LAST FRONTIER A NEW FRONTIER FOR GREEN POWER (The New York Times): Alaska is fast becoming a testing ground for new power-generation technologies and an unlikely experiment in oil-state support for renewable energy. Alaskans once cast a wary eye on anything smacking of environmentalism, but today they are investing heavily in green power, not so much to reduce emissions as to save cash. ALSO:
> Alaska: Clean energy frontier? (Times Green Inc. blog)
> State calls for village wind farms (Anchorage Daily News)
> New energy source blows into Nome (Alaska Journal of Commerce)
> CIRI optimistic Anchorage wind farm will take off (Anchorage Daily News)
FAIRBANKS SCHOOL BOARD ADDS GENDER IDENTITY TO ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner): The Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board voted Tuesday night to include gender identity in its nondiscrimination and harassment policies, becoming the first board in the state to do so.
GOP CONGRESSMEN, INCLUDING YOUNG, TAKE CREDIT FOR STIMULUS DEAL THEY OPPOSED (The Hill): House Republicans are taking credit for the passage of an economic recovery plan that every member of their party voted against. ALSO:
> Palin has chance to say "Thanks but no thanks" (Dermot Cole, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
PART 2 OF THE BRISTOL PALIN INTERVIEW (Fox News): The rest of the "On the Record" interview of Gov. Palin's daughter by Greta Van Susteren is online today. Following are a few online reactions to the interview segments posted yesterday.
> Immoral Minority blog: "When Bristol gets to the part about being an ‘advocate' to help young women avoid teen pregnancy, it almost makes my heart hurt. I really do feel badly for this young woman and wish the best for her. It is really too bad that she has found herself in this situation."
> Tashi Singh, Post Chronicle: "Nice of her to make (teen virgins) feel nonexistent and their efforts pointless."
> Bonnie Erbe, U.S. News & World Report: "I'm not a fan of her mom, but I give kudos to Bristol Palin for saying that abstinence-only education is ‘not realistic at all.' "
> The Caucus blog, New York Times: "Bristol, who said she was ‘exhausted,' at moments seemed to have a poise and world-weariness that belied her age. But there were still flashes of a defiant teenager."
> Carol Bengle Gilbert, Associated Content: "What sort of expert is Bristol Palin on the occurrence of teen pregnancy? ... The typical pregnant teen -- unlike Bristol Palin -- receives minimal prenatal care. The typical pregnant teen -- unlike Bristol Palin whose mother is a governor -- lives in poverty."
BACK HOME IN ALASKA, PALIN FINDS COLD COMFORT (The Washington Post): A number of factors seem to have contributed to the bumpy homecoming: a residual anger among Democrats for the attack-dog role Gov. Palin assumed in the McCain campaign, lingering resentment from Republicans for the part she may have played in McCain's defeat, and a suspicion crossing party lines that the concerns of Alaska, at a time of economic crisis, will now be secondary to her future in national politics. ALSO:
> Post's Palin article energizes reader commentary (WaPo's dot.comments blog)
> Palin disputes "fantasies" in new book (Politico)
> People magazine editor responds to criticism of his Palin biography (ADN Politics blog)
> Palin must pay tax on past per diem, state says (Anchorage Daily News)
HERBAL TEA EXTRACT MIGHT SLOW BARK BEETLE DAMAGE (Alaska Public Radio Network): A substance found in herbal tea that mimics a beetle pheromone could help prevent the type of beetle infestation that has devastated forests in western North America, including Alaska.
ADRIFT IN ALASKA: BEAR HUNTING BY BOAT (Petersen's Hunting magazine): Bear hunting by boat is the most effective method in Southeast Alaska, where some areas get 18 feet of rain each year. The marine highways give you a great vantage point for glassing. In spring, bears just out of hibernation patrol the tidal flats for new grass, carrion and whatever else looks edible. With photos
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM RECENT NEWSREADERS:
Elmendorf pilots worry U.S. is losing its air warfare edge (The Atlantic, with video)
State fund managers seek more transparency (Juneau Empire)
Video: Polar bear mother, cub "skate" on ice (BBC)
New Juneau clinic reignites abortion debate (KTUU)
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)
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.