Juneau

A state court judge ruled Monday afternoon to move a lawsuit over the still-disputed U.S. Senate race from Fairbanks to Juneau. Superior Court Judge Douglas Blankenship transferred the case to Alaska's capital city saying it's inconvenient for the state to be involved in a case in Fairbanks. Senate candidate Joe Miller filed the lawsuit against the State of Alaska one week ago today to stop the Division of Elections from using discretion in determining voter intent with write-in ballots.

by Channel 2 News staff Saturday, October 11, 2008 JUNEAU, Alaska -- A group of about 200 gathered in front of the state capitol Saturday, announcing they won't be supporting Sarah Palin on the McCain ticket next month. The protestors said they wanted to get a message to the state and country about why some Alaskans aren't rooting for their governor. "There's the ethics issue, there's the issue that she doesn't have the experience to be vice president and she supports policies that are not good for our country and not good for Alaska," Jeannette Lacey said.

by The Associated Press Sunday, April 18, 2010 JUNEAU, Alaska -- Tests done on a suspicious powder found in a shipping box at Bartlett Regional Hospital have determined it is no threat. The hospital in Juneau reopened an area of administrative offices Friday that had been quarantined since Wednesday. The powder was tested for biological threats at the State of Alaska Epidemiology Lab in Anchorage and found to be benign. Hospital spokesperson Jim Strader says operations are back to normal.

Union workers gathered in Juneau Tuesday to show support for peers in Wisconsin, where the Republican-led chamber is trying to pass a bill cutting collective bargaining rights for most public employees. “The concern is that if it happens there it could happen anywhere,” said Leanne Griffin, a Juneau resident. The group of about 100 people chanted and sang just steps from the Capitol, a scene which played out in at least five other states. Gary Miller, a Juneau resident, who was born and raised in Wisconsin, felt compelled to speak out on behalf of friends and relatives back home.

Public officials gathered Monday to celebrate the opening of a Juneau mine. Attorney General Dan Sullivan was present during the official ceremony for the Kensington Gold Mine after playing a key role in ensuring the mine would open. A lawsuit brought by environmental groups to shut down the mine had delayed the opening, but the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state and Coeur d’Alene Mines in June of last year. The mine is expected to employ more than 200 annually and produce more than 100,000 ounces of gold each year.

The Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears won the 2012 Alaska State Baseball Championship 12-6 over the Ketchakan Kings Saturday.  Senior pitcher Lance Ibesate put forth a herculean effort driving in 5 runs including a 5th inning grand slam that put significant distance between the two clubs.  After the game, and through a pie covered face, Ibesate talked about his big hit saying "I was hoping it was out but I knew it was going to be deep, I...

by Rebecca Palsha Wednesday, July 9, 2008 JUNEAU, Alaska -- Lawmakers have gaveled in for yet another special session this summer.     The topic of debate is substantial: Should TransCanada be awarded a state license to build a $30-plus billion natural gas pipeline? If that's not already enough, lawmakers also took on the concept of a bullet gas pipeline on Wednesday. The bullet line would initially send natural gas from Cook Inlet north to Fairbanks, according to a public-private partnership project outlined by Gov. Sarah Palin.

by Rhonda McBride Wednesday, April 15, 2009 JUNEAU, Alaska -- The debate over Gov. Sarah Palin's three appointments for Juneau's vacant Senate seat has stirred up both Democrats and Republicans. "In some ways I think it makes the Legislature and the third branch of government look silly," Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, said. McGuire blames the governor, and says if Palin's not breaking the letter of the law, she's definitely breaking its spirit. "I'm concerned that she's left them no choice," McGuire said.

by Rhonda McBride Thursday, March 12, 2009 JUNEAU, Alaska -- Lawmakers say they now go out of their way to set boundaries when it comes to dealing with outside influences that can tempt their ethical actions in the Legislature. For example, at a hearing on Cook Inlet gas development, a company exploring for gas wants help with some of the regulatory hurdles. But legislators are wary. "It is not our position to influence any type of regulatory agency," Rep. Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, said.

by The Associated Press Sunday, May 2, 2010 JUNEAU, Alaska -- Dive crews have removed more than 10,000 gallons of bunker oil from a shipwreck near Juneau, and the work is continuing. Work began nearly a week ago to pump oil from the Princess Kathleen shipwreck near Juneau. In addition to bunker oil, divers also have recovered nearly 1,000 gallons of oil that was free-floating within the wreck. The Princess Kathleen ran aground on Point Lena in 1952, and has periodically released small amounts of unrecoverable oil in the years since.

