Alaska

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Judge Sends Stevens Jury Home, May Declare Mistrial

Prosecutors withheld FBI reports on witness

(Newser) - A federal judge sent the jury in Ted Stevens’ Washington corruption trial home today as he considers declaring a mistrial for the Alaska senator, the AP reports. Stevens’ lawyers claimed that prosecutors attempted to withhold FBI reports about the government’s key witness, former oil exec Bill Allen, that they...

Oil Exec: Sen. Stevens Wasn't Serious About Paying Bills

Man whose company renovated Republican's home continues testimony

(Newser) - Ted Stevens avoided eye contact with onetime buddy Bill Allen as the former oil exec detailed his company’s renovations on the senator’s home, the Wall Street Journal reports. Allen says he received thank-you notes from Stevens saying, “You owe me a bill. … It just has to...

What's in an Accent? Outsider Credibility
 What's in an Accent?
 Outsider Credibility 
ANALYSIS
Oct 1, 2008 10:06 AM CDT

What's in an Accent? Outsider Credibility

Voters ready to lend their ears to the unique mishmash of Western dialects

(Newser) - Some say folksy, some say Fargo, and some say shrill. Whatever it sounds like, Sarah Palin's accent is getting more attention than anyone's since JFK, Daniel Libit writes in Politico. The accent—which linguists peg as a mish-mash of Western dialects—is a fresh one for presidential politics, after decades...

Palin Out of Loop on State Defense: Air Force

Despite pose, Palin not informed when Russian bombers approach Alaska

(Newser) - Sarah Palin doesn't get a phone call when US jets are scrambled to intercept Russian bombers off Alaska—despite her hints to the contrary, a NORAD spokesman told the New York Daily News yesterday. "She doesn't have any role," said the major. "The commander does not call...

Friend Fingers Stevens at Trial
 Friend Fingers Stevens at Trial 
Sep 30, 2008 4:37 PM CDT

Friend Fingers Stevens at Trial

Government's chief witness acknowledges giving inappropriate gifts to Alaska sen.

(Newser) - A longtime friend of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens crossed the powerful lawmaker and testified today as the star witness in the Republican senator's gift-giving trial. The fiercely loyal Stevens did not acknowledge Bill Allen when he entered the courtroom. The two men barely looked at each other as Allen prepared...

Anti-Palin Screed Makes Wasilla Woman Many Friends

Letter sent to curious friends became Web fave, generated more than 13K responses

(Newser) - A Wasilla, Alaska, woman just wanted to share her Sarah Palin experiences with 40 friends, but the none-too-flattering email she wrote ended up on computer screens nationwide, the Los Angeles Times reports. Now Anne Kilkenny, who became involved in local politics while Palin was mayor because of a fight to...

Wrong, Lefties: Palin Didn't Cut Special Olympics Dollars

Declining huge budget increase, Alaska Gov. authorized 10% boost instead

(Newser) - Sarah Palin did not cut funding to the Special Olympics in Alaska, as many have said, professors Warren Throckmorton and Paul Kengor write in the National Review. In fact, this year she approved an increase in funding, from $250,000 to $275,000. Lawmakers had asked for $550,000, perhaps...

As Mayor, Palin Helped Herself to Perks

(Newser) - Sarah Palin vows to battle political boys' clubs, but her mayoral record shows that girls' clubs can be useful too, the AP reports. While mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Palin accepted gifts from merchants—even thanking one for an "awesome" facial—and argued for rulings that favored her family. Other...

Palin's Swimsuit Footage Surfaces

Veep nominee fell short of Miss Alaska in 1984, but footage survived

(Newser) - Footage has surfaced of the 1984 Miss Alaska competition, in which Sarah Heath—soon to become Palin—struts her stuff in the swimsuit competition, reports the New York Daily News. The blurry video captures an announcer explaining that "Sarah Heath says that she wants to prepare for a career...

Innocence, Bravado Are a Dangerous Mix

McCain's Alaskan choice invokes myth of 'the innocent American'

(Newser) - John McCain's choice of running mate invokes the one of our country's oldest and most seductive myths, the virtue of American innocence, Anthony Robinson writes in the Seattle P-I. Innocent of Old World wiles, Americans are thought to have "a combination of virtue, tenacity and practical knowledge that will...

