Ketchikan: Ketchikan's unemployment up in October - Unemployment rose 1.5 percentage points in Ketchikan in October to 6.5 percent, according to the latest labor report released by Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Ketchikan's unemployment rate was moderately lower in October of 2005 than in October of 2004 at which time it was reported as 7.1 percent.

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reports a Ketchikan labor force of 7,925 workers in October with 7,411 reported employed and 514 unemployed. This time last year, the labor force was reported at 7,771. Of that number, 7,218 workers were employed and 553 unemployed in October 2004. - More...
Tuesday - November 29, 2005

National: Bush pushes immigration reform, but is anyone listening? By BILL STRAUB - President Bush's attempts to find middle ground on illegal immigration seem to be going nowhere with his political foes - or friends.

Appearing in Tucson, Ariz., on Monday, Bush reiterated his call to tighten the nation's southern border, an appeal lauded by his Republican supporters. But his proposal for a guest-worker program sounds too much like amnesty to those concerned about the stream of illegal aliens entering the country, a number estimated to have reached 11 million.

"This administration has a sustained track record of ignoring reality when it conflicts with what the corporate interests want it to do," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform. "The president's plan is nothing more than a massive illegal-alien amnesty on a six-year time delay, while his temporary-worker program - which will be anything but temporary - is the death knell for America's middle class." - More...
Tuesday - November 29, 2005

International: Iraq's Elections Could Be "Magnet" for Success, Adviser Says By VINCE CRAWLEY - Iraq's three main ethnic groups appear ready to conduct successful elections December 15, creating a new permanent government that should defuse the insurgency and be ready to negotiate for a reduced U.S. military presence, a senior Pentagon adviser says.

"The component parts for a successful government are there," Ambassador Evan Galbraith said of Iraq's upcoming election. Galbraith, a former U.S. ambassador to France, is Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's representative in Europe as well as the defense adviser to the U.S. Mission to NATO.

Galbraith discussed the U.S. strategy for winning in Iraq during a November 28 panel discussion at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative policy research organization in Washington. - More...
Tuesday - November 29, 2005

National: Warner commutes condemned man's sentence By BILL STRAUB - Virginia Gov. Mark Warner decided Tuesday to commute the death sentence of convicted murderer Robin Lovitt, the day before what would have been the nation's 1,000th execution since the Supreme Court reinstated the penalty in 1976.

The decision complicated the political future of the popular governor, who is considering running for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.

In a statement, Warner announced his intention to commute Lovitt's sentence for murdering pool-hall worker Clayton Dicks to life in prison without possibility of parole. In doing so, Warner said he found no fault with the judgment of the jury and was "acutely aware of the tragic loss experienced by the Dicks family."- More...
Tuesday - November 29, 2005

Arts This Week Members of the House Band performing at the most recent Monthly Grind held on November 19th at the Saxman Tribal house. Photograph by Carl Thompson Ketchikan: Arts This Week - Looking for something entertaining, enlightening, or something just simply fun to do? A variety of events and activities are scheduled weekly in Ketchikan according to the Ketchikan Arts and Humanities Council. There are also many upcoming events already scheduled for those who enjoy organizing their social and entertainment calendars ahead. So get out those calendars... - More... Tuesday - November 29, 2005

National: High court to revisit state abortion laws By BOB EGELKO - The first abortion case to come before the U.S. Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts will test whether the justices are willing to give states nearly unlimited power to regulate and restrict the operation.

At issue when the court hears arguments Wednesday will be a New Hampshire law requiring that parents be notified before girls under 18 can have an abortion, the same requirement that California voters rejected this month. - More....
Tuesday - November 29, 2005

International: Canada's Liberal government falls By ALLISON DUNFIELD - n bringing an end to the turbulent life of Paul Martin's 17-month-old minority Liberal government, Canada's opposition parties have paved the way for an election that will see voters weigh the desire for change against the trustworthiness of Conservatives who would provide it.

