Day 91 of the Legislature
Day 91 of the Legislature
Dark Sky Week with a chance of meteors, but that swirl in the sky was once-in-a-lifetime
Good morning from Somewhere in Alaska!
It’s Dark Sky Week, also one of the last weeks of the season to see a starry night sky. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard (Kodiak) / Lt. Scott Kellerman
Lyriad meteor shower: Reason to stay up late
For those above the Arctic Circle, this week may be too late to see these meteors, but some Alaskans in the lower realms will have a good view, with partly cloudy skies midweek forecasted in Southeast. Check out the meteors up there.
Frozen vapor from rocket launch captivates Alaskans
This amazing photo from University of Fairbanks all-night sky camera captures a swirl of frozen vapor from the Space X Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on April 15, with the aurora borealis in the background. The rocket sent 51 small satellites into orbit. When it passed over Alaska after the launch, it vented its unused fuel, which went into a spiral at an opportune time. Watch the video of it swirling above Poker Flats Research Range at this Vimeo link. (Don Hampton, optical science manager, GI Space Physics, and Jason Ahrns, aurorologist / rocket scientist at UAF Geophysical Institute, operate the camera.)
Reps. Neal Foster, Mike Cronk, and Josiah Patkotak leave House Chambers after a floor session last week. Today is Day 91 of 121 legislative days.
Day 90 of the Legislature: Budget and bills for Day 91
On Monday, measures like corporate tax hikes, income taxes, and other bills will be heard in committees, as the Legislature starts down the last stretch.
Just a little tax: Rep. Galvin tries for starter pack income tax
Alaska is the only state to have repealed an income tax that was on the books. Galvin thinks Alaskans are dumb. The last fiscal note on an income tax showed that the state would have to hire another 60 government employees just to collect the tax and fine people who don’t pay it, which would gobble up about half of the revenue. Galvin wants to slip the item back into the revenue stream so it can be increased in future years.
Monday-Tuesday public testimony opportunities
Have you ever testified before a legislative committee? Get caught up on all the legislation moving through committees and send in your comments even if you can’t stay on hold for hours.
How much is in the Constitutional Budget Reserve?
For the record: $2.59 billion on March 31, 2023.
Anniversary week
This week marks the 8th anniversary of Must Read Alaska’s newsletter. Thanks to everyone for making it happen. For those who have been here since the beginning, it started as a newsletter in 2015, grew to a website+newsletter and now a popular podcast hosted by John Quick.
Throughout the years the motto was “Keeping the mainstream media on its toes.” That changed in 2023; the new MRAK motto is “A force for good.”
The world has gone a little crazy since 2015, but we are mission-driven here at Must Read Alaska to make the world a better place and stand for what is right, even as the nation goes through a rough patch.
And while I’m at it, a warm shout-out to Charlie Bussell, longtime supporter of Must Read Alaska, former Alaska legislator, pilot, veteran, tremendous patriot, president of Ditch Witch and faithful friend to so many. Thanks for the friendship, Charlie!
No jail time for Sam Brinton, Biden appointee, fetishist and luggage thief
He plucked luggage from a baggage claim area that was not his, but he’s part of the Bidentrocacy. He gets not a day in jail. (P.S. This guy started the Trevor Project. Remember that group, Anchorage?)
USA Powerlifting, based in Anchorage, ordered out of Minnesota because of this?
They won’t let transgenders compete in the women’s division of power lifting. A judge says that discriminates against transgenders and has tossed them out of the state.
Survey: 97% of teachers use ChatGPT to develop lesson plans
Artificial intelligence for consumers has only been around since November of 2022. It has been shown to be pretty left leaning, and it’s already instructing our children.
Reuters: Biden Administration approves Alaska project to export LNG
No official word from the Administration, but AGDC seems to be aware of it.
Hearing on HB 105: Teachers say their rights have priority over parents’ rights
LGBTQ folks and teachers came out in droves again.
David Boyle: How Alaska’s Base Student Allocation formula is calculated
It’s a very complicated formula, not just a simple dollars per student.
MeetMe serial rapist gets 50 years in the pokey
He met Alaska girls on the dating app MeetMe and raped them viciously, with strangulation, knives, and beatings.
Juneau illustrator now indicted by grand jury over scary notes
Terroristic threatening or political commentary? The Juneau grand jury was not amused.
Peltola first-quarter cash report
She raised some money, mostly from out of state (a lot of tribes show up on her quarterly report) — but not enough to offset losses
Downing in Daily Caller: Real marketers of genius don’t hate their customers
Budweiser had some good ad themes in the past, like Spuds McKenzie, Clydesdales, and the “Real Men of Genius.” Not so much with transgender Dylan Mulvaney, who portrays a pubescent girl on his TikTok channel.
Thanks from the bottom of my heart to everyone who subscribes to Must Read Alaska. Help spread share the news that balances the left-stream media.
MRAK Question of the week:
Bill: If Washington children want sex surgery, they just need to run away
The bill, which appears destined for the governor’s signature, says that if youth are pregnant or want to get sex-change surgery, shelters and state agencies can essentially kidnap them
Juneau city manager to retire
Juneau City-Borough Manager Rorie Watt, who has been with the Juneau City and Borough government for 30 years, will retire this fall. Watt has served in eight different positions, and became city manager in 2016.
Bethel city manager to retire
Bethel City Manager Peter Williams has announced his retirement, effective in June. He will to Anchorage along with his wife, citing health concerns as the primary reason for the move. Williams and his wife have lived in Bethel for 36 years.
COLUMNS
Win Gruening: Juneau is spending more, with taxes up and population flat
According to the City Manager’s Budget Message accompanying the presentation, the FY24 budget will break new ground with higher revenues and expenses than in any prior year in Juneau’s history.
Craig Campbell: Legislature must pass HB 61 - Second Amendment
The Second Amendment is a constitutional check on power by the federal government and clearly intended as a means of protection for an individual’s right to self-defense.
Rick Whitbeck: If Chugach Electric board goes woke, we go broke
There are three candidates being pushed by the Alaska Center for the Environment. Conservatives need to know they intend to shut off the gas.
Alaska oil: $85.80
Henry Hub gas: $2.11
Alaska North Slope Production: 470,981
Permanent Fund (principal and earnings reserve): $76,970,100,000
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