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Alaska Seafood Shipping Firms Agree $9.5M Settlement On Jones Act Violation Case With U.S.

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Alaska Seafood Shipping Firms Agree .5M Settlement On Jones Act Violation Case With U.S.


One of the largest settlements under the Jones Act was reached when two seafood shipping firms operating in Alaska agreed to pay the U.S. government $9.5 million for their violations.

The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is an essential federal law created to support and maintain the American merchant marine. The law mainly regulates maritime trade between and within U.S. ports and waters. It requires that any cargo moved by water between ports in the United States be carried on ships that meet specific requirements. These vessels must be built in the United States, fly the American flag, be owned by citizens of the United States, and have crews consisting of citizens and permanent residents.

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The action against U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) challenged the penalties imposed for violations of the legislation. Alaska Reefer Management LLC (ARM) and Kloosterboer International Forwarding LLC (KIF) took advantage of a Jones Act exemption allowing Alaskan seafood to be transported by Canadian rail to the United States mainland. However, they employed a small rail track in Canada as part of their arrangement, which CBP considered an unlawful attempt to get around the Act’s provisions.

The enterprises shipped frozen fish via a port in New Brunswick, Canada, from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to the U.S. East Coast for over ten years. After arriving in Canada on foreign-flagged vessels, the seafood was loaded onto trucks and placed onto a flatbed rail car on the specially constructed “Bayside Canadian Railway (BCR),” a roughly 100-foot railroad track in the Port of Bayside.

Following an inquiry, CBP found that the BCR did not fit the requirements for the Canadian rail exception, which led to Jones Act violations. The corporations were hit with hefty fines, which sparked a legal dispute in which they claimed the fines were illegal.


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According to the Act’s exceptions, the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska decided against the corporations, finding that their use of the BCR for transportation was illegal. As a result, a settlement was achieved that mandates KIF and ARM to give the U.S. government $9.5 million.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska stated that this is the second-largest settlement of a case brought under the Jones Act in the history of the United States, highlighting the significance of obeying rules associated with marine commerce.

The Executive Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, AnnMarie R. Highsmith, said that the settlement demonstrates the CBP’s dedication to upholding regulations such as the Jones Act to safeguard American industry. The resolution emphasises the value of lawful marine trade and clarifies that breaking the law will result in consequences.

Reference: Justice.gov

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Alaska

National Native helpline for domestic violence and sexual assault to open Alaska-specific service

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National Native helpline for domestic violence and sexual assault to open Alaska-specific service


A national support line for Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault has begun work to launch an Alaska-specific service. Strong Hearts Native Helpline is a Native-led nonprofit that offers 24-hour, seven-day-a-week support for anonymous and confidential calls from people who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. The line is staffed by Native […]



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Dozens of vehicle accidents reported, Anchorage after-school activities canceled, as snowfall buries Southcentral Alaska

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Dozens of vehicle accidents reported, Anchorage after-school activities canceled, as snowfall buries Southcentral Alaska


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Up to a foot of snow has fallen in areas across Southcentral as of Tuesday, with more expected into Wednesday morning.

All sports and after-school activities — except high school basketball and hockey activities — were canceled Tuesday for the Anchorage School District. The decision was made to allow crews to clear school parking lots and manage traffic for snow removal, district officials said.

“These efforts are critical to ensuring schools can safely remain open [Wednesday],” ASD said in a statement.

The Anchorage Police Department’s accident count for the past two days shows there have been 55 car accidents since Monday, as of 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. In addition, there have been 86 vehicles in distress reported by the department.

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Snow measuring up to 17 inches deep in Anchorage, Alaska, on Jan. 6, 2026.(Alaska’s News Source)

The snowfall — which has brought up to 13 inches along areas of Turnagain Arm and 12 inches in Wasilla — is expected to continue Tuesday, according to latest forecast models. Numerous winter weather alerts are in effect, and inland areas of Southcentral could see winds up to 25 mph, with coastal areas potentially seeing winds over 45 mph.

Up to a foot or more of snow has fallen across Southcentral Alaska, with more snow expected...
Up to a foot or more of snow has fallen across Southcentral Alaska, with more snow expected through the day.(Alaska’s News Source)

Some areas of Southcentral could see more than 20 inches of snowfall by Wednesday, with the Anchorage and Eagle River Hillsides, as well as the foothills of the Talkeetna Mountain, among the areas seeing the most snowfall.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com



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Yundt Served: Formal Charges Submitted to Alaska Republican Party, Asks for Party Sanction and Censure of Senator Rob Yundt

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Yundt Served: Formal Charges Submitted to Alaska Republican Party, Asks for Party Sanction and Censure of Senator Rob Yundt


Sen. Rob Yundt

On January 3, 2026, Districts 27 and 28 of the Alaska Republican Party received formal charges against Senator Rob Yundt pursuant to Article VII of the Alaska Republican Party Rules.

According to the Alaska Republican Party Rules: “Any candidate or elected official may be sanctioned or censured for any of the following
reasons:
(a) Failure to follow the Party Platform.
(b) Engagement in any activities prohibited by or contrary to these rules or RNC Rules.
(c) Failure to carry out or perform the duties of their office.
(d) Engaging in prohibited discrimination.
(e) Forming a majority caucus in which non-Republicans are at least 1/3 or more of the
coalition.
(f) Engaging in other activities that may be reasonably assessed as bringing dishonor to
the ARP, such as commission of a serious crime.”

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Party Rules require the signatures of at least 3 registered Republican constituents for official charges to be filed. The formal charges were signed by registered Republican voters and District N constitutions Jerad McClure, Thomas W. Oels, Janice M. Norman, and Manda Gershon.

Yundt is charged with “failure to adhere and uphold the Alaska Republican Party Platform” and “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles and priorities of the Alaska Republican Party Rules.” The constituents request: “Senator Rob Yundt be provided proper notice of the charges and a full and fair opportunity to respond; and that, upon a finding by the required two-thirds (2/3) vote of the District Committees that the charges are valid, the Committees impose the maximum sanctions authorized under Article VII.”

If the Party finds Yundt guilty of the charges, Yundt may be disciplined with formