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Current Topics
A new 300-acre park near Potter Marsh aims to preserve crucial wetlands. Alaska Public Media
Great Land Trust has spent years securing over $6 million to buy 200 acres of nearby land from telecommunications company GCI. The trust is currently working on raising the final $500,000 for the purchase. The city is also adding 100 acres from the Heritage Land Bank. Together, those 300 acres will make the new Potter Marsh Watershed Park.
Kroger and Albertsons merger on hold until Denver court rules on lawsuit. ADN
The proposed merger between Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. is on hold until an antitrust lawsuit from Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser to permanently block the deal is resolved.
(My comment: I’m hopeful that the merger is blocked. It would seriously harm Alaska consumers who already face a high cost of living. Our governor does not take a position on this merger, I’m told by his staff.)
Federal agency, reversing prior rulings, greenlights Eklutna tribal gaming hall. Alaska Beacon
The National Indian Gaming Commission has approved plans for a casino-style tribal gaming hall proposed by the Native Village of Eklutna for a site near Anchorage. The gaming hall, which is expected to hold rows of electronic gambling machines, is similar to the Southeast Winds Casino in Metlakatla but would be a first in the Railbelt.
Stuff I Found Interesting
For Anchorage teens in search of summer work, odd jobs are a profitable niche. Alaska Public Media
The group started six years ago when the creator, Charles Clark, hired neighborhood kids to do various chores. In a message, he said he’s noticed the decline of opportunities for youth in Alaska and wanted to create a space dedicated to them.
(My comment: Wow! This is so great! Alaskan kids creatively meeting the needs of the market with capitalist solutions! Business and community leaders of tomorrow…if we can keep them in Alaska with challenging, good-paying jobs.)
Economy
1 big thing: How extra cash changes lives. Axios
The OpenResearch recipients saw their non-grant incomes rise 52% after three years of benefits. That seems impressive — but incomes in the control group rose by 70%.BThat's in large part because they worked more: Cash recipients with jobs worked 1.3 fewer hours per week than the members of the control group. These results, suggest the researchers, might show that recipients of strings-free cash might have "increased agency to be more selective in their employment" or might even have felt able to take "a lower paying position they find more meaningful."
(My Comment: Universal Basic Income is presidential campaign topic. The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is cited as an example of UBI. Is that the direction that Alaska wants to go. Its very interesting that Alaska Republicans agree with the current Democrat presidential candidate, to advocate for large Permanent Fund Dividends as UBI.)
Why is housing so expensive right now? Talk of Alaska
Housing, a place to live where you feel safe and in charge of your things is a fundamental, basic need. Having a home makes it easier for people to control their lives, keep steady employment and create a nurturing environment for children. Increasingly, this basic need is financially out of reach for people in Alaska wanting to own a home or even to find affordable rent. We discuss the layers of challenges to creating more housing on this Talk of Alaska.
Environment
Bill mandating end to use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams becomes law in Alaska. Alaska Beacon
The new PFAS law is the product of years of work by environmental and health organizations, notably Alaska Community Action on Toxics, which has conducted detailed research on contamination in Alaska. The bill’s prime sponsor was Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, whose district includes Gustavus, a small community where PFAS compounds created significant contamination of drinking water sources.
(My comment: Thank you to Sen. Jesse Kiehl for his relentless work on this important policy. This bill was vetoed last year by the Governor but this year he allowed it to become law without his signature. While this new policy can’t clean up the PFAS currently in the water and soil, it stops the continual release of more.)
Alaska awarded $38.6 million for heat pumps in costal communities. Alaska Business
The Southeast Conference will help distribute $38.6 million from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program (CPRG) to convert oil-fired and electric home heating systems into more efficient heat pumps. In a partnership with Alaska Heat Smart and the Alaska Municipal League, the funding will help families in Alaska’s southern coastal communities offset the conversion cost.
