Juneau

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)

The Alaskan Brewing Company announced Tuesday that left over beer by-product is being used as a fuel source. The Juneau brewer uses wet grain, known as "spent grain" left over from the brewing process, as the sole fuel source for its steam boiler. The company claims it's the first brewery in the world to use the by-product as a fuel source. A company representative says it reduces the company's fuel oil consumption in brewhouse operations by 60 to 70 percent. The brewery says over the next 10 years it expects to save nearly 1 point 5 million gallons of oil by using the spent grain as a fuel source.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. For more than 50 years, the Storis was involved in ice-breaking, search and rescue, law enforcement, and medical and disaster relief service in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea. The ship was built in Ohio and commissioned in 1942. It was transferred to Juneau in 1948 and provided medical and judicial services to western Alaska villages. The Storis spent almost 5 decades based in Kodiak.

The sentencing for a Hoonah man convicted of killing two police officers will be pushed back. Public radio station KTOO in Juneau says a presentence report on John Marvin Jr. in the 2010 shootings of Hoonah Police Department Sgt. Anthony Wallace and Ofc. Matthew Tokuoka was due late last month, but it hasn't been drafted yet. According to the station, Sitka Superior Court Judge David George said he verbally requested a report on Marvin...

Animals lovers, including state legislators and Anchorage municipality assembly members, gathered Sunday, January 6, 2013, to discuss animal advocacy. The three-hour meeting was organized by the Anchorage Animal Control Advisory Board to review upcoming and past laws regarding animals. Organizers said it was also a way for people who care about animals to connect. Attendance at the workshop included local pet sitters, pet owners, and people interested in volunteering with animal groups.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating two small-plane crashes this month, including one of a small plane that suffered a landing-gear failure at Juneau's airport Thursday afternoon. Local media said neither of the Juneau plane's two occupants were taken to the hospital, and the NTSB said no injuries were reported in a Dec. 3 crash near Mekoryuk. NTSB investigator Brice Banning says the Juneau International Airport incident involved a Cessna 150 with a “taildragger” undercarriage, modified from the aircraft's original tricycle landing gear.

Gov. Sean Parnell opened the doors of the Governor's Mansion in Juneau Tuesday afternoon, as he and his wife Sandy hosted the annual Christmas and holiday open house. Staff prepared 24,000 cookies and 200 pounds of fudge for the annual tradition, which took place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors were also served hot cider and other holiday treats by members of the governor's cabinet. This year is the 100th anniversary of the mansion, which was built in 1912. The open house has happened in 98 of those years, after being skipped twice during World War II. “This open house is really our time to open up Alaska's house, enjoy meeting about 3,500 people as they come through to get cookies and treats, and hear some great music from some local artists and musicians,” Parnell said.

We went to the moon in 1969, a moment where time stopped and the world watched. That same year, President Nixon gave Alaska a gift from outer space, a souvenir from the moon. Those moon rocks from Apollo 11 were on display at an Anchorage transportation museum in 1973, when the building was torched by an arsonist. That's when the rocks disappeared. They were missing until late 2010 when former Alaska resident, Arther Anderson - the foster son of the museum's director - asked a Superior Court judge to declare him the owner of the rocks.

The Division of Elections will recount the ballots casted for the House District 34 race today in Juneau. The recount will take place this morning at the Division of Elections office in downtown Juneau. Representative Bill Thomas requested the recount last Wednesday. Thomas is trailing Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins by 34 votes. The House District 34 seat encompasses several southeast Alaska communities.   Contact Jessica Ridgway  

Gov. Sean Parnell has announced the date for the annual Christmas and holiday open house at the Governor's Mansion in Juneau. The celebration will take place Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. People with special accessibility needs are invited to call 907-465-3500 to arrange for a facilitated entry between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. The mansion was built in 1912 and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. In honor of the centennial celebration, a “Polar Express” theme will be incorporated into the Winter Wonderland display, complete with a conductor on hand to stamp each child's train ticket, and bells will be doled out as holiday souvenirs as children exit the house.