State Briefs
Magnitude 4.7 aftershock reported south of Fairbanks
ANCHORAGE - An earthquake rattled Interior Alaska early today - an aftershock from the magnitude 7.9 quake that hit the state Nov. 3.
The Alaska Earthquake Information Center said the magnitude 4.7 quake occurred at 4:40 a.m. and was centered 34 miles north of Slana, or about 154 miles southeast of Fairbanks.
There were no reports of any damage or injuries.
IRS seeks refund recipients
JUNEAU - More than $273,000 in tax refund checks go undelivered in Alaska.
The Internal Revenue Service announced today it's looking for 409 Alaskan taxpayers with more than $273,000 in undelivered tax refund checks. The IRS can reissue the checks after taxpayers update their addresses.
Taxpayers can check whether they have an undelivered refund in the "Where's My Refund?" section on the IRS home page at www.irs.gov. To use the site, taxpayers must enter their Social Security number, their filing status, such as single or married filing jointly, and the amount of the refund shown on their 2001 tax return.
Taxpayers without access to the Internet who think they may be missing a refund check should first check their records or contact their tax preparer, then call the IRS toll-free assistance line at (800) 829-1040 to update their address.
"We want to get this money back to where it belongs," said IRS Acting Commissioner Bob Wenzel. "It's a simple process. As soon as taxpayers get us their correct addresses, we can reissue the checks."
Refund checks often go astray because of an address change. If taxpayers move or change their address and fail to notify the IRS or the U.S. Postal Service, a check sent to their last known address is returned to the IRS.
Report backs coastal route for Anchorage trail
ANCHORAGE - Gov. Tony Knowles is giving a final push to a proposed extension of Anchorage's popular Coastal Trail, announcing a key report that supports a mostly coastal route from Kincaid Park to Potter Marsh.
Knowles spoke Tuesday while standing on the existing Coastal Trail, which is named for Knowles, a former mayor of Anchorage. The trail, completed in 1988, runs about 11 miles from downtown to Kincaid Park.
The proposed 13-mile extension has been held up by route disputes for five years. Opponents of the coastal route include homeowners, who would see the trail from their back yards. They have favored an inland route.
Release of a federal draft Environmental Impact Statement triggers a public comment period.
The route the state has chosen as preferred is estimated to cost $37 million, the most expensive among five alternatives. Ninety percent of it would be paid for with federal transportation dollars.
Sitka man wins award for cultural contributions
ANCHORAGE - A Pacific Northwest nonprofit agency has honored a Sitka man for his efforts getting Alaska Native remains returned to the state and helping preserve Tlingit culture.
Robert Sam, a member of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, was named one of four finalists for the 2002 Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership. The award honors Native leaders in conservation and community development.
The awards are given by Ecotrust, a Portland, Ore.-based conservation group. The winner of the $25,000 Buffett Award was Kelly Brown of Waglisla, British Columbia.
Sam has been the Sitka tribe's Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation coordinator. He helped families and the Alaska Department of Transportation repatriate the remains of 133 individuals who died from tuberculosis at the Mt. Edgecumbe Indian Health Service hospital in Sitka during the 1940s and 1950s.
He also served on the Sitka Tribal Council and has been active in local conservation issues. Sam will receive his award today in Portland.
Body washes up on St. Lawrence Island
NOME - A body washed up on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea, about 20 miles east of the village of Savoonga, according to Alaska State Troopers.
The body, which was floating in the water at the base of a cliff and was substantially decomposed, was spotted Sunday by hunters.
Troopers and village volunteers have had difficulty reaching the body because of its location. Rivers are only partially iced over, making travel to the site impossible. The weather on the island also is poor, making it unsafe to travel by helicopter or boat.
Anchorage bank robbed
ANCHORAGE - Authorities in Anchorage were looking for a man who robbed a midtown bank Tuesday.
The man entered a Northrim Bank at about 11:30 a.m. and demanded money from a teller, according to the FBI. The man indicated he had a gun, but did not show a weapon, said special agent Eric Gonzalez.
The robber got away with cash, but the amount was not disclosed.
After the robbery, authorities reviewed surveillance videos from bank cameras, Gonzalez said.
The robber was described as a bald black man in his 30s, 6 feet tall and weighing about 230 pounds. He has brown eyes, was clean-shaven and was wearing a dark blue denim jacket.
Members to vote on Valley Hospital expansion
ANCHORAGE - Members of Valley Hospital are deciding the future of the hospital this week.
They are voting on a proposal from a Texas-based company to build a new $75 million hospital. The facility would replace the existing hospital in Palmer and be nearly double the size.
Ballots will be counted Thursday. At least two-thirds of those voting must approve the venture. The hospital has about 2,300 members.
Valley Hospital has been the sole hospital in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough since it opened in a tent in 1935. It is run as a nonprofit group and is overseen by a board elected by members. Any resident of the area willing to pay the $5 fee can become a member.
Valley Hospital officials say the joint venture is necessary for the hospital to survive. They argue the hospital needs to expand to stay competitive.
But a small and vocal opposition has begun to build. The biggest concern is not with the idea of building a new hospital, but rather partnering with Triad Hospitals Inc. Triad is a 3-year-old company with little track record and too many ties to companies charged with illegal practices, opponents argue.
Compiled from staff and wire service reports.