School board opts for renovation of Auke Bay Elementary
The Juneau School Board decided on the renovation option for Auke Bay Elementary School rather than a rebuild of the school during a special meeting early this afternoon.

That's the recommendation it will send to the Assembly for voter approval of bonding during the October ballot.

The school district's Kristen Bartlett says the board concluded renovation would meet the needs of students and staff.

And it would be less expensive. The cost of a new school was estimated at $30.3 Million while the renovation is pegged at $20.5 Million.

The project would eligible for 70 percent reimbursement from the state.

Bartlett says the renovation option would cost an average $300,000 homeowner about $52 a year.

The board's recommendation now goes to the Assembly.

If okayed there, it will be up to voters.  

Entangled humpback whale and calf are free
A humpback whale and her calf are free after a life-threatening entanglement with a gillnet.

On Tuesday morning NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service received a report from fishermen that a mother and calf humpback whale had just gotten entangled in fishing gear off Point Baker in Sumner Strait.

NOAA spokesperson Julie Speegle says it was a life threatening situation for both whales.

The entanglement was too complex for the fishermen to attempt to free the whales without endangering themselves.

They contacted NOAA and continued to monitor the animals until a whale disentanglement response team from NOAA's Protected Resources Division in Juneau arrived on scene to lend a hand.

Speegle says, remarkably, the whales were able to work themselves free over the course of a number of hours.

The adult female had shed all gear, and the calf had very small remnants of netting still caught on barnacles on its head and on the left side of its tail.

Speegle says the remaining gear on the calf would likely be shed within a day and was no longer life threatening.

NOAA credits the fishermen in reporting, monitoring and assisting in the effort.

Speegle says disentangling a 40-ton whale is dangerous and should only be performed by experienced and authorized responders.

Mariners are requested to report any sightings of whales in distress to NOAA at (877) 925-7773.

Air show to go on despite deadly crash
RACHEL D'ORO -Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Military officials say a popular air show will go on, days after four people were killed when a military cargo plane crashed at an Anchorage base during a training demonstration for the event.

The Wednesday evening crash occurred at Elmendorf Air Force Base Wednesday evening, three days before the start of the Arctic Thunder air show, set to run Saturday through Sunday.

The names of the four men on board the C-17 have not been released pending notification of relatives.

Three of those killed were in the Alaska Air National Guard, and the fourth man was on duty at Elmendorf.

Officials say the plane went down about a minute after it took off from a runway.

The C-17 was part of the 3rd Wing, based at Elmendorf.

More Raptors headed to Elmendorf
Alaska's Elmendorf Air Force Base will receive six additional F-22 Raptors, according to the Air Force.

The base in Anchorage is getting six more of the aircraft along with 102 more personnel as part of a larger national realignment of F-22 assets

It means the base in Anchorage will have two full squadrons of F-22's with 21 in each squadron.

U. S. Senator Lisa Murkowski says the decision confirms that Alaska continues to be one of the most strategic places in the world for military basing.

She added that the announcement is a fitting tribute to  the airmen killed in Wednesday's C-17 crash.

Senator Mark Begich says he received notification of the decision during a conversation today (Thursday) with Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General Carrol "Howie" Chandler.

The announcement followed a request by Begich in a June letter to Air Force leaders.

Begich says he discussed the C-17 crash with General Chandler. As a former commander of the Alaskan Command, Chandler said the Pentagon shares Alaska's sense of loss.

Alaska Congressman Don Young calls it a bittersweet day for Elmendorf.

Bill Allen won't testify in Weyhrauch trial
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Court papers indicate that former Veco Corp. head Bill Allen won't be a government witness in the corruption trial against former state Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch.

Weyhrauch's lawyer Doug Pope filed a memorandum with U.S. District Court in Anchorage saying that federal prosecutors told him they have no intention of calling Allen to testify.

Allen pleaded guilty to bribery and tax violations and now is serving three years at a federal facility in California.

It's unclear how the government would prosecute Weyhrauch without Allen. However, there are other Veco officials they could call.

Allen's credibility has suffered since he was the chief government witness in three prior federal corruption trials, including that of former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.

Therriault resigns
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A top energy adviser to Gov. Sean Parnell is resigning amid questions about the legality of his hire.

In a resignation letter, Gene Therriault says the "political turmoil" generated by Parnell detractors over his hire last year has become a distraction and potential detriment to the governor.

One of the governor's opponents in next month's Republican Primary calls Therriault's hiring an abuse of power.

