Stevens, Corrupt VECO CEO Campaign Contributions. More R Senators Involved.

[L. Coyote]

Stevens, Corrupt CEO Teamed Up on Campaign Contributions
By Laura McGann - Oct 16, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004470.php


Marketplace radio's Steve Henn has a new angle (http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/10/11/bill_allen_illegal_funds_2) to the Veco-Stevens scandal: the two men quietly paired up in 2002 to support the campaign of seven other Republican senators. Politicians often use their political action committees to purchase influence with members of their caucus, but Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) appears to have gone one step further. Veco CEO Bill Allen served in his proxy, echoing Stevens' leadership PAC contributions, buying the senior Republican senator clout on Veco's dime.

Here at TPMmuckraker we've painted the Alaska tale as a series of various cash-for-political favors incidents. But Henn describes a more complicated -- and telling -- relationship between Allen and Stevens. He noticed that in the summer of 2002, Veco executives poured $70,000 into seven Republican Senate challengers' campaign funds. The donations "closely mirrored cash gifts" from Steven's PAC.

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) are two good examples.

Working in concert, Ted Stevens, Bill Allen and VECO executives used half a dozen political committees to raise about $25,000 for Coleman's 2002 campaign, and $50,000 for Sununu's. Both Coleman and Sununu are running for reelection this year.

Here's a breakdown of the Veco-Stevens donations .... http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/10/11/john_sununu_funds_breakdown

[malaise]

1. Kickety kick

get ye to the greatest.

[L. Coyote]

2. John Sununu funds breakdown + "Six other Republicans in hotly contested races...."

Breakdown of contributions received by Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire in 2002.
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/10/11/john_sununu_funds_breakdown


In 2002, John Sununu of New Hampshire received more than $50,000 from Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska and Stevens' strongest Alaska supporters, including VECO's Bill Allen. The money flowed to Sununu's Senate campaign from Stevens' PAC, his soft money committee, and in a bundle of donations directly from Stevens loyalists.

Six other Republicans in hotly contested races for the Senate received similar support - but none got quite as much cash as Sununu. The Sununu Senate Campaign received the Alaska contributions on these dates (all for 2002):

...............

Between mid October and late November of 2002 Northern Lights' non federal account received a $25,000 contribution from VECO. Northern Light sent the Sununu Victory Fund $25,000.

In 2004, Sen. Sununu attended the Kenai River Classic on a fishing trip organized by Sen. Stevens and Robert Penney. Bill Allen, Carl Marrs and Jim Jansen also attended. ...

[malaise]

3. What a gang of thieves n/t

[L. Coyote]

4. Alaska trips put Washington on the hook as Bill Allen used fishing for pork bait!

Fishing trips put Washington on the hook


Bill Allen, second from left, is pictured in 2000 with Republican Senators Trent Lott of Mississippi, left, Dennis Hastert of Illinois, and Phil Gramm of Texas. (no credit)


From left, Sen. Kit Bond, unidentified woman, Nancy Murkowski, Sen. Frank Murkowski, Bill Allen.


From left, Sen. Thad Cochran, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Sen. Frank Murkowski, Bill Allen, unidentified woman, Sen. Larry Criag, Nancy Murkowski, Sen. Kit Bond, Sen. Don Nickles.


From left, Sen. Kit Bond, Tricia Lott, Sen. Trent Lott, Bill Allen, unidentified woman, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, former Sen. Phil Gramm, Nancy Murkowski, Sen. Frank Murkowski.

Over the past 20 years Alaskan oil entrepreneur Bill Allen and people who work for him gave more than $1 million to candidates running for Congress. But his connections gave him another way to gain influence in Washington -- fishing. Steve Henn reports.

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/10/15/bill_allen_fishing

STEVE HENN: For years, Bill Allen was a supporter of two Alaskan charities with ties to the state's senior senator, Ted Stevens, and his former Republican colleague Frank Murkowski. The charities have spent millions on lavish fishing tournaments, bringing Washington bigwigs to Alaska to catch salmon and mingle with executives and lobbyists.

