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Current Topics
Alaska Department of Public Safety publishes Missing Indigenous Person report. Alaska Beacon
According to a new state report, nearly 200 Alaska Native or American Indian people went missing between the beginning of April and the end of June in Alaska this year. Two dozen of them have not been found.
ASD Superintendent says conversation around school closures will continue this year. Alaska's News Source
According to the district website, ASD currently has approximately 5,000 fewer students than were enrolled a decade ago. As a result, about 18 schools are currently operating at less than 65% capacity. Bryantt said students at schools that are operating at less than capacity often don’t have access to the full range of services the district offers to bigger schools, which is a major reason he thinks consolidation is important. But he admits the initial plan to close six schools didn’t sit well with the public.
Ampaire's Hybrid-Electric Cessna Flies to Alaska. Alaska Business
“This first-of-its-kind flight reflects the monumental progress we have made in electrified aviation, and we’re excited to continue deploying solutions that increase reliability, accessibility, and cost savings for communities around the globe.”
Dozens of reindeer have been killed for crossing into Russia, as Norway fixes Arctic fence. Euronews
Norway is rebuilding a dilapidated reindeer fence along its border with Russia in the Arctic to stop the animals from wandering into the neighboring country. These are costly strolls for Oslo, which has to compensate Moscow over loss of grassland.
AI could choke on its own exhaust. Axios
The internet is beginning to fill up with more and more content generated by artificial intelligence rather than human beings. That brings weird new dangers to society — and the AI programs themselves.
After a false start, Alaska prepares to solicit bids for new mainline ferry. Alaska Beacon
A year after a failed prior offering, the state of Alaska is planning to hire a shipyard to build a replacement for the ferry Tustumena.
Economy
Work begins on $200M Anchorage airport cargo facility near Kincaid Park. ADN
The airport, less than 10 hours from nearly every industrialized country, has vaulted higher as a global cargo hub as shipments increased during the pandemic. It was the third-busiest cargo hub in the world last year, behind Hong Kong and Memphis, Tenn., where FedEx is based.
'Who's going to work there?': Lawmakers across states grapple with labor shortages. Alaska Beacon
State legislators from across the country point to the labor shortage as a major concern. While they have been pushing job training and career readiness programs, they increasingly are addressing other factors that can keep people from joining the workforce, such as a lack of child care, affordable housing or mental health services. Some want to attract more immigrants.
Business leaders say Alaska's child care crisis is hurting employers and economy. Alaska Public Media
Alaska business experts say the ongoing child care crisis is hurting the state’s employers and the economy.
China's slow-moving economic disaster. Axios
China finally reopened its economy earlier this year after years of extreme COVID restrictions. So far, it's a giant fizzle — with profound ramifications for the rest of the globe.
The stock market isn't paying you much. Axios
For the first time in years, bonds are paying a decent, after-inflation return, and that presents a challenge to the logic of owning stocks: It could become a headwind for the stock market.
(My comment- This is what the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation has been telling us. Earnings will be down. Dividends will no longer be big cash checks.)
Politics
Catch up fast on policy: Transmission cash and H2O rules. Axios
The Energy Department plans to provide $300 million to help states, tribes, and local governments speed up transmission siting and permitting.
(My comment: This is big news for Alaska. Our transmission system needs $ Billion of needed upgrades and investments.)
Health Care
Line One: Back to school mental health for teens. Alaska Public Media
According to the National Institute for Mental Health approximately 20% of adolescents experience mental health disorders, typically beginning around age 14. On this Line One, host Dr. Jillian Woodruff explores the most common mental health disorders that affect adolescents, the crucial evaluations that help identify these issues, and the diverse range of treatments that can make a positive impact on their lives.
Blue Shield of California Bids to Sidestep Traditional Pharmacy Benefit Management Services. Pharmaceutical Commerce
In what could presage a radical reshuffling of drug pricing and distribution, the insurer is dropping CVS Caremark as its PBM. (My comment: SB 121 is my legislation to rein in the PBM multi-billion dollar industry that is scooping up money from medication consumers & pharmacies. Some Alaskans may know that Fred Meyer pharmacies have dropped their relationship with Express Scripts; this includes Kroger pharmacies nationally.)
"Nutrition labels" aim to boost AI trust. Axios
There's a mad scramble in the software world to add AI features. But worries about privacy and security are prompting some businesses to discourage employees from using the new features.
Ozempic around the world. Axios
At $936 for a one month's supply, the U.S. price is 5.5 times higher than Japan's and about 10 times more than in France, Australia and the U.K.
Mental health spending surge. Axios
Americans' spending on mental health has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, even as the boom in telehealth has leveled off. Spending on mental health services jumped 53% from March 2020 to August 2022, according to a new study in JAMA Health Forum.
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