State funds sought high returns but not with Madoff (Juneau Empire): A giant Ponzi scheme that's roiled Wall Street since last week wasn't part of Alaska's big investment funds and probably couldn't have been, state investment managers say.

Old Alaska license plate is America's most valuable (Forbes.com): The 1921 Alaska is the most valuable vintage plate in the U.S. There are only four known to exist. The plate is the first issued by the territory of Alaska, when there were few automobiles here. With slide show.

Fairbanks outdoors editor whines about Anchorage trip (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner): We drove to Anchorage last weekend, and now I remember why I live in Fairbanks. It's not that I have anything against Alaska's largest city; I just don't like it.

Plastic-wrapped construction a necessity in frigid Fairbanks (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner): The consummate outdoorsman is familiar with tents. In Alaska, so are many of your average construction crews. For this is the land where winters grow too cold for comfort and can require ... well, a really, really big tent.

State investigates forwarding of racist e-mails (The Associated Press): State officials are investigating racist jokes about President-elect Barack Obama that have been circulating on state government e-mail accounts.

State exploring ferry dock takeover in Prince Rupert, B.C. (CoastAlaska): The Palin administration wants to buy the Prince Rupert, B.C., ferry dock. The governor's proposed public works spending plan includes money toward taking over and rebuilding the city-owned structure, but the budget does not include funds for new ferries.

Anchorage developer Marlow eyes vacant Fairbanks high-rise (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner): Anchorage developer Marc Marlow - who refurbished and reopened Anchorage's long-neglected McKinley Tower high-rise - has approached Fairbanks leaders with resurrected plans to restore the aging Polaris Building, the old First Avenue hotel that has sat vacant for nearly a decade. With photos. See also:

Marlow Manor residents look for new home; Marlow won't comment (Anchorage Daily News)

Whooping cough hits Homer too (Homer Tribune): Juneau and Homer have a combined 140-plus of the state's 181 whooping cough cases. It's not too late to get a pertussis vaccine. See also:

Juneau becomes hot spot for whooping cough (Juneau Empire)

German windsurfer claims world first in Alaska waters (The Telegraph, U.K.): "I always dreamed of windsurfing near a glacier," says German pro Florian Jung, who now claims to be the first to windsurf up to a calving glacier -- Chenega Glacier in Prince William Sound. With photos.

Forest Service says Moller cabin needs rebuilding (Juneau Empire): The U.S. Forest Service wants to tear down and rebuild the Dan Moller cabin on Douglas Island. Built in 1936 with local logs by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the 16-foot-by-18-foot cabin is one of Juneau's best loved and most used for decades. But the Forest Service has a lot of reasons to start fresh. With photos.

History: Young woman's career dream leaves her homesick in Alaska (Redoubt Reporter): At Christmastime 1945, 20-year-old air traffic controller Joanna Bahnub had been in Talkeetna for more than two months, and - with no telephone -- she was feeling homesick and forgotten. Why hadn't she received mail from her family back home?

Return to Alaska Newsreader through the day for new links.

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM RECENT NEWSREADERS:

Palin among runners-up to Obama for Time's "Person of the Year" (Time magazine)

Feds nearly quash Japan tourist flights to Fairbanks (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Tips from the potlatch, where gift-giving knows no slump (The New York Times)

At 85, Fred Beckey has more peaks to conquer and adventures to seek (The New York Times)

Goose eggs may help polar bears weather climate change (Science Daily)

Tlingit quarterback: William Paul's big game 100 years ago (The Whitworthian)