If lawmakers paid for these trips, they would cost $1,000 a night. But they don't.

Instead, political committees and a network of non-profits backed by lobbyists pick up the tab. ......

[L. Coyote]

5. Kenai River Classic: Where Politicians And CEOs Go Fishing AND damage the environment

Kenai River Classic: Where Politicians And CEOs Go Fishing
By Laura McGann - July 9, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003628.php


This weekend the annual Kenai River Classic brought together members of Congress, like Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), and heads of major defense companies to help raise $1 million for Alaska salmon habitat preservation.

The 200 or so participants (who each contributed at least $4,000) were shown a good time. They fished the Kenai River for giant king salmon where a hospitality boat handed out bloody marys and cigars and they wined and dined along the riverfront. The Anchorage Daily News has two great photos you can see here (http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/kenai/story/9112328p-9028544c.html).

The annual event has gone on for 14 years, drawing major corporations as donors (http://www.kenairiverclassic.com/content.asp?CAT_ID=1), including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Boeing and the heavily-investigated BAE Systems (http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003468.php).

But some locals have piped up about the invitational, saying it does more harm than good. This year, the Kenai Area Fisherman's Coalition took out an opposition ad in the print edition of the local paper to complain about the environmental and community damage caused by the event. You can see the print ad here. http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/kafc/

............

(co-host) Penney is a longtime campaign contributor who co-owns a racehorse with the senator and has brought Stevens in on at least one incredible land deal. http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003502.php

[Blue_In_AK]

20. Bob Penney is the one

who was going to give Lisa Murkowski such a sweet deal on the Kenai Riverfront property that she bought and then had to give back because of the ethics questions.

[L. Coyote]

24. And he has been busy recently buying extra Republican influence in Congress

Penney just paid out $25,000 to the Rs Senatorial Comm.
How does it make any sense to flush that much cash down a toilet in Idaho? :rofl:

PENNEY, ROBERT, ANCHORAGE,AK 99508
45 records found - http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=2fcv9&txtName=penney,%20robert&txtState=AK&txtAll=Y&Order=A
Total for this search: $82,000
IN part:

$25,000 - 5/24/2007 - National Republican Senatorial Cmte
$15,000 - 10/7/2002 - National Republican Senatorial Cmte

$2,300 - 5/22/2007 - Murkowski, Lisa
$2,300 - 5/22/2007 - Murkowski, Lisa

$2,000 - 11/20/2006 - Stevens, Ted

$1,000 - 8/24/2004 - Bond, Christopher S 'Kit'
$1,000 - 7/3/2002 - Sununu, John E
$1,000 - 8/2/2002 - Thune, John
$1,000 - 8/5/2002 - Talent, James M
$1,000 - 11/2/2006 - Burns, Conrad
$2,000 - 8/16/2000 - Gorton, Slade

[L. Coyote]

6. Washington won't return dirty money = " a tangle of corruption scandals"

Washington won't return dirty money
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/10/10/washington_wont_return_dirty_money/

Before pleading guilty to bribing state legislators, Alaskan oil tycoon Bill Allen very actively spread his wealth around Congress. So far, a lot of his government beneficiaries haven't given the money back. Steve Henn reports.

......

Steve Henn: Bill Allen was a big bundler. As the founder and former CEO of an Alaskan oil services company, he encouraged his employees to donate generously to political campaigns. And they did, giving more than a million dollars since the late 80's, according to federal campaign finance reports.

But today, Allen and his former company, called VECO, are at the center of a tangle of corruption scandals. In May, Allen and one of his executives pleaded guilty to bribing Alaskan state legislators. And that wasn't all.

Melanie Sloan: Executives there have pleaded guilty to crimes including making conduit contributions to politicians -- basically giving employees money to make contributions to politicians.

Melanie Sloan's the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. She said politicians often return money when a donor turns out to have serious legal problems.

Sloan: Members generally want to be careful about where their campaign contributions are coming from.

