Alaska
Steps taken to ensure rural Alaska voting goes smoother than primary, state election leaders say
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Alaska Division of Elections leaders said steps have been taken to ensure polling locations are open and staffed on Tuesday after rural voters — primarily with Alaska Native populations — dealt with primary election polling locations not being opened and late absentee ballot arrivals.
“We are optimistic that all precincts will be open and ready to go. We are sending several people to Egegik and may have to send some to Shungnak. Otherwise, so far we have all R4 precincts covered,” division Director Carol Beecher said.
Beecher specifically referred to Region 4, which includes Northern, Western and Southwest Alaska, Aleutian Chain, Tyonek, Port Graham, and Nanwalek.
The Divisions of Elections update follows concerns that Rep. Mary Peltola raised at a primary watch party back in August that some Alaska communities did not have open polling stations.
The next day, Beecher responded by saying staffing issued at two locations — Wales and Kaktovik — meant polls had not opened. Anaktuvuk Pass was also not open for most of the day.
The mayor of Anaktuvuk Pass — with assistance from the division — was able to provide ballots and a register, so the polling place was open for about 45 minutes.
However, problems persisted before the primary election, with Beecher confirming 20 rural communities received absentee ballots after early voting started Aug. 5.
Beecher said the late ballots resulted from a logistics issue associated with absentee voter offices, or AVOs.
“That window of time between getting the ballots printed and getting them sent is tight for the AVOs,” Beecher said. “It’s particularly tight in our rural areas like Nome. And so because of that, there was a challenge with the mail, et cetera, getting them to those locations on time.
“Most of them had them on time, but there were a few that didn’t get them for the Monday opening,” Beecher said back in August.
Reaching out to rural communities on Monday, Bethel and Dillingham election staff told Alaska’s News Source they were now experiencing few issues leading up to the general election.
Dillingham city staff said they had seen record-level early voting in anticipation of a winter storm on Election Day.
Get Out The Native Vote Director Michelle Sparck said her group is working hard to make sure that everything works smoothly on election day, but anticipates there could still be issues.
“It could be Mother Nature. Again, it could be human error — we don’t know yet. Right now, we’re trying to make sure that Nuiqsut has their ballots because we were told that only one election bag made it there as far as Saturday, so I’m hoping that it came in at least by [Monday],” Sparck said. “The division can’t give us a list of election workers signed up in every precinct because they are temporary state workers, so we can’t crosscheck it and say, you know, we know that they’re there and we know that they’re prepared, and we can’t harass election workers.
“Obviously, that’s not our intent either, but we just want to make sure that there’s a system in place eventually where we all have a really good comfort level with the all-volunteer election workforce, and that our post offices are operational, and that the air carriers can travel on days like this.”
Additionally, the Department of Justice will be monitoring compliance with federal voting rights laws in five Alaskan boroughs and census areas during Tuesday’s election.
Out of a total of 86 jurisdictions in 27 states nationwide, the Alaska jurisdictions to be monitored — from north to south — include the North Slope Borough, the Northwest Arctic Borough, the Kusilvak Census Area, the Bethel Census Area, and the Dillingham Census Area.
The effort is part of the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s responsibility to ensure compliance with all federal statutes that protect the right to vote as well as federal statutes prohibiting discriminatory interference with that right.
Sparck said she is glad to see that kind of attention.
“Because section five of the Voting Rights Act is so important and integral to us having language accessibility on election day, and they do publish pamphlets — the election guides — with the languages that are covered under the Act … but there are issues,“ Sparck said. ”Not every poll worker is bilingual out in the villages. We have been trying to encourage more bilingual workers to apply to be outreach agents for the Division of Elections.”
In the end, Sparck said she is hoping for a high turnout, but she remains worried historical voting issues have created apathy in the rural, Native communities.
“People start to think, ‘What does it matter? Why should I waste my time? Why should I go stand in line for two hours if it‘s not even going to mean anything?’“ Sparck said. ”We’ve gotta realize our power.”
Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.
