: In the News
Fundraising goal achieved for D.C. trip by Glacier Valley students
Thirty-four fourth and fifth graders at Glacier Valley Elementary are headed to Washington, D. C. today (Wednesday) as they take their production of the Tides and the Tempest on the road.
A farewell performance Monday evening resulted in the surpassing of the fundraising goal of $65,000 to cover travel costs.
Glacier Valley was one of five schools across the nation invited to perform at the Kennedy Center.
The invitation is the result of the school being named a recipient of the center's "Creative Ticket National Schools of Distinction Award."
The award recognizes schools that have done an outstanding job of making the arts an essential part of student education.
That performance is scheduled for March 14. It will also be performed the next day at the National Museum of the American Indian.
The performance can be seen live on the Kennedy Center web site at 2 p.m. Friday Alaska time.
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/schedule.html
Defending champion Mackey wins Iditarod
NOME, Alaska (AP) - Defending champion Lance Mackey has won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
The 37-year-old throat cancer survivor from Fairbanks and 11 dogs crossed the finish line under Nome's burled arch at 2:46:48 this morning. (Wednesday)
He yelled "Yeah, baby!" as he drove his team down Nome's Front Street. Fans mobbed him along the last stretch.
For much of the 1,100-mile race Mackey tussled for the lead with four-time winner Jeff King of Denali Park, who was about an hour behind Mackey.
He also struggled with dogs stricken with diarrhea and slowed by unseasonably warm weather that marked much of the trail.
King, a four time champion, crossed the finish line at 4:05:51.
Mackey's win was a repeat of the historical feat pulled off by Mackey in 2007 when he became the first musher to win back-to-back runs in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race and the Iditarod in the same year.
Alaska oil exceeds $108 headed $109
Alaska North Slope crude for delivery to the West Coast closed Tuesday at $108.60 a barrel.
That was up from Monday's close of $107.75.
NEW - Anchorage Police sending out bills for excessive calls
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The city of Anchorage is billing residents for excessive police calls.
Two residents have been billed thousands of dollars for calling police more than eight times in a year.
Two others are getting letters this week that they may billed for excessive police calls, as well.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Interior inspector general looks into delay in listing polar bear
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Interior Department's inspector general has begun a preliminary investigation into why the department has delayed for nearly two months a decision on listing the polar bear as a threatened species.
The decision was supposed to have been made by early January. But when the deadline came, Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service said it needed another month. That timetable also was not meet.
A spokesman for the inspector general's office says a case had been opened in response to a letter from several environmental groups.
He says the preliminary inquiry will determine whether a full-fledged investigation is warranted. Scientists have said the bear is under growing threat because of the recent significant loss of Arctic sea ice due to global warming.
Kerttula: 90 day session proves "Too fast, Too furious"
The Legislature last week reached the 45th day or half way point of this legislative session which was restricted by voters to 90 days.
Juneau Representative Beth Kerttula compares it to the movie, "Too Fast, Too Furious."
She says the process is "off rhythm."
Kerttula hopes the 90 day session will be chocked up as a failed experiment in time.
She says bills are going so fast its difficult to decipher their unintended consequences. In addition, she says other good bills don't have a chance to get going.
Kerttula also says its been difficult in the budget process to give some items the good, hard look they warrant.
The Legislature has the option to change the law two years after the passage of an initiative. But Kerttula hopes the public will do it.
She says that may happen, since the public will have felt cut out of the loop and determine the 90 day session wasn't a good idea.
Sachs passes away at 90
Retired Resurrection Lutheran Church pastor Glen Sachs has passed away.
Sachs, who was 90 years old, died Saturday at Bartlett Regional Hospital
He's remembered by another retired pastor from that church, Paul Beran, who said if he had to summarize him in one phrase it would be, "What you see, is what you get."
Beran said Sachs was kind and thoughtful, but very adept at saying exactly how he felt. "That was one of the many real loveable dimensions to Pastor Glen Sachs," Beran said.
He added, "He's loved by many people across Juneau."
Sachs was the pastor at Resurrection Lutheran from January 7, 1965 to July 1, 1972.
Word on services is pending.
