State Flags Not Lowered for Cowdery

When notable Alaskans, including former legislators, die, the governor often orders state flags be flown at half-staff in their honor.

Flags were not lowered earlier this month with the passing of former state Sen. John Cowdery, at age 83.

While in office, Cowdery was caught in a sweeping corruption investigation and in 2008 admitted to conspiring with the one-time head of an oil pipeline services company to try to bribe another senator.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Sean Parnell says a state flag is lowered at the governor's discretion.

While Parnell did not order flags lowered for Cowdery, she says Parnell sent the Cowdery family a letter of condolence and a flag that was flown over the state Capitol.