Three weeks ago Alaska had a primary election

Three weeks ago Alaska had a primary election. Only about 25 percent of registered voters actually filled in a ballot, and we can't tell how many, but at least 20,000 eligible Alaskans didn't even register.

Low voter turnout, we call it. But what does that actually mean? Are Alaskansapathetic? We're busy, for sure, but as I travel our state I know Alaskans care -- deeply -- about a wide range of issues.

Today we celebrate National Voter Registration Day. I ask for your help to get Alaskans registered and voting.

I'm asking this because it's hard to believe that the people who fill our pipeline with oil and who fill the world's dinner plates with fish don't want to participate in choosing who writes the laws that regulate their livelihood. It's equally hard to believe that Alaska's other industry workers and entrepreneurs don't care either.

Our traditional and subsistence communities also care deeply about protecting timeless ways and cultural heritage. Decisions that help or hurt these values are made in Juneau and Washington, D.C. 

Azarenka, meanwhile, found herself in a completely different kind of tussle against

In some ways, the mismatch makes Errani's trip to the U.S. Open look that much more impressive. She was the finalist at the FrenchOpen on the slow red clay at Roland Garros, but her game held up on the quicker hard courts, too, and Williams, not fully pleased with her own play to this point, was complimentary.

"I definitely played better today," Williams said. "I played better than my other matches. And playing someone like her, you have to go better."

Azarenka, meanwhile, found herself in a completely different kind of tussle against this year's French Open champion.

The 2012 Nissan Leaf is nearly identical to last year’s model

This second-generation electric vehicle still drives great: The Leaf's a smooth, very quiet ride, with quick pickup and confident handling.

Now, the bad news. It still won't go very far on its batteries, and it still takes too darn long to charge.

The 2012 Nissan Leaf is nearly identical to last year's model. It now includes a cold weather package — a battery heater along with heated seats, steering wheel and outside mirrors plus a 480-volt, fast charge plug-in.

Nissanis being optimistic touting the quick charge port. It sounds great — only a half hour for an 80 percent charge. Trouble is, 480-volt charging stations are nearly nonexistent in the United States. The average charge at most 240-volt public charging stations takes seven hours. (The company encourages you to install a 240-volt station at your home, at a cost of about $2,000. If you don't, your standard 110/120-volt outlet will take you an interminable 21 hours for a full charge.)

Wright and Hairston continued their two-man offensive in the fifth

Scott Hairston then flared a double down the right-field line, sending Wright home.

Wright and Hairston continued their two-man offensive in the fifth. Wright walked, checking his swing on a high fastball, and stole second base. Hairston followed with a hard grounder through a hole on the left side of the infield, and Wright raced home, narrowly beating the throw with a foot-first slide.

With the luxury of increased playing time this year, Hairston has become a valuable piece of the Mets' offense, and that in turn has made him the subject of trade speculation before the deadline Tuesday.

"It's kind of hard to ignore them," Hairston said of the rumors. "I'm a Met now, I'm happy to be a Met, and I'm enjoying my time here." 

The 6-foot-8 Evans is a 10-year veteran

By using the midlevel exception on Teletovic, the Nets effectively eliminated themselves from contention for Jason Kidd. More significantly, under the N.B.A.'s new cap rules, a team that uses the full midlevel must adhere to a $74 million cap for that season. That limit will make any trade for Howard even more challenging, and perhaps impractical.

The 6-foot-8 Evans is a 10-year veteran known for his defensive rebounding and an enforcer's mentality. He was voted the N.B.A.'s dirtiest player in a Sports Illustrated player poll this year.

Teletovic, who is 6-foot-9 and 242 pounds, played for Caja Laboral in Spain, averaging 22 points and 6 rebounds in Euroleague play last season. A skilled shooter, he converted 43.8 percent of his 3-point attempts. 

Liriano scattered five hits and struck out 11 against no walks

The Pirates, who lost for just the second time in their last 11 games at PNC Park, have surged into contention in the NL Central behind a resurgent offense that began the night third in the National League in runs this month. They looked like the team that slumped through April and May against Liriano, who looked for a night like the pitcher who baffled the Pirates during his only other start at PNC Park six years ago.

Liriano scattered five hits and struck out 11 against no walks on June 16, 2006, a performance that came in the midst of a season in which he went 12-3 and made the All-Star team before blowing out his left elbow at the end of the year.

He has showed only flashes of brilliance in the interim and pitched so badly at the beginning of the season he spent some time in the bullpen in May before returning to the starting rotation on May 30.

Legal experts also say aboriginal groups

Niedermayer said Tuesday the Northern Gateway pipeline and its associated tankers are too great a risk to run through B.C.'s so-called "Great Bear region."

"It's tremendously important to me to be a Canadian for the Great Bear. The amazing places we have in our country are part of what it means to be Canadian," said Niedermayer, who grew up in Cranbrook, B.C.

Legal experts also say aboriginal groups and even the provincial government — should the NDP assume office — could mount legal challenges that would delay plans for years and add to the projects' legal and financial risk.

"I think we could see some constitutional battles reaching the courts. But I can't predict the outcome at this point," University of B.C. constitutional law professor Elizabeth Edinger said Tuesday. "But there will certainly be a serious attempt to delay."