Good morning from Somewhere in Alaska!
Jet-setting Jill heads to Bethel, as President Biden refuels in Anchorage on way to Japan
A Temporary Flight Restriction called for the Anchorage airspace by the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday was violated at least three times by small-plane pilots, Must Read Alaska learned.
Downing: Pork barrel trip for Jill Biden, Deb Haaland, was rescue mission for Mary Peltola
My column: It was about broadband, they said. Nah, it was about rescuing Mary Peltola’s 2024 reelection and giving her that campaign photo op, with infrastructure money coming into the state, something she can take credit for … except that the broadband won’t be in rural Alaska for years and years to come. This was campaigning on the public dime.
Chugach Electric election ends Friday
We’re at the end of a month-long election for Chugach Electric Association. Friday at 3 pm is the deadline to vote.
Environmentalists are attempting a coup to take over the power board with candidates who will drive rates higher by eliminating natural gas.
Here is the slate of candidates that represent stability and sensible policies.
And if you have other ideas, here is the slate supported by the Outside environmental interests through the Alaska Center for the Environment. They call themselves the clean energy candidates.
The 2023 annual meeting, election, and member appreciation event is May 19 at ChangePoint Alaska from 3 to 6 pm and include bucket truck rides, educational materials, food, and more.
The annual meeting will start at 6 pm. Registration for the annual meeting begins at 5 pm. For more information on the member appreciation event, click here.
VOTE TOTAL: 11,813 (As of Monday morning).
Sen. Sullivan’s bill to protect police moves ahead; Rep. Peltola misses votes to condemn defunding police
She could not be bothered to show up for work this week, but did smile broadly for the First Lady photos. Meanwhile, Sullivan is moving important legislation.
Senate tactic fails to deliver budget on time
First story: The Senate wanted to negotiate outside of the conference committee process. The House called their bluff.
…And the House concurs with Senate budget
Second story: That was fast. It took $34+ million in capital projects to secure a few votes in the House in exchange for a $1,300 PFD. Reminder that there is no binding caucus in the Alaska House, so everyone voted as they saw fit for their own district. This is why you have a binding caucus, so people can’t get picked off with special treats.
Baggage thief, Anchorage trans adviser Sam Brinton arrested again
Brinton advised the Anchorage Assembly on the conversion-therapy ban ordinance in 2020, and became the spent nuclear waste expert in the Biden Administration. Now he is in jail again.
Why Assemblywoman Zaletel’s mysterious departure doesn’t add up
Assemblywoman Meg Zaletel will take a 48-day medical leave from the Assembly, but will also take a 69-day medical leave from her job running the Homeless Industrial Complex. Those are just two facts that don’t align. If it’s medical leave, why are the leave dates different? Glad you asked.
Muni loses another department director: Maintenance and Operations
This city administration is struggling to keep good people.
Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom hires new chief of staff: Kelly Howell
She is a longtime aide and friend to the lieutenant governor and fills in an important role for any administration. Who is Kelly Howell?
Juneau makes mail-in voting permanent
Mail-in elections are the new norm in Juneau, as they are in Anchorage. The Assembly made the change on Wednesday on a vote of 5-2, with Mayor Beth Weldon and Assemblyman Wade Bryson voting against it. The city has had mail-in elections on a temporary basis for three years, starting with pandemic times.
Dunleavy joins 23 governors responding to Texas’ call for help
Gov. Greg Abbott put out a call for help and Republican governors wrote back a statement of support. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida? He did even more than write about it.
Question of the Week: Results
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This day in history
May 19, 1862, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act, which provided 160 acres of public land virtually free of charge to those who had lived on and cultivated the land for at least five years.
Columns
Sean Murphy: Eaglexit and the authority of school boards in Alaska
This is the second part of our series of articles to describe an education model for the new Chugach Regional Borough. After all, isn’t it always about the future?
Kreig and Vazquez: Who to vote for in Chugach Electric board elections
There are three good choices for the future of Anchorage electric rates. And three really bad choices the greenies want you to vote for. This is the last week to vote.
Did Anchorage’s superintendent break promise to Family Partnership Charter School community?
He said the principal of Family Partnership would remain. Now he says she is leaving. That was fast.
Downing: Democrats have a zombie problem
Not to be unkind, but between Feinstein, Fetterman, and Biden (not to mention Sanders and Pelosi) it is the Night of the Living Dead running our country.
Glen Biegel: Choose your school wisely
Be in alignment with the school that your children attend. If you are not, you’re not going to like the results.
Doug Vincent-Lang: Another unjustified attack by the feds on Alaska
The National Park Service is once again dividing Alaska by unjustifiably undermining the state’s sustainable management of Alaska’s wildlife. In the latest attack, the National Park Service has proposed rule making that prohibits traditional methods and means of hunting throughout national preserves in Alaska.
Win Gruening: Connecting the dots on Alaska’s higher cost of living
According to a recent survey by the Alaska Department of Labor, housing became less affordable in all parts of Alaska in 2022.
Alaska oil: $77.13
Henry Hub gas: $2.59
Alaska North Slope Production: 485,137
Permanent Fund (principal and earnings reserve): $76,636,700,000
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Here, now we Alaskans can trough up a little. Wipe the sweet of our browse and get to truth.