Juneau News

Senate President Charlie Huggins said Monday he expects a proposed constitutional amendment that would restructure Alaska's educational system to go before the full Senate Wednesday even though opponents appear to have enough votes to kill the measure.

A troubled Parnell administration bill to overhaul land use management in Alaska made its first appearance in this year's legislative session Monday afternoon when a new version was introduced in the Senate Resources Committee.

The process is largely conducted by the Alaska Judicial Council, which consists of three non-attorney Alaskans and three Alaska attorneys.

Sold as a leap forward in 2011, the electronic system with its blue stations has faced technical problems and angered many city visitors.

State Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, returned from Juneau to answer questions at a wide-ranging town hall meeting in Soldotna Saturday afternoon.

A California man with ties to the oil industry is the newest member of the Alaska board that sets the value for oil industry property, and a spokeswoman for Gov. Sean Parnell says the appointment is legal - despite a state law that requires board members to be registered Alaska voters.

"With avalanche rescue, essentially you have 20 minutes, half an hour at the most," Mike Janes, AEL&P Avalanche Forecaster, said.

Police say a 7 mm rifle, a .338 Winchester Magnum rifle with synthetic stock, two .22-caliber rifles, and a .308 bolt action rifle were taken earlier this month from a home in the 8100 block of Threadneedle Street.

Brian Bezenek of the National Weather Service office in Juneau provides some details about their forecast of snow and the winter weather advisory that has been posted for Juneau and vicinity starting on Friday evening, while Barbara Lindh of Eaglecrest Ski Area says all that fresh snow will come in handy for a variety of events this weekend.

Julia O'Malley writes a general interest column about life and politics in Anchorage and around Alaska.

Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, said she had a problem with how fast amendments were being adopted.

After changes were made in January to the AlaskaCare Health Plan for retirees, the state Division of Retirement and Benefits and plan administrators received nearly 50,000 emails and phone calls.

Budget cuts in residential substance abuse treatment would cost the state more over the long term, according to mental health professionals and addicts.

A Ketchikan man who kicked a Coast Guardsman in the face has been convicted of assault on a federal officer.

Two costly, challenging and controversial road projects are being pushed this year by the Parnell administration, and on Thursday all sides made a quick case before a joint meeting of the House and Senate transportation committees.

On Wednesday, a letter from employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service concerning the Alaska Energy Authority's plans for the Susitna-Watana Project was made public.

In a story March 4 about the state Safe Surrender law, The Associated Press, relying on information from the state Department of Health and Social Services, reported erroneously on the budget for an ad campaign to raise awareness of the law.

After two years of hassling with its Aparc Systems blue parking kiosks, Juneau, Alaska, has canceled its contract and has filed a lawsuit against the company.

Historical pictures of Alaska U.S. Senators Bob Bartlett and Ernest Gruening compiled for the first Bartlett-Gruening Dinner by Geoffrey Bacon.

Brian Holst co-chaired the Juneau School District Budget Committee this year. He presented the committee's recommendations to the school board Tuesday night.