Electric rate hike to take effect April 16th 
The Alaska Electric Light and Power emergency rate hike will take effect April 16th.

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska has approved AEL&P's amended filing with the RCA to postpone implementation of the increased tariff so it applies only for power consumed after the April 16th avalanches.

So AEL&P customers that had their meters read the first week in April won't have to pay higher utility rates for the entire month of April.

The higher rates will be calculated from April 16th.

The rate before the April 16th avalanches was about 11 cents per kilowatt hour. The current rate is about 52.5 cents per kilowatt hour. 

The emergency cost of power adjustment rate will be the same as previously approved, only the implementation date will change.

The avalanches knocked down two transmission towers and damaged several others interrupting the flow of power from the Snettisham hydroelectric dam.

Juneau delegation asks Palin to override decision of disaster cabinet
Juneau's legislative delegation is asking Governor Palin to reconsider the decision of her disaster cabinet that the Snettisham avalanche electricity crises does not qualify as a disaster.

In the letter sent to the governor yesterday (Monday), the delegation states that the cabinet's decision limits the definition of disaster too narrowly and precludes Palin from exercising the same latitude as previous governors and does not take into account any future decisions made by the federal government.

The delegation also notes that there were no written findings outlining what criteria the disaster cabinet used to make it's determination.

They say the failure to declare a state disaster limits the state's congressional delegation's ability to request federal aid.

The delegation is inviting Palin to meet with Juneau residents to find out first hand how the huge hike in electrical bills is effecting them.

The delegation notes that in 1997 Governor Tony Knowles declared a state disaster as a result of the Bristol Bay salmon run collapse.

Knowles declared the disaster based on a temporary economic setback for Bristol Bay fishermen and associated workers and businesses.

State assistance totaled more than 2 million dollars.  

Democrat Jake Metcalfe drops out of U.S. House race
By DAN JOLING - Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Democrat Jake Metcalfe says he's dropping out of the race for the nomination for U.S. House from Alaska.

Metcalfe, the former chair of the Democratic Party in Alaska, said today (Wednesday) his decision was tied to fake Web sites that contained links to Democratic rival Ethan Berkowitz.

The disputed Web sites contained variations of Berkowitz's name but were not associated with the candidate's campaign.

When users clicked on the Web sites, they were directed to pages that attempted to portray Berkowitz as a privileged California liberal or to gay cultural sites in San Francisco.

Metcalfe determined that the smear tactics used with the Web sites was connected to someone in his campaign. He said he called Berkowitz to apologize.

He said the controversy had become a distraction and he was unable to campaign.  

Perseverance Trail closed for blasting
Perseverance Trail is closed through this Sunday.

Channel Construction crews will be blasting away a landslide that occurred over the winter.

Trail Mix Executive Director George Schaaf says the contractor will be using high explosives and heavy equipment.

$900,000 in grants and contributions have been spent over the last two years on improvements to the historic trail.

In December of 2006, Trail Mix began work on the Perseverance Trail fall to replace rotting wood supports with a new trail built directly on bedrock.

Workers will also do some additional grading work and begin installation of a safety rail along portions of the trail with very steep slopes.

Junk car round up set to end Thursday morning
The CBJ Spring junk vehicle roundup should reach it's goal of 400 cars sometime Thursday morning.

Once that number is reached, the round up will be officially closed.

The free disposal junk car program started Monday and Judy Harvey, the manager of the city's junk vehicle program, says they reached the limit sooner than expected.

Another round up is set for the fall.

The program is funded by CBJ funds and a motor vehicle tax.

Last years round up cost about $400,000.

Draft report on Juneau Icefield landings to come out at public hearing Thursday
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The Forest Service plans to release a draft report governing helicopters on the Juneau Icefield.

The draft will be released during a public hearing Thursday night.

Last year, the ice field had about 17,000 landings, even though 22,000 had been approved in a 2002 decision.

The agency is reviewing whether the data from 2002 is still valid.

The hearing is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the downtown public library. 

Thunder Mountain now has 387 of the 477 student projected enrollment
The principal of Thunder Mountain High School was among the guests on Capital Chat this morning (Wednesday) to provide an update on progress with the new school.

