Anchorage Daily News

COURT HALTS JUNEAU ROAD PROJECT (Juneau Empire): A federal judge has overturned the permits for the Juneau Access highway up Lynn Canal, handing road building advocates a major defeat. The state wants to build the 50.8-mile, $350 million road north to a new ferry terminal at Katzehin, where newly constructed shuttle ferries would make regular runs to Haines and Skagway.

FEDERAL SECURITY PROPOSAL WORRIES ALASKA AIRCRAFT OWNERS (Alaska Journal of Commerce): A new Transportation Security Administration proposal has Alaska pilots and aircraft owners concerned their operations will be overregulated, forcing them to quit flying and scrap their planes.

GAS PRICES: WHY ARE ALASKANS SO HYPOCRITICAL? (Andrew Halcro): "Even that 99-cent fast food value meal is $1.59 here in Alaska. But for some, the whole concept of supply and demand, small-market dynamics, higher operating and shipping costs don't matter. We want it cheap." Also:

> Investigation finds no evidence of gasoline price fixing (ADN)

JUDGE: HOOPER BAY FIRE NOT SCHOOL'S FAULT (The Tundra Drums): Families who lost homes and other property during the 2006 Hooper Bay fire have suffered a major setback in their attempt to collect damages. The school is not to blame for the fire, a judge has ruled. The fire was started by kids playing with matches beneath the school, which was on pilings, and spread to homes and other structures.

DON YOUNG OK WITH POLAR BEAR MOUNTS (Politico): Rep. Don Young has introduced two bills in the U.S. House that would reverse a 2008 federal ban on the importation of polar bear trophies taken in Canadian sport hunts. Young argues hunting licenses raise money for polar bear conservation efforts.

FOX'S VAN SUSTEREN BACK IN ALASKA FOR PALIN INTERVIEW (Fox News): The "On the Record" host was in Alaska over the weekend, including in Fairbanks for the finish of the Iron Dog snowmachine race. An interview with the Palins will air tonight.

NEW BOOK: WHY PALIN KEPT PREGNANCY SECRET (People Magazine): "Not discussing the pregnancy with her daughters, she felt, would shorten the process and spare them from unwanted attention," says a new Palin biography, "Trailblazer," that goes on sale Tuesday. The author, Lorenzo Benet of People magazine, wasn't authorized by the governor to write the book, but he received the cooperation of Palin family members and others. Read the first chapter here.

CRUISE LINES URGED TO SHRINK THEIR FOOTPRINTS (The New York Times): With cruise ads depicting pristine blue waters, whales, glaciers and fiords, it is easy to see why travelers might think a cruise is more eco-friendly than jetting through the atmosphere on a plane. Not so, according to Climate Care, a U.K. carbon-offsetting company, whose statistics show that cruise ships emit nearly twice as much carbon dioxide as airplanes.

FILM EXPLORES USES FOR FISH WASTE (Kodiak Daily Mirror): Food packaging, beauty products such as cosmetics made from fish scales, and purses, bikinis, high heels and other products made from fish skin are some examples of potential uses of fish waste.

CENSUS TAKERS PLAN AHEAD -- WAY AHEAD FOR ALASKA (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner): Because the national head count is especially challenging in thinly populated and largely rural Alaska, organizers are reminding people well in advance to participate.

MIKE GRAVEL SHOULD BE AN MSNBC HOST (Daily Kos): Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel wasn't a great presidential candidate, but you've got to admit that the man was refreshingly honest and entertaining. With video clips

Return to Alaska Newsreader through the day for new links.

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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)

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