Ralph Samuels says it was in violation of the State Constitution and law. He says its regrettable that it took political pressure and potential damage to his election campaign for anything to happen.

Therriault resigned as a lawmaker last year to join Parnell's administration in the new post.

Lawmakers aren't allowed to take positions created while they were in office for at least a year.

Parnell has defended the hire, saying he acted in good faith and relied on Department of Law advice.

GOP gubernatorial candidates debate
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The three highest-profile GOP candidates for governor made their case for votes — and even took occasional jabs at each other — during a debate in Juneau.

Gov. Sean Parnell, Ralph Samuels and Bill Walker each gave mini versions of their stump speeches, with Parnell talking about his record during his first year.

Samuels pressed the need for more restrained government spending.

Walker reiterated his belief that an instate natural gas line is essential to the state's economy and jobs.

Walker has been called a one-issue candidate; he brands himself the "all Alaska candidate," a reference to an all-Alaska gas line.

Parnell, while not mentioning him, said being governor is about much more than a single issue.

Revised ethics regs going to public for comment
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaskans will get another chance to comment on proposed changes to ethics rules for executive branch officials.

The proposals are similar to those released after Sarah Palin resigned as governor amid ethics complaints last year.

State ethics attorney Judy Bockmon says the changes reflect public comment since then and during the Legislature, when several ethics bills were proposed but went nowhere.

Changes include clarifying that it's allowable for a family member of the governor or lieutenant governor to travel at state expense if their presence is "required for official action of the state."

Another would let an outside party pay travel costs for a public official to carry out official state business if the official got clearance from an authorized supervisor in advance.

The comment period ends August 31.

Palin fund managers seek more donations
RACHEL D'Oro - Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The managers of Sarah Palin's new legal defense fund are asking supporters to generate more donations to help the former Alaska governor pay off the "burden of her legal fees."

E-mails sent out Thursday on behalf of the Sarah Palin Legal Defense Fund link to a page on the fund's website featuring a U.S. map sprinkled with pink dots signifying friends.

The e-mail asks recipients to share the "campaign" with friends and family, adding, "we can cover the map with Sarah's supporters across the country!"

Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, cited the toll of multiple "frivolous" ethics complaints as one of the reasons for her resignation as governor last year. She has said she racked up at least $500,000 in legal fees.

Fund manager Tim Crawford did not return requests for comment.

Dead whale is second for Sapphire Princess in 2 years
The impaling of a whale by a cruise ship like what happened to the Sapphire Princess on its way from Ketchikan to Juneau this week has happened before.

As a matter of fact it happened to the same vessel.

Kirby Day, the cruise line's director of Shore Operations in Alaska, says the ship hit a fin whale near Vancouver Island last summer.

A necropsy from that incident revealed the animal had been dead for a number of days, according to Day.

He says it was floating in the ocean and their vessel just happened to hit in just the right manner to also end up on its bulbous bow.

Kaja Brix, the director of Protected Resources for NOAA in Alaska, says there have other incidents of a similar nature in the past.

A couple involved cruise ships coming into Juneau with whales on their bulbous bow.

A necropsy on the whale killed this week is scheduled for Friday.

Charging bear leads to closure of an area in Glacier Bay National Park
A bear encounter in Glacier Bay National Park has led to closure of one area.

A park employee hiking along the Bartlett River upstream of the boardwalk there was charged by a brown bear.

Allison Banks of the park says it charged at a fast pace from the other side of the river, about 150 feet away.

The bruin got to within 15 feet when the park employee deployed a bear pepper spray.

Banks says the bear veered around the employee and continued to run into the forest and did not return.

They're not sure the bear was hit by the pepper spray cloud and may have been scared off by the noise it made when it was set off.

Banks says charging behavior is indicative of a brown bear defending a food source or cubs.

Park Service biologists are investigating the possibility of a carcass or cubs in the area.

She says the area will be closed until the investigation has been completed.

US reps sign letter against Sealaska lands bill
MARY PEMBERTON - Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Dozens of U.S. House members have signed a letter opposing a bill allowing a private Alaska Native corporation to select choice lands in the nation's largest national forest for its own use.

The bill would allow Sealaska Corp. to pick lands outside designated areas — a feature that has led to charges that the Native corporation is cherry-picking lands in the Tongass National Forest.

Sealaska Corp. is entitled to 85,000 acres under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Fifty-eight House members signed the letter that says the bill would "severely threaten the economic and ecological well-being of the Tongass."

