HOMER COUNCIL ENDS EAGLE FEEDING (Homer Tribune): In the wake of "Eagle Lady" Jean Keene's death, the Homer City Council -- ignoring pleas from tourists and nonresident photographers -- has passed an ordinance making it illegal to feed eagles on the Spit or anywhere else in the city starting March 29. Meanwhile, Keene's friends are hoping to have a monument in her honor erected on the Spit, writes the Homer News.

DEBATING THE DEATH PENALTY (Andrew Halcro's blog): "It does seem at the end of the day, those who oppose this bill based on fiscal, faith or fairness concerns have the lion's share of votes in Juneau. That's good for Alaska, because the last thing this state needs is another government program that drives both risks and costs higher while ignoring critical consequences." ALSO:

>Why I introduced House Bill 9 (House Speaker Mike Chenault's blog)

> House committee debates death penalty (The Associated Press)

HILL DRILL: OIL EXECS MAKE CASE FOR MORE OFFSHORE OIL (Environmental Capital blog, The Wall Street Journal): "Half a day after President Obama put energy - and renewable energy in particular - at the top of his plan to ‘rebuild' America's economy, oil executives were back on the Hill trying to convince Congress that offshore oil drilling has to be part of that ‘comprehensive' energy policy. In fact ... the executives seemed to think that Obama's emphasis on energy independence gave them an opening."

HEY, REPUBLICANS, ALASKA NEEDS VOLCANO MONITORING (Blue Oasis blog): Alaska's Celtic Diva reacts to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's Republican response to President Obama's speech to Congress on Tuesday: "The most ridiculous comments (are) where he disparages a $140 million portion of the recovery package aimed at ‘volcano monitoring.' ... Jindal might want to bone up on the ‘science' portion of politics." ALSO:

> What was Jindal talking about? (Scientific American)

> Governor of hurricane-threatened state shouldn't belittle volcano monitoring (Chicago Tribune politics blog): "If anyone should understand the risk nature can represent to large population centers, it's a Louisiana governor."

> Jindal vs. the volcano (Talking Points Memo): "The potential argument that volcanic monitoring has no relevance when it comes to saving American lives and property is baseless."

> Jindal a volcano-watcher hater (Alaska Dispatch): "What's really puzzling is his hostility to our own Alaska Volcano Observatory, which Republican Ted Stevens worked hard to get for us."

> Government's role in natural disasters (Paul Krugman blog, The New York Times): "Does (Jindal) really think that the response to natural disasters like Katrina is best undertaken by uncoordinated private action? Hey, why bother having an army? Let's just rely on self-defense by armed citizens."

> What the stimulus bill really says about volcano monitoring (Questionable Authority blog): "Volcano monitoring ... is clearly not the only thing that's being funded (with the $140 million). Jindal was clearly ignoring the truth in his attempt to paint the bill in the worst light possible."

> What is volcano monitoring? Where are U.S. volcanoes? (Live Science)

> Transcript of Jindal speech (CNN)

> Alaska congressional delegation reacts to Obama speech (Daily News politics blog)

BOB BARKER TARGETS ANOTHER NORTHERN ZOO, ANOTHER LONELY ELEPHANT (The Canadian Press): Game-show legend Bob Barker, whose persistence and cash resulted in the departure of Maggie the elephant from the Alaska Zoo in 2007, is going after Valley Zoo in Edmonton, Alberta, over its treatment of Lucy, now the most northerly elephant in the world.

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN LACKS CONFIDENCE IN MISSILE DEFENSE (Alaska Public Radio Network): The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Democrat Carl Levin of Michigan, continues to voice concerns about the National Missile Defense system, part of which is based in Alaska. ALSO:

> North Korea likely to fire missile (AP)

BABY ON BOARD: COAST GUARD SENDS FISHING BOAT HOME (The Associated Press): The Coast Guard cut short a commercial fishing trip after discovering the vessel, boarded off Kodiak, did not have the appropriate safety equipment for the infant aboard.

BUDGET CHANGE WOULD SLASH FUNDS FOR VESSEL TRACKING (Juneau Empire): Gov. Palin has proposed cutting state funding for the Marine Exchange, a Juneau-based nonprofit that operates vessel tracking stations in the state's busiest waterways. "We expected a reduction, not a total wipeout," said Capt. Ed Page, executive director of the Marine Exchange.

Return to Alaska Newsreader through the day for new links.

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM RECENT NEWSREADERS:

Where's the aurora this winter? (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Alaska moose hunt an inch short of perfect (Wahpeton Daily News, N.D.)

UAF scientist studies ‘bubbles of warming' in tundra ice (L.A. Times)

Anchorage food gatherers empty Peninsula tide pools (Homer Tribune)

Video: Fancy footwork by grizzlies trying to catch salmon (BBC)

Anchorage kid grows up to be real-life Ken doll (USA Today)