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Current Topics
Hilcorp assessed fine for hazardous waste violations on Alaska’s North Slope • Alaska Beacon
Hilcorp Energy Co.’s North Slope unit has been fined $223,868 for several violations of the federal law that governs the management of hazardous wastes, the Environmental Protection Agency said on Wednesday. The violations occurred at the Prudhoe Bay oil field, which Hilcorp has operated since 2020 after acquiring BP’s Alaska assets.
Alaska again lags in processing food stamp applications, new court filings show. Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s Department of Health is again slipping into a backlog of food stamp applications. The news comes from state data included in a filing from the Northern Justice Project in its class action lawsuit against the state. The suit asks the court to make sure the state issues food stamp benefits on time after years of chronic delays.
(My Comment: This is so frustrating. Rep. Genevieve Mina and I passed BBCE (Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility), which is a much shorter application, offers more coverage, and would streamline the government process. Due to bureaucratic process, BBCE will not come into effect until July 1, 2025. Frustrating.)
Alaska State Troopers - Recruiting Event. 1st Wednesday of each month 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Mat-Su Job Center, 877 W. Commercial Dr., Wasilla. Pay: $40-$52 per hour (DOE). First full year: $115,004, Fifth year: $138,856, Tenth year: $159,168.
Benefits: Take-home car, full medical benefits, 21-24 days of leave per year, 11% salary match for retirement! CONTACT: Department of Public Safety, Recruiter Freddie Wells, (907) 280-8665 or freddie.wells@alaska.gov or ONLINE: alaskastatetrooper.com
(My Comment: Did you know that Alaska government provides police coverage for the MatSu Borough. Palmer and Wasilla have city police but State covers the rest of the Borough.
This recruitment sounds good but if an Alaska State Trooper is injured on the job and becomes disabled or dies, the medical coverage stops and pay becomes 40% of the wage. The Tier 4 (401K/defined contribution) retirement for State Troopers doesn't provide death and disability coverage for the Trooper and their family. Disabled State Troopers have lost their homes, families of deceased Troopers have lost medical coverage for surviving family. These Troopers are the people we call when we are in danger and they respond to help us.)
**$10,000 Sign on Bonus** State of Alaska Department of Corrections Recruiting Workshop every Friday 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Mat-Su Job Center, 877 W. Commercial Dr., Wasilla, AK (907) 352-2500. Corrections Officer, Probation Officer, Support Staff.
(My Comment: This is dangerous work that you and I depend on. These officers and staff keep the bad guys locked up. But this is not easy. I volunteered once with a prison RN; the stories she told me about how she was in danger of being injured were frightening. These officers are also covered only with our Tier 4 retirement, just as the State Trooper. If injured and disabled, or killed, on the job, benefits for them and their families are minimal. And yet, you and I depend on them doing their job to keep the bad guys locked up. The $10,000 sign-on bonus pales, knowing this.)
Stuff I Found Interesting
Migrating seabirds are bringing forever chemicals into the Arctic Channels - McGill University
New research from McGill graduate shows how toxic chemicals hitch a ride with seabirds flying from southern latitudes to the Arctic.
National Security
U.S., Allies Focus on Partnerships in Iceland Amid Rapid Change in Region. U.S. Department of Defense
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., met with fellow defense chiefs from across the Arctic in Keflavik, Iceland, as part of the focus among the U.S. and its allies' continued partnership in ensuring peace and security in the rapidly evolving region.
Russia allocates $1 billion for massive nuclear icebreaker, paving way for year-round Arctic shipping. G Captian
Russia’s draft federal budget includes substantial funding of nearly $1 billion over three years to complete construction of the country’s flagship nuclear icebreaker.
Fisheries
Judge approves former Peter Pan Seafoods co-owner's bid for company assets. Alaska Public Media
“Mr. Rodger May and co-owners have done irreparable harm to the many people and their families that make their living from the commercial fisheries on the Alaska Peninsula,” they wrote. “There are still many fishermen that have not been paid for fish they delivered as well as vendors and tenders not being paid for goods and services provided.” It’s unclear how the sale will affect King Cove, which relied on the processing facility as its main economic driver until it closed in January. May acquired Peter Pan back in 2020 with the backing of California-based RRG Capital Management and McKinley Capital Management, which used funds from the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation’s in-state investment program.