But so far, few who received money from Allen or his former employees have given it back. Allen is now cooperating with federal authorities.

............

[L. Coyote]

8. Northern Lights PAC = Affiliate: Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)

Northern Lights PAC = Affiliate: Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
2006 PAC Summary Data http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strID=C00331827

Total Receipts = $719,946
Total Spent = $744,226

Senate Candidates Total Contribs
Allen, George (R-VA) $10,000
Burns, Conrad (R-MT) $10,000
Chafee, Lincoln D (R-RI) $6,000
Corker, Bob (R-TN) $10,000
Craig, Larry (R-ID) $5,000
DeWine, Mike (R-OH) $10,000
Domenici, Pete V (R-NM) $2,500
Ensign, John (R-NV) $10,000
Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT) $10,000
Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R-TX) $10,000
Inhofe, James M (R-OK) $1,000
Kean, Thomas H Jr (R-NJ) $5,000
Kennedy, Mark (R-MN) $10,000
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) $10,000
Lott, Trent (R-MS) $10,000
Lugar, Richard G (R-IN) $10,000
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $2,500
McGavick, Michael (R-WA) $10,000
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK) $2,000
Raese, John R (R-WV) $5,000
Ricketts, Pete (R-NE) $5,000
Santorum, Rick (R-PA) $10,000
Smith, Gordon H (R-OR) $10,000
Steele, Michael (R-MD) $10,000
Stevens, Ted (R-AK) $5,000
Sununu, John E (R-NH) $2,500
Talent, James M (R-MO) $10,000
Thomas, Craig (R-WY) $10,000
Total to Democratic Senate Candidates: $0

[L. Coyote]

10. Northern Lights 2004 PAC Summary Data

Northern Lights PAC
Affiliate: Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
2004 PAC Summary Data

Total Receipts = $634,571
Total Spent = $611,805

Senate Candidates Total Contribs
Bennett, Robert F (R-UT) $10,000
Bond, Christopher S 'Kit' (R-MO) $10,000
Brownback, Sam (R-KS) $10,000
Bunning, Jim (R-KY) $10,000
Burr, Richard (R-NC) $7,500
Campbell, Ben Nighthorse (R-CO) $9,000
Coburn, Tom (R-OK) $5,000
Coors, Peter (R-CO) $5,000
Crapo, Mike (R-ID) $10,000
DeMint, James W (R-SC) $2,500
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA) $10,000
Gregg, Judd (R-NH) $10,000
Humphreys, Kirk (R-OK) $1,000
Inouye, Daniel K (D-HI) $10,000
Isakson, Johnny (R-GA) $5,000
Jones, Bill (R-CA) $5,000
Martinez, Mel (R-FL) $2,500
McCain, John (R-AZ) $5,000
Michels, Tim J (R-WI) $9,174
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK) $10,000
Nethercutt, George R Jr (R-WA) $10,000
Roberts, Pat (R-KS) ($1,132)
Ryan, Jack (R-IL) $5,000
Shelby, Richard C (R-AL) $10,000
Specter, Arlen (R-PA) $10,000
Thune, John (R-SD) $7,500
Vitter, David (R-LA) $10,000
Voinovich, George V (R-OH) $10,000
Ziser, Richard (R-NV) $1,000

Total to Democratic Senate Candidates: $10,000
Total to Republican Senate Candidates: $199,042

[L. Coyote]

11. Northern Lights 2002 PAC Summary Data

Northern Lights PAC
Affiliate: Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
2002 PAC Summary Data