Two US soldiers were wounded by a brown bear during a training exercise in Alaska on Thursday, the US Army stated.
Anchorage Daily News reported that the soldiers were from the 11th Airborne Division, and that the exercise had been a “land navigation training event” near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
State wildlife officials said that the bear attack seemed to be a defensive one, from a bear which had recently emerged from its den. Staff members from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game collected evidence at the scene in an attempt to learn more about the bear, such as its species and gender.
“The incident is currently under investigation, and we are working closely with installation authorities and local wildlife officials to gather all relevant information and ensure the safety of all personnel in the area,” the 11th Airborne Division said in a statement, reported ABC News.
ABC News also cited an 11th Airborne Division spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Jo Nederhoed, who said that the two soldiers had been seriously wounded, but were receiving care at a hospital in Anchorage, and had shown improvement by Saturday morning.
“We hope both individuals have a full and quick recovery, and our thoughts are with them during this time,” Fish and Game Regional Supervisor Cyndi Wardlow said in a statement reported by Anchorage Daily News. “In this case, having bear spray with them in the field may have saved their lives.”
Both of the soldiers reportedly had and used bear spray during the attack.
The bear’s condition and whereabouts are currently unknown.
Up, up and away … that’s where most travel prices are going.
It’s true. Not only are our nation’s geopolitical thrusts in the Mideast affecting the cost of your fill-ups, every component of your trip from airfares to car rentals and hotel stays are subject to price hikes.
Imagine filling up a jetliner with jet fuel that’s doubled in price. It’s enough to melt your credit card, regardless of the number of points you get for every dollar spent!
Because the price of oil affects everything, higher prices are eating away at your travel budget in many ways.
Bag fees
There’s lots of press on this. All airlines are increasing their checked-bag fees because of the jump in fuel prices.
Back in 2009, Alaska Airlines instituted a $15 fee for the first checked bag and $25 for the second bag. At the time, there was no charge for the first bag and a second bag was $25.
Last week, Alaska Airlines, along with other major airlines, increased its fees to $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second bag. Delta Air Lines charges the same.
Even if the cost of oil comes down, I don’t expect bag fees will ever be reduced.
Travelers who live in Alaska are somewhat insulated from the new hikes because both Delta and Alaska Airlines offer two free checked bags, with conditions:
1. Alaska offers two free checked bags for travelers flying to or from Alaska who are enrolled in Club 49. This does not affect other flights on Alaska. Separately, ATMOS credit card holders can get a free checked bag. Also, elite members of the ATMOS scheme get one or two free checked bags systemwide.
2. Delta offers two free checked bags for travelers flying to or from Alaska who are SkyMiles members who live in Alaska. Again, this does not apply to other Delta flights. Separately, Delta American Express cardholders can get a free checked bag.
3. Elite-level travelers with the oneworld airline cartel, including Alaska Airlines, can get one or two checked bags on American, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas or other oneworld carriers.
[Anchorage’s international airport rolls out self-driving wheelchairs]
Main Cabin vs. Basic Economy
The spread between the lowest available price, Basic Economy, and a more flexible ticket, Main Cabin, has increased. While the difference used to be $20-$30 each way when the Basic Economy scheme was introduced in 2018, the round-trip upcharge now can exceed $100.
For example, the lowest Basic fare to Portland is $337 round-trip on Alaska Airlines. The upcharge to Main Cabin, with full loyalty points, pre-assigned seats and more flexibility on changes and cancellations, is $447, a 33% upcharge.
This trend is not specifically attributable to the new Iran War. It’s just a cost that continues to rise.
New fees
I’m impressed at the creativity of airline people who dream up new fees. Here are some of my favorites from Alaska Airlines:
1. Phone reservations: $15
2. Partner award booking fee: $12.50
3. Pet travel fee: $100 in the cabin, $200 in the baggage compartment with a kennel
4. Left on board item return fee: $20
On Condor Airlines, operating the only nonstop service from Anchorage to Europe, travelers can choose from four different bundles in economy class. The least-expensive, Economy Zero, from $840 round-trip, features fees for travelers:
1. Carry-on bag fee, up to 8kg: $35; a small bag like a purse always is included for free
2. Checked bag: $75
3. Airport check-in: $30
All three of these fees are included in the next-highest fare bucket, Economy Classic, from $900 round-trip. It’s cheaper to buy the bundle than it is to buy the components a la carte. Seat assignments are additional, from $25 for economy.