That included the number of students who are signed up to attend there next school year.

Patti Bippus says they have 387 students on the list. The projected enrollment is 477.

The initial sign up only produced 235. They thought of doing a lottery, but Bippus says they wanted people to be where they wanted to be.

There were about a hundred students who did not sign. So Bippus says they tracked them down and signed up some of them. Others were no longer in the district.

And others have changed their mind and want to go to Thunder Mountain.

A decision was also made to assign all students new to the district to Thunder Mountain unless they live a mile and a half of JDHS, out Thane Road, or north of the Bonnie Brae Subdivision out North Douglas Highway.

They developed an exception process which requires Bippus to meet with JDHS Principal Deb Morse to decide those cases on an individual basis.

Bippus was joined by School District Facilities Coordinator Deb Morse.

Morse says the plan still calls for the contractor to turn over the building on August 1st.

She says Coogan Construction is anywhere from two days behind schedule to two days ahead of schedule.

At one point the project was about two months to six weeks behind schedule due to the heavy snow the winter before last.

We also asked about the status of the auditorium which will be completed sometime after the school opens. Morse says a change order was issued to the contractor Tuesday. She says the best case calls for finishing the auditorium by January, but it will probably slip until March.

Miller Construction apparent low bid for track and field at new high school
Bids were opened today (Wednesday) for the track and field at the new Thunder Mountain High School.

The apparent low bidder was Miller Construction at $3,339,580.

The engineer's estimate with additive alternates $3,696,000.

Arete Construction was the other bidder. Its bid came in at $3,793,000.

School District Facilities Planning Coordinator Deb Morse says the bid is scheduled to be submitted to the Assembly for approval at its meeting Monday night.

She says the "Notice to Proceed" will be going out after the bid gains that approval.

Work is scheduled to start this summer. She says placing the turf on the field might slip until early Spring. She says a lot of it depends on the weather in October.

School Board okays calendar change for Mendenhall River Elementary
The School Board Tuesday night approved a calendar amendment for the Launching Literacy program at Mendenhall River Elementary School.

The amendment will allow for early release of students on Friday afternoons to give teachers an opportunity to examine data, look at student achievement, get additional training, and to adjust their instruction to meet the needs of their students.

Alaska scores low in number of students headed to college
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A new state study shows that one out of every 20 children entering ninth grade in Alaska will go on to graduate from college.

That gives Alaska one of the worst post-secondary education rates in the nation.

The study shows Alaska's efforts to improve the dropout rate have also failed.

North Slope oil price sets another record
Alaska North Slope oil for delivery to the West Coast set another record today.

It closed at $123.53 a barrel, up from Tuesday's $121.84.

Tripod tips in Nenana Ice Classic
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The tripod in the Nenana Ice Classic - Alaska's version of a lottery - has tipped over.

Contest officials say the tripod tipped at 10:53 p.m. Tuesday. Ice Classic manager Cherrie Forness says contest officials are still trying to determine how many winners there are - those people that down to the minute chose the correct time for when the ice on the Tanana River went out this year.

Once that is known, Forness says those people will be contacted with the good news.

This year's jackpot is over $303,000. It is slightly bigger than last year's - despite the pinch people are feeling from higher fuel and grocery prices.

Thousands of people pay $2.50 a ticket to guess what date and time to the minute a tripod set up on the Tanana River ice at Nenana, 55 miles south of Fairbanks, will move downstream and trip a clock that is wired to shore.

The Ice Classic is in its 92nd year.

Two additions made to tourism best management practices
There are a couple of new changes to the Tourism Best Management Practices list in time for this year's cruise ship season in Juneau.

One calls for buses traveling on Thane Road to move into the pull offs to allow traffic to pass.

The other change calls on operators not to idle their vehicles unnecessarily, whether they're buses or boats at docks, in order to reduce noise and pollution.

There are a couple of ways for the public to make their concerns known, according to Lorene Palmer, the President and CEO of the Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

One is the Tourism Hot Line that residents can call to register concerns.  That number is 586-6774.

