Alaska Trump for president campaign chair is ...
Mary Peltola can't keep staff and Ravn Alaska makes a big move
Good morning from Somewhere in Alaska!
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Idita-mess
The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is inexplicably committing seppuku. Who needs PETA when you have unsubstantiated #MeToo? First, the race cancelled Eddie Burke Jr. over an allegation, then reinstated him after the State dropped the charge, all within a matter of days. Then the race cancelled Brett Sass over never-filed allegations, ones that Sass vehemently denies.
Craig Medred reports on the Iditarod train wreck at his blog. Recommended reading.
Meanwhile, the Iron Dog avoided the #MeToo drama and had a successful race to Nome and back. You can watch the teams come into the finish line at this YouTube link.
Tshibaka named chair of Trump campaign in Alaska
She was endorsed by Trump in 2022 when she ran against Murkowski. She launched a successful podcast. Now she is Trump’s campaign chairwoman for Alaska.
Will the Division of Elections put the voting center back on JBER?
The division took away one of two voting locations for the military two years ago and some voting-rights activists think that is unfair to JBER voters.
FEC reports: Trump raised more than Haley in Alaska, but by how much?
If the March 5 Presidential Preference Poll goes anything like the fundraising data from Alaska, Trump has this in the bag.
Sullivan’s endorsement: For Alaskans, Second Amendment, and economy, Trump is better than Biden
He presumes that Trump is the nominee, and says if Alaska has that choice, then it’s Trump without a doubt. Murkowski is not endorsing either Biden or Trump but recently she was holding out hope for Haley.
Bill addressing Alaska’s plastic waste recycling future passes House
It would allow an advanced type of recycling that has some air quality issues that need a regulatory break if they are to be used.
Ravn cuts workforce two years after pilots unionize
It may or may not be related, but Ravn looks like it’s struggling, even though it gave pilots a raise a couple of years back. It’s competitive market out there.
Minimum wage petition has enough signature to be on fall ballot
The petition that is backed by the darkest of dark money from Outside — same posse that pushed through ranked-choice voting in Alaska — was successful.
(Meanwhile, we hear the “repeal ranked-choice voting” petition may be certified as early as today … or as late as Thursday.)
We appreciate all generous Alaskans who keep this conservative enterprise going!
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol wins against American fish-shippers companies for violating antiquated Jones Act
The clever use of a 100-foot railroad track was deemed a violation and the fine is going to be crippling to shippers.
Toxic? Peltola goes from fifth to second for staff turnover in three months
Peltola the Terrible is the word across the Hill. She has a temper to end all tempers. Peltola will be speaking to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature today at 11 a.m.
Trump wins South Carolina in a landslide
Haley says she won’t back down, it’s onward to Michigan for Tuesday’s primaries for both Democrat President Joe Biden and the two fightin’ Republicans.
Biden won with 126,000 votes in the South Carolina Democratic primary on Feb. 3. Trump got 452,000 votes in the S.C. Republican primary. Haley got 299,000 votes, more than two times what Biden got, although enthusiasm for him was understandably low.
Now the kicker: Biden got 262,000 in 2020, so there is a possibility that more Democrats voted for Haley than voted for Biden, since anyone from any party can vote in the S.C. Republican primary.
Anchorage socialist group to protest Dunleavy over transportation safety bill
They plan to take to the streets on Friday night to demonstrate why blocking traffic is a First Amendment right. Should win them lots of friends.
Question of the week: Should Nikki Haley drop?
Capitol notes
Rep. Mary Peltola speaks to a joint session of House, Senate at 11 a.m. on Monday.
Senate Bill 140 is back in the Senate for concurrence. That is the contentious education and rural internet bill.
House Joint Resolution 7, the Constitutional Amendment regarding a stable Permanent Fund formula, is on the House floor today for a vote.
A Mina moment …
Anchorage Assembly to vote on cease fire in Gaza
The Anchorage Assembly is thinking global and acting local with a resolution calling for Hamas/Iran and Israel to lay down their weapons.
Safari Club notes
Safari Club International's annual two-night extravaganza sold out both nights with Gov. Mike Dunleavy and a sprinkling of legislators in attendance, including Rep. Mike Cronk, Rep. Stanley Wright, Sen. David Wilson, and Senators Cathy Giessel and Bill Wielechowski. Sen. James Kaufman led banquet attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. Also spotted was congressional candidate Nick Begich and his wife Dharna. Rep. Mary Peltola evidently made the SCI event on Friday night.
This day in history
Feb. 26, 1991, the browser “WorldWideWeb” (later renamed “Nexus”) was developed by Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist and inventor of the internet.
Feb. 26, 1993, a car bomb exploded in the parking garage beneath the World Trade Center in New York. Carried out by Muslim extremists, it killed six.
Columns
Greg Adler: Property tax fairness bill is needed to prevent wacky property assessments
There ought to be a law. There are a couple of bills, at least.
Michael Tavoliero: Your tax dollars get spent in ways unaligned with your values
The money we pay to the feds get funneled to nefarious purposes and anti-American nonprofits.
Alex Gimarc: A subsistence opportunity gift from Deb Haaland
Alaska has laws against discrimination and racism. Calling Deb Haaland.
Bob Griffin: Funding is adequate for Alaska schools, results are still disappointing
We have some of the highest spending and lowest performance in America.
Joe Geldhof: Juneau school enrollment has been shrinking for decades
Juneau is making some tough choices. But the school district was going to have to do so sooner or later.
Linda Boyle: California, Oregon quietly drop CDC guidance on Covid isolation, but Alaska?
The policymakers just quietly change direction without explanation.
Kelly Tshibaka: Beyond politics to post-partisan solutions with Seneca Scott
Finding common ground in a conversation with a former partisan activist and Alaska’s Kelly Tshibaka.
Alaska oil: $82.86
Henry Hub gas: $1.73
Alaska North Slope Production: 467,613
Permanent Fund (principal and earnings reserve): $78,379,800,000
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