Fundraising goal achieved for D.C. trip by Glacier Valley students
Thirty-four fourth and fifth graders at Glacier Valley Elementary are headed to Washington, D. C. today (Wednesday) as they take their production of the Tides and the Tempest on the road.
A farewell performance Monday evening resulted in the surpassing of the fundraising goal of $65,000 to cover travel costs.
Glacier Valley was one of five schools across the nation invited to perform at the Kennedy Center.
The invitation is the result of the school being named a recipient of the center's "Creative Ticket National Schools of Distinction Award."
The award recognizes schools that have done an outstanding job of making the arts an essential part of student education.
That performance is scheduled for March 14. It will also be performed the next day at the National Museum of the American Indian.
The performance can be seen live on the Kennedy Center web site at 2 p.m. Friday Alaska time.
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/schedule.html
Defending champion Mackey wins Iditarod
NOME, Alaska (AP) - Defending champion Lance Mackey has won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
The 37-year-old throat cancer survivor from Fairbanks and 11 dogs crossed the finish line under Nome's burled arch at 2:46:48 this morning. (Wednesday)
He yelled "Yeah, baby!" as he drove his team down Nome's Front Street. Fans mobbed him along the last stretch.
For much of the 1,100-mile race Mackey tussled for the lead with four-time winner Jeff King of Denali Park, who was about an hour behind Mackey.
He also struggled with dogs stricken with diarrhea and slowed by unseasonably warm weather that marked much of the trail.
King, a four time champion, crossed the finish line at 4:05:51.
Mackey's win was a repeat of the historical feat pulled off by Mackey in 2007 when he became the first musher to win back-to-back runs in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race and the Iditarod in the same year.
Alaska oil exceeds $108 headed $109
Alaska North Slope crude for delivery to the West Coast closed Tuesday at $108.60 a barrel.
That was up from Monday's close of $107.75.
NEW - Anchorage Police sending out bills for excessive calls
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The city of Anchorage is billing residents for excessive police calls.
Two residents have been billed thousands of dollars for calling police more than eight times in a year.
Two others are getting letters this week that they may billed for excessive police calls, as well.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Interior inspector general looks into delay in listing polar bear
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Interior Department's inspector general has begun a preliminary investigation into why the department has delayed for nearly two months a decision on listing the polar bear as a threatened species.
The decision was supposed to have been made by early January. But when the deadline came, Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service said it needed another month. That timetable also was not meet.
A spokesman for the inspector general's office says a case had been opened in response to a letter from several environmental groups.
He says the preliminary inquiry will determine whether a full-fledged investigation is warranted. Scientists have said the bear is under growing threat because of the recent significant loss of Arctic sea ice due to global warming.
Kerttula: 90 day session proves "Too fast, Too furious"
The Legislature last week reached the 45th day or half way point of this legislative session which was restricted by voters to 90 days.
Juneau Representative Beth Kerttula compares it to the movie, "Too Fast, Too Furious."
She says the process is "off rhythm."
Kerttula hopes the 90 day session will be chocked up as a failed experiment in time.
She says bills are going so fast its difficult to decipher their unintended consequences. In addition, she says other good bills don't have a chance to get going.
Kerttula also says its been difficult in the budget process to give some items the good, hard look they warrant.
The Legislature has the option to change the law two years after the passage of an initiative. But Kerttula hopes the public will do it.
She says that may happen, since the public will have felt cut out of the loop and determine the 90 day session wasn't a good idea.
Sachs passes away at 90
Retired Resurrection Lutheran Church pastor Glen Sachs has passed away.
Sachs, who was 90 years old, died Saturday at Bartlett Regional Hospital
He's remembered by another retired pastor from that church, Paul Beran, who said if he had to summarize him in one phrase it would be, "What you see, is what you get."
Beran said Sachs was kind and thoughtful, but very adept at saying exactly how he felt. "That was one of the many real loveable dimensions to Pastor Glen Sachs," Beran said.
He added, "He's loved by many people across Juneau."
Sachs was the pastor at Resurrection Lutheran from January 7, 1965 to July 1, 1972.
Word on services is pending.