Alaska Digest
United Way begins 2004 campaign
JUNEAU - United Way of Southeast Alaska kicked off its 2004 campaign with $42,500 already in the bank.
Its campaign runs Sept. 9 to Nov. 5.
The kickoff was held at the Governor's Mansion, where United Way also celebrated its 25th anniversary. The organizaiton recognized corporate sponsors that donated at least $5,000.
United Way is a volunteer-driven, grass-roots organization that brings people and resources together to address community-wide issues.
Supreme Court upholds pot-possession ruling
FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Supreme Court has rejected a state petition to reconsider a ruling that allows residents to possess less than four ounces of marijuana in their homes for personal use.
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld last year's Court of Appeals unanimous ruling in the case of David Noy, a North Pole man arrested in 2001 after being found with marijuana in his home.
The Appeals Court's decision was based on Ravin v. State, a 1975 state Supreme Court ruling that an adult's rights to limited marijuana possession was protected under the state constitution's privacy provisions.
Attorney Bill Satterberg, who filed the original Appeals Court petition, said upholding the Noy decision reaffirmed the right to privacy.