Fisheries
Peter Pan owner Rodger May bids on some of company's assets. KDLG
This spring, Peter Pan Seafoods was put into a receivership by a Washington state court after the company became unable to pay its bills. Silver Bay Seafoods stepped in to operate Peter Pan’s plants in Dillingham and in Port Moller. It also put in a bid for some of Peter Pan’s assets. But then, one of Peter Pan’s owners came back with a counter offer—and an accusation: that the bidding process wasn’t fair. He recently scored a victory in that battle.
Childcare
Alaska child care advocates hope new law and $7.5 million in subsidies will help beleaguered sector. ADN
Alaska child care advocates hope that a new state law and $7.5 million in subsidies will help stabilize a sector in crisis.
Politics
Permanent Fund Corp. board member resigns after email controversy. Alaska Beacon
Rubenstein is two years into a four-year term on the board and said through a spokesperson that her work on the board takes a large amount of time and she needs to focus on her private equity company, Manna Tree.
Vice chair of Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation resigns following ethical concerns. Alaska's News Source
Alaska Permanent Fund trustee Ellie Rubenstein resigns after email leak. ADN
Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. trustee Ellie Rubenstein said Wednesday that she is resigning, following leaked emails in April that raised concerns about her ethical conduct.
Chinese and Russian bombers patrolling off Alaska raise concerns about growing military cooperation. ADN
Two Chinese and two Russian long-range bombers were tracked flying over international waters near Alaska and U.S. and Canadian fighter jets were sent up in response, their joint aerospace command said.
Alaska highlighted in new Department of Defense Arctic strategy. Alaska Beacon
The U.S. Department of Defense Arctic strategy released on Monday highlights Alaska’s importance as the far north is increasingly militarized. The release was timely. On Wednesday air crews from the North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, intercepted two Chinese and two Russian military planes that were flying off Alaska’s coast.
(My comment: This is a serious issue, to state the obvious. Here’s what we need to be doing - We have to get Alaska’s economy back on track, so that our schools are funded for military families, our energy costs are affordable so that bases can function, housing is available for military families and enlisted. We have a responsibility, and it’s not to see how big a PFD can be handed out. Basic functions of government must be funded and functional. That’s our part of national defense.)
Protection of kids on social media platforms advances in U.S. Senate. Alaska Beacon
The U.S. Senate advanced online safety legislation Thursday aimed at protecting children from targeted advertising, data harvesting, bullying and sexual exploitation on popular social media platforms. But the rare bipartisan effort by Senate lawmakers did not escape criticism from advocates who warn the legislative package would curtail free speech online.
(My comment: Back in the day, my father feared what television would do to kids and our society. This subject of “pollution by media” is not new; it’s only escalated into an epidemic. Based on my volunteer work in our ASD middle and high schools, I can say that the pathology created by social media is real. Some of my Republican colleagues will blame parents but this is too big for even the most diligent parent to address.)
Alaska Supreme Court positioned to be majority-women for first time. Alaska Beacon
Seven attorneys have thrown their name in the ring for a judicial position in Alaska’s Supreme Court. All seven candidates are women, meaning that – if everything proceeds as expected – the court will be majority-women for the first time in state history. The attorneys are applying to replace Chief Justice Peter Maassen, who will turn 70 – the retirement age for Alaska judges – in 2025. Maassen’s departure will mark the end of a series of retirements on the Supreme Court.
After state judge keeps ranked choice repeal ballot measure, Alaska Supreme Court will weigh in. Alaska Beacon
Earlier this month, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Christina Rankin ruled that there was insufficient evidence to disqualify the measure from a statewide vote. While Rankin disqualified some signatures from a petition seeking to force a repeal vote, a recount by the Alaska Division of Elections confirmed that enough signatures remain for that vote to take place.
Alaska Supreme Court to hear appeal to ranked choice voting repeal measure Aug. 22. ADN
Healthcare
Charted: Gen Z's mental health. Axios
Asked what they most wanted from their parents when they were upset, 16- to 18-year-olds said for the parent to listen.
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