Juneau Daily News Online

Monday,  May 6, 2002

Abortion bill fails to advance for Senate vote
Action to bar the state from providing elective abortions was delayed in the State Senate today. Senate Bill 364, failed to advance to third reading and a vote on the same legislative day.

The measure would prohibit using Medicaid for abortions except for cases where it is medically necessary or in the case of rape or incest,

The Alaska Supreme Court has thwarted that legislative effort in the past.

Gas line bill sent back to House Rules Committee
The State House delayed debate today on a measure that proposes incentives to the industry for construction of a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope. Speaker Brian Porter sent the measure back to the Rules Committee.

House Bill 519 provides temporary relief from state and local property taxes during the project's construction phase and first year of operation.

Governor Knowles is proposing lawmakers not be so generous. Knowles has asked the House to cut by half a proposed incentive plan that would cost the state about 600 million dollars in tax revenues.

CBJ - Cruiseship Association project-based agreement considered tonight 
The Assembly, tonight, considers a draft resolution authorizing a project based-agreement between the North West Cruiseship Association and CBJ for the Steamship Wharf-Marine Park project. 

The Cruiseship Association has offered 3.6 million dollars towards the first phase's estimated cost of 5.4 million. 

Also tonight, two appropriation ordinances on the agenda deal with port projects.

One for $100,000 is to determine the feasibility and approximate cost to lengthen the South Ferry Dock by 200 feet southward. The manager's office says the extension is needed to accommodate two next generation cruise ships alongside the municipal wharves at the same time.

The other spending measure funds $150,000 for design of the Steamship Wharf - Marine Park improvements. The target bid date is August 1 of this year in order to have the improvements ready for next year.

In both cases, the funds would come from the unreserved portion of the Port Fund.

An ordinance up for introduction earmarks $2.8 Million for the high school renovation project. That's the difference between the low bid for the project and what was actually estimated. $2.5 Million comes from the Budget reserve while $300,000 is projected interest earnings from the 2002 General Obligation Bonds.

Another measure up for introduction this evening accepts $60,000 from an anonymous donor for the purchase of equipment for the Treadwell Ice Arena.

Firefighters respond to grass fire
A grass fire was reported out the road last evening.

Captain Pete Hettinger of Capital City Fire and Rescue says they responded at about 6 p.m. to Mile 35 of the Glacier Highway. A fire along the beach was found there. It spread from an abandoned camp fire.

He says volunteers were able to use portable pumps with salt water to douse the fire. Forest Service personnel also responded. Hettinger says the entire job took about two hours. He says its extremely dry and advises caution with outdoor fires.

Alaska leads in per capita federal spending
A U-S Census Bureau report says Alaska now has the highest per capita rate of federal spending in the nation.

The report issued last month says the federal government spent 10,214 dollars for every Alaskan in fiscal year 2001.

Alaska had 627-thousand people as of April 2000 and the federal government spent 6-point-4  billion in the state the following fiscal year.

Alaska stands out on a per capita basis in three areas. Its fiscal 2001 federal payroll was 1-point-4 billion, due in part to a large military presence. Alaska's federal payroll wasn't much below the 1-point-6 billion spent on federal employees in Oregon, though that state has five times Alaska's population.

Alaska also has plenty of grants issued by federal agencies. Alaska's total in fiscal 2001 was 1-point-5  billion, compared to Oregon's two  billion.

Alaska also prospered in federal highway funding, which the Census Bureau pegged at 334  million last year. That's more than every western state except California, Washington and Arizona.

State official says mining boom over, but could return
The mining boom that started in the late 1980s is over, according to a state regulator.

Bob Loeffler, who directs the state office that regulates Alaska's gold, zinc, coal and other mines, told the Resource Development Council in Anchorage last week that the value of all production, development and exploration is declining from its high in 1999.

Loeffler says a drop in mineral prices has hurt the sector, especially falling gold prices. Still, he says several new mines may be coming on line in the next few years, including some near the Denali Highway. Loeffler hops the industry uses the downturn to prepare for the next boom.

