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Good morning from Somewhere in Alaska!
University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates flipped their tassels to become UAF alumni at the 101st commencement on Saturday in the Carlson Center, a moment in time for more than 1,000 graduating Nanooks. The first graduation ceremony was in 1923, and there was just one graduate that year.
Check out who were awarded honorary doctorates on Saturday.
Alaska cabin, road, island properties go up for auction by IRS this month
If you don’t pay your taxes, the IRS will seize your land and sell it off. That’s how land ownership works these days. There are opportunities for others to take the risk, including some sweet island property in Kachemak Bay.
Anchorage Assembly moves to force deputy library director out
Judy Eledge said some things that many know to be true about village life. But you just cannot say those things out loud because … free speech doesn’t exist for conservatives.
Where is Mary Peltola?
The congresswoman for Alaska has been quiet for several days. That usually means she is not in Alaska, not in D.C., and wants to keep her whereabouts unknown.
Although last week she had a weeklong break from congressional votes, she did not travel back home with the Assistant Secretary of Interior for Indian Affairs, Bryan Newland, who spent five days in Alaska. She didn’t attend the 101st graduation at University of Alaska Fairbanks.
She and her chief of staff Anton were spotted in the Palm Springs, Calif. airport, which can only mean liberal lobbyist and Don Young insider Jack Ferguson set up some high-dollar fundraisers for her. Ferguson pulled hard for Peltola after Josh Revak’s attempt at Congress fell flat.
Public testimony opportunities this week
You might find some of these bills interesting: Changes for elections, carbon credits.
Legislative updates
House Ways and Means will probably move its fiscal plan pieces out of committee this week. Criticize it all you like, but realize there are no other fiscal plans out there.
The House leadership is emphasizing a spending cap, and it’s really doubtful that the Senate’s miserly plan to give Alaskans 25% Permanent Fund dividends will pass the House. There are just nine days left in the session and we can see a special session coming in October from where we’re sitting.
Downing’s Daily Caller column: Biden & Co. thinks there are enough jobs
No energy or mining jobs are needed, says the Interior secretary, because there are millions of jobs. Oh wait…
Head of BIA wraps up Alaska tour
Assistant Interior Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland was in Alaska last week, starting with meetings in Juneau, then to Anchorage, Newtok, and ending in Fort Yukon. The topics involved climate change and resilience, missing and murdered indigenous people. No sign of Rep. Peltola with the entourage.
Comings and goings
Dave Stieren has moved from the governor’s office over to AIDEA to work on tourism and aviation infrastructure projects with Randy Ruaro and Brandon Brefczysnki, others who left the governor’s office for the team.
Also on the move is Josh Applebee, who is no longer going to be chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom.
Doyon acquires Fairweather, LLC
Native corporation gobbles up oilfield service company with long history on North Slope. No word if Rick Fox will remain at helm for the transition.
ConocoPhillips Alaska reports $416 million in income, $464 million in taxes
The president of CP says SB 21 is working. But the numbers show it’s really a hefty tax on these companies.
Question of the Week: Is your money safe in your bank?
Walensky to step down as CDC director
She leaves the CDC an agency untrusted by the majority of Americans.
Colorado Democrats fail to block bill increasing penalties for indecent exposure to children
There were some Democrats who voted in favor of increased penalties for perverts.
Hilcorp gets grilled in Senate Finance
Hostility toward Hilcorp was palpable. It looks like the Senate is in a punitive mood.
State attorneys find fault with JP Morgan Chase for discrimination against Christians
Bank abruptly canceled accounts of Christian advocacy groups, made unusual demands.
Treg Taylor adds name to appeal in Christian cake baker case
The endless persecution of Jack Phillips continues in Colorado, with trans activists trying to force him to bake a trans cake to celebrate trans mutilation.
Comment of the day
Trig regarding Judy Eledge being hounded by the Anchorage Assembly: “How dare she speak her thoughts in private conversations. Maybe all public employees should be forced to wear recording devices so that the thought police can better keep track.”
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This day in history
May 8, 1945, Following Germany's unconditional surrender, World War II in Europe officially ended at midnight on this day. The war in the Pacific continued until Japan’s surrender in September.
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Columns
Corri Feige: Bait and switch tax policies are killing Alaska’s reputation
Alaska has a credibility problem. We have a habit of attracting investment, especially in our oil and gas sector, and then changing the rules after companies have come and made a commitment, by investing and doing business in our state.
Tim Barto: Who is Alaska Baseball League’s new commissioner?
Seeing challenges from other summer wood-bat leagues, as well as concerns by college coaches about pitch counts and playing time, the ABL decided to hire Chip Dill. (He looks a bit like Kevin Costner, if we’re honest.)
Hans Rodvik: The need for servant leaders in politics
What do Lao Tzu, Jesus Christ, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Starbucks, Southwest Airlines, and Nordstrom all have in common? Each of these powerful leaders and brands adhere to the leadership model of servant leadership.
Bronson and Johnson: Let's make year-round shelter a priority
This is a warning call before next winter; we need year-round shelter. Cities and towns across the country struggle to provide adequate shelter to those in need, particularly during the winter months.
Jeremy Carl: Who is Montana’s rogue Rep. Zooey Zephyr
He had another name before he had his penis removed a couple of years ago and had it surgically turned into a vagina. He lived in Washington state and has a trans boyfriend who has his own interesting history.
Downing: Haaland’s hellish view is there are enough American jobs
No cobalt or copper mining is needed because we’re at full employment? Haaland has no idea what is coming. She is a relic from the past in charge of Western lands.
Sean Murphy: Eagle River Exit, and how the new school district would form
Murphy breaks down the numbers for the Chugach School District that would be created in the new Chugach Regional Borough.
Alaska oil: $74.56
Henry Hub gas: $2.14
Alaska North Slope Production: 479,379
Permanent Fund (principal and earnings reserve): $76,533,600,000
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