's working on some changes.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Executive branch ethics proposal
clears hurdle
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — State legislators have made no formal
objection to proposed ethics regulation changes.
The joint Administrative Regulation Review Committee held a public
hearing on regulations proposed by Attorney General Dan Sullivan.
The regulations apply to the executive branch and deal with issues
raised by complaints during former Gov. Sarah Palin's
administration.
After a Law Department review of public comment, the regulations
will take effect unless lawmakers pass superseding legislation.
State officials exonerated of ethics complaints could be
reimbursed for legal fees under the proposed rules.
The proposed regulations also clarify that members of the first
family are eligible for travel reimbursements only when their
presence at events benefits the state.
AK agency wants
budget change for Medicaid program
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - Alaska's Department of Health and Social
Services is asking the Legislature to approve a bookkeeping change
to try to resolve budgeting problems with a Medicaid reimbursement
program.
Alaska uses the program to help state government and school
districts pay for administering medical services to
Medicaid-eligible students.
The state suspended the program last year after federal agencies
raised questions about financial reporting.
The department wants the Legislature to authorize a $7 million
bookkeeping request.
Officials say that does not call for extra spending, only a change
in the state's accounting systems.
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Information from: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Man convicted of
Anchorage murder
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Anchorage man who shot his sister's
boyfriend has been convicted of second-degree murder.
A jury in Anchorage convicted 29-year-old Keane "Alex"
Crawford on Monday in the December 2008 death of 40-year-old
Anthony Brown.
Prosecutors say Crawford and Brown got into a fight while drinking
at Brown's home.
The Anchorage Daily News reports Crawford acted as his own
attorney.
He'll be sentenced May 21.
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Information from: Anchorage Daily News,
Improvements boost Red Dog mine
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Red Dog zinc and lead mine near
Kotzebue reports improved operations last year allowed it to
produce record amounts of metals and increase profits by $34
million.
Manager John Egan told The Anchorage Daily News investing $6
million in staff and consultants paid off in productivity.
The Red Dog is the largest mine in Alaska.
The improvements were mostly simple solutions to make things run
smoother: speedier removal of snow and ice that clog ore feeders,
replacing parts before they break, and ordering products in bulk.
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Information from: Anchorage Daily News
"Pick
Click Give" PFD numbers are up over last year
The number of people donating part of their Permanent Fund
Dividend to charity has already exceeded the amount from last
year.
The Rasmuson Foundation, which manages the "Pick Click
Give" program, says more than 53-hundred PFD applicants have
used the system. And the application period is open until March
31st.
The amount of money donated is not known, but last year more than
5-thousand Alaskans donated about 550-thousand dollars to more
than 330 organizations.
The Department of Revenue is still working on a solution for those
who were unable to use the system when the application period
opened with the new year.
(KENI - Anchorage)
Matanuska
overhaul delay causes schedule changes
The Alaska Marine Highway has had to adjust vessel schedules.
Roger Wetherell of State DOT explains that the Matanuska was a
little late coming out of a six week overhaul period.
As a result, they had to juggle schedules with the Taku and
Malaspina. Wetherell e says they don't believe it had any impact
on any previously made reservations of people with staterooms or
vehicles, but they are taking a close look.
The Matanuska was scheduled to return February 2nd but was delayed
until the 5th.
Juneau dealer: Full Impact
of Toyota problems on Juneau just a guess at this point
What's been the impact of Toyota's troubles in Juneau?
We put that question to Steve Allwine of Mendenhall Auto Center,
who says he doesn't exactly know how many impacted owners he'll
have since they purchased the dealership in recent years.
He doesn't have a sense how many units there are in operation at
this time. "I don't even have a guess," he says.
Allwine says Toyota has been very supportive of dealerships and
their customers.
He says they'll advising people to wait until they receive
notification from Toyota before coming in.
Anchorage
man gets 12 years for robbery
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A 34-year-old Anchorage man will serve
12 years in federal prison for robbing a credit union.
Jarell Paul Arnold was sentenced in U.S. District Court in
Anchorage. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of credit
union robbery.
Arnold was charged with the August robbery of $600 from an Alaska
USA Credit Union branch.
The FBI says Arnold entered the branch and asked for the balance
on his account. The teller asked for his name, account number and
ID. Authorities say he complied, and then stated he had a gun and
wanted money.
At the time of his arrest, he was on supervised release for a
prior bank robbery conviction.
Houston police sergeant
keeps his job
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) —
The Houston City Council voted 4-3 last night for controversial
police Sgt. Charlie Seidl to keep his job. He had been suspended
for shooting eight dogs and cats that had not been adopted from
the city shelter.
The officer also accused Mayor Roger Purcell of impersonating an
officer when he took a police car to Fairbanks and used the
emergency lights to pass other drivers. Purcell has denied that
charge.
Purcell says those claims are unfounded, as was Seidl's report
that the mayor had ordered him to shoot animals.
(KTUU-TV)
S&P
rates Anchorage bonds high
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Standard & Poor's gave Anchorage a
top rating — SP 1+ — for short-term notes the city wants to
sell to raise money until property tax revenue comes in later this
year.
The chief financial officer for the city, Lucinda Mahoney, says
S&P also signaled the rating for longer-term bonds would be AA
— the same as it has been, based on a stable underlying economy
and good financial management.
Mayor Dan Sullivan told The Anchorage Daily News the rating puts
to rest city fears that the bond rating would be hurt by
accusations in a letter Assembly member Bill Starr sent last month
to the FBI. It asked the FBI to evaluate reports from City
Attorney Dennis Wheeler critical of the prior administration's
handling of city finances.
(Anchorage Daily News)
More than $1 million available
for salmon research
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Department of Fish and Game
is looking for proposals for salmon research.
The agency says it has more than $1 million in funding for salmon
research, monitoring and management projects in the Arctic, Yukon
and Kuskokwim region.
The first call for proposals will open this Friday when the agency
will offer approximately $600,000 for salmon stock assessment and
management projects.
The agency is looking for proposals that could provide better
escapement estimates and information on why king and chum salmon
stocks have declined.
A second call for proposals is planned for late March.
Humpbacks
possible culprits in low Prince William Sound herring numbers
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Marine scientists suspect humpback
whales may be responsible for holding down the herring population
in Prince William Sound.
Scientists are investigating why the herring population hasn't
rebounded since the Exxon Valdez oil spill 21 years ago.
One theory is that humpbacks are taking a bigger bite out of
herring schools.
Johnson goes nude
in Playgirl
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The teen father of Sarah Palin's
grandson is featured on the cover of the upcoming print version of
Playgirl magazine — sporting nothing but a sultry gaze.
The nude photos of 19-year-old Levi Johnston were a huge hit last
fall on the magazine's Web site.
The print version will be on newsstands Feb. 22.
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