Juneau

The Juneau City Assembly listened intently Monday night as their Emergency Manager testified that the only way to significantly reduce the city's avalanche threat was to offer to buyout homeowners. 62 homes in the city lay beneath major avalanche pathways. Juneau is surrounded by mountains up to 3,500 feet high, and has been judged by the Swiss Snow Institute as the urban area with the greatest avalanche hazard anywhere in the world. Major Avalanches in 1890, 1926 and 1962 knocked houses off of their foundations but -- amazingly -- killed no one. Such a major avalanche in the future is inevitable, but with the town's population having grown, it would be a miracle if fatalities could be avoided.

Two Republican lawmakers introduced new legislation Tuesday to push an in-state natural gas pipeline. House Speaker Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski) and Rep. Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage) have introduced the legislation that would, in part, turn three current legislative bills into one, in an effort to address Alaskans' energy needs. Chenault says one of the current bills his legislation would include is a law that would put together a fund to pay for work related to an in-state pipeline.

The Juneau School District will cut nearly 70 positions and $5.8 million in spending from its proposed budget for fiscal year 2013, in response to an expected shortfall with no presumed increase in state or city funding. Budget documents released by the district project a $4.3 million shortfall -- $1.325 million of which was due to expiring grants -- if it maintains current service levels into next year. The personnel cuts include an estimated 69.7 positions, which were drawn from across the district to minimize cuts to teaching staff.

It's a relatively quiet Monday in the state Capitol. It's the day before the Legislature gavels in for the first time this year, and it's a holiday to boot. Much of the commotion from the Capitol hallways is coming from people tearing down boxes used to move supplies into lawmakers' offices -- part of the last-minute preparation for the 90-day session ahead. Even though the state's 60 lawmakers haven't begun their work in Juneau yet, some big debates loom ahead: Lawmakers have already filed 58 new proposed laws and resolutions.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers are investigating three deer deaths that were left as wanton waste in Juneau, according to Alaska State Troopers. According to AST, the Sitka Blacktail deer were dumped down Montana Creek Road last Thursday. None of the edible meat was salvaged and the carcasses were spoiled and very rotten. In the troopers dispatch, the investigation estimates the deer were killed within the past month and were likely hanging in a garage or shed while spoiling.

A fatal shooting at a Juneau home Friday night, which left a 42-year-old man dead and a 42-year-old woman injured, is under investigation by local police. Juneau Police Department dispatchers received a 911 call from the woman shortly after 11 p.m. Friday, who said she'd been shot inside a residence on the 9000 block of Stephen Richards Memorial Drive. Responding officers found the woman with a gunshot wound to her abdomen and the man with a gunshot wound to his head. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by Capital City Fire and Rescue, while the woman was taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital for treatment of what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.

The power went out across Juneau Thursday morning at about 6:30 a.m. when the Snettisham hydro-electric power plant went offline due to a line fault. AEL&P was able to get power back up using diesel generators and other power plants about 75 minutes later, AEL&P's Scott Willis told Juneau's NBC affiliate KATH-TV. AEL&P says guy wire anchors supporting one of three towers near the end of the 42-mile line had failed, causing one of the towers to fall into another, causing a short.

Alaska State Troopers have identified a hunter who was shot in the lower back on Southeast Alaska's Admiralty Island and medevaced by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter Sunday morning. Jason Lindley, 25, has been flown to Seattle for treatment. Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer 2nd Class Charly Hengen says watchstanders in Juneau received a radio report of the shooting from Lindley's hunting party, on the northwest side of Admiralty Island, at about 9 a.m. An MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter in the region heard the call and self-diverted to the hunting party's location near Hawk Inlet, where crew members were able to pick Lindley up. He was taken to emergency medical personnel in Juneau at about 10:10 a.m., then stabilized at Bartlett Regional Hospital for transport to Seattle.

Juneau police have identified a crane operator who was trapped and killed in the collapse of a crane on Douglas Island Thursday afternoon. The body of 75-year-old Boyd Cody was recovered from the crane's wreckage Friday. Police were notified at 3:12 p.m. Thursday that the 25-ton crane had tipped over in the 3000 block of North Douglas Highway. A JPD spokesperson said part of the crane fell into Gastineau Channel. Officers responded to the scene, along with Capital City Fire and Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard, but were unable to immediately retrieve Cody's body “due to concerns regarding the stability of the scene.” An investigation into the incident are continuing.

Amu Aukusitino of Service capped a tremendous junior season by being voted State Large Schools Offensive Player of the Year on Sunday night by Alaska coaches.  Aukusitino accumulated 2,471 passing yards, the second-highest toal in state history, while also rushing for 13 touchdowns and 885 yards.  The quarterback lifted the Cougars to the large schools championship with his performance.  Top defensive honors in large schools went...