Palin Grabbed $25K in Gifts
 Palin Grabbed $25K in Gifts 
Sep 26, 2008 6:08 AM CDT

Palin Grabbed $25K in Gifts

41 gifts as governor include some from industry execs, municipalities

(Newser) - Sarah Palin accepted gifts totaling over $25,000 during her 20 months as governor of Alaska, the Washington Post reports. The gifts to Palin, who made a crackdown on gift-giving a central plank of her reform agenda, included expensive artwork and free travel for a family member. Donors included industry...

Stevens Used Oil Firm as 'Handyman': Prosecutors

In opening statement, defense touts honesty

(Newser) - Prosecutors say Republican Sen. Ted Stevens deliberately failed to disclose gifts from an Alaska oil company, including $240,000 in home renovations and a $2,700 massage chair, the Los Angeles Times reports. “Veco acted as his own personal handyman service,” the prosecution said in the opening arguments...

Enquirer Names Alleged Palin Lover, Bolsters Claim

Former in-law goes on the record for the Enquirer

(Newser) - The National Enquirer returns this week to its claim that Sarah Palin had an affair, this time naming the alleged lover as Brad Hanson, a city council member in Palmer (near Wasilla) and former partner of Todd Palin in a snowmobile business. To bolster the claim, the tab now says...

As Alaska Melts, Palin Plays Big Oil Denial Game
As Alaska Melts, Palin Plays Big Oil Denial Game
OPINION
Sep 24, 2008 10:13 AM CDT

As Alaska Melts, Palin Plays Big Oil Denial Game

Would-be veep as big an industry stooge as Cheney, says RFK Jr

(Newser) - Alaska is melting, but Sarah Palin doesn’t believe man’s to blame. Then again, McCain’s VP pick is also skeptical about evolution, “which is like not believing in gravity,” writes Robert F. Kennedy Jr in the LA Times. Kennedy recalls his childhood, when Virginia had ski...

Stevens Corruption Trial Begins
 Stevens Corruption Trial Begins 
Sep 22, 2008 5:45 PM CDT

Stevens Corruption Trial Begins

(Newser) - Jury selection began today in the corruption trial of Ted Stevens, the first US senator in over 20 years to face a criminal trial, reports WTUU of Anchorage. The list of 200-plus possible witnesses at the Alaska Republican's trial, in federal court in Washington, DC, includes Colin Powell as well...

Line Between Public, Private Lost on Small-Town Palins

Critics say unelected Todd too involved in governing Alaska

(Newser) - Todd and Sarah Palin’s small-town roots, and the everyone-knows-everyone nature of politics in Alaska, have led to some blurring of the lines between public and private in Todd Palin’s role in his wife’s administration, the Washington Post reports. After one supporter complained, Gov. Palin swiftly called him....

Oil, Politics Swirl in Stevens' Trial

Key witness in Alaskan senator's alleged corruption an oilman who 'owned' pols

(Newser) - As the corruption trial against Alaska Sen.Ted Stevens gets started today, the politician is preparing to face off against a gritty oilman who has bragged about "owning" state lawmakers, reports the New York Times. The chief defense witness in Stevens' corruption trial is Bill Allen, a high-school dropout...

Alaskans Furious at No-Show Sarah
Alaskans Furious at
No-Show Sarah
Sep 21, 2008 8:30 AM CDT

Alaskans Furious at No-Show Sarah

Questions from state residents referred to McCain office 4,000 miles away

(Newser) - Alaskans seeking answers or help from their governor are sick and tired of being referred to John McCain's campaign headquarters 4,300 miles away, reports the Los Angeles Times. "Why did the McCain campaign take over the governor's office?" the Anchorage Daily News demanded in an editorial yesterday. "...

Office Records Contradict Palin's Troopergate Claims

'Unauthorized' trip by 'rogue' commissioner was OK'd by governor's office

(Newser) - Gov. Sarah Palin's office actually approved a trip to Washington that her lawyers have been offering as evidence of the "rogue mentality" for which her public safety chief was fired, reports ABC News. Documents show that Palin’s chief of staff signed off on Walt Monegan's trip "to...

Hackers Breach Palin's Email

(Newser) - Hackers broke into the Yahoo! email account that Sarah Palin used for official business as Alaska's governor and posted some content on the Internet. The group Anonymous claimed credit but did not explain its motives. The FBI and Secret Service are investigating. Palin has taken criticism for using private email...

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