The other vehicle is two public meetings held at the start of the season.  And Palmer says  operators also meet at the end of the season to review comments received via the hot line.

In addition, she says residents can always contact Assembly members with concerns.

Palmer says a top concern one deals with congestion. The other revolves around bus traffic.

There are 65 operators signed up to adhere to the program.  Palmer says there's a lot of peer pressure to belong to the program and stick to the guidelines.

She says the operators would much rather voluntarily employ good practices rather than have them handed down as regulation.

Atkins named new head of the Alaskan Command
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -The Air Force says Major General Dana T. Atkins has been named the new commander of the Alaskan Command.

Officials say Atkins will be succeeding Lieutenant General Douglas M. Fraser on Friday. He will also be responsible for the 11th Air Force, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and Joint Task Force-Alaska.

The two men will basically be switching states.

Fraser, who has been the military commander in Alaska since 2005, will move from Alaska to the Marine Corps' Camp Smith in Hawaii to become vice commander of the Pacific Command.

Atkins is currently special assistant to the Pacific Air Forces commander at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

Stevens wants United Nations to take action on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing
Senator Ted Stevens is urging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,  the State Department, and the Coast Guard to meet with Congress and bring the issue of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing to the United Nations.
He says the threat is pillaging the world's ocean especially off Alaska's coast.

Stevens made the comments at a committee hearing Tuesday with retired Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, Jr. the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA'S Administrator.

Stevens called on NOAA and the Commerce Committee to come together to form a task force with other federal agencies to raise the issue with the United Nations.

Stevens said there has to be legislation that's non-partisan, and if there isn't, the fish that is harvested off of Alaska are going to be gone.

Senator Stevens and Senator Dan Inouye recently introduced the International Fisheries Stewardship and Enforcement Act of 2008.

The bill would close the gaps in United States law that currently allow  such fish products to enter the country.

It would also strengthen United States’ fisheries law enforcement programs and would assist developing countries with fisheries monitoring and enforcement.

McDowell appointed to panel overseeing fishing and agriculture investments
Governor Palin has appointed Chris McDowell of Juneau to the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agricultural Bank Board of Directors

McDowell has been the lead Seafood Industry Project Manager of the Salmon Market Information Service since 1998 and is widely acknowledged as one of Alaska’s leading experts on world salmon markets.

He is a lifetime Alaska resident and has been a vessel owner and permit-holder in three Alaska commercial salmon fisheries for more than 20 years.

Mat Su woman arrested on Colorado murder warrant
A Wasilla woman has been arrested on a warrant from Colorado, where she's accused of killing a newborn baby.

22-year old Morgan Hite recently traveled to Grand Junction, Colorado, and gave birth. She returned to Alaska without the newborn boy.

The baby's body was found last week at the home of her parents.

Grand Junction Police say the pathologist determined that the baby was born alive. The exact cause of death was not disclosed.

Police say the body remained hidden for several weeks until it was discovered.

Alaska State Troopers arrested Hite at their post in Palmer Tuesday as they were assisting Grand Junction Police with the investigation.

She is charged with first degree murder and child abuse resulting in death, as well as being a
fugitive from justice.

Bail was set at $500,000 pending arraignment.

Five men arrested in Anchorage burglary attempt
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Police have arrested five men in a residential burglary in Anchorage that was reported Tuesday morning.

Officers say the suspects stole money, drugs, DVDs, electronics and a shotgun after entering the residence wearing ski masks and carrying firearms.

Officers were told that the victim awoke to three males standing in his bedroom.

The suspects had ordered the victim to the floor of the residence at gunpoint.

The victim was not injured during this incident.

The victim told officers he knew at least two of the suspects.

Those arrested were twin brothers Shane and Shawn Uele, both age 19, 18-year-old Jonathan Sala and 19-year-old Eric Saole. All are Anchorage residents.

Detectives also arrested a 15 year-old male. His name cannot be released because he is a juvenile.

The four adult defendants were scheduled to be arraigned today (Wednesday) at the Anchorage Jail Court.

Second man convicted in Anchorage drug killing
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A jury has found a second person guilty in the killing of a man during a robbery for prescription painkillers.

