VIDEO: TRUCK-SURFING RAVEN (Agmates): An ice-road trucker keeps the video camera rolling as a fearless raven practices touch-and-go's on the hood in Canada's Northwest Territories. Soundtrack is courtesy of Roy Orbison.
PALIN MISSED AT SALMON FEAST IN MANHATTAN (Kim Severson, N.Y. Times): "We were all geared up to eat wild Alaska salmon in SoHo with Gov. Sarah Palin on Friday. But our lunch date canceled on us. ... Still, all was not lost. The First Dude, Todd Palin, showed up and gave a little speech about the importance of salmon fishing in Alaska."
REPUBLICANS DON'T UNDERSTAND SEX (Meghan McCain, The Daily Beast): Sen. John McCain's outspoken daughter says Bristol Palin's abstinence campaign exposes the GOP's silliness about the sex drive. "Daughters of Republican politicians aren't expected to have sex, let alone enjoy it - as if there were some strange chastity belt automatically attached to us female offspring. God forbid anyone talk realistically about life experiences and natural, sexual instincts. Nope, the answer is always abstinence." ALSO:
> In defense of Bristol (Nancy Gibbs, Time)
MOTHER LODE OF POTHOLES ON HOMER ROAD (Homer News): -- UPDATE: VIDEO ADDED -- First Student, operator of school buses for the Kenai Peninsula Borough, has deemed North Fork Road impassable, with ruts up to 16 inches deep, a foot-deep trench running across it and mud so bad vehicles regularly get stuck. The road has a been a problem for years, residents say. A landlord has given up trying to rent property, and one business owner can't get supply deliveries. Includes photo
JUNEAU IS TOP-10 "GREEN CITY" FOR CAR SHOPPERS (Cars.com): Cars.com ranks cities with the most interest in hybrid vehicles based on searches on its site. Results for Alaska: Juneau, No. 9; Fairbanks, 30; Anchorage, 64.
SIGNS THAT IT'S SEAL HUNTING SEASON (Eskimo Power, Kotzebue): Snowmachine? Check. Rifle and binoculars? Check. Bedsheet? Yeah -- let's go. Includes photos -- graphic content alert
BIDS TO PUSH STATES' RIGHTS FALTER IN FACE OF STIMULUS (The New York Times): Standing up for states' rights has not been easy this spring, even as many state lawmakers wince at the extended reach of the federal government. The federal stimulus package has weakened the resolve of states' rights activists in legislatures across the country. Alaska is one of only four states that have passed sovereignty measures this year. Politico's Ben Smith has the "fairly standard" Alaska resolution.
WHERE ARE THE FEMALE POLAR BEARS? (Alaska Public Radio Network): U.S. and Russian biologists just wrapped up more than a month of field work on polar bears in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska's northwest coast. Those bears haven't been carefully studied in more than a decade, and scientists want to learn how the population is being affected by climate change. They found healthy male bears -- one was nearly obese -- but have troubling questions about females. Includes photo ALSO:
Obama administration maintains Bush rule on polar bears (ADN)
PROSPECTING FOR ANSWERS: DOES MAT-SU WANT COAL MINING? (Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman): What will new coal mining mean for the community of Sutton? What stance should residents take? Two companies have leases in the area and may be looking to dig. "I think it's a pretty split 50-50 opinion around here right now," said Rebecca Hobbs at Sutton General Store.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ALITO SPEAKS IN JUNEAU (Juneau Empire): Alaska has had a disproportionate presence on the docket of the U.S. Supreme Court recently. Speaking to the Alaska Bar Association Thursday, Associate Justice Samuel Alito wouldn't give any hints about the outcome of three more Alaska cases awaiting decisions. Includes photo
PROPOSED "WATER TRAIL" IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AWASH IN INPUT (Cordova Times): Federal, state and nonprofit groups are exploring the concept of a 300-mile water trail along Prince William Sound's rugged coastline. Eco-tourism is a goal. Chenaga and Tatitlek might provide shower and laundry facilities for kayakers. A related Prince William Sound Stories project, aimed at getting local residents to tell stories of the Sound for visitors, is also in the works.
VILLAGE SCHOOLS: MUSIC LESSONS FROM AFAR (Kodiak Daily Mirror): Students in Kodiak Island villages may be able to take music lessons through video teleconferencing if the new efforts of the Kodiak Island Borough School District come to fruition. Currently, the district's rural schools only have music education if a teacher also happens to be a musician.
ALASKA'S OLDEST FAIR RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner): 2009 will be the year of tradition at the ailing Tanana Valley State Fair. The fair, held in August, on Thursday declared its theme, "Tradition is Our Mission," and announced new things to come.
RE-ROUTE TOUR BUSES, SAY SOME JUNEAU RESIDENTS (Juneau Empire): Narrow streets and noise have prompted some residents of downtown Juneau to put up signs demanding that tour buses stay out of their neighborhood. Includes photo
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM RECENT NEWSREADERS:
Bearded Aussie rockers dream of Anchorage gig (The Australian)
Unalaska goes deep for spring cleanup (KUCB)
Belugas return to mouth of Kenai River (Redoubt Reporter)
Craigslist ad pays off for kid-short Tenakee Springs (KCAW)
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.