NEW JUNEAU CLINIC REIGNITES ABORTION DEBATE (KTUU): The halls of the state Capitol were pretty quiet on President's Day, but there was a lot of noise around town as the appointments book filled up at Planned Parenthood's first clinic in Juneau. ALSO:
> Planned Parenthood opens Juneau facility (Juneau Empire)
> E-mail pitch raising Planned Parenthood funds in Palin's name "great theater," governor says (Anchorage Daily News)
SALMON-CHANTED LUNCH AT THE SPACE NEEDLE (The Seattle Times): Western Alaska villagers have been making the rounds of the Seattle food network in hopes of boosting interest in Yukon River salmon. They joined a Times food writer for lunch in the Space Needle.
BRISTOL PALIN: CHALLENGES OF A YOUNG MOM (Fox News): In her first interview since giving birth to son Tripp, Bristol Palin, daughter of Gov. Sarah Palin, said it's not "realistic" for society to expect abstinence outside of marriage but that "kids should wait" to become parents. The video interview on Fox's "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren includes the first photos of Tripp made available to the media. Bristol tells Van Susteren that being a mother is a joy, the new demands in her life are "overwhelming" but she has a lot of help from family. She'd like to become an advocate for teen pregnancy prevention. The governor, holding Tripp, walks into the interview at one point, hands the baby to Bristol and then dominates the discussion. "On the Record" will air more of the interview tonight. ALSO:
> Governor's mother was supposed to bring Tripp into interview (GretaWire blog)
> Obama should veto stimulus bill, Palin tells Fox News
> Palin camp on unauthorized biography: Thumbs down (ADN Alaska Politics blog)
> Anchorage schools teach "abstinence plus" (Perfect World, ADN)
HUNDREDS HONOR ALASKA CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER (Juneau Empire): While many in the state capital observed President's Day on Monday by taking the day off of work, a standing-room-only crowd packed the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall to honor Alaska Native civil rights leader Elizabeth Peratrovich with songs, dances and speeches. With photos.
SPEED DATING WITH THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES (Think Alaska blog): An Anchorage man is organizing a "speed dating" session for mayoral candidates. A small group of young professionals would visit the candidates at different tables, ask a few questions and then move to another table.
STATE FUND MANAGERS SEEK MORE TRANSPARENCY (Juneau Empire): The managers of the Alaska Permanent Fund and the Alaska Retirement Management Board are moving toward more openness with their hedge fund and other secret investments. The change comes in the wake of the Madoff investment fund scandal and a stunning decline in stock markets, both of which played a role in the Alaska changes.
POLAR BEAR MOTHER, CUB "SKATE" ON ICE (BBC, YouTube): Too-cute video footage from the BBC's new show "The Great Melt."
FALLEN OIL PRICES A CHINK IN PALIN'S ARMOR (The Associated Press): During Gov. Palin's first two years in office, the state was flush with wealth from record oil prices. The second half of her term isn't looking so rosy as Palin faces her first major financial challenge.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM RECENT NEWSREADERS:
Elmendorf pilots worry U.S. is losing its air warfare edge (The Atlantic, with video)
Federal security proposal worries Alaska aircraft owners (Alaska Journal of Commerce)
Judge: Devastating Hooper Bay fire not school's fault (The Tundra Drums)
Arctic haze is from Asia fires, not factories (Science News)
Seven long years: A climber's pain (Anchorage Press)
Flood-prone village to get escape shelter with sweat baths (The Tundra Drums)
Alaska fruit growers hope to stock local grocery stores (APRN)
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.