Snow shuts down Juneau flights

Snow has been falling steadily over Juneau through the day, shutting down the noon flight to Anchorage several lawmakers hoped to catch for the weekend.

A legislative staffer checking on alternates said this evening's scheduled flights were also called off. A winter storm warning is in effect through 5 a.m. Saturday, with snowfall of about a foot by late Friday night.

Rep. Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, was talking a bit ago about carrying over a Resources Committee hearing going on now to Saturday morning, in light of the canceled flights. Instead, the panel will continue hearings on the House Energy Policy at 6 p.m. tonight.

That's HB 306, developed over the interim and during this session by the House Special Committee on Energy.

Also canceled is a public meeting the Anchorage caucus had on the calendar for Saturday in Anchorage.

Here's a statement released on that one:

"Anchorage Caucus co-chairs Rep. Lindsey Holmes (D-Anchorage) and Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Eagle River) expressed their disappointment at the cancelation, but encouraged interested constituents to contact their legislators with questions and concerns via telephone or e-mail until the next opportunity to meet in person."