Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, formally requested a recount Wednesday in the close-fought Alaska House of Representatives race in which he trails Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins by 34 votes.

The Alaska Division of Elections certified the result in House District 34, a seat that encompasses Sitka, Haines, Angoon, Craig, Metlakatla and several other Southeast Alaska communities, last Friday. Thomas had until 5 p.m. Wednesday to request a recount.

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Monday night approved several appropriations of grant money and dismissed an appeal of a Planning Commission decision allowing Professional Plaza to construct a second driveway.

The Assembly approved the appropriation of $7 million from an Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development legislative grant to fund the planned library at Dimond Park, a $14 million project that is receiving the remainder of its funding from other sources.

United States Army Spc. Daniel Evenson, a lifelong Juneau resident, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor this month for his actions during a firefight with insurgents in Afghanistan this spring.

On April 25, Evenson and several other soldiers were on patrol in the mountains of Afghanistan, with Evenson as part of the vanguard.

Together with the newly appointed consul general of the Philippines to Alaska, Jenny Gomez Strickler of Juneau, Reps. Cathy Muñoz and Bob Herron led Alaska’s first official trip to the Philippines last week.

The trip arose out of a visit that Vice Gov. Gabrielle “Billie” Calizo-Quimpo, the second highest ranking official in the Philippine province of Aklan, made to Juneau, when she met with city and state representatives. After that informal exchange, the provincial government invited the Alaska State Legislature to visit Aklan.