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Oil and Gas Pipeline Topics
What's
limiting the "oil shock" this time around Axios
The U.S. is no longer as
dependent on foreign oil. Today the U.S. is world's largest producer.
And Iran's share of global production has decreased. Yes,
but: The price of oil has increased in recent days, rattling
markets and increasing prices at the pump, putting pressure on Trump.
Federal
offshore oil and gas lease sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet basin draws no
bids | Alaska
Beacon
'Big,
Beautiful' auction for drilling rights in Cook Inlet is a bust – Alaska Public Media
Lease
sales in Cook Inlet draw nearly zero interest from oil and gas
companies - Anchorage Daily News
The first in a series of
newly mandated oil and gas lease sales for federal waters of Alaska’s
Cook Inlet received no bids, agency officials said on Wednesday
(My comment: This is no
surprise. With focus on proposed North Slope gas pipeline, who would
invest in more gas exploration in Cook Inlet?)
Top Alaska court takes up
lawsuit challenging trans-Alaska gas pipeline law Alaska Beacon
The Alaska Supreme Court is
considering whether to advance a lawsuit that claims the Alaska
Constitution conflicts with a state law that directs
construction of a trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline.
Alaska
gas line LLC says it did not secretly change its name. Reporting from Alaska
Venture
Global’s CP2 LNG plant costs increase by $4 billion | BOE Report
The anticipated construction
cost for two phases of Venture Global’s CP2 LNG liquified natural gas
project has jumped by $4 billion, or just under 14%, the company said
in an annual report released earlier this week. It cited design
modifications, inflation and the potential impact of tariffs imposed
by U.S. President Donald Trump, Venture Global is the second largest
LNG exporter in the U.S. and was responsible for most of the output
growth in the country last year. The company is currently constructing
phase one of the 35 million metric tons per annum facility in
Louisiana.
Alaska
North Slope oil prices soar as lawmakers urge ‘fiscal discipline’ – Alaska News Source
Alaska North Slope oil
surged to $94.08 Friday, a jump of over $12 from what it was
Thursday, according to Alaska Department of Revenue data. Lawmakers
across both parties say they’re hesitant to lean into the amount,
though, with majority lawmakers urging “fiscal discipline.”
(My comment: We have to be
careful! Its so easy to spend the increase because of all our needs
like deferred maintenance, Federal cuts to funding for
Medicaid/SNAP/behavioral health, infant learning, and more.)
Begich
calls on Alaska lawmakers ‘not to become a roadblock’ to LNG pipeline - Anchorage Daily
News
Begich
urges legislature not to ‘roadblock’ LNG gas line as lawmakers
scrutinize next steps – Alaska
News Source
Rep.
Begich tells legislators to seize the moment on resource extraction
and gas line – Alaska Public Media
Begich asked lawmakers to consider
cutting taxes to incentivize the development. His remarks came as
some lawmakers in the Alaska House and Senate majorities have expressed
skepticism about the construction timeline for a project that
is set to cost at least $44 billion.
(My comment: This price quote
of $44 Billion is massively LOW! If he’s referring to the pipeline
only, imagine what the price of the gas would be delivered to your
home! This is out-of-touch-with-reality by a DC politician. The
Alaska Legislature is NOT a roadblock to this project. We are asking
the hard questions to ensure the people of Alaska aren't left with a
failed project that costs citizens! The gas from this pipeline has to
be affordable, lower the cost of heat/light for ALL Alaskans, not
just serve a private company in gathering profits off our resource.)
Current Topics
OCS
responds to audit that found Alaska failed to fully implement foster
care reforms - Anchorage Daily
News
Entry-level caseworkers are
paid around $28 an hour, Guay said. The state is trying to bring
on workers who have at least an understanding of the realities of the
job. A realistic job
profile video the department released includes workers talking
about how heartbreaking the job can be, with one recounting a child’s
severe injury. The video also flashes on scenes of injured children,
the inside of filthy homes and X-rays as examples of some of what
employees will be exposed to, before ending with workers describing
their motivation for choosing the job.
