President's Day poll & Trump dials Dunleavy in Fairbanks
How many have applied for the PFD so far?
Good morning from Somewhere in Alaska!
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Question: Who was the best president in American history and why?
Fur Rondy is Friday, Iditarod is 11 days away, and spring is in the air
The World Ice Art Championships are underway in Fairbanks. Iron Dog racers will arrive in Kotzebue today on their way to Nome. Four teams have scratched, 19 are still racing, and Boylan/Leslie are in the lead.
The Beaver Round-Up is Feb. 28 in Dillingham, with scavenger hunt, outhouse race, parade, and fireworks.
In Juneau, the Alaska Municipal League gathers for its legislative conference on Tuesday.
The Alaska Hospital and Health Care Association has its legislative fly-in Tuesday. So does CHARR, the Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association.
It should be a pretty active bar scene this week in the capital city.
Juneau property tax assessment Q & A
In response to recent questions about the fairness of the property tax assessment process, the Juneau City Clerk will hold a “Lunch and Learn” on Friday at noon, at 155 Heritage Way. Bring your own lunch, if you can still afford to eat after that recent assessment: In 2020, the median assessed value for a home in Juneau was $429,000, but two years later it had increased by 23% and was $527,0000. A reminder of what has been causing all the headaches around some parts of the state is this column from Jon Faulkner.
Craig Campbell retiring as manager of Anchorage International Airport
What a great run he’s had — everything from Air Force general to lieutenant governor and head of Alaska Aerospace. He’ll stay on until they find his replacement.
We appreciate all generous Alaskans who keep this conservative enterprise going!
Education bill set for House floor debate, vote on Monday
Who can forget how slick the Alaska Senate was last year, holding onto the budget until it was too late to negotiate. We almost expect the same playbook on SB 140.
(But first, someone in the House will probably object today, which would put this into the next day’s calendar.)
Speaking of budgets … the only way to pay for an increased BSA is with a decreased PFD…
Alaska House to take up protecting PFD formula via Alaska constitution
The protection would stop the Legislature from making up a PFD amount up as they go along, as they have done since Gov. Bill Walker raided the PFD.
How many Alaskans filed for their Permanent Fund dividends so far?
The deadline is March 31. To date, 349,070 have filed online for their dividends. Last year, by the deadline, 673,366 had applied. You have 41 days left to file your application. The link to do so electronically is here.
Minneapolis Muslims can opt their kids out of LGBTQ lessons at school
They argued religious liberty and they forced the district to allow their kids to not take part in gender ideology lessons.
Psychedelic task force intent is to ‘prepare Alaska’ for legalization of ‘molly’ for mental health
Sen. Forrest Dunbar believes the drug ecstasy will help PTSD. Readers may recall being promised the same for marijuana.
Chief Medical Officer Anne Zink to resign
If we’re honest, she was not the favorite of conservatives.
Dunleavy meets with Yukon premier, talks roads, while Ottawa says no more new roads in Canada
Alaska will help out with those frost heaves north of Burwash Landing. It’s not our road, but it’s kind of our road. After all, Yukon Territory only has 45,000 people.
OMB releases governor’s amended budget
The Office of Management and Budget released the governor’s FY 25 amended budget last week, which has increments and decrements. The budget increases operating and mental health budgets and brings the FY 2025 spending to $10.89 billion, mainly due to new $303 million in federal and other funds. Unrestricted funds increased by $20.79 million.
Sullivan: Russian dissident, was murdered; Putin gave the kill order
A reminder of the dangerous and deadly way Putin rules Russia.
Manchin is a ‘no’ for third party run for Oval Office, which means Murkowski is out for V.P.
He told a group in W. Virginia that he won’t run. He’s also not running for reelection. Does this mean Murkowski will run for governor in 2026?
Latest legislative staff list
Who’s who in the Capitol building, as of Saturday.
