Whitehorse Daily Star

February 12, 2014

• Dogs were rigorously tested for drugs A new phase of the Yukon Quest began for the race's veterinary teams, as they started an extensive drug-testing program to ensure the dogs aren't being given banned substances.
• ‘Rookie' only partly describes Quest musher Matt Hall is classified as a Yukon Quest rookie, but that description may not be an entirely accurate one for the 22-year-old musher.
• Energy board relates how it regulates fracking The National Energy Board (NEB) explained its role in regulating fracking in the North to the Yukon's Select Committee regarding the Risks and Benefits of Hydraulic Fracturing late last month during a series of public presentations.
• Fracking requires risk assessment, professor says Rick Chalaturnyk, a geotechnical engineering professor from the University of Alberta, says the Yukon will have to decide if the potential benefits of hydraulic fracturing make the risks acceptable.
• Mysterious fire claims Suburban An early-morning vehicle fire in the Marwell industrial area has been deemed suspicious, with the RCMP now investigating.
• Retrial ordered for francophone school board case The Yukon Court of Appeal has ordered the re-trial of a civil case between the territorial government and the francophone school board, citing judicial bias and "inexplicable procedures.”
• Pro-Conservationists Donate To The Cause Hundreds of people attended last Sunday evening's fund-raiser for the court challenge of the Yukon government's new plan for the management of the Peel watershed.
• Transfer payment gets smallest boost in three years The Yukon's federal transfer payment received a $37-million boost in Canada's 2014 budget, the lowest increase in three years.
• Cool! This was the sight greeting residents of Dawson City this morning as the current cold snap continued its grip on the Klondike community.
• RCMP issue reminder on vehicle protection Whitehorse RCMP are reminding vehicle owners what they can do to help prevent having their vehicles broken into.
• Another lawsuit camps out on YTG's doorstep The Yukon Party government has been hit with another lawsuit by a First Nation government.
• Latest of Quest's surprises glides to finish The latest in a long list of unexpected events occurred late Tuesday afternoon on the Yukon Quest trail.
• Pay up your fees, court orders condos' developer Condominium owners found restitution this week, as a Yukon Supreme Court judge ordered a Copper Ridge developer to fork over nearly $400,000 in unpaid fees.

February 11, 2014

• Cabs move over to another company City bylaw manager Dave Pruden is still trying to reach the owner of five cab companies which seem to have gone out of business.
• City joins others in flying gay pride flag Whitehorse has joined other cities across the country in raising a rainbow flag in solidarity with Russia's gay and lesbian communities.
• Musher quits after dog dies Healy, Alaska musher Dave Dalton has scratched from the Yukon Quest following the death of one of his dogs, race officials announced today.
• Musher found safe and sound The 36-year-old Fairbanks, Alaska musher who pushed his help button at 2 a.m. today is in good health, Carmacks RCMP Const. Jon Dixon told the Star early this afternoon.
• ‘The Quest is my favourite,' says second-placer Hugh Neff pulled into the Takhini Hot Springs just before noon Monday, capturing second place in the Yukon Quest with a time of eight days, 23 hours and seven minutes.
• Tax-, bill-raising budget passes unanimously City council unanimously passed its $68.5-million operating budget Monday evening, raising property taxes by 1.7 per cent and water and sewer bills by 4.7 per cent for this year.
• Emotional musher recalls scene of injury Tears flowed freely down Brent Sass's cheeks as he opened up about the injury that ended the greatest Yukon Quest run of his life.
• ‘You are a coward and a cold-hearted criminal' Yukon Supreme Court heard emotional statements by family members about Gordon Tubman

February 10, 2014

• Sass shocked but delighted by family visit Brent Sass received an unexpected surprise upon his arrival in Pelly Crossing Friday night.
• Man pleads guilty to second-degree murder A man has pleaded guilty to the unprovoked killing of 41-year-old Gordon Tubman, whose remains were found among the burnt rubble of his trailer home in August 2010.
• Restful Respite Allen Mooreʼs lead dogs Scruggs,
• Premier anticipating changes to YESAA as soon as the spring Premier Darrell Pasloski expects the federal government to bring forward amendments to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act (YESAA) as early as this spring.
• Silver unopposed for Grit leadership Sandy Silver has officially dropped "interim” from his title.
• Tumble led to a head injury Brent Sassʼs race is over.
• ‘Brentʼs the one whoʼs usually doing the saving' This time, it was Hugh Neff who played the hero.
• Victor gives full credit to dogs' performance Alaskan musher Allen Moore claimed his second straight Yukon Quest victory early this morning, but not in the way anyone expected.