Empire Archives is a series printed every Saturday featuring a short compilation of headline stories in the Juneau Empire from archived editions in 1985, 1995 and 2005. They include names, AP style and other content of their eras.
This week in 1985, if proposed federal budget cuts go into effect, the National Marine Fisheries Service Auke Bay lab could face a 67 percent budget reduction and a 56 percent staff cut that could “devastate” several major research programs, the lab director said today. George Snyder, lab director, said major cuts such as those proposed in the Reagan administration’s budget would mean cutting some research programs, a move that would put more pressure on the state, which is facing budget cuts of its own. The Auke Bay lab has several major ongoing research programs that could be affected by the cuts. They include evaluations of Canadian interception of Alaska salmon, evaluations of high-seas interceptions of Alaska salmon by Japanese fleets and technical innovations to increase chinook salmon production.
Today the fisheries industry in Southeast Alaska is struggling due to climate change and other factors, and federal agencies are facing wholesale cuts by the Trump administration, which in particular is targeting climate change and related research.
Original Story: “Budget cuts would hurt Auke Bay lab,” by Kirk McAllister. 2/19/1985.
This week in 1995, Alaska’s congressional delegation has a one-year window to further Alaska’s agenda in the nation’s capital, U.S. Sen. Frank Murkowski told a joint session of the Legislature. “You know what happens in an election,” Murkowski said Tuesday. “The window of opportunity is really this year…and it has to be done before those presidential campaigns heat up.” He said opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, lifting the oil export ban and adopting a balanced budget amendment top the list for Alaska. Murkowski, chair of the Senate Energy Committee, said he will move a bill by March that would lift the oil export ban. He plans to move another bill from his committee by October that would open AMWR for oil and gas exploration.
Today the onset of the Trump administration is being hailed by some Alaska political leaders, including U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (daughter of Frank), for an executive order abolishing federal regulations that inhibit maximum utilization of the the state’s natural resources.
Original Story: “Let’s do it, senator says,” by Terry Mutchler. 2/22/1995.
This week in 2005, after three and a half weeks to create a design, four architectural teams revealed their visions of a new Alaska capitol for the first time on Thursday, at the Baranof Hotel. A nine-member jury selected the four teams from a field of 43 applicants, which entered a capitol design contest launched by Juneau’s Capitol Planning Commission last year. Thom Mayne of Santa Monica, Calif., envisions a capitol with a dome, whose glazed interior is etched with words from the state’s constitution. Inspired by the glaciers, the two silver layers of the building flow to Juneau’s waterfront. The design of Moshe Safdie of Somerville, Mass., suggests a dome with two steel and glass structures that house the two chambers of the Alaska Legislature. A wood partition could be lifted between the chambers for a joint session. Mehrdad Yazdani of Los Angeles created a design in which certain zones of the site would represent the five regions of Alaska. The landscape plan features outdoor and indoor gardens dedicated to each of the regions. Richard Dallam and Steve McConnell of Seattle designed a capitol with two chambers protruding out of the hill. Between the chambers is a central forum as a civic gathering place. Rain gardens course through the main hall.
Today the Alaska State Capitol that opened in 1931 remains the official one. There are no serious discussions of building a new one.
Original Story: “Four visions for Alaska’s next capitol,” by I-Chun Che. 2/18/2005.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
