Alaska

Southeast leaders should stop trying to build a regionwide power grid. Instead, they need to focus on saving energy and developing wood-powered heating plants. Those are among recommendations from an in-depth study of the region’s energy issues released this week

One of Southeast Alaska’s biggest stories of 2011 was reapportionment, or election district realignment.

Population shifts will cost the region two of its eight legislative seats in the 2012 elections. And some felt the way the districts were reconfigured divided close communities.

New research shows northern Southeast Alaska’s sea otter population is growing slower than in the southern part of the region. But it’s still expanding, which continues to worry fishermen and divers.

Alaska’s Marine Highway System is asking the Legislature to budget $22 million for new fast ferry engines. But it may not use the money if a lawsuit against the shipbuilder succeeds.

Governor Sean Parnell’s capital budget proposes improving eight Southeast boat harbors and making plans for another one. It also makes a payment toward a new state museum, library and archives building based in Juneau.