Airfares on the rise
There are a few good deals available for travel to select West Coast/Intermountain destinations in May, including:
1. Anchorage-San Francisco on Alaska Airlines, from $307 round-trip. Fly May 15-28 only. Add $90 round-trip for Main cabin.
2. Anchorage-Los Angeles on Alaska Airlines, from $317 round-trip. May 15-25 only. Add $90 round-trip for Main.
3. Anchorage-Phoenix on United, Delta or Alaska, from $267-$287 round-trip. Fly May 8-June 9 only. Add $90-$100 for Main.
4. Anchorage-Denver $357 round-trip on Delta. Fly May 8-June 9 only. Add $90 round-trip for Main.
For travel to other destinations, or later in the summer, be prepared to pay more.
Flying to Hawaii? Alaska Air’s nonstop prices out at $706 round-trip between May 30 and June 6. Add $110 round-trip for Main.
Nonstop flights from Anchorage to Salt Lake City start at $669 round-trip with Delta on May 17. That’s $100 more than the cost for the same flights last month. Add $90 more for Main.
Hotel costs continue to rise, accompanied by pesky resort fees.
The Outrigger on the Beach in Waikiki is a very nice beachfront hotel. It’s not plush, or the nicest property. But it’s solid. The cost is $334 per night.
But there’s more: a $50 per night resort fee, plus a variety of taxes and charges, totaling $112.55 per night.
Down in Seattle, the Sound Hotel in the Belltown neighborhood is marketed by Hilton. The discounted rate for “Honors” members — it’s free to join — is $313.34 per night for a king room in late May. Taxes and fees add an extra $56.40 per night.
There’s no appreciable bump yet for hotel rates as a result of the oil price surge. Yet. But if these hotel rates seem high, they’re in line with hotel rates in Anchorage this summer. At the Sheraton in Anchorage in June, it’s $450 per night, plus $54 in taxes and fees, when booked at Expedia.
Car rentals are not cheap
My go-to site for car rentals is the Costco site, which compares major brands and automatically includes Costco discounts.
In Las Vegas, for a one-day rental in May, Budget charges $67 per day, which includes taxes and fees of $22.77. In Anchorage, the same kind of car, medium SUV, costs $92.97 with Alamo.
The biggest differences so far in car rental rates seems to be the bill you’ll pay when you fill up the tank before returning. There’s no appreciable jump in prices because of the new war.
When it comes to making travel arrangements for the spring and summer, it’s more risky making completely non-refundable arrangements.
I made the decision to purchase most of my summer travel plans in advance, but only after determining I would not need to change the dates. Particularly with airline tickets, it’s expensive to change your dates.
There’s lots of uncertainty regarding travel arrangements, particularly international travel. As fuel prices go up due to oil shortages, travel companies will look for ways to recoup the increased costs. In most cases, those higher costs will be borne by travelers.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a decrease in oil prices nationally, but Alaska’s senior senator said the state faces a different situation that could threaten rural communities.
“If you can’t produce power because you don’t have the diesel or you just can’t pay the prices, your little communities can collapse,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said at a Friday press conference at the Arctic Encounter Summit in Anchorage.
The price of oil has been a double-edged sword for Alaska. On one hand, the increased price of North Slope oil brings more revenue to the state, but consumer prices can also rise.
North Slope oil prices were $106.36 a barrel on Thursday.
“This is a very precarious time,” Murkowski said. “Our state has enjoyed a bounty because we have benefited from the higher prices of oil that goes into our treasury, but it’s the Alaskans in … the off-road communities that are threatened to be hit most hard.”
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