Alaska's seafood industry lost $1.8 billion last year, NOAA report says. Alaska Beacon
A variety of market forces combined with fishery collapses occurring in a rapidly changing environment caused Alaska’s seafood industry to lose $1.8 billion from 2022 to 2023, a new federal report said.
Economy
Social Security recipients will get a smaller, 2.5% cost-of-living boost in 2025. ADN
Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living increase to their monthly checks beginning in January, the Social Security Administration announced Thursday.
(My comment: This will push even more seniors into state safety-net programs, like food stamps or BBCE, housing subsidy and more.)
1 big thing: Another expensive year for employers. Axios
Remember, the U.S. pays way more for health care than any other wealthy country in exchange for worse outcomes, and commercial prices are much higher than those paid by Medicare or Medicaid.
Education
Dunleavy administration advances new office to investigate complaints agaisnt school districts. ADN
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is working to create a new “advocacy office” that will allow members of the public to lodge complaints with the state against individual school districts.
(My comment: Alaska Constitution, Article 10, Local Government, section 1 talks about “provide for maximum local self-government…”. Section 2 talks about Local Government Powers – All local government powers shall be vested in boroughs and cities”. I wonder if Governor Dunleavy checked into the Constitutionality of State government coming between citizens and their local governments.)
No physical law school in Alaska? No problem. Alaska's News Source
The University of Alaska Anchorage and Seattle University School of Law are moving forward with a partnership in what they’re calling the Alaska Hybrid Hub. Once established, the hub will give students the opportunity to attend law school without being required to relocate out of the state while getting their education.
State says Palmer resident represents Northwest Alaska on state school board. Dermot Cole
The state Board of Education, which has been down two members for months, now lists a resident of Palmer as the representative on the board from the Second Judicial District, which is Northwest Alaska.
Politics
Opinion: Alaska's old primary system stifled governance. We shouldn't go back to it. ADN
1 big thing: Republican welfare state. Axios
Republicans spent decades railing against welfare recipients. The explosion of people getting 25% or more of their income from government aid — and Republican reliance on their votes.
Health Care
The caregiving crisis. Axios
Even as they're in high demand and the care sector becomes an increasingly large part of the economy, care workers don't make very much money. Home health care workers, overwhelmingly women, earn $16 an hour, on average, per government data — slightly less than what retail sales workers make and roughly the same mean hourly wage as animal caretakers. There are millions more people who do this work for no money at all, typically adult children caring for their elderly parents. They are mainly women, too. Plenty wind up putting their careers on hold, stepping out of the workforce, or scaling back at work to do this labor of love.
(My comment: This is why I worked so hard to get $12 million into our state budget this year specifically targeting wages of Home & Community Based Care workforce. I’m told that Hope Community Services was able to give their staff a raise last week, because of this funding.)
The care crisis, in 1 chart. Axios
There's an increasing need for caregivers to help look after the aging population, particularly as older adults have fewer children (or none) to care for them. Even when adult children are in the picture they may live too far away to be of help. It's a problem that can be solved by making caregiving jobs more appealing, or by immigration — though the politics of the latter solution make things more complicated.
(My comment: Immigration as a solution? Yes, look at the Home & Community Based staff - High percent of immigrants. Yet some Americans look down on immigration and want to lock the borders. These immigrants are usually very skilled people, doing the work that Americans won’t do. And, in Alaska, they are filling our teaching jobs in K-12 schools. I suggest: think twice about locking the borders.)
Why elderly caregiving is an economic problem. Axios
Even as they're in high demand and the care sector becomes an increasingly large part of the economy, care workers don't make very much money. Home health care workers earn around $16 an hour, on average, per government data — slightly less than what retail sales workers make and roughly the same mean hourly wage as animal caretakers. And there are millions more people who do this work for no money at all, typically adult children caring for their elderly parents. They are mainly women, too.
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