Sealaska says the letter is "misleading" and "ill-informed." It says the bill would maintain and create jobs, while preserving old-growth trees.

Rape suspect to be tried again
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Police say DNA evidence led to new charges against 49-year-old Anthony Dillard in two unsolved rape cases.

The Anchorage man was acquitted in a sexual assault case last year.

The new cases are from February 2005 and August 2007.

Troopers arrest suspect in high-speed chase
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Alaska State Troopers say they have arrested a 41-year-old Fairbanks man suspected of evading officers earlier this year in a chase that reached speeds of 100 mph.

David W. Wiebe was charged Monday with felony failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer. He's also charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and driving with a revoked license.

Troopers say an officer early April 29 spotted Wiebe pull into the parking lot of a bar and recognized him as someone who had a revoked license.

Troopers say Wiebe let a woman passenger dismount from his motorcycle, then took off.

The chase wound out north of Fairbanks, with the suspect at one point driving onto a bike path along Farmers Loop to avoid patrol cars blocking the roadway. The pursuit eventually was called off for safety reasons.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Lake No Lake release causing Take River to rise
Water in the Taku River is high. but it's not expected to go over its banks.

Meteorologist Corey Van Pelt in the Juneau Forecast Office explains the high water is the result of the annual release of ice from Lake No Lake near the Tulsequah Glacier.

He says it began to drain on Tuesday night with water levels continuing to rise through Wednesday night.

As of Thursday morning, the river was at 37.86 feet. It's expected to reach 42.7 feet this week and then  drop off rapidly from there this weekend. Minor flooding occurs at 43 feet.  Moderate flood stage is 44 feet, he says.

The forecaster says to expect a large amount of debris and ice moving down the river over the next three days.

Cabins in the area could be at risk if it did spill over its banks.

Rainfall breaks records in interior Alaska
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — July in eastern interior Alaska will be remembered for being soggy.

The National Weather Service says rainfall in the upper Tanana Valley and Fortymile River basin has exceeded or is approaching monthly records in multiple locations.

At the airport in Northway, 6.12 inches of rain had fallen as of Monday. That's the second-highest July rainfall total on record since 1942.

The record is 6.42 inches in 2005.

O'Brien Creek at Mile 113.5 Taylor Highway recorded 6.4 inches of rain.

Flooding temporarily closed the mostly gravel highway and caused an estimated $6 million in damage during the past two weeks.

In Tok (toke), 4.93 inches of rain had been recorded as of Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 4.43 inches in July 1992.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Harbors Board to elect officers, authorize inspection of Steamship Wharf in-water structures
Tonight's meeting of the Docks and Harbors Board  of Directors will be highlighted by the annual election of officers.

Port Director John Stone says one action item calls for  payment of $133,490 to the city for a contract to Tinnea and Associates to perform cathodic protection and timber inspection of the Steamship Wharf area.

The contractor will look at corrosion and the condition of all the in-water structures between Marine Park and the parking garage.

They will make recommendations on prolonging the structures' life or any needed replacements.

Stone says that work will take place this fall.

Another action item is a $408,950 contract amendment to Jensen Yorba Lott for administration and inspection for the Port Customs and Visitor Center project.

Stone says the project is slated to begin October 1st and will take two years to complete with construction taking place during the off season.

The Assembly recently awarded the construction bid to North Pacific Erectors.

The board is scheduled to continue its discussion of funding a feasibility study for a proposed cold storage facility.

The fourth item is Taku Smokeries' proposal to expand it's dock so it can accommodate two boats at the same time.

The board will also discuss the impact of the recent 20 percent increase in electrical rates granted to Alaska Electric Light and Power on the rate the board charges to harbor patrons.

Stone says any increases would not apply to those patrons that have accounts with AEL&P.

The Docks and Harbors Board meets at 7 tonight in the Assembly Chambers.

Teen bicyclist fatally struck by truck
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A 14-year-old girl has died and another juvenile was injured after they were struck by a pickup truck while riding their bicycles in Fairbanks.

Police say witnesses told officers that the Ford F-150 ran a red light shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday as the two bicyclists and another juvenile bicyclist headed away from the Latter-day Saints church off the Steese Highway.

The teenage girl died at the scene.

One of the other cyclists was taken to a local hospital with injuries after the accident at the intersection of the highway and the Johansen Expressway.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner says the third bicyclist appeared to be unhurt.