A new poll for The Globe and Mail and CTV News suggests a close contest as voters express their desire for new blood, but are not ready to embrace the Conservatives led by Stephen Harper. - More...
Tuesday - November 29, 2005

Viewpoints Opinions/Letters Excellent Questions! By Robert D. Warner - Tuesday Permanent Fund Trustees Poised To Change 'No Secrets' Policy By Gregg Erickson - Tuesday The Bridge and Ethanol By Charles Moon- Tuesday U.S. Debt Over $7 Trillion By Jay Jones- Tuesday Discussing differences about public issues By Robert McRoberts- Tuesday ANWR By Morgan Doubleday- Tuesday Alaska Bridges By Don Hoff Jr. - Tuesday Hedge funds and the Permanent Fund By James R. Dahl - Monday Gas pipeline By Ted A. Wright - Monday Open Letter: To the Alaska Legislature By James R. Dahl & Mary Lynne Dahl - Monday ANWR by Glenn Bell - Monday Questions By Peg Travis - Monday KYFL Raffle By Bob Fultz- Sunday Governor faces his greatest challenge By Walter J. Hickel - Sunday More Viewpoints/ Letters Publish A Letter Political Cartoonists Political Cartoons Ketchikan Tuesday, November 29, 2005 7:00 pm - The Ketchikan City Council will hold a special meeting in the City Council Chambers to consider the draft 2006 general govt. budget. A draft is available for review at the City Clerk's office. Thursday, December 01, 2005 7:00 pm - The Ketchikan City Council will hold a regular meeting in the City Council Chambers. Agenda & Information Packets November Calendar Today's Forecast Current AK Weather Map City Police Report 11/26/05 AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Classifieds & Announcements November 2005 Click on the date for stories and photos published on that day... S M T W T F S     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       Front Page Archives

National: As hurricane season ends, experts huddle to improve forecasts By LEE BOWMAN - Federal hurricane experts knew all along they were heading into a record-breaking tropical storm season, and they correctly forecast the paths of the eight storms that hit the United States within tens of miles.

But with the official hurricane season ending Wednesday after an unprecedented 26 named storms, the forecasters will huddle in the coming months to consider what they might do better to prepare people for what will probably be another ugly season beginning next June. - More...
Tuesday - November 29, 2005

Alaska: New Personal Care Assistant Program regulations announced - Alaska Health and Social Services (DHSS) Commissioner Karleen Jackson announced new proposed regulations for the Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Program today.

"The changes make the Personal Care Assistant program more effective and accountable, ensuring those most in need of the services receive them." said Jackson. "By implementing these changes, we can better serve Alaskans, and still realize a savings of approximately $17 million over the next year."- More...
Tuesday - November 29, 2005

Martin Schram: Graft in Washington is nothing new - Only in Washington - a city of feigned myopia and faux morality - could a front-page headline like this be printed and be taken for news, not satire.

"A Growing Wariness About Money in Politics," informed the headline in Tuesday's Washington Post.

A growing wariness? That insight ran on a piece labeled "analysis" that accompanied the day's biggest news story: A Republican congressman from California, Randy "Duke" Cunningham, resigned his House seat, tearfully confessing his guilt to federal charges that he had conspired to take at least $2.4 million in bribes for helping campaign contributors and others get military contracts. Among the bribes the blubbering congressman accepted were a Rolls Royce, a yacht and another fine seat that he may not have surrendered: a 19th Century Louis-Phillippe commode. - More...
Tuesday - November 29, 2005

Jay Ambrose: Let's hear it for Wal-Mart - Wal-Mart, go away, or at least become something vastly different, say lefties and an occasional commentator on the right. But the American people voted on the issue on the day after Thanksgiving, and guess what? Once more they came out heavily for the discount retailer.

The vote was not the sort where you go to the polls and cast ballots, but where you go to the store and spend your dollars. When the Christmas shopping season officially began, Americans did not show up in numbers pleasing to most retail outlets. They did descend in something closer to hoped-for hordes on discount operations, and especially on Wal-Mart, which saw a nice spurt in sales from 2004. - More...
Tuesday - November 29, 2005

John Hall: Newcomers may have edge - Shouted epithets echo in the House. The word "coward" pierces the air. A brief scuffle. Members ordered to take their seats.

The president makes a calming statement from overseas that seems to cool things down. But his vice president continues to lash out at war critics. And the war critics bitterly charge that they were deceived into voting for a war that has now gone wrong.

This all occurred in the days before Thanksgiving. How the voters are digesting it is interesting to behold.

The polls are indicating a big second term drop in confidence for the Bush administration, but the old, familiar faces of the Democratic Party aren't attracting much attention either. - More...
Tuesday - November 29, 2005