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Current Topics
Bethel
Police say 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off schedules work. Some community
members disagree. KYUK
Current and former officers
at the Bethel Police Department have commuted from Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan,
Minnesota, Utah, California, Louisiana, and all across Alaska.
Alaska's
wood bison restoration expands with new herd in the Interior. Alaska Public Media
A years-long project to
bring wood bison back to Alaska charged ahead this year when the
state released a new herd into the Interior back in May. Those 61
wood bison now roam the Minto Flats State Game Refuge, about 50 miles
southwest of Fairbanks.
Noted
Alaska historian and author Stephen Haycox dies at 85. ADN
“He was really good at
demonstrating the multiple ways in which that sort of played out,
from public lands to tourism, recreation to deeper structures of
governance,” Hartman said. “It was kind of one of those through-lines
in his career.”
(My comment: This kind of
knowledge is needed – the history of where we’ve been as we look at
where we are going. Mr. Haycox’s knowledge will be missed.)
Things That I Found Interesting
Scientists
uncover 75,000-year-old Arctic animal remains in Norwegian cave. Phys.Org
The bones of 46 types of
animals—including mammals, fish and birds—were discovered in a cave
on the coast of Northern Norway, representing the oldest example of
an animal community in the European Arctic during this warmer period
of the ice age.
Fred
Smith "changed the world". Axios
Federal Express — with
the early slogan, "The Small Package Airline" — began
operations in 1973, after Mr. Smith served four years in the Marines,
including two tours in Vietnam. He was decorated with the Silver
Star, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
(My comment: wow!)
Arctic Issues
Local
and international leaders focus on security and partnerships at
Anchorage conference on the Arctic. KNBA
Russia has also been
strengthening its relationship with China while growing its shipping,
fishing and military activities in the Arctic, all of which have
increased tensions with the U.S..
U.S.
Coast Guard responds to increased Chinese research vessel activity in
U.S. Arctic. Unites State Coast Guard News
The U.S. Coast Guard
detected and responded to two Chinese research vessels operating in
the U.S. Arctic and is currently monitoring a total of five similar
vessels in or near the U.S Arctic.
U.S.
Coast Guard adds icebreaker to fleet for first time in 25 years. Alaska Beacon
The newly
rechristened Storis, formerly the oilfield supply
ship Aiviq, is the first in a series of icebreakers expected to
join the Coast Guard in coming years. The Storis and
subsequent ships, officials said, are critical for the United States
to maintain its sovereignty and control of its borders in and near
the Arctic Ocean.
Energy
Investigating
viable expansions of renewable energy in Kotzebue. ACEP
In rural Alaska, where more
than 200 standalone microgrid systems provide electricity, it is
important to consider which upgrades and new technologies are going
to be beneficial tomorrow and which ones may be beneficial 10 or 20
years from now. A recent paper by researchers with ACEP and the
U.S. Department of Energy Arctic Energy Office presents an analysis
on both of these timescales.
Economy
Trump
firing of BLS head imperils trust in economic data. Axios
This is what the
alarmists — the people who have worried that President Trump may seek
to undermine the collection of economic
data —
feared. The president's abrupt firing of the BLS commissioner Friday
makes clear that any federal data collector who delivers unwelcome
news could lose their job in an instant.
Survey
finds Anchorage business confidence fell amid Trump tariffs and
federal cuts. ADN
Anchorage businesses are
less confident than they have been since the pandemic, as President
Donald Trump’s tariffs, federal layoffs and cuts to grants weigh on
their outlook, according to a new survey.
Alaska's
economy mirrors national trends, according to regional Fed president. Alaska Public Media
Alaska’s economy looks a
lot like the national economy right now. That was a message from Mary
Daly, the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San
Francisco, who visited Anchorage this week. Her research focuses on
employment, wage trends, economic growth and shocks.
Gold
investors remain bullish amid tariff scramble. Axios
A U.S.
government agency ruled that gold bars from Switzerland would be subject to tariffs. Gold prices shot up. Then
the administration announced it would issue a new policy to exempt
the gold bars. The snip-snap approach to tariffs roiled bullion
prices, but investors say they are bullish with or without the tariffs. Switzerland
is one of the largest gold refiners in the world, exporting over $50
billion worth over the 12 months ending in June.
Charted:
Who relies on noncitizen workers. Axios
Foreign-born noncitizens —
including those who are legal residents or have work visas — make up
8.3% of the country's civilian workforce age 16 and older.
Education
Opinion:
Courage and open primaries allowed the override of Gov. Dunleavy's
education funding veto. ADN
These legislators succeeded
because open primaries freed them to be themselves. They were free to
be Alaskan first, and Republican or Democrat second.
Students
plan their future roles in Alaska. ACEP
The UAF Teaching
Through Technology Alaska and Upward
Bound programs
have teamed up once again to help high school students from across
Alaska prepare for life after graduation. Through a summer session
called “Your
Future Role in Alaska,” students learned to build a personalized plan to
match their career interest to their values. Over the course of
two weeks in June, participating students engaged with faculty and
staff in a variety of programs and career paths offered at UAF’s Troth
Yeddha’ campus and the UAF Community and Technical College, learned
about their personal strengths, navigated the university admissions
process and learned from the UB alumni and current UAF students about
their experiences.
Anchorage
School District to begin random metal detector screenings of
students. Alaska Public Media
The Anchorage School
District will soon begin random metal detector screenings at middle
and high schools.
