Northern lights that just about broke the internet
Northern lights that just about broke the internet
Meanwhile, will Biden fumble the Willow Project?
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Check for more news online at Must Read Alaska later today.
Some of the best northern lights anyone can remember happened early enough in the night that many people saw them for the first time — and not just in Alaska, but in Liverpool, England; Rochester, New York; and at Stonehenge. If you missed them, you have another chance tonight.
Will Biden fumble Willow? Big week for Alaska
By Wednesday, the Biden Administration must issue a decision on the future of oil and gas development in Alaska — Willow, the ConocoPhillips project. Environmentalists call it a “carbon bomb” and are working to stop the permit. Alaska’s delegation and nine out of 10 Alaskans want the permit approved, but it’s on federal land, so the ball is in Biden’s hands. Check Must Read Alaska later this morning for a preview of what is at stake.
Ground Zero: Energy Department changes mind, says Covid-19 was probably from a China lab leak
You can call it a Chinese spy balloon without drawing the PC police, but for three years, the American public was told not to call Covid-19 the “China Virus.” The federal government is slowly coming around on the origin of Covid.
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Department of Defense released this photo of the China spy balloon taken by an Air Force pilot monitoring the object, which was first spotted over Montana.
907 Question of the Week
Reminder: No one can see how anyone votes on this straw poll. Thanks to Dittman Research for sponsoring the 907 Question of the Week.
Check back on Friday for the results of the 907 Question of the Week. View last week’s question response at this link.
Who has Don Young’s old office?
The legendary Congressman Don Young had Room 2314 in the Rayburn Building for over a decade (since about 2011). Look who has it now.
Book review: Parents stand up to the Anchorage School Board
What Alaska parents have to say about the books in the school libraries, and what the Alaska Black Caucus has to say about the young person’s porn are two different things.
Publisher concedes, will print Roald Dahl’s original
Both editions will be printed, but that doesn’t mean all bookstores or libraries will keep the classic versions available. This looks like censorship CYA, Penguin.
Anchorage’s Identity Inc. is engaged in puberty blockers
But a bill by Sen. Josh Hawley could put Identity Inc. in legal peril. And the lawsuits by misled trans-children have begun.
Republican Presidential Preference Poll is a year away
As it turns out, the ranked choice voting does not apply to the presidential race. Details on this deviation from Ballot Measure 2.
Dunleavy bill seeks to ensure PFD works pass background checks
People working in the Department of Revenue and handling your sensitive information? They may get fingerprinted first.
Dunleavy bill to improve occupational licensing reciprocity
Faster approvals for nurses, barbers, etc. to help address the worker shortage.
Study shows vaccine mandate did not stop spread of Covid in nine cities that tried it
In the big Democrat-run cities that mandated workers get vaccinations for Covid, there was no difference in the spread of the virus.
Lawmakers on ice
On Wednesday, Alaskan politico Truman Reed, who is a legislative aide for Rep. Monica de la Cruz of Texas, will play in the “Lawmakers vs. Lobbyists” charity hockey game in Washington, D.C. Fun times for charity.
This day in history
1827, the people of New Orleans took to the streets for the first citywide Mardi Gras celebrations.
Sullivan, taping at 4 am Alaska time from KTUU studios for Meet the Press.
ICYMI: Sen. Dan Sullivan on Meet the Press
Sullivan spoke with Chuck Todd about the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia on the one year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Putin. Todd asked him about the Republican divide over the support for Ukraine. The Sullivan interview is at this YouTube link.
Price of Alaska oil: $79.80
Price of Henry Hub gas: $2.45
Alaska North Slope Production: 479,502
Permanent Fund (principal and earnings reserve): $76,574,100,000
COLUMNS
Michael Tavoliero: Eaglexit, two years later and the paperwork is about to be submitted
The group is about to submit working documents to the Alaska Local Boundary Commission. But even now after almost four years, Tavoliero finds newcomers who will ask the standard question, “Will my taxes go up?” Get engaged.
Alex Gimarc: A return to defined benefits
It was so hard to get rid of them, and we’re still paying for the old defined benefits, but some legislators are trying to bring them back.
Downing: Congress can save Americans’ retirement accounts from woke wolves of Wall Street
Two wolves and a sheep decide what’s for dinner: That’s what the U.S. Department of Labor has done with American workers’ retirement accounts over the past few months. Congress must take action.
Downing: Free speech for all in the Alaska Capitol
There was a bit too much harumph and Nazi-calling in Rep. Andrew Gray, who successfully got everyone in the chamber to agree to censure Rep. David Eastman. Free speech wins the day, however — everyone got to have their say.
Dolitsky: WWII Lend-Lease suffered from miscommunications
Alaskans worked with Soviets, but later Soviet historians painted the aid program as an effort to expand American imperialism and use Soviet resistance for the West’s own mobilization. Fifth in the series on the lend-lease program that helped win World War II, but made America an odd ally with the Soviet Union.
Alex Gimarc: Carbon capture 101, Alaska style
There are a pair of bills making their way through the House with companion legislation in the Senate to carbon trading parameters in Alaska Statute. A review.
MULTIMEDIA
Take a video tour inside Alaska’s largest cold-weather shelter with coordinator Alexis Johnson
It’s not a place most on the Anchorage Assembly have ever visited (they say it is unsafe), but you can tag along with John Quick as he videos the inside of the Sullivan Arena and talks to the people trying to help the homeless.
Mayor Dave Bronson, extending olive branch to Assembly
John Quick has a heart-to-heart with Anchorage’s mayor. Find out what the buzz is all about.
MUST READ ALASKA PODCAST
We’ve had 6,000 downloads of our podcast in the last 30 days. Our last few podcasts, available at any of your podcast providers:
Rachel Ries is running for Anchorage Assembly seat 6
Gwen Adams is a modern day HERO
Rep. Jamie Allard of Eagle River is true to her word.
Representative Ben Carpenter on budgets and audits.
The Man, the Myth the Legend Pastor Dean Curry.
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It really looks like? No way!
Pissed Julia and I missed it Miss S.