Police have not released the names the dead girl, the other bicyclists or the truck driver, who was questioned at the police station.
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Information from: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

ATV road rage leads to man's hospitalization
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A man may lose sight in one eye and another man is facing felony assault charges after an ATV road rage incident grew violent in an Interior Alaska village.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports that 32-year-old Jacob D. Savage has been charged with one count of second-degree assault after allegedly punching Alfred Peter in the face 15 times, causing skull fractures and possible brain bleeding.

Police say the incident began when Savage and Peter were driving their ATVS in Fort Yukon's unpaved roads. Peter told police that Savage ran a stop sign, prompting him to race ahead of him.

Apparently that enraged Savage and he chased Peter to the house of Fort Yukon Magistrate Dacho Alexander.

Bail for Savage has been set at $10,000.

Fort Yukon police Lt. Jeremy Fernandes says Peter is being treated at Providence Medical Center in Anchorage and may lose sight in one eye.

Fort Yukon is 150 air miles northeast of Fairbanks and is only reachable by plane or boat.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

APNewsBreak: Lack of awareness was factor in shutdown
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The operator of the 800-mile trans-Alaska pipeline system says its own internal review cited a power failure and lack of "situational awareness" as contributing to a contained oil spill in May.

Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. spokeswoman Michelle Egan says the company isn't releasing the report, wanting to ensure worker privacy and a candid flow of communication.

She says lessons learned -- like the need for greater situational awareness -- are being put into practice during scheduled maintenance shutdowns of the line.

One such shutdown is planned this weekend.

The line was idled for nearly 80 hours in late May after Alyeska said a power failure during a planned shutdown caused normally closed valves to open, leading to an overflow of oil from a storage tank to a containment area.

Man cops guilty plea in beating case
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A 25-year-old Chignik Lake man who pleaded guilty to beating a friend to death has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Investigators say Edwin Pedersen beat 22-year-old John Kalmakoff to death with an ax after the two got into a drunken argument. Chignik Lake is on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula 265 miles southwest of Kodiak.

Newlywed charged with assaulting her husband
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A 23-year-old Fairbanks woman has been charged with threatening her new husband with a knife and slashing tires on his car.

Jessica Bender was arraigned Tuesday afternoon on felony charges of burglary, assault and criminal mischief.

Charging documents say Bender and her husband were married July 8.

A witness called police Monday night after seeing a car driving down a street with four flat tires.

Bender's husband told police that Bender was in a jealous rage and accused him of cheating while he was visiting a friend.

She's accused of forcing her way into the friend's home and holding a butcher knife to her husband's neck.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports Bender has no prior criminal record.

Her bail was set at $15,000.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Anchorage mayor overturned on fire dept fundraising ordinance
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Anchorage Assembly has overturned Mayor Dan Sullivan's veto of an ordinance that allows on-duty firefighters to take part in a Muscular Dystrophy fundraising campaign.

Sullivan said the annual campaign violated city ethics laws.

The ordinance makes it clear that on-duty city employees can participate in some charity fundraising.

Latest ball scores...
The Juneau team at the Majors Baseball State Tournament in Anchorage took game one Wednesday night.

Juneau defeated Knik 6 to 2.

Game two in the best of five series is tonight.

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The Juneau baseball squad at the Junior Tournament in Anchorage lost game 3 to Abbott O Rabbit Wednesday night 14 to 4.

Juneau still leads the best of 5 series two games to one.

Game four is tonight.

===

Juneau's softball team in the state tournament being played in Juneau is down two games to nothing now in the best of five series.

They lost to Nunaka Valley 4 to 0 Wednesday.

If Nunaka Valley wins tonight's game, that team will advance to the West Regional Tournament in Tucson, Arizona beginning August 4.

The first pitch this evening is at 7 at Melvin Park.

Yukon Quest says minimum purse will be $150,000
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Organizers of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race say the minimum purse for next year's race will be $150,000.

The annual race alternates start and finish lines between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. The 2011 race is scheduled to start Feb. 5 in Whitehorse and end in Fairbanks.

A formal announcement regarding the purse for the 2011 race is scheduled for Aug. 7, the first day for mushers to sign up in person.

Palin's new book cover described
NEW YORK (AP) — The cover photo for Sarah Palin's new book is a portrait in red, white, blue and gray.

The Alaska ex-governor and former Republican vice presidential candidate is photographed in close-up, wearing a gray sweater and American flag pin and flag bracelet.

Her book, "America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag," comes out in November.