Public
schools are closing as Arizona's voucher program soars. ADN
The expansive voucher
program also has strained the state budget, with costs projected to
top $1 billion this year, far more than originally projected. Because
many voucher students were already attending private schools,
including many from wealthy families, funding them is a new expense
for the state.
Anchorage
School District races to hire 20 more teachers after Legislature
overrides veto. Alaska Public Media
The school board voted
unanimously to immediately allocate $3.67 million of that to hire 20
more teachers. School board member Margo Bellamy said the
expediency is necessary, with school starting next week.
What's
next for education funding and policy? Talk of Alaska
(My comment: This is a
rational conversation about the policies being required by the
Governor.)
Politics
Russia
warns against threats after Trump says he repositioned nuclear
submarines. ADN
The Kremlin warned Monday
against “nuclear rhetoric” after President Donald Trump repositioned
two nuclear submarines because of what he called “foolish and
inflammatory statements” by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
One
day, two overrides: What to know about Alaska's special session. Alaska Public Media
Despite
Alaska lawmakers' veto override, getting an answer on oil tax
settlements will take months. Alaska Beacon
If the department still does
not comply with the new law, The joint House-Senate Legislative
Budget and Audit Committee is prepared to issue subpoenas to legally
compel the department to release the information, said Sen. Elvi
Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage and chair of the committee.
Gov.
Dunleavy orders reductions in state spending and regulations. ADN
Effective immediately with
no termination date, one order creates an annual “government
efficiency review” that is similar to Trump’s Department of
Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Another order instructs state
agencies to eliminate 15% of the state’s regulations by the end of
Dunleavy’s term as governor.
Alaska
DOGE? What Dunleavy's 'government efficiency' executive order could
mean. Alaska's
News Source
The language on what will
be cut is largely vague, saying instead that “every public dollar
spent by minimizing administrative overheads, prioritizing
responsible resource development [and] eliminating waste.” One of the
only clear targets includes “eradicating preferential spending on
diversity, equity, and inclusion.” “This is something that the Trump
administration has done, and this is something that the governor’s
office looks to be replicating,” he said. “I’d be interested to see
what they find. I don’t know that there is any specific government
spending on those particular things.”
(My comment: Does this
include the “study” of AIDEA program effectiveness, which has been
hidden for over a year? Will the Governor’s office contracts with
public relations firms in DC be included? I predict it will be
education funds and health funds that will be cut further than the
President already has. Wil it include the series of no-bid consulting contracts since 2019
with total potential compensation of about $900,000 given to
Governor’s friend?)
A
push to create a new Alaska Department of Agriculture could cause a
showdown over executive power. Alaska Beacon
Those differing positions
have created a standoff: Legislators are refusing to accept the order
as valid, and the governor’s office has said that if legislators
don’t vote it down, Dunleavy will take that as acceptance. He said he
will go ahead with plans to create the department on Jan. 1. If
he does that, Stevens said that the issue is likely to go to the
courts. Edgmon said that lawmakers are prepared to stand their
ground.
(My comment: Dunleavy
position on this is another example of his refusal to have discussion
with Legislature. What a strange thing to relentlessly
push! There has to be a “prestige value” for the Governor on
this. It sure isn’t a value for the State at stake.)
Alaska
governor picks agency budgeter for temporary Department of Revenue
boss. Alaska
Beacon
Gov.
Dunleavy names interim Alaska revenue commissioner as Adam Crum
departs. ADN
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy
named Janelle Earls to serve as acting revenue commissioner beginning
Friday, with the departure of outgoing Commissioner Adam Crum. Earls,
who will serve in the commissioner position until a permanent
replacement is selected by Dunleavy, previously worked in the Alaska
Department of Health and Social Services. She joined the Department
of Revenue last year and most recently worked as administrative
services director, the governor’s office said.
(My comment: This
could be a very smart person but she is new and no previous Revenue
experience.)
Trump/Putin
Alaska Summit: Begich 'encouraged' by state's purchase history about
potential meeting results. Alaska's News Source
Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska,
said the historic context of the United States’ purchasing Alaska
from Russia leaves him feeling “encouraged” ahead of Friday’s highly
anticipated Alaska summit between President Donald Trump and Russian
President Vladimir Putin to discuss resolving the conflict in
Ukraine. “What a lot of folks don’t realize is that Alaska was
purchased from Russia because they were in debt from a war that they
had fought in what is now modern-day Ukraine,” Begich said. “And so
there is a sense of history rhyming in this moment. But, look, at the
end of the day, pursuing peace is always worth the dialogue.”
(My comment: I don’t
know what Mr. Begich is trying to say. Does he imply that Russia
seizing Alaska back is reasonable?)
Health Care
Federal
government penalizes Alaska $4.6M for food stamp errors. ADN
Alaska improved its
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, error rate from
roughly 60% in 2023 to 24% in 2024. But even with the improvement,
Alaska’s error rate remained the highest
in the country for the third year in a row.
The national error rate
average last year was just under 11%.
Alaska
marketplace health insurance premiums set to stabilize. But the end
of tax credits could mean higher cost for many. ADN
But without an act of
Congress, the expiration of tax credits is set to cause health care
costs for Alaskans insured through the federal marketplace to rise
precipitously next year.
(My comment: The repeal
of the 80th percentile alone was not a bad idea. The
significant error was the lack of a “floor” for insurance company
reimbursements: that means a minimum reimbursement required to the
healthcare provider. Premera and other insurerers have reduced
reimbursements to pennies on the dollar. Insurance companies
want to make money. Healthcare providers can’t pay for costs at
the present, reduced reimbursements.)
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