Who has filed
Janice Park, a Democrat who ran for Alaska Senate against Sen. James Kaufman filed and on Friday we said Kaufman’s seat was not up for reelection this year, but that was incorrect.
Trump dials into Dunleavy during Fairbanks Lincoln Day Dinner
The huge dinner in Fairbanks was already a success, but the room was stunned when Trump called in to talk to the group. It was 11:30 pm East Coast Time, the day that the New York judge had ruled that Trump must pay a penalty of one $450 million, which will cost him most, if not all of his available money. Yet, there he was, talking to Fairbanks Republicans.
Ketchikan Lincoln Day dinner notes
70 people attended Lincoln Day Dinner in Ketchikan, which is a huge turnout for the First City. The Republicans raised enough money to rent an election headquarters, to open after the August primary. Ketchikan’s Junior Shotgun League helped out with the dessert auction.
Nick Begich was the keynote speaker and our sources say he delivered a tone-perfect speech, with an America First theme.
Begich said, “We were a state of pioneers, but today, we’re prisoners in our own state. It’s almost like our state is suffering from a case of Stockholm Syndrome, where we have fallen under the spell of our captor [the federal government]. The America of tomorrow requires an Alaska that is unlocked today.”
Question of the week
Would you support Alaska seceding from the union?
Kendig fundraiser notes
Matanuska Electric Association board member Bill Kendig’s reelection fundraiser at Settler’s Bay on Thursday attracted about 30 people. He was engaged and answered questions. Spotted in attendance were Kelly Tshibaka, Randy Ruedrich, Rob Yundt, Berkley Tilton, Kathy McCullom, Dave Rutz, and John Klapperich. Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed Kendig to the Alaska Energy Authority Board and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority Board, where Kendig serves as the vice chair.
Hawaiian Air and Alaska Air merger still on
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. stockholders voted to adopt the merger agreement with Alaska Air Group, Inc. Alaska reached the deal in December to purchase Hawaiian for about $1.9 billion. That was before a door blew off of a 737-9 MAX.
According to the agreement, Alaska Air Group, Inc. will acquire the airline for $18 per share cash and will take on Hawaiian’s nearly $1 billion net debt. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals.
House subcommittee airs concerns about Covid vaccines mandates
The government seems to be almost disavowing the VAERS (vaccine adverse effects) database, since it has become such a hot topic among critics of the Covid vaccines.
This day in history
Feb. 19, 2008, Fidel Castro stepped down as Cuba's president.
Feb. 19, 1945, U.S. troops landed on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima.
Columns
Alex Gimarc: The 907 Initiative is campaigning against the mayor of Anchorage
The mysterious group campaigning against Mayor Bronson has figured out how to get around campaign finance laws.
Jon Faulkner: Alaska’s property tax assessment processes have failed the public trust
A review of how things have gone very wrong in property taxes, from the state to local level.
Michael Tavoliero: Intermittent renewables alone cannot sustain Alaska’s energy needs
Can you even imagine Anchorage running on windmills during that last cold spell?
Win Gruening: Juneau wrestles with funding for schools; enrollment falls
The Assembly is now getting involved in trying to figure out the funding.
Paulette Simpson: Saying ‘no’ to growth in Juneau has consequences
The Left doesn’t want kids. They don’t want private-sector growth. So why are they so mystified that the Juneau schools are losing students?
Rick Whitbeck: Thanks to fossil fuels, Anchorage averted a crisis
People would have died if not for the energy from natural gas in Alaska’s largest city.
Niki Tshibaka: Fredrick Douglass was America’s Moses
Douglass was a righteous man, and it’s worth revisiting his life and times.
Alexander Dolitsky: Economic development, traditional uses can coexist
If Alaska is to prosper, we’d better get on board with restarting our economy.
Alaska oil: $83.39
Henry Hub gas: $1.61
Alaska North Slope Production: 478,860
Permanent Fund (principal and earnings reserve): $78,491,100,000
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George Washington
Because he was servant leader and chose presidency over military rule…
Donald J Trump