Associated Press

MIAMI — Court records say an Alaska man charged with killing five people and wounding six in a shooting rampage at a Florida airport has been found mentally competent and is scheduled to plead guilty later this month.

Federal prosecutors said in a court filing Monday that 28-year-old Esteban Santiago was recently evaluated by a psychologist. The findings are that Santiago understands the court proceedings and is able to assist in his case. He has been diagnosed as schizophrenic.

Santiago is set to plead guilty May 23 in exchange for a life prison sentence. Prosecutors announced earlier this month they would not seek the death penalty.

The 28-year-old Anchorage, Alaska, man is charged in a 22-count indictment in the January 2017 shooting in a baggage claim area at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

SEATTLE — A retired Alaska state lawmaker says a naked passenger was tackled and detained on an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Anchorage, Alaska.

Former state Sen. Johnny Ellis said on Twitter that the incident happened Monday after the man ran from the front of the plane to the back, yelling and waving.

Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said in a statement Monday night that Alaska Airlines flight 107 from Seattle landed without incident in Anchorage.

Egan says shortly before the descent into Anchorage a disruptive male passenger was detained. She says he was removed by law enforcement after the plane parked at the gate and was then transported to a local hospital.

She didn’t say whether the man was clothed or what led to the incident.

JUNEAU — Alaska officials say a hacker gained access to a server that hosts the state elections website on the morning of the 2016 general election but did not manipulate any information.

Elections Director Josie Bahnke says the incident did not compromise any election functions and was quickly addressed.

The incident was first disclosed by the Anchorage Daily News, based on a public records request. The records also have been obtained by The Associated Press.

Election officials on Wednesday downplayed the incident, which was reported at the time to the FBI.

The officials say there are frequent hacking attempts but disclosing each one that poses no threat to voter information or election results would be counterproductive and never-ending.

KENAI — Part of a bill introduced in the Alaska Legislative session would increase the price municipalities pay for their license plates.

The Peninsula Clarion reported Sunday that the bill, sponsored by a House committee, would remove an exemption for municipalities that currently has them paying $10 per vehicle. That price would increase to $100 per vehicle.
The bill includes a number of other adjustments for the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, including a $5 fee for driver knowledge tests, repealing permanent vehicle registration for vehicles that are at least 8 years old and increasing the age for free senior identification cards from 60 to 65.

Municipalities have objected to the bill. Alaska Municipal League Executive Director Kathie Wasserman says she didn’t find out about the bill until the last minute.

FAIRBANKS — An anonymous donor has gifted $110,000 to the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District for elementary music programs.

The Daily News-Miner reports that the district’s Board of Education formally accepted the donation at its regular Tuesday meeting.

School district officials described the donation as unusually generous. The News-Miner reports that no one could recall such a large private donation coming to the district in recent history.

Superintendent Karen Gaborik says she is hoping to have new instruments in the hands of elementary school students at 17 public schools this fall.

Kate LaPlaunt, assistant superintendent for primary schools, said instruments are aging at area elementary schools. All of the district’s regular public elementary schools have general music programs plus band and orchestra, which are offered to students in grades 4-6.

Update | 8:20 a.m. Tuesday

An Alaska man will not face the death penalty on charges of killing five people and wounding six in a shooting rampage at a Florida airport, authorities announced Tuesday.

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Original post | 6:39 a.m. Tuesday

MIAMI — A decision is due on whether federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case of an Alaska man accused of killing five people and wounding six in a Florida airport shooting.

Miami U.S. Attorney Benjamin Greenberg says the decision will be announced Tuesday morning in the case of Esteban Santiago, 28. There is also a court hearing Tuesday.

Santiago pleaded not guilty to a 22-count indictment in the January 2017 shooting in a baggage claim area at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Authorities say he got a handgun from checked luggage, loaded it in a bathroom and came out firing.

Since his arrest, Santiago has been treated at a Miami jail for schizophrenia.

He complained of mental problems before the shooting but was not barred from possessing a gun.