Twenty-one-year-old Trevor Stefano was convicted Monday for the murder of 32-year-old Walter Joe Brantley in August 2006.

Brantley was shot in his trailer home during a robbery of the painkiller OxyContin.

Arson Awareness Week focuses on fires started by children
This week is Arson Awareness Week.

According to the state fire marshal's office, Alaska is seeing an alarming increase in fires started by young children playing with matches and lighters.

Juneau is not immune to the problem, according to CBJ Fire Marshal Rich Etheridge. There's been quite a few such fires over the last couple of years.  They include small grass fires and the burning of out houses.

A recent example in Juneau was the house fire on Valley Boulevard last month that was started by juveniles who set plastic mats on the port on fire.

The fire was started at the only door and only way in and out of the home which could have trapped the resident if a neighbor had not spotted it and put it out with an extinguisher.

Etheridge advises residents to be extra vigilant and know where your kids are and keep matches and lighters out of their reach.

The fire marshal says, if requested by parents, they can intervene and talk to kids about the dangers of playing with lighters and matches.

The national theme for Arson Awareness Week is "Toy Like Lighters: Playing with Fire."

The state fire marshal's office says novelty lighters have become a serious problem throughout the nation because of their toy like appearance.

The lighters mimic common household items, as well as children's toys. Children are attracted to their visual effects, flashing lights and sounds.

They are not required to have child safety features like a standard lighter and have been responsible for deaths, injuries, and property loss throughout the U. S.

State Fire Marshal David Tyler says he's joining with several other states in an effort to pass legislation banning the sale of novelty lighters.   

Alaska has lowest rate of fatal falls in 65+ age group
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A report from the National Safety Council says Alaska has the lowest death rate from accidental falls among people over age 65.

The rate was highest in New Mexico at 99 deaths per 100,000.

In Alaska it was 15 per 100,000.

The National Safety Council says a fall is now the leading cause of injury deaths nationwide in that age group.

Mich. high court says gay partners can't get health benefits
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that a voter-approved ban against gay marriage also prevents governments and state universities from recognizing domestic partnerships to provide health insurance to the partners of gay workers.

The 5-2 decision affects up to 20 universities, community colleges, school districts and governments in Michigan with policies covering at least 375 gay couples.

Gay rights advocates say the ruling is devastating but also are confident that public-sector employers have successfully rewritten or will revise their benefit plans so same-sex partners can keep getting health care.

The ruling is believed to be one of the first from a state high court interpreting the scope of measures barring gay marriage.

Alaska courts went the other way, ruling that it's unconstitutional to deny benefits.

Ohio courts found that domestic violence laws don't conflict with a ban on gay marriage.

Numerous states have yet to grapple with how their gay marriage bans apply to same-sex partner benefits.

Improperly installed heating lamp blamed in house fire
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) - Fire investigators say the cause of Friday's blaze at a Ketchikan home was caused by defective installation of a bathroom ceiling heating lamp.

There were no injuries at the home of Jim and Barbara Guenther, but the house sustained serious damage.

North Tongass Fire Department Chief Dave Hull says the waterfront house had been assessed at $190,000, and was more than half destroyed.

Hull says the bathroom ceiling heat lamp fixture appears to have been installed too close to insulation. He says insulation was stuck to the metal fixture.

The fixture may have been installed as long as 20 years ago.
(Ketchikan Daily News)

Wuerch leaves authority aimed to build Knik Arm Crossing
Former Anchorage Mayor George Wuerch has resigned from his post as chair of the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority.

In a letter to Governor Palin, Wuerch announced his departure from the state-chartered agency.

Wuerch was tapped to lead the effort to build a bridge across Knik Arm when the panel was created during the Murkowski administration.

In his letter, Wuerch says the project can still be built and that it has progressed to the point where he can leave with minimal disruption.

The Federal Highway Administration signed a final environmental impact statement for the project in December.

Over a year ago, two potential investors made their pitches to build the crossing.

Engineering firm U-R-S Corp was one. The other is a group calling itself the "K-A-C Constructors Consortium."