Total Receipts = $215,750
Total Spent = $256,689

Senate Candidate Total Contribs
Alexander, Lamar (R-TN) $5,000
Allard, Wayne (R-CO) $8,000
Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA) $5,000
Cochran, Thad (R-MS) $2,500
Coleman, Norm (R-MN) $10,000
Collins, Susan M (R-ME) $10,000
Cornyn, John (R-TX) $10,000
Dole, Elizabeth (R-NC) $10,000
Domenici, Pete V (R-NM) $5,000
Enzi, Mike (R-WY) $5,000
Ganske, Greg (R-IA) $10,000
Graham, Lindsey (R-SC) $5,000
Hutchinson, Tim (R-AR) $8,000
Inhofe, James M (R-OK) $2,000
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) ($511)
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $2,500
Roberts, Pat (R-KS) $9,999
Smith, Gordon H (R-OR) $7,000
Stevens, Ted (R-AK) $10,000
Sununu, John E (R-NH) $10,000
Talent, James M (R-MO) $10,000
Terrell, Suzanne (R-LA) $12,000
Thune, John (R-SD) $10,000
Warner, John W (R-VA) $3,000
Total to Democratic Senate Candidates: $0
Total to Republican Senate Candidates: $169,488

[L. Coyote]

12. Northern Lights 2000 PAC Summary Data

Northern Lights PAC
Affiliate: Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
2000 PAC Summary Data

Total Receipts = $459,189
Total Spent = $440,164

House Candidate Total Contribs
Hastert, Dennis (R-IL) $5,000
Nethercutt, George R Jr (R-WA) $10,000
Young, Don (R-AK) $10,000
Total to Democratic House Candidates: $0
Total to Republican House Candidates: $25,000


Presidential Candidate Total Contribs
Bush, George W (R) $5,000
Total to Democratic Presidential Candidates: $0
Total to Republican Presidential Candidates: $5,000

Senate Candidate Total Contribs
Abraham, Spencer (R-MI) $9,999
Allen, George (R-VA) $10,000
Ashcroft, John (R-MO) $10,000
Burns, Conrad (R-MT) $10,000
Chafee, Lincoln D (R-RI) $10,000
Ensign, John (R-NV) $9,936
Fong, Matt (R-CA) ($2,000)
Franks, Bob (R-NJ) $5,000
Frist, Bill (R-TN) $10,000
Giuliani, Rudolph W (R-NY) $4,000
Gorton, Slade (R-WA) $9,988
Grams, Rod (R-MN) $1,000
Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R-TX) $5,000
Jeffords, James M (R-VT) $10,000
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) $10,363
Lazio, Rick A (R-NY) $10,000
Lugar, Richard G (R-IN) $1,000
Mattingly, Mack (R-GA) $5,000
McCollum, Bill (R-FL) $10,000
Roth, William V Jr (R-DE) $10,000
Sand, Duane (R-ND) $5,000
Santorum, Rick (R-PA) $10,000
Snowe, Olympia J (R-ME) $9,997
Stenberg, Donald B (R-NE) $5,000
Stevens, Ted (R-AK) $511
Thomas, Craig (R-WY) $1,000
Whitman, Christine Todd (R-NJ) $5,000

Total to Democratic Senate Candidates: $0
Total to Republican Senate Candidates: $185,794

[L. Coyote]

13. Northern Lights 1998 PAC Summary Data

Northern Lights PAC
Affiliate: Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
1998 PAC Summary Data

Total Receipts = $164,320
Total Spent = $138,618

Senate Candidates Total Contribs
Bennett, Robert F (R-UT) $5,000
Bond, Christopher S 'Kit' (R-MO) $9,976
Brownback, Sam (R-KS) $1,000
Campbell, Ben Nighthorse (R-CO) $9,709
Crapo, Mike (R-ID) $3,500
D'Amato, Alfonse M (R-NY) $10,000
Ensign, John (R-NV) $5,000
Faircloth, Lauch (R-NC) $6,000
Fitzgerald, Peter G (R-IL) $6,000
Fong, Matt (R-CA) $8,144
Gregg, Judd (R-NH) $5,000
McCain, John (R-AZ) $5,696
Murkowski, Frank H (R-AK) $1,000
Nickles, Don (R-OK) $5,000
Shelby, Richard C (R-AL) $1,000
Smith, Gordon H (R-OR) $696
Specter, Arlen (R-PA) $1,000
Voinovich, George V (R-OH) $5,000

Total to Democratic Senate Candidates: $0
Total to Republican Senate Candidates: $88,721

[williesgirl]

7. k&r

[KamaAina]

9. At least one D is mixed up in this: Daniel Inouye, of course

he and Stevens have had this "we non-contiguous states gotta stick together 'n' get us some pork" thing going for years.

http://starbulletin.com/2007/08/03/news/story02.html

Hawaii's senior Sen. Daniel Inouye has received $11,000 in contributions from officers and employees of VECO Corp., the Alaska oil utility firm involved in the federal investigation of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens.

