Alaska Digest
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action to host youth summit
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JUNEAU - Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, a program of the National Wildlife Federation, is sponsoring the seventh annual Civics and Conservation Summit from March 9-13 in Juneau.
The training event is for students in grades 8 to 12 who are interested in the environment, conservation, social justice and making their voices heard. Youth participants will spend five days in the Capitol learning about conservation issues, legislation and the political process while developing skills in media and communication.
The summit is limited to 20 students. School credit may be available. Tuition is $150, with limited scholarships available.
For applications, visit www.ayea.org or call Polly Carr at (907) 339-3907. The application deadline is Feb. 1.
Agency begins area assessment in Arctic lease sale proposals
ANCHORAGE - The federal Minerals Management Service has begun an environmental assessment of proposed lease sales in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.
The agency will conduct an environmental impact statement focusing on the potential environmental effects of sales from exploration, development and production in the area proposed for oil and gas drilling.
The area in the Beaufort, which encompasses approximately 33 million acres, stretches from Barrow to the Canadian border.
The area for sales in the Chukchi encompasses about 40 million acres and stretches from north of Point Barrow to northwest of Cape Lisburne.
Environmentalists have said that drilling in the Arctic would place marine mammals at greater risk.
Anchorage continues to see increase in building construction
ANCHORAGE - Anchorage is bucking the trend when it comes to building construction.
While many other areas of the country are experiencing a slowdown, that is not the case in Anchorage, where building construction remains strong.
Last year, the municipality of Anchorage recorded more than $626.3 million in overall valuation of building permits, making 2007 among the top 10 years for construction.
Commercial permit valuation was the fourth highest year ever for Anchorage.
Projects included the expansion of the international airport, a new Target store and a new downtown parking garage.
Residential construction was slow but steady last year.
State troopers make arrests in Anchorage and Kenai Peninsula
ANCHORAGE - Several law enforcement agencies working together served four search warrants, resulting in arrests.
Alaska State Troopers say arrests were made Thursday in Anchorage, Soldotna and Sterling.
In Anchorage, Judith Crawford was arrested on outstanding warrants. Troopers say cocaine residue and packaging materials were also seized.
Authorities say at another Anchorage home, investigators seized an AK-47 with a drum magazine and imitation crack cocaine that was being sold as actual cocaine.
Raymond Weigle and Jack Horsley were arrested in Soldotna on drug and weapons charges.
Eric McDonald was arrested in Sterling, also for drugs and weapons.
Judge denies Kott request for delay in start to prison term
ANCHORAGE - Former House Speaker Pete Kott won't be delaying the start of his prison term.
U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick today ordered Kott to begin his six-year prison term on Thursday in Sheridan, Ore.
Kott in November was convicted of three public corruption charges, including bribery.
Over the objection of prosecutors, his sentence was delayed until Thursday.
Kott requested another delay until Feb. 1 so that he could be around for the birth of his grandchild.
Sedwick says that would be inappropriate, given the gravity of his crimes, the time Kott's had to put his affairs in order, and the permission he received to travel outside Alaska.
Sedwick also says there's no assurance the child will arrive on its due date Monday.
Alaska Railroad plans open houses on capital projects
ANCHORAGE - The Alaska Railroad is planning an open house in Anchorage next week to collect comments on capital improvement projects.
The event is scheduled for Jan. 23 at the historic rail depot in Ship Creek.
Similar events are planned for Seward on Saturday, Wasilla on Jan. 24, and Fairbanks on Jan. 30.
Project proposals include the first phase of an intermodal transportation center, improvements to the Anchorage yard, and bus and truck access to the Bill Sheffield Depot at the Anchorage airport.
The open house also will touch on Chugach Forest whistle stop service, a Whittier intermodal facility, track rehabilitation, bridge improvements and a collision avoidance system.