Watchdogs: Drop Stevens from committees now; Senators: Let investigation proceed
Tue, July 31, 2007
A day after federal law officers searched Senator Ted Stevens Girdwood home, Senate colleagues urged caution before jumping to conclusions that he’s caught up in the VECO corruption web. But watchdog groups called for him to step aside from his key committee assignments until his legal issues are cleared up.
- Taxpayers for Common Sense
- Letter from the Taxpayers for Common Sense to Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (PDF) requesting Stevens be removed from committee assignments
- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
- “CREW Calls for Sen. Stevens to step down from appropriations committee”
- Talk of Alaska: Political Corruption (July 31, 2007)
Joel Southern, APRN - Washington, D.C.
Republican House leader Boehner declines to take action against Don Young
Tue, July 31, 2007
Meanwhile, as conjecture and suspicion swirls around the latest Stevens news, Don Young’s legal troubles drew comments from Republican Minority Leader John Boehner. Boehner was asked if the federal investigation of Young might temporarily cost him the ranking Republican spot on the Natural Resources Committee, second-ranking post on Transportation and other assignments.
Two other House Republicans under federal investigation have given up their committee seats until their legal situation is clarified. And a Democrat under indictment for bribery was forced to give up a seat on the important tax-writing Ways and Means Committee pending the outcome of his case.
Joel Southern, APRN - Washington, D.C.
Coastal erosion in northern Alaska’s NPR-A doubled in last 50 years
Tue, July 31, 2007
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has completed a new study of coastal erosion in the Northeast portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). The study used topographical maps from 1955 and satellite infrared data from 1985 and 2005. The comparisons found coastal erosion in the 70-mile area that was studied has doubled in the last 50 years. John Mars was the lead author of the USGS study. He said an exploratory well drilled in the 1970s called the J.W. Dalton site showed alarming erosion that needed closer examination.
There are 28 wells in the area that were drilled by the USGS in the 1970s to delineate the NPR-A oil reserves. The Bureau of Land Management is working on a plan now to clean up three of the wells they have determined to be of most concern. Wayne Svejnoha, an environmental manager for BLM, says the wells and drill waste pits contain a mixture of liquids, including some petroleum products.
- Report summary
- Report slide show (requires Flash plug-in)
- Report sample images
Lori Townsend, APRN - Anchorage
Fort Richardson’s 425th racking up positive results in Iraq
Tue, July 31, 2007
Alaska-based soldiers on duty in Iraq are well into a new strategy, and the commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division — the 425th — now on deployment from Fort Richardson says it’s getting new results.
Dave Donaldson, APRN - Juneau
Nader, Nation, Anderson and Vets for Peace protest war, call for Bush impeachment
Tue, July 31, 2007
Calling for the impeachment of President George W. Bush, activist Ralph Nader, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and the editor of The Nation magazine joined a couple hundred people in Juneau’s Marine Park yesterday to protest the war in Iraq.The rally was held by the Juneau Chapter of Veterans for Peace to thank the magazine for its editorial stand against the war. About 400 people — including veterans — are on a cruise through Southeast Alaska sponsored by The Nation. The magazine has ties to Alaska: Ernest Gruening, a territorial governor and the state’s first U.S. Senator, was editor of the New York-based magazine in the 1920’s, before coming to Alaska.
At the rally, Ralph Nader called the Bush administration a criminal gang which has highjacked the White House. He encouraged those at the rally to carry their war protest to Congress.
Rosemarie Alexander, KTOO - Juneau
Beaver residents working to save perishables; state airlifting generator
Tue, July 31, 2007
Beaver residents are hustling to keep freezers full of salmon and other foods from thawing and spoiling. Electricity remains out in the village following Sunday’s power plant fire. Maryland Alexander, a health aid at the Beaver Clinic, says local people are doing their best to save perishables. The state of Alaska has delivered a large generator and other equipment to the village to restore community-wide electrical service. The aim is to have power restored by 8:00 p.m. this evening.
Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks
Uranium mining proposal for Elim area drawing concerns
Tue, July 31, 2007
A Canadian company is exploring for uranium near the Seward Peninsula community of Elim and that has some residents worried about the potential impact on the region.
Jesse Zink, KNOM - Nome
Unalaska dig uncovers whalebone mask, circa 1,000 B.C.
Tue, July 31, 2007
Archaeologists working on a dig site in Unalaska have found a 3,000-year old Unangan (Aleut) whalebone mask, which they believe to be the oldest of its kind yet discovered in Alaska.