Inouye and Stevens are close friends who call each other "brothers." :puke: They travel together and share responsibilities in Senate committees, although Inouye is a Democrat and Stevens is the Senate's longest-serving Republican....

Federal Election Commission records show that in 2003, Bill Allen, the former VECO chief executive who pleaded guilty to paying more than $400,000 in bribes to members of the Alaska Legislature, gave Inouye $2,000....

Other Alaska contributors to Inouye with ties to Stevens include Ed Rasmuson, who gave Inouye $1,000, and Carl and Joy Marrs, who also gave Inouye $1,000 each in 2003. Marrs and Rasmuson were partners with Stevens in Alaska's Great Eagle LLC, which was formed to buy a race horse.

[Blue_In_AK]

21. I mentioned this below before I read your post.

Inouye, as a Democrat, should be ashamed of himself.

[L. Coyote]

14. VECO and some Bill Allen donations

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=dqdtx&txtName=allen,%20bill%20j&txtState=(all%20states)&txtAll=Y&Order=A
VECO CORPORATION, ANCHORAGE,AK 99503
$100,000 - 10/15/1998 - RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
$25,000 - 5/24/2001 - 2001 President's Dinner/Non-Fed Trust
$20,000 - 6/28/1996 - RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
$10,000 - 5/14/2002 - Stevens Victory Cmte Non-Federal

ALLEN, BILL J, ANCHORAGE,AK 99503
$25,000 - 5/30/2006 - National Republican Senatorial Cmte
$8,000 - 10/7/2004 - Missouri Republican State Cmte
$5,000 - 5/20/2005 - Northern Lights PAC
$5,000 - 7/5/2006 - Northern Lights PAC
$5,000 - 7/30/2003 - Northern Lights PAC

Others:
Midnight Sun
Rich PAC
Burns, Conrad
Inouye, Daniel K
Voinovich, George V
Young, Don
Republican Party of Alaska
Rich PAC
White, Rick
Rehberg, Dennis
Dunn, Jennifer
Denali PAC
DeMint, James W
Hutchinson, Tim
Thune, John
Sununu, John E
Gorton, Slade
Voinovich, George V
Murkowski, Frank H
Bush, George W
Gibbons, Jim
Longley, James B Jr
Tate, Randy
Hayworth, J D
Stevens, Ted
Pearce, Steve
Young, Don

[L. Coyote]

15. A few comments for now. This needs more research. But, it is huge already ...

I expect more research will surface soon. Myself, I'm off for some real salmon fishing and exercise. It has been raining, and the salmon run might start any moment on local rivers.

What to expect? The bribes are going to reach other R Senators. It will take more work, but the evidence is there. The oil companies funneled money via Stevens to many Senators, almost every R and R candidate. Also, now we must look to direct contributions by the oil execs, and the timing of those contributions. Expect to find that there is a pay as you go R legislative process. You want something, you pony up money!

This story may just be starting, and exspect it to be as HUGE as an Alaskan King Salmon!

Also, do not expect all the R Senators to do anything about the corruption of their big bucks benefactor, Ted Stevens. Take a look at how Stevens has been filing their coffers with big bucks. They are all bought and paid for and complicit!

[roguevalley]

16. This is huge. You have no IDEA how inevitable a Stevens win at

election time was. Now, I have hope.

RV, from the Kenai River area

[Sydnie]

17. It certainly puts a fresh face on his melt down about the bridge

and how he said he wasn't going to be friends anymore with any of those people that he had helped in the past. Wonder who changed their vote on that bill after that melt down for fear that they would be slaughtering the cash cow?

