Alaska has signed onto a high-profile class-action lawsuit as a good friend of the courtroom, difficult the U.S. Air Pressure’s Covid-19 vaccine requirement. Alaska joins 20 different states questioning the Air Pressure’s refusal to honor non secular exemptions.
The case within the U.S. Courtroom of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit entails 10,000 airmen and House Pressure guardians who say the navy is unfairly forcing folks to obtain a vaccine that they object to on non secular grounds or danger shedding their job. Alaska and the opposite states maintain that service members ought to take pleasure in the identical rights to spiritual liberty as fellow residents.
“Little doubt, every of these airmen serves his nation for varied causes,” the amicus temporary reads. “However seemingly one, maybe frequent to all, is to assist defend others’ rights — together with these of non secular liberty. Certainly, the airmen don’t do this on the expense of their very own such rights.”
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The U.S. Division of Protection requires vaccination to fight the unfold of the virus amongst service members and is arguing that stopping the mandate would trigger hurt by requiring the Air Pressure to retain 1000’s of unvaccinated troops.
Final month, President Joe Biden stated throughout a TV interview that the pandemic is over.
The amicus temporary was filed on Thursday, and oral arguments within the appellate case are scheduled for Oct. 19. The courtroom plans to challenge a call in November, based on the Air Pressure Occasions.
The amicus temporary asks the Sixth Circuit to uphold a decrease courtroom’s preliminary injunction, which quickly prevents the Air Pressure from disciplining the service members for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine primarily based on their sincerely held non secular beliefs.
The lawsuit was initially filed in Might on behalf of 18 airmen by the First Liberty Institute, a nonprofit Christian conservative authorized group primarily based in Plano, Texas.
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“Service members don’t give up the correct to follow their faith once they enlist or are commissioned,” Alaska Legal professional Normal Treg Taylor stated in a ready assertion. “Sweeping mandates, put in place after a service member takes an oath to defend our freedoms, shouldn’t be granted greater authority than that service member’s personal freedoms.”
The opposite states to assist the non secular exemption and signal onto the amicus temporary are Missouri, Kentucky, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
“The amici states’ pursuits within the attraction are two- fold,” the temporary reads. “First, they’ve a selected curiosity in defending the religious-liberty rights of these airmen and others like them who’re their residents. And second, they’ve a extra normal curiosity within the correct steadiness being struck between non secular liberty and vital authorities pursuits similar to these in play right here. The amici states are effectively acquainted with the problem of putting that steadiness — notably in mild of Covid-19.”
The Sixth Circuit of the U.S. Courtroom of Appeals covers the states of Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.
A downed spruce tree partially hangs over Lake Otis Parkway during the windstorm on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Here’s a list of peak wind gusts measured at various locations by the National Weather Service across Southcentral Alaska in Sunday’s storm. Crews were working Sunday evening to restore electricity to thousands of people in Anchorage and the Mat-Su.
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Gusts of more than 60 mph were recorded at various locations across the region, with gusts exceeding 80 mph at several locations on the Anchorage Hillside and higher elevations.
High winds, rain batter Anchorage and Mat-Su, with power outages reported across region
The readings were collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures, the weather service noted. Not all data listed are considered official, the weather service said. See the full list here.
Anchorage
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport: 62 mph
Merrill Field: 66 mph
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Lake Hood: 59 mph
JBER – Elmendorf: 69 mph
JBER – Fort Richardson: 73 mph
Northeast Anchorage: 75 mph
South Anchorage: 75 mph
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Glen Alps: 84 mph
Potter Valley: 91 mph
Bear Valley: 110 mph*
Arctic Valley: 107 mph*
Glenn Hwy Eagle River Bridge: 88 mph
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Glenn Hwy S Curves: 62 mph
South Fork Eagle River: 86 mph
Birchwood Airport: 53 mph
Bird Point: 75 mph
Alyeska Weather Station: 112 mph
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Alyeska Summit: 99 mph
Portage Glacier: 84 mph
Matanuska Valley
Palmer Airport: 67 mph
Wasilla Airport: 47 mph
Fishhook: 47 mph
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Duck Flats: 6 mph
Susitna Valley
Willow: 36 mph
Eastern Kenai Peninsula
Seward Airport: 51 mph
Kenai Lake: 33 mph
Granite Creek: 25 mph
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Seward / Sterling Hwys (Y): 42 mph
Whittier Airport: 60 mph*
Western Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Airport: 53 mph
Soldotna Airport: 39 mph
Kenai Beach: 46 mph
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Sterling Highway at Jean Lake: 64 mph
Nikiski: 36 mph
Anchor Point: 31 mph
Homer Airport: 46 mph
Homer Boat Harbor: 42 mph
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Seldovia Airport: 41 mph
Eastern Prince William Sound
Cordova Airport: 73 mph
Cordova Marine Ferry Terminal: 74 mph
Valdez Airport: 25 mph
Valdez Port: 23 mph
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Thompson Pass: 47 mph
Copper River Basin
Gulkana Airport: 56 mph
Chitina: 37 mph
Denali Hwy at MacLaren River: 38 mph
Eureka: 36 mph
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Kodiak Island
Kodiak Airport: 52 mph
Kodiak – Pasagshak Road: 61 mph
Akhiok: 45 mph
*Denotes site stopped transmitting wind data following report of highest wind gust.
“Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.”
Alaska Airlines is getting called out on social media after a clip surfaced showing a famous UFC fighter get into a dispute on-board until he was escorted off his flight. The video shows Russian hall of fame athlete Khabib Nurmgomedov debating airline staff in the U.S. while he was sitting in the exit row on the plane.
The video of the incident, which reportedly took place at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Saturday, shows an employee telling the 36-year-old mixed martial artist he either has to switch seats or get off the plane. “They’re not comfortable with you sitting in the exit row,” the worker added.
“It’s not fair,” said Nurmgomedov, who was reportedly flying to Los Angeles, to which the worker replied, “It is fair. Yes, it is.”
Nurmgomedov explained that when he was checking in for the flight, he was asked he if knew English, to which he said he did. The airline worker responded, “I understand that, but it’s also off of their judgement. I’m not going to do this back-and-forth. I will call a supervisor.”
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The employee reiterated the athlete could either take a different seat on the plane, or staff could “go ahead and escort” him off the flight. She asked “which one are we doing?” and then replied to Nurmgomedov saying they were going to have to rebook him on a different flight.
Across social media, people have been calling out Alaska Airlines asking why they had him removed from the plane. Many called for others to boycott the airline, and some claimed the staff were profiling Nurmgomedov, who is Muslim.
“Why did you remove Khabib from your plane? His fans need to know! I hope he sues you,” an Instagram user wrote on the airline’s most recent post.
“Are you aware of who Khabib is? His legacy surpasses that of the entire airline,” another chimed in.
“Shame on you, Alaska Airline. We all boycotting them,” a TikTok user added.
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“What is the reason!? Because they don’t feel comfortable he’s sitting by a window?” another questioned.
Neither Nurmgomedov or Alaska Airlines have yet commented on the situation.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – With a storm approaching and high winds in the forecast for a portion of Southcentral Alaska, experts recommend preparing for potential power outages and taking safety precautions.
Experts with the State of Alaska, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management recommended taking the initiative early in case of power outages due to strong weather.
Julie Hasquet with Chugach Electric in Anchorage said Saturday the utility company has 24/7 operators in case of outages.
“We watch the weather forecast, and absolutely, if there are power outages, we will send crews out into the field to respond,” Hasquet said.
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She echoed others, saying it’s best to prepare prior to a storm and not need supplies rather than the other way around.
“With the winds that are forecast for tonight and perhaps into Sunday, people should just be ready that it could be some challenging times, and to be aware and cautious and kind of have your radar up,” Hasquet said.
For the latest weather updates and alerts, download the Alaska’s Weather Source app.
See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com
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