(My comment: The Dunleavy
administration removed the higher qualifications for most state
government jobs. As a result, Office of Childrens Services has folks
applying who have no social services knowledge or experience. This is
a job that requires understanding of emotional and physical elements
of humans, not just experience in a coffee shop.)
Alaska
Supreme Court considers limits of executive and legislative power,
including on abortion Alaska Beacon
For years, politically
conservative members of the Alaska Legislature have attempted to
restrict state-paid abortion care via language in the annual state
budget. That maneuver and similar actions could be ruled
unconstitutional by the Alaska Supreme Court, which on Wednesday
heard oral arguments in a lawsuit that may determine the limits of
the Alaska Constitution’s confinement clause, which requires that
budget bills be limited to spending and not include policy changes.
Editorial:
Decision time in Juneau: Discipline or make it rain? -
Anchorage Daily News
For Alaska, that means
something very specific: more money. But before Gov. Dunleavy and the
Alaska Legislature start eyeing a fresh pile of cash like kids
staring at a cookie jar, let’s get something straight. This is not
prosperity. This is a temporary windfall driven by war. Deposits into
reserves like the Constitutional Budget Reserve — or even better, the
Permanent Fund — would help rebuild the savings Alaska burned through
during the last decade of deficits. Strategic investments in
infrastructure, education and economic development would strengthen
the state long after oil prices fall again. What Alaska
should not do is hand the entire windfall to voters as a
massive dividend. That’s not fiscal policy. That’s a sugar rush.
(My comment: I agree!)
Alaska
lawmakers advance all-time high $523M Department of Corrections
budget Alaska Beacon
Corrections officials pointed
to ballooning costs for staffing the state’s 13 prisons and medical
care for inmates, and recommended a new task force or consultant to
address budgeting.
(My comment: This
department's understaffing lends itself to eye-popping overtime
hours. This is not safe for the inmates or the staff.)
State
regulators intend to approve merger of two Alaska credit unions Alaska Beacon
The Alaska Division of
Banking and Securities is planning to approve the merger of Credit
Union 1 and MAC Federal Credit Union, the agency said in a public notice
this week.
Things That I Found Interesting
Bunnies
everywhere: Animal neglect case pushes Anchorage shelter to the brink
Alaska
Public
The city seized 103 bunnies,
36 hens and roosters, two cats and nine fish from a home in South
Anchorage. They’re now being cared for at the facility, along with
the regular assortment of animals. In all, the shelter is housing 240
animals in a space meant for about 150.
The
Last Frontier venture of Wyatt Earp North of 60 Mining News
After the gun smoke cleared
on the streets of Tombstone, Arizona, however, Earp did not simply
ride into the sunset of retirement. Instead, he continued a restless
repositioning toward the next opportunity to erupt on the American
frontier. And that place was Nome, Alaska.
Long
after run to glory, Balto lives on in the study of dog genetics - Anchorage Daily
News
Researchers have used a tiny
patch of skin cut from a taxidermy mount of Balto to determine that
the 1925 Serum Run hero had no wolf in his recent background. They
also found that Balto, a black husky built like a tank, was full of
mixed-breed vigor and was adapted to make the most of a diet that
included starch.
(My comment: Super
interesting, probably because I love dogs!)
Repeat
Anchorage shoplifters could face felony charges under new Quality of
Life Initiative – Alaska News Source
Shoplifters who have racked
up misdemeanor after misdemeanor in Anchorage could soon face felony
charges — not because of any new law, officials say, but because the
state and city are now using tools they already had. Attorney General
Stephen Cox and Anchorage Municipal Attorney Eva Gardner signed a
memorandum of understanding Jan. 8, formalizing a joint task force to
address retail theft, public-space disorder and other quality-of-life
crimes.
India
now makes 25% of iPhones Axios
Apple now makes a
quarter of its iPhones in India, after making a big push to move
production away from China
Alaska
accuses crowdfunding websites of violating law, using charities’
names without their consent | Alaska Beacon
In complaints filed at
Anchorage Superior Court, the consumer protection unit of the Alaska
Department of Law said GoFundMe, PayPal, Charity Navigator, Pledgling
Technologies, JustGiving and Network For Good each violated the
Alaska Charitable Solicitations Act thousands of times.