On Friday, automotive minds from across the state tested their skills at the University of Alaska Anchorage in the Auto Skills Challenge. The top students from Juneau, Ketchikan, North Pole, Fairbanks, and Anchorage raced against the clock to diagnose and repair vehicles. Each team worked on their own car - all the same model, and all with the same "bugs. " The competition was designed to get young people interested in automotive repair and was sponsored by Ford and Triple A.      “Even though they may not end up in a dealership, it keeps them in the field to where we can keep your car going,” said Don Polich, AAA Automotive Dept.

It's a wrap. Alaska lawmakers marked 90 days in Juneau for the 28th legislative session. Here's a fun video from the Gavel to Gavel Alaska folks. They shared the video on Facebook : "We were a bit too late to get this on the air. But hey, the Internet exists for stuff like this. Edited by Kelsey Gobroski. Contact Neil Torquiano

The Coast Guard safely found a man and his sailboat near Juneau Wednesday night after he was reported overdue en route to Juneau from Haines, the second lone mariner found aboard a troubled Southeast Alaska sailboat in two days. Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg says Tony “Scott” Pearce had moved the 25-foot-long sailing vessel Darshan into William Henry Bay and taken shelter from poor weather conditions. He was well-stocked with emergency supplies and planned to resume his journey to Juneau Thursday morning.

Alaskans have only a few more days to apply for a 2013 Permanent Fund Dividend, with the March 31 deadline to do so coming up Sunday -- and application offices closing for the weekend Friday afternoon. A statement from the Alaska Department of Revenue says online applications, which can be submitted on the Permanent Fund Division's website from most computers, iPads and iPhones, must be completed by 11:59 p.m. Alaska time Sunday. The department encourages people planning to file over the weekend to ensure their devices' compatibility beforehand, by using a browser-testing tool on the website.

Several Alaska broadcasters issued a challenge to cable provider General Communication Inc.'s plans for expansion Friday, filing a petition with the Federal Communications Commission to block the company's purchase of three television stations in Anchorage, Juneau and Sitka. Broadcasters that filed against GCI subsidiary Denali Media Holdings' November acquisition of Anchorage CBS affiliate KTVA-TV, as well as Southeast Alaska NBC affiliates KATH-TV in Juneau and KSCT-TV in Sitka, include: KTUU-TV owner Northern Lights Media, Inc. Vision Alaska LLC, owner of ABC affiliates KYUR-TV in Anchorage, KATN-TV in Fairbanks and KJUD-TV in Juneau Ketchikan TV LLC, owner of Southeast Alaska CBS affiliates KXLJ-TV in Juneau, KUBD-TV in Ketchikan and KTNL-TV in Sitka Coastal Television Broadcasting LLC, owner of Anchorage Fox affiliate KTBY-TV The companies' FCC filing cites GCI's already massive reach in Alaska, emphasizing its status as a dominant media player throughout the state.

A Mackenzie Howard memorial service will be held Tuesday evening in Juneau, the first of several formal events remembering the 13-year-old girl whose body was found a week ago at a church in the village of Kake. Kake Mayor Henrich Kadake says the public service for Howard is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall, at 320 W. Willoughby Ave. A Kake memorial service for Howard will be held Friday at 7 p.m. in the Kake Community Hall, which will also host her funeral service at noon Saturday.

A University of Alaska Anchorage student has collected 50-thousand books to be housed at a Tonga library still in the works, in the aftermath of a 2009 earthquake that triggered a devastating tsunami. 29-year-old Kato Ha'unga heard from family members in Tonga that the destruction washed out the library, so she started collecting books from UAA. “I always go to the bookstore at UAA and there is a free bookshelf and coming from a third world country books exposed me to the world outside Tonga and I wanted to share the abundance life I have here in Alaska with my cousins in Tonga,” Kato Ha'unga said.

The Alaskan Republican Party (ARP) met at their Anchorage headquarters Thursday evening to discuss the fate of their newly elected chair, Russ Millette. About four hours later, the State Executive Committee found that Millette did not perform the duties of a chair-elect and removed him from his newly appointed position. "The Executive Committee are really responsible for the operations of the republican party," SEC Regional Representative Bruce Schulte said. "We have a fundamental mission which is to get Republicans elected, it's important our leadership is up to that task.

A recent change in the state's plans to construct new ferries has been touted as more flexible by Gov. Sean Parnell's administration -- but a Southeast Alaska state senator isn't on board with the modifications. It doesn't have cars, pavement or yellow lines, but make no mistake: the Alaska Marine Highway System isn't just a means of transportation for tourists, it connects communities throughout the state. "Over half of our highway system is over water,” said state Sen. Dennis Egan (D-Juneau)