Charles Homans, KIAL - Unalaska
Alaska News Nightly: July 31, 2007
Tue, July 31, 2007
Watchdog groups are calling on Senator Ted Stevens to resign from his key committee assignments following the federal search yesterday of his Girdwood home. Plus, archaeologists in Unalaska have found a 3,000-year old whalebone mask. Those stories and more on tonight’s Alaska News Nightly, broadcast statewide on APRN stations.
Individual news stories are posted in the Alaska News category and you can subscribe to APRN’s news feeds via e-mail, podcast and RSS.
Talk of Alaska: Political Corruption
Tue, July 31, 2007
Problems with ethics in politics have become almost daily news in Alaska. First there were indictments against former and sitting state legislators and now U.S. Senator Ted Stevens and Congressman Don Young are under federal investigation while Senator Lisa Murkowski has an ethics complaint filed against her in the Senate Ethics Committee. We’ll discuss how we got to this point and what to expect next.
FBI and IRS search Ted Stevens’ Girdwood home
Mon, July 30, 2007
Agents from the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service are searching the Girdwood home of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. The search was confirmed this afternoon by Dave Heller, FBI assistant special agent in charge of the Alaska office.
Heller says he can’t comment on the nature of the investigation. Federal investigators previously confirmed they were reviewing a renovation project at his home that more than doubled its size.
The remodeling of Stevens’ home in 2000 was overseen by VECO Executive Bill Allen, who has pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska state legislators. Stevens has only commented once on the investigation while speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C. two weeks ago.
Today, Stevens’ communications director Aaron Saunders replied to e-mailed questions with a written statement from Senator Stevens. Stevens reiterated that he will not comment on the investigation to avoid the perception that he may be trying to influence it. His statement today urged Alaskans not to draw conclusions until the investigation is complete.
The Associated Press and David Shurtleff, APRN - Anchorage
Democrat Jake Metcalfe announces his run for U.S. House
Mon, July 30, 2007
There’s another challenger taking aim at Congressman Don Young in next year’s elections. Jake Metcalfe has stepped aside as chairman of the Alaska Democratic Party to become a candidate. He joins Diane Benson, who won a surprising percentage of votes in an under-funded run at Young in last year’s elections. Metcalfe served two terms on the Anchorage School Board.
READ MORE →
Fire in Yukon Flats village of Beaver takes out power plant
Mon, July 30, 2007
State agencies are helping the village of Beaver following a fire that destroyed the community’s power plant. The State’s Emergency Communications Center at Ft. Richardson was activated yesterday due to concerns that the flames would spread to the fuel tank farm, and threaten the rest of the Yukon Flats village. Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management program manager Bob Stewart says the Alaska Fire Service flew smoke jumpers to the village, but residents were able to control the fire themselves using heavy equipment.
READ MORE →
‘Nordic Viking’ salvaged; Prince William Sound under observation for fuel impacts
Mon, July 30, 2007
The 127-foot fishing vessel Nordic Viking was salvaged off the rocks this weekend near Port Gravina in Prince William Sound. The boat ran aground July 21, spilling about 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel into the ocean.
Casey Kelly, KMXT - Kodiak
Coffman Cove planning for new school in 2008 after waiting 18 years for funding
Mon, July 30, 2007
A small Southeast Alaska community is on track to get a new school. Coffman Cove, on Prince of Wales Island, won legislative funding this year to replace its aging educational facility. Community members say it’s badly needed and will help keep families in town.
Photos courtesy Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska (hover over the photos for a caption; click for a larger photo)
Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska - Juneau
Karl Bushby heading to Siberia in August — to walk home to the U.K.
Mon, July 30, 2007
World walker Karl Bushby is back in Fairbanks. The Englishman who’s been making his way around the planet since 1998 — and crossed the Bering Strait in 2006 — has been regrouping in Fairbanks due to permit issues in Russia.
READ MORE →
Juneau to get another ‘dumb, cheap and ugly’ parking garage?
Mon, July 30, 2007
Telephone Hill in downtown Juneau could become the site of yet another big public debate. The city is planning a new parking garage and transit center that would hug the Hill. It’s reminding some residents of the controversy 20 years ago over the Marine Park Parking Garage.
Weld Royal, KTOO - Juneau
Alaska News Nightly: July 30, 2007
Mon, July 30, 2007
Federal agents with the FBI and the IRS are searching Senator Stevens’ Girdwood home. Plus, residents of Coffman Cove hope a new school will help revitalize the struggling community. Those stories and more on tonight’s Alaska News Nightly, broadcast statewide on APRN stations.
Individual news stories are posted in the Alaska News category and you can subscribe to APRN’s news feeds via e-mail, podcast and RSS.
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