National: Survey finds less Muslim support for bin Laden, bombings By LAWRENCE M. O'ROURKE - People in several predominately Muslim countries see Islamic extremism as a threat to their nation, and more of them than before reject suicide bombings and dislike Osama bin Laden, according to a new survey released Thursday.

But even while fearing Islamic extremism, a majority of people in these Muslim nations would welcome an even larger role for the Islamic religion in politics and government. - More..
Friday - July 15, 2005

International: Canadian commandos heading to Afghanistan By DANIEL LEBLANC - Members of an elite commando team are heading to Afghanistan as part of a 2,000-troop deployment that will target the "detestable murderers and scumbags" behind the rise in international terrorism, Gen. Rick Hillier said.

In a blunt briefing that signaled a new aggressiveness at the top of the Canadian Forces, the chief of the defense staff said Thursday that the impending operations are risky but necessary in light of last week's bombings in the British public-transit system. - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005

National: Tancredo for president? Little-known Colo. Republican hits Iowa By M.E. SPRENGELMEYER - After his first long day stumping across Iowa last week, a weary Tom Tancredo dragged himself up to a hotel room in Cedar Rapids, zipped open the suitcase and started looking for his pajamas.

"This doesn't look like my wife's packing!" he exclaimed. - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005

Week In Review: Tangled web ... Rehnquist hangs tough ... More By BILL STRAUB - The tangled web revolving around the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame has led to the West Wing desk of honcho Karl Rove. The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek and others reported this week that Time magazine reported that Matt Cooper and syndicated columnist Bob Novak both received word on her spy status from Rove. The White House has remained tight-lipped despite press secretary Scott McClellan's treatment by your honorable ink-stained wretches. More fun to come. - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005

Washington Calling: Boosting troop levels ... Vlogs ... MTV vs. turtles ... More By LANCE GAY - Watch Congress force Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to go along with a move to boost the number of U.S. troops this year.

Over Rumsfeld's objections, Congress added 20,000 troops last year, and with troops still stretched by the war on terrorism, Democrats want to add another 80,000 over four years. The Pentagon insists the additions aren't needed, and Rumsfeld argues there are still troops doing Cold War duties that could be reassigned. - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005

Patrol Vessel Enforcer Photo courtesy AST

Ketchikan: Public Invited to Commissioning Ceremony for Patrol Vessel Enforcer - Governor and Mrs. Murkowski, Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bill Tandeske, and Alaska State Trooper Director Colonel Julia Grimes will be participating in the Department of Public Safety, Division of Alaska State Troopers' commissioning ceremony for the Patrol Vessel Enforcer. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday July 20, 2005 and will be held at the Ketchikan docks beginning at 1:00 pm. The public is invited to attend.

The P/V Enforcer was designed and built by Kennedy Ship and Repair in Galveston, Texas. Her main focus will be patrolling commercial fisheries and hunting activities. She will also be used for emergency responses, search and rescues, investigations, village visits, and public safety education. - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005

Alaska State Elks Youth Camp Lauren Gates and Rhiana Sanford at Ketchikan International Airport just before leaving for Anchorage to attend the Alaska State Elks Youth Camp in Palmer. Photo by Mike Gates

Ketchikan: Ketchikan Youth Attend Alaska State Elks Youth Camp - Lauren Gates and Rhiana Sanford of Ketchikan flew out this past Sunday to attend the Alaska State Elks Youth Camp in Palmer for a week.  This is a summer camp owned and operated by the Elks, and offered free of charge (including airfare) to several boys and girls in each town that has an Elks Lodge.

Gates and Sanford, both 11 years old , took the early flight out of Ketchikan last Sunday the 11th, to Anchorage, where staff from the Elks Camp picked them up and took them to Palmer, where they will be attending camp. They fly back to Ketchikan Saturday night.  - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005

Viewpoints Opinions/Letters Pennock Island Graves By Don Hoff Jr. - Friday Desecrating ancestors' graves By Jean Bland - Friday FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS WHY SITNEWS EXISTS By Lynne Miller - Friday Questions By Thomas Bergeron - Friday Make Your Views Known By Frances C. Natkong - Friday More Viewpoints/ Letters Publish A Letter Silent Muslim Majority By: Sandy Huffaker Cagle Cartoons Distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons, Inc. Political Cartoonists Ketchikan Calendar, Meetings, Events Today's Forecast City Police Report 07/15/05 AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Classifieds & Announcements July 2005 Click on the date for stories and photos published on that day... S M T W T F S 26 27 28 29 30 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31             Front Page Archives

Alaska: Governor Expresses Concern Over BRAC Process - Alaska Governor Frank H. Murkowski sent letters today to both U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission Chairman Anthony Principi saying that he will not consent to the Department of Defense's recommended closure and relocation of Kulis Air National Guard Base in Anchorage and the "warm storage" of Eielson Air Force Base east of Fairbanks without assurances that the mission of the Air National Guard will not be compromised in Alaska. This action stemmed from the governor's serious concerns over the process used by the United States Air Force in its selection of bases to be closed or realigned under the current recommendations. - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005

Alaska: In Alaska, an embarrassment of pink-salmon riches By WESLEY LOY - For the second time in three years, Alaskan officials will allow Prince William Sound commercial fish processors to strip valuable eggs from millions of pink salmon and throw away the unwanted carcasses.

Normally, such a practice would violate the state's "wanton waste" law. - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005

Alaska: State Will Intervene in Yakutat Timber Decision - Alaska Governor Frank H. Murkowski today expressed his strong support for allowing work to continue under the 690-acre Forest Service blowdown timber sale in Yakutat.

"This Administration stands for the conservation and full utilization of natural resources. The timber, which has blown down in Yakutat, will be wasted and left to rot if not utilized. With a crew available in Yakutat to harvest this timber, it is a shame that the Federal District Court for the District of Alaska refused to let the work go forward", the Governor said. - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005

Science: Sea life in peril - plankton vanishing By GLEN MARTIN - Oceanic plankton have largely disappeared from the waters off Northern California, Oregon and Washington, mystifying scientists, stressing fisheries and causing widespread seabird mortality.

The phenomenon could have long-term implications if it continues: a general decline in near-shore oceanic life, with far fewer fish, birds and marine mammals. No one is certain how long the condition will last. But even a short duration could severely affect seabird populations because of drastically reduced nesting success, scientists say. - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005

Science: Why the monkeypox outbreak in Midwest wasn't fatal By LEE BOWMAN - Researchers say they've solved a medical mystery arising from the outbreak of monkeypox that hit the Midwest two years ago.

Although the virus is reported to kill about 10 percent of those who are infected in Africa, the illness spread by exotic pet rodents to at least 72 people in the Midwest claimed no lives. - More...
Friday - July 15, 2005