Associated Press

The drive to allow ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in Alaska has hit speed bumps.

The bill, from Anchorage Republican Sen. Mia Costello, faces opposition from taxi operators worried the entrance of ride-share groups will drive down wages for their drivers and from municipalities that don’t want to cede regulation to the state.

Costello says she sees the bill as a way to create jobs amid the state’s recession and provide transportation options for Alaskans.

She has garnered support from a group representing Anchorage’s hospitality industry and the chamber of commerce for Chugiak and Eagle River, two Anchorage suburbs.

A similar version of the bill is scheduled for hearing by a House committee Thursday.

A supporter of Alaska’s sweeping criminal justice legislation is no longer a member of a commission that has recommended changes to the law.

The Juneau Empire reports Juneau Police Department Lt. Kris Sell declined to comment after she resigned from the Alaska Criminal Justice Commission.

Commissioners provided input for a law that focused on punishments outside of prison or jail time.

Sell was a vocal proponent of the legislation approved last year.

She told a senate committee Jan. 25 that being tough on crime leaves underlying issues like mental illness untreated.

Juneau Police Chief Bryce Johnson said Sell resigned knowing the department had a different position on the law than she did.

The law raised concerns about sentencing options.

Changes to the legislation were introduced Jan. 30.

Bethel’s homeless shelter will get free water deliveries from the city this winter.

KYUK-AM reports Bethel Winter House Director Eva Malvich told councilmembers that the facility ran through its water supply several times and couldn’t afford to refill it.

The council decided to deliver water to the shelter until it closes in March for the season.

Members also discussed options for future support.

Anchorage police have identified a second person who died in an apartment complex fire.

Police say 63-year-old Vivian Hall died in the early Wednesday fire at the Royal Suite Lodge apartment complex.

Police are asking for the public’s help to find Hall’s family members. Police say they haven’t been able to find any next of kin for the woman.

The other person who died has been identified as 38-year-old Teuaililo Nua.

Another 16 people were injured in the fire.

The American Red Cross says a shelter set up for displaced residents is set to close late Friday afternoon.

Red Cross officials say all residents who were staying in the shelter have found alternative housing.

An Alaska volcano that’s been active since mid-December has erupted again.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory says Bogoslof (BOH-gohs-lawf) Volcano in the Aleutian Islands erupted just before 10 a.m. and sent an ash cloud to 25,000 feet.

Ash can harm and stop jet engines. Ash from southwest Alaska volcanos is a threat airliners operating between North America and Asia when a cloud rises above 20,000 feet.

After the eruption, the Aviation Color Code was raised from orange to red, the highest level.

The observatory says south winds are pushing the ash cloud north over the Bering Sea and no ash is expected to fall on communities.

The observatory says pulses of seismic activity continue and additional eruptions could occur.

The observatory said Bogoslof could have periodic eruptions for months.

The Alaska Senate is eyeing changes to sweeping criminal justice legislation passed last year.

North Pole Republican Sen. John Coghill, who sponsored the law, says several areas have emerged as needing to be re-examined, including penalties for petty thefts. Legislation is expected to be introduced soon.

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, a Dillingham Democrat, says he expects the House to prioritize legislation addressing changes to the law. He cited concerns that have been raised with some sentencing provisions