Alaska
DOT plans new subsidy program to boost cargo flights at Fairbanks
airport | Alaska Beacon
The Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities is planning to relax the
requirements for a subsidy
program intended to attract cargo airlines to Fairbanks
International Airport. In a March 6
public notice, the department said it will waive landing and fuel
fees for a year at Fairbanks for one or more airlines that provide at
least three months of weekly cargo service between Fairbanks and a
new destination city.
Arctic
Opinion:
Life lessons learned from mushing and old-time Alaska - Anchorage
Daily News
My story is about family that
welcomed immigrants from all over the world to be among the last
groups of Indigenous people in the country, a life of taking good
care of dog teams, and of parents who taught their children how to
live in a wild, rugged frontier.
U.S.
F-35s and Canadian CF-18 Fighters Train to Stop Cruise Missiles
Approaching Through the Arctic. Army Recognition
Canadian CF-18 fighters and
U.S. Air Force F-35s trained together in Alaska during Arctic Edge 26
to rehearse cruise missile defense operations under the North
American Aerospace Defense Command. The exercise strengthens North
America’s ability to detect and intercept low-flying threats
approaching through the Arctic, a growing concern as long-range
cruise missile capabilities expand globally.
More
metals, less tailings at Greens Creek Metaltechnews
"There is no question
that the tailings at Greens Creek contain a significant amount of
in-situ metal, and we are actively evaluating opportunities to
reprocess our tailings and maximize the extraction of silver and
other critical minerals from the material," Mike Satre, Hecla's
director of government affairs, told Metal Tech News. "In the
meantime, we will continue to manage the dry stack tailings facility
as permitted and plan for full reclamation and closure of the
facility at the end of mine life."
'Real
world' military exercise underway in Alaska, Greenland – Alaska Public Media
U.S. and allied military
service members have begun the second week of a major training
exercise in Alaska. Arctic Edge 2026, focuses on winter training for
defending homeland from threats that include drone and missile
attacks on military installations and key infrastructure. A Royal
Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet arrives at Pituffik Space Base,
Greenland, during Operation Noble Defender in January. Arctic Edge
2026 spokespersons declined to talk about the Special Forces training
in Greenland, citing operational security. This year's exercise will
extend into Greenland.
Economy
Opinion:
Alaska needs more than blood money bailouts to provide for our future
- Anchorage Daily
News
Once again, extreme suffering
abroad is likely to slightly alleviate some suffering in Alaska. It
feels surreal and unsettling to live in a state where I read a
headline about a foreign war and think, “How will this affect
elementary school class sizes?” I feel a pit in my stomach at the
thought that this war might be yet another excuse for our state
leaders to kick the can down the road and off the cliff.
Iran
notes: Putin, Hormuz, climate Axios
"The biggest winner
out of this dire situation is Vladimir Putin and Russia, because
high oil prices, where they are now, only replenish the Russian
treasury and its ability to finance its war," prominent energy
analyst and historian Dan Yergin said yesterday.
Charted:
China's big crude buffer Axios
This chart helps
explain part of why China is relatively well
positioned to weather an energy crisis that could even
bring long-term
geopolitical benefits to the U.S. rival.
Russia
wins economic war Axios
Russia is emerging as
the clearest economic winner from the war with Iran. Higher oil
prices are good for countries that export oil. You can see
it in the data. The price of Russian crude oil has skyrocketed
since the war began, surpassing the international oil benchmark this
week despite heavy Western sanctions.
Education
After
historic education funding increase, some Alaska lawmakers aim to
boost the BSA again Alaska Beacon
Alaska
lawmakers consider another increase to per-student public school
funding – Alaska Public Media
Alaska lawmakers introduced
new legislation in the House of Representatives that would raise the
state’s per student funding for schools. They say it is critical to
help school districts struggling with rising costs and ballooning
deficits.
Opinion:
When Anchorage schools lose staff, students lose protection - Anchorage Daily
News
When ASD recently approved its
budget for
the 2026-27 school year, what struck me most is the fact that there
will be approximately 500 fewer adults working to keep our kids safe.
Teachers will have four more kids in every classroom, which for some
could mean upwards of 45-50 students in one period.
