From Cordova fisher and Exxon Valdez class action lawsuit plaintiff Bill Black, it appears that the State of Washington is backing off their earlier interest in joining the State of Alaska in our "friend of the court" brief. More as this develops.Both the Anchorage Daily News and What Do I Know? have articles up on the sentencing in Federal Court this morning of ex-lobbyist Bill Bobrick. The ADN's Lisa Demer writes, regarding startling news about State Senator Lesil McGuire, that "Early in 2007, McGuire called both Bobrick and his wife, Jessica Bury, who was in medical school in Minnesota, Pope said. She said that she was hearing Bury might have a hard time being licensed to practice medicine in Alaska.
"Bobrick understood the call to be a threat that if he testified favorably for the government, Lesil McGuire would take steps to see that Jessica did not obtain her medical license," Pope told Sedwick in court.
"Pope told reporters after the hearing that he considered the calls to be witness tampering."
It appears from Steve Aufrecht's extensive notes taken at the sentencing, that Bobrick's continuing cooperation with the Federal investigation after he and his wife had received McGuire's threats, helped reduce Bobrick's sentence.
I called State Senator Lyda Green's office this afternoon, asking whether or not the Senate President was aware of the news. Her office verified that Green is in district now, but wasn't in the office this afternoon. I requested that Senator Green call me tomorrow about this. As a constituent, I feel she should make a statement about whether or not this news about her colleague is of concern to Sen. Green, and if Green intends to find out whether there are steps she now needs to take as Senate President.
You can reach Sen. Green's Wasilla office at 376-3370.
Independent Alaskan reports on Anchorage Assembly inaction on nutcase Assemblyman Bauer's hate ordinance:
My sources indicate that public testimony on the anti-sanctuary ordinance in Anchorage will be postponed until January 22, 2008. The assembly will also have a work session on Friday, January 18, but members of the public will not be allowed to speak. I wonder if they are trying to fix it...
swans rising from Neklason Lake