[L. Coyote]

18. The cash cow has certainly been slaughtered now. But, it bought a lot of votes first

I suspect, and enabled a lot of cash to flow to the contributors.

[Blue_In_AK]

19. Oh, cool.

You mean Alaska's dirty little scandal is going to bring down some OTHER states' Republicans? I love it. (Daniel Inouye, D. Hawaii, probably benefited from some of this largesse, as well. He and Ted are thick as thieves despite the party difference.)

[L. Coyote]

22. Inouye got campaign contributions, but not the free vacations to fish in Alaska

There's an element of Abramoff and golf trips to Scotland in this story, and those fisherman are the ones to question first: Hastert, Lott, Gramm, Bond.

Next, look at who got $30,000 each!

Next, look at who gives to Stevens and his PAC

CAREER PROFILE Ted Stevens
1989-2006 Total Receipts: $9,856,063
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allsummary.asp?CID=N00007997

TOP FIVE Contributors
1 Boeing Co $104,600
2 Veco Corp $88,000
3 BP $61,800
4 AT&T Inc $51,500
5 Lockheed Martin $48,000
MORE: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allcontrib.asp?CID=N00007997

[L. Coyote]

23. Feds to Alaska: Back Off of Corruption Investigation, You Will Mess Up Ours

Should Alaska trust the FBI to investigate Stevens, et.al.? And, why don't they collaborate/cooperate? Who is hiding what from whom, id anything?

=============================
Feds to Alaska: Back Off of Corruption Investigation, You Will Mess Up Ours
By Laura McGann - Oct 17, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004486.php

Now that two Veco executives have pleaded guilty to buying politicians, two former legislators have been convicted on bribery charges, two more lawmakers are awaiting trial and two thirds of the federal delegation is under FBI investigation, Alaska has decided maybe it should start looking into some of this corruption stuff.

But, too late.

Gov. Sarah Palin released a letter today from the Justice Department telling the state to drop its investigation (http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/101707/sta_20071017024.shtml) into whether Veco paid for political polling, fearing the inquiry may interfere with the wide-ranging and ongoing federal probe. The letter is available here. http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/probe-halt/

In her letter, Brenda Morris, deputy principal of the Public Integrity Section at the Justice Department, tried to let down Alaska's Attorney General Talis Colber easy:

We understand and appreciate that all levels of law enforcement - local, state and federal - have an interest in ensuring that government and its officials operate free of illegal influences. However, because of the long-standing federal investigation into these matters, we believe that concurrent state investigative activity will have the effect of compromising certain aspects of the ongoing federal public corruption investigation.

[L. Coyote]

25. Spin off thread: Who's Who in the "Corrupt Bastards Club" ?? Nothing Fishy Here. MOVE ON

FROM: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2101151

Oh, the HUBRIS of the Corrupt Bastards; they printed Club tee shirts and hats!
"Corrupt Bastards Club" has more political appeal than the oxymoranic Culture of Corruption.
What we need now is the complete roster .....

.........

[L. Coyote]

26. Retire Ted web site

Embattled and under ethical cloud, Ted no longer effective
http://www.retireted.com/
Paid for by the Alaska Democratic Party

Abuse of power = loss of power

It is sad for Alaska that Ted Stevens’ personal affairs have become improperly tangled with his public responsibilities, diminishing his stature and effectiveness in Congress.

When Alaskans elected Ted Stevens to represent us in Washington, we trusted him to act in our best interests.

When an elected official manipulates public laws or directs public funds to enrich himself or those close to him, he loses our trust – and the trust of other elected officials.

Embattled and under an ethical cloud, Ted can no longer be effective and Alaska suffers.

[L. Coyote]

27. visibility kick

[Blue_In_AK]

28. The trial of state rep. Vic Kohring (R. Veco) began this week.

Here's a link to today's Anchorage Daily News article. http://www.adn.com/front/story/9405068p-9317953c.html