Opinion:
We graduated from Alaska’s public schools. We’re proud of that system
— and concerned for it. ADN
Alaska
Senate passes bill requiring civics education for high school
students – Alaska Public Media
Alaska students could have
a new graduation requirement in the not-too-distant-future. The
Alaska Senate unanimously passed a bill Monday that would mandate a
new civics course or exam for students who start ninth grade in 2027.
Lawmakers
propose per-student BSA funding increase after leaders say education
is deteriorating – Alaska News Source
After more than
a month of testimony from state school leaders describing a deteriorating
state of education, the House Education Committee introduced HB 374 Monday, proposing a substantial increase
to the per- student funding formula. The bill uses the same funding
mechanism that narrowly survived a
veto override last year, now making its future uncertain.
Elections
Alaska officials stonewall
state legislators on justification for handing voter data to feds Alaska Beacon
The head of the Alaska
Division of Elections will not share legal advice that led to the
state’s decision to send an extended voter list to the U.S.
Department of Justice.
New
lawsuit again asks Alaska election officials to change language in
repeal ballot measure ADN
If approved by voters, Repeal
Now’s ballot initiative would revert Alaska’s elections to partisan
primaries and pick-one general elections. It would also eliminate new
campaign finance reporting requirements that require campaign groups
in Alaska to share the names of their top funders.
Candidates
in Some States Spend Campaign Cash on...Security - NCSL
Political violence “is
becoming more and more normal,” McKell says, and affecting people on
both sides of the aisle. “We need to reverse that trend, but until we
do reverse that trend, this is an appropriate step,” as it can be
difficult to find money for security from other sources, such as a
state budget. Six states have statutes allowing candidates to use
campaign funds for security
services. California, Illinois, Louisiana and Minnesota allow
candidates to spend campaign funds on security for themselves and
family members’ homes.
Stat
du jour: Billionaire donors Axios
Billionaires made a
stunning 19% of all reported federal campaign contributions in 2024
— more than $3 billion in total, the N.Y. Times reports in a worthy-of-your-time story on wealthy
donors overwhelming the political system. That
number was 0.3% before the Supreme Court's 2010
Citizens United decision.
Healthcare
Bill
loosening restrictions on physician assistants passes Alaska Senate ADN
The Alaska Senate has
passed a bill that would allow physician assistants with sufficient
training to practice as members of a physician-led team, removing the
state’s current requirement that they work under a formal
collaborative agreement with physicians.
Politics
1
big thing: America's big lie Axios
Most Americans are too busy
for social media, too normal for politics, too rational to tweet.
They work, raise kids, coach Little League, go to a house of worship,
mow their neighbor's lawn — and never post a word about any of
it. This isn't a small minority. It's a monstrous, if
silent, majority. Most Americans are patriotic, hardworking,
neighbor-helping, America-loving, money-giving people who don't pop
off on social media or plot for power. The hidden
truth: Most people agree
on most things, most of the time. And the data
validates this, time and time again.
War
tests Dubai as safe space for the super rich Axios
Along with its neighbors
Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the Emirates spent years diversifying away
from oil, using trillion of dollars in sovereign wealth to grease the
wheels of global finance. Asia's richest families are
reconsidering their exposure, Bloomberg reported this morning, with some
rethinking their relocation plans or ways to scale back investments.
1
big thing: World at war Axios
Ten days into President
Trump's Iran campaign, the war has gone global. At least 20
countries are now militarily involved — shooting, shielding or
quietly supplying — while a widening energy shock punishes nations
far from the front lines.
⚠️ Exclusive: Costly drone
snafu Axios
Nearly seven months
ago, Ukrainian officials tried to sell the U.S. their
battle-proven technology for downing Iranian-made attack drones. They
even made a PowerPoint presentation — obtained exclusively by Axios —
showing how it could protect American forces and their allies in a
Middle East war. The Trump administration dismissed the
Ukrainians, only to reverse course last week because of
more-than-expected drone strikes from Iran. Snubbing Ukraine's
offer ranks as one of the administration's biggest tactical miscalculations
since the bombing of Iran began Feb. 28
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