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Current Topics
Russia steps up Arctic route trade with new icebreaker. RigZone
Russia has completed the second reactor and ship for nuclear-powered transport in the Arctic Ocean. Russia's State Atomic Energy Corp., or Rosatom, announced this week the completion of a second RITM-200 reactor for the nuclear-run icebreaker vessel Chukotka, as well as the completion of the second vessel on the Northern Sea Route more efficient.
(My comment: The Northern Sea Route goes through the Bering Sea, past Aleutians. The U.S. is way behind in icebreakers and nuclear power.)
Let's be honest about what's going on with snow removal. ADN
Dunleavy and his administration’s service cuts— in service of big Permanent Fund dividend distributions — have diminished the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities’ ability to keep up with winter road maintenance. This reality was plainly stated in the Alaska DOT maintenance budget summary for fiscal 2023, months before last year’s December storms would make its words prophetic: “Low (employee) counts make managing long winter schedules difficult, threaten continuity of operations at airports, lower the overall level of service provided by (Maintenance and Operations), and decrease the capture of federal funds for summer maintenance programs.
Long-Sought Alaska Grain Reserve Launches. AK Biz Mag
The State of Alaska is investing $1 million for an Alaska Feed Grain Reserve Program to improve food and animal feed security for Alaskans.
Education
What a tour of Anchorage schools taught me. ADN
The numbers bear out what teachers and education advocates have said for years: Alaska’s teacher wages have dropped and it is the only state in the country without a defined pension for teachers.
Energy
HEA rates to increase Jan. 1. Peninsula Clarion
Homer Electric Association announced Friday evening that it will be raising its base rates by 3.5% starting next year, citing inflation and supply chain disruptions.
(My comment: It’s only a matter of time before Chugach has to take same steps as Cook Inlet gas supply is less and less available (“behind pipe” is the term used). The delay in addressing this is costing you and me. It has been set aside in favor of big PFD checks, instead of hydro projects, upgrades to weak transmission grid, and other sources of energy. I urge us to take action on those 3 issues. They will take time to implement (time we’ve wasted over last 10-15 years), but we have to stop believing in rescue by fairy dust and unicorns!)
Energy task force rejects Dunleavy plea for "moonshot" plan to cut electric rates to 10 cents by 2030. Dermot Cole Reporting from Alaska
(My comment: Ten cent/ kilowatt electric rates are beyond reach. But lower costs energy could be available if we take action. )
Economy
The three sectors where jobs grew. Axios
83% of the jobs created — 166,000 jobs — were in health care, government and leisure.
Alaska Airlines is pitching an 'eco-friendly' alternative to the mileage run this year. How green is it? Alaska Public Media
Alaska Airlines knows mileage runs are a habit for Alaskans who care about their reward status. This year, in an effort to cut down on these superfluous flights — and their carbon impacts — the airline rolled out a new offer: instead of booking a flight, members can earn elite-qualifying miles through the end of the month by buying something called sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF.
Politics
Assembly questions state and city officials on snow plowing. ADN
Holland said one of the main hindrances on state operations is a 70% vacancy rate in Anchorage among vehicle mechanics servicing its fleet, an especially big problem given how high-needs much of the heavy equipment involved in snow removal is.
EPA wants to get the lead out of aviation gas. Alaska's U.S. senators say it's a bad move for the state. Alaska Public Media
Alaska’s U.S. senators are trying to block the Environmental Protection Agency from launching a procedure that would lead to the regulation and eventual removal of leaded aviation gasoline.
Alaska's top court says public agency can't decline guardianship appointments. ADN
The Alaska Supreme Court’s decision marks another chapter in a monthslong attempt by the state Office of Public Advocacy to respond to its chronic understaffing by reducing its caseload — first by seeking to offload dozens of cases to a private guardianship agency and then by refusing to accept new appointments from the court for months.
(My comment: The Legislature needs to step up, reestablish a sound hybrid defined benefit retirement pension and increase pay scales. This is the path to recruitment and retention of the attorneys we need.)
Health Care
NIST develops human urine standard for more accurate diagnosis of kidney disease. NIST
When you go to a doctor’s office, whether for an annual checkup or for specific symptoms, your doctor might ask you to provide a urine sample for testing at a clinical lab. The test can check for kidney disease and conditions that affect kidney function, such as diabetes and urinary tract infections.
To diagnose these conditions correctly, your doctor needs accurate measurements of key compounds in urine.
Negotiations to decide insurance status of Alaska patients of Providence affiliates. Alaska Beacon
Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska posted a notice on its website dated Nov. 16 saying the medical, behavioral health and imaging groups of Providence Health & Services Alaska in Anchorage and Palmer are ending their contracts on Dec. 31.
Cigna-Humana deal off the table. Axios
Cigna is walking away from its ambitions to acquire Humana with a cash-and-stock transaction after the two companies couldn't agree on price and other financial terms. Such a deal would have created a health insurance giant valued at roughly $140 billion and further consolidated the pharmacy benefit manager industry. It also likely would've come under intense antitrust scrutiny.
Probe unveils record-sharing with police. Axios
Pharmacy chain records are often shared across locations in different states. So law enforcement in states with abortion bans could seek the records to determine whether a person received reproductive care in another state.
Support for curbing facility fees. Axios
As more states weigh limits on "facility fees" hospitals can charge for outpatient care, new polling from a patient advocacy group shows widespread opposition to these tack-on charges. More than three-quarters of voters support banning extra fees charged by hospitals for services at their off-campus clinics and doctor's offices.
Lawsuits challenge insurers' AI. Axios
The suit makes Humana the second major health insurer to face legal action over its use of an AI tool to allegedly restrict medically necessary care for Medicare Advantage patients.
Alaska child care task force finalizes first report for a sector in crisis. ADN
The task force's initial recommendations are focused on assisting providers and call for the removal of barriers for licensing and background checks to strengthen the workforce. While those suggestions have been widely welcomed, many in the child care sector have said that significant new state investment remains essential, including wage subsidies.
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