On Dec. 30, 1986, Gov. Steve Cowper appointed two new members to his cabinet. Judy Brady of Anchorage, who had been the executive director of the Commonwealth North, was named head of Department of Natural Resources. Dennis Kelso of Juneau, who had been the deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, was named the Department of Environmental Conservation. The state house leaders assigned its members each representatives roles for the upcoming legislative session. Juneau’s Democrat Fran Ulmer will have served as head of state affairs committee and Republican Bill Hudson will have served as vice chairman of the special committee on telecommunications. Although in the past years the house’s leadership was headed by a coalition of both the Democratic and Republican party, the ruling organization was composed primarily of Democrats.
Meanwhile, the owners of KINY radio asked the Juneau Superior Court for the second time to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed against them and former news director Joe LaRocca. Three Alaska State Troopers claimed the director knowingly aired false and defamatory statements on several news programs. The disputed program claimed that a traffic accident was caused by trooper Robert Cox and also alleged that the following investigation was covered up, while troopers claimed that Juneau resident Michael Cohern caused the accident. There were nine eyewitnesses who claimed the accident was caused by Cox.
“This Day in Juneau History” is compiled by Empire freelancer Tasha Elizarde, who sums up the day’s events — 30 years ago — by perusing Empire archives.