Barrett turns over command of Coast Guard in Alaska
Admiral Tom Barrett relinquished command of the 17th Coast Guard District during ceremonies this morning.

He's heading to Washington, D. C. to become the second in command of the entire Coast Guard.

Admiral James Underwood is the new commander. He most recently was the national security advisor to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.

Underwood has served in Alaska in the past. He once commanded the Buoy Tender Sweetbrier which is home ported in Cordova.

Ogan's back
Palmer Representative Scott Ogan was back on the floor of the State House today.

Ogan, who suffered a heart attack earlier this session, celebrated his 50th birthday Friday.

Fellow House members sang him a belated birthday greeting. He responded by saying they can razz him all they want about being 50, but he' just glad to be there.

Ogan suffered the heart attack March 16 at his Palmer home and was hospitalized in Anchorage in critical condition. He was released earlier this month.

Firearms theft in Ketchikan remains under investigation
Alaska State Troopers continue to seek information about firearms stolen from a storage locker in Ketchikan in March. Troopers say more than 70 weapons were stolen and 29 have been recovered.

Twenty-four-year-old Tom Watson Junior, 39-year-old James Maher and 18-year-old Carson Knight were indicted last month and charged with burglary and theft.

Trooper Sergeant Lonnie Piscoya says many of the stolen weapons were old or collectors' items and some of the guns are more than 100 years old.

Biggest derby king turned in this morning
There's a new leader as of this morning in the Spring King Salmon Derby sponsored by Tlingit - Haida Central Council.

Noel S. Algrabre turned in a 32.2 pound King this morning. That replaces the 30 point 5 pound King turned in by Sean McKeown Saturday as the number one fish at this time.

The council's Archie Cavanaugh says Algrabre purchased his ticket at 6 p.m. Sunday and caught the fish two hours later. By that time, all the weigh in stations were closed, so he didn't turn it in to Jerry's Meats until eight this morning.

Nineteen fish were turned in as of mid-day today. The smallest is 17 point 5 pounds. There are prizes for the top 30 fish. .The angler catching the biggest fish will receive $8,000 in cash and prizes.

There are three weigh-in stations. In addition to Jerry's Meats and Seafoods, they are Alaska Seafood Company, and Taku Fisheries. All fish must be gutted and gilled when weighed in.

The month long derby started May 1st.

Ice classic includes questionable guesses
Officials of the Nenana Ice Classic are not sure when the ice will go out on the Tanana River but they're confident some guesses will not win the annual guessing contest.

The Nenana Ice Classic receives hundreds of tickets each year that end up being no more than donations to jackpot. This year, there were 87 guesses for April 31.

Ice Classic manager Cherri Forness notes that there is no April 31st, and the number is down from about 100 guesses last year for that date. Last year, every month of the year got at least one guess, including nine for the month of July.

The jackpot for this year's Ice Classic is 304-thousand dollars. The pot is split between people who come closest to guessing when ice on the river will move and charitable organizations in the Nenana area.

Last year, the ice went out on May 8, a week or so after the normal date. Ice Classic officials say it could be even later this year.

July fundraiser to combat cancer planned in in Juneau
The organizing of a "Relay For Life" at the end of July at Dimond Park by the Juneau unit of the American Cancer Society is now underway.

Co-Chair Tuula Marquardt said on KINY's Capital Chat this morning that it is a 12 hour relay that will be held at Dimond park July 27 and 28th. It begins that Saturday evening and continues until six the next morning. She says the hope to raise $20,000.

Joining Marquardt on today's program was the event's other co-chair. Staci Augustus. is in charge of organizing teams. She says a couple of teams are already signed up. Their goal is to have 15 teams.

Registration is $100 for each team and $50 per member. Corporate sponsorships are also available.

The event is scheduled July 27 and 28th. It starts that Saturday evening and ends the next morning at six.

For more information call 586-2466.

                                                                          ©  Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News)