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. The stories include names, AP style, and other content of their eras.
This week in 1985, a special session is becoming less likely, the governor and legislative leaders agree, but that question won’t be answered until the final gavels come down in the House and Senate sometime in the next three days. Lawmakers late Thursday reached agreement on two of three issues tapped by Gov. Bill Sheffield as “must-do” items before adjournment, and a $250 million capital budget should be kicked out of the Senate Finance panel this weekend. During a question-and-answer television program Thursday, Sheffield said regarding a special session that there is a “75 percent chance tonight that we will not have to be one.” However, Sheffield did not back off his earlier stand and said if the agreement falls through and the major bills aren’t passed there might “have to be a special session.”
Today the Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy are at odds on education funding, with the governor threatening a first-ever veto of statutory per-student funding if lawmakers don’t meet his policy demands. That could leave districts with less money than they currently receive for months unless legislators call themselves into special session.
Original Story: “Special session less likely — for now,” by Debbie Reinwand. 5/10/1985.
This week in 1995, growing up, Katie Hurley wanted to attend college and become a kindergarten teacher. The death of her father and the need to make money changed her plans. She instead enrolled in the school of life. She majored in hard work and political science. Along the way she had some pretty good teachers: Alaskans Ernest Gruening, Bob Bartlett and Bill Egan. In state politics, that’s like learning American history from Washington, Jefferson and Adams. She put it to good use for 55 years. Tonight Hurley will finally get her diploma. In recognition of her years of service, the University of Alaska Southeast will confer upon Hurley an honorary doctor of laws degree and Hurley will deliver the commencement message to 174 graduates and their families at Centennial Hall. “It’s unbelievable,” Hurley said earlier this week from her home in Wasilla. She worked for Gruening for 12 of his 13 years as territorial governor. She worked as a special assistant to Bartlett, territorial Alaska’s delegate to Congress, and later again with Gruening when he was a U.S. Senator. She also was appointed by Egan to the state Board of Education, where she served for seven years including time as its president.
Original Story: “A degree — 55 years later,” by Dan Joling. 5/12/1995.
This week in 2005, all national forests, including Alaska’s Chugach, will join the 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest in lifting blanket bans on logging, mining and other commercial uses in roadless areas, the Bush administration announced Thursday. The administration plans to open up almost a third of the 58.5 million acres of forest previously shielded from development by the Clinton administration. Gov. Frank Murkowski applauded the new rule Thursday, saying it provided a greater role for the state in national forest decisions. “You can be assured that I will continue to support a viable timber industry on a sustainable yield basis,” he said. “Today’s decision takes a bad temporary rule for the Tongass and makes it permanent,” said Tom Waldo, a staff attorney for the Juneau chapter of EarthJustice. “Taxpayers are losing $48 million per year on road building (for timber sales) in the Tongass,” Waldo said. Waldo said environmentalists groups likely will sue to block the new rule.
Original Story: “President opens roadless areas to logging, mining,” by Elizabeth Bluemink. 5/6/2005.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
