WASHINGTON — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is stepping down, announcing suddenly Friday that will she pursue other means of having an impact in the public arena, fueling speculation about her intentions for another bid for national office.

Palin will step down before her first term is finished, resigning as of July 26 — while not offering a clear reason for her withdrawal. Having decided not to seek a second term, she said she did not want to remain as a “lame duck” simply wasting taxpayer money with trade missions and the like.

WASILLA — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made a surprise announcement Friday that she is resigning from office at the end of the month without explaining why she plans to step down, raising speculation that she would focus on a run for the White House in the 2012 race.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate hastily called a news conference Friday morning at her home in suburban Wasilla, giving such short notice that only a few reporters actually made it to the announcement. State troopers blocked late-arriving media outside her home, and her spokesman, Dave Murrow, finally emerged to confirm that Palin will step down July 26. He refused to give details about the governor’s future plans.

Stephen Colbert brought up Juneau’s Kensington mine controversy Wednesday evening on “The Colbert Report,” his Comedy Central show that satirizes conservative news pundits.

KETCHIKAN – A cruise ship company will bypass Ketchikan next year in favor of tours out of Juneau and Anchorage.

The Juneau Cheer Club’s first competitive team, the Alaska Elite, competed June 6 in Valencia, Calif., bringing home several first place finishes among other awards, including 1st place Grand Master Champions.

The last float in the 1959 Juneau Fourth of July parade, the Juneau Emblem Club, turns the corner on Main St. and Calhoun Ave.

East Glacier Trail Tangle

Juneau cyclists brought home three first place medals and one second place finish in this year’s Kluane International Bike Relay. Among those who placed were: John Bursell, 1st place for the mens solo division; Tara Jeans and Vicki Orozco, 1st place for the two-person womens division; and Maren Haavig, Donna Young, Heather Conway, Shelly Saviers, Amy Carroll, Heather Johnson-Smith, Nicki Neal and Julia Carver won 1st place for the eight-person womens division. Janice Sheufelt and Robert Sowers earned 2nd place for the two-person mixed division.

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell certified a parental notification ballot initiative backed by Gov. Sarah Palin, the governor’s office announced Thursday.

With a 150-year prison sentence on Monday, Bernard Madoff got what he had coming to him – and certainly more than enough to guarantee that the 71-year-old master swindler will die in prison, not in the Hamptons.