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Current Topics
Parity in 2056. Ratio of female-to-male median earnings. Axios
In 1963, the typical woman working full-time, year-round earned 59 cents for every dollar earned by a male counterpart. In 2022, that number was 82 cents, per government data.(For women of color, the gap is wider.) My comment: My aunt, a single mom working a career for ARCO in CA, told me this same thing was her experience: half the pay of her counterpart.
Is Sanitation a Civil Right? Alabama Becomes Test Case. Governing
Much of Lowndes County, AL is too spread out for central sewer lines to be cost-effective, and the dense clay soil makes many septic tank systems that don't work, or no treatment at all, and have resorted to simply "straight-piping" waste onto the ground or in lagoons near their home. My comment: Serious issue in rural Alaska. We need to solve this.
$11.8 Million in Brownfield Grants to Clean Contaminated Alaska Sites. Alaska Business
The City of Whittier receives $800,000 to conduct two Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments, to develop three cleanup plans, to support community engagement activities, and to conduct cleanup activities on up to five priority sites identified by the city. Whittier's assistant city manager Jackie Wilde says the brownfields funding will transform the vacant Buckner Building into a community asset that could attract economic development. Wilde adds, "Looking forward to helping make Whittier prettier for current and future citizens and visitors for all generations to come!"
Canadian wildfires are a carbon emissions problem. Axios
The worst wildfire-related smoke event in the U.S. since at least 2006 is beginning to wrap up, at least for the big cities on the East Coast, even as the dangerous summer fire weather continues in Canada.
State wildlife officials trying to revive Southwest Alaska caribou killed almost 100 brown bears in less than a month. ADN
Department of Fish and Game employees killed nearly 100 brown bears in less than a month in a first-ever predator control hunt aimed at restoring a renowned Southwest Alaska caribou herd by increasing calf survival.
Port of Seattle closure could cause cargo delays for Alaska. Alaska Public Media
Jager said the extent of the impact on Alaska won’t be known for a while. But he said it will likely be more of an inconvenience, like minor delays of goods getting onto shelves. He said the bulk of the slowdown is in international cargo, so it probably won’t be a huge hit to Alaska.
A shortage of heat pump installers is slowing climate action on Southeast Alaska. Alaska Public Media
Swapping out oil-based heating systems for heat pumps is one of the best ways for homeowners to shrink their carbon footprints. And climate experts say nationwide demand for electric heat pumps is higher than ever. But in communities like Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka, heat pump installers are struggling to keep up.
Economy
It's hot jobs summer for teens. Axios
The extra-tight labor markets of the past few summers drove a surge of teens to work and is "really showing itself to be a much clearer long-term trend- of more teens working not only during the summer but during the school year." says Luke Pardue, chief economist at Gusto.
The Alaska Permanent Fund's in-state investment program needs more transparency. ADN
I congratulate the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.'s board of trustees for adopting Resolution 23-01 at its April 12 meeting to end additional investment into the in-state investment program, in while Barings and McKinley Capital Management have each been given $100 million to place in Alaska investments.
Fisheries
'It'll be a disaster': Southeast Alaska fisherman fear looming closure of king salmon fishery. ADN
The whales in Washington State suffer from the industrial activities along their own coast, not out troll fishermen.
Washington-based conservation group wants Endangered Species Act protections for Alaska king salmon. Alaska Beacon
A Washington-based conservation group whose actions have caused the closure of an iconic Southeast Alaska fishery is now planning to ask the federal government to list several Alaska king salmon stocks under the Endangered Species Act. (This group has succeeded in shutting down the troll fishery in SE Alaska this year and is now aimed at shitting down the Ship Creek, Copper River, Kenai sport and subsistence fisheries. This has to be stopped.)
Alaska salmon task force charged with developing science plan. Alaska Beacon
Federal and state leaders have appointed 19 experts to a special task force responsible for creating a science plan to better understand Alaska's salmon, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service announced on Friday.
ADF&G responds to petition to add chinook salmon to Endangered Species Act. Alaska's News Source
The Wild Fish Conservancy Northwest is planning to petition the federal government to designate critical habitat for chinook salmon in Southeast Alaska, Southwest Alaska and Cook Inlet.
NOAA to trollers: A revised environmental analysis could allow king fishing by August. Raven Radio
The National Marine Fisheries Services hasn't ruled out the possibility of opening the summer troll season for king salmon in Southeast Alaska, despite a federal judge's recent ruling to the contrary.
New phone app looks to Alaskans to help log migratory fish. KFSK
A warming climate has scientists wanting to know, more than ever, what's living in Alaska's rivers and streams- specifically, what species live in the anadromous freshwater streams where migratory fish return from saltwater to spawn. Biologists and others are hoping that a new phone app will encourage Alaskans to help map these fish habitats.
Fish and Game announces Kuskokwim River salmon opening from Aniak to headwaters. KYUK
For the portion of the Kuskokwim River managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, which spans from near Aniak to the headwaters, fishing will open 24 hours a day beginning June 12.
Mixed results following first 2 openers of the fishing season on the Kuskokwim River. KYUK
Results have been mixed following the first two openers of the fishing season on the Kuskokwim River.
Russian River Sanctuary Opens Early for Sport Fishing. Radio Kenai
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is liberalizing existing sport fishing regulations by opening the Russian River Sanctuary Area early to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
Politics
Some Republican states depart, but Alaska will stay with multistate voter fraud prevention network. Alaska Beacon
The state of Alaska will keep its membership on the Electronic Registration Information Center, a nonprofit networks that helps states keep track of registered voters and reduce fraud, an official at the Alaska Division on Elections confirmed Wednesday.
Governor Dunleavy welcomes Jerry Moses as Alaska's Washington DC Office Director. Alaska Native News
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced Jerry Moses has joined the Dunleavy administration as director of the State of Alaska's Washington DC Office.
Proposed policy aims to streamline Alaska's food stamp application process. Alaska Beacon
Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, introduced a bill at the end of the last legislative session that is aimed at streamlining applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. It would ease requirements to get benefits which could also have the effect of reducing the administrative burden that contributed to a backlog in the state's Division of Public Assistance. My comment: I have the Senate bill that is companion to Rep. Mina's.
One-Party rule gets things done. That's not always a good thing. Governing
Thirty-nine state governments are now "trifectas." It's not the kind of government the Constitution's framers wanted.
Alaska ballot measure filed to reestablish campaign contribution limits. ADN
A newly filed ballot measure would reestablish campaign contribution limits on Alaska, with the intention of restricting the influence of big-money donors on state politics.
Senators Introduce Bill to Create New Twelfth Circuit, Improve Access to Justice. KSRM
U. S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) Thursday June 8th, introduced the Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act of 2023, a bill that would split the massively overburdened Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and create a new Twelfth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to the split, the legislation would codify the Judicial Conference’s most recent recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the federal judiciary by authorizing 66 new permanent district court judgeships, converting seven temporary district court judgeships into permanent posts, and authorizing two new appellate court judgeships for the Ninth Circuit.
New ballot measure seeks to restrict spending on Alaska elections. Alaska Beacon
The proposal would prohibit someone from directly giving more than $2,000 per election cycle to an individual candidate's campaign or more than $5,000 a year to a political party or group. Some wealthy donors gave more than $100,000 apiece to candidates in last year's governor's election.
Sitka Judge Jude Pate becomes 27th Alaska Supreme Court Justice. Raven Radio
The Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall was standing room only on June 9 for a special ceremony. In front of friends, family, a bevy of state troopers in the wings, and a string of justices and judges clad in black robes looking on from the stage behind him, Jude Pate took his oath of office, becoming the 27th Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court.
Health Care
The science behind the teen girl mental health crisis. Axios
A brain chemical essential to decision-making and managing stress is emerging as another indicator for why teen girls are bearing the worst of the youth mental health crisis.
725K pushed off Medicaid. Axios
More than 725,000 Medicaid recipients have been pushed off the safety net program's rolls as of last week, based on data from 14 states that are unwinding a pandemic-era policy that assured continuous coverage. While some of the individuals have lined up other forms of health coverage, most are falling victim to bureaucratic churn because they didn't complete the process for renewing coverage or because states had outdated contact information.
Cost of giving birth by state. Axios
Alaska has the highest median allowed in-network amount for vaginal deliveries, $21,525.77, followed by New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Alaska also that the highest median allowed amount for C-sections, $21,518.63 while Alabama had the lowest, $8,913.31.
Sugar substitutes don't help weight control and may increase risk of heart disease and diabetes. JAMA Medical News
As demand for sugar substitutes continues to rise, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns against using these additives for weight control or managing noncommunicable illnesses. In fact, ongoing consumption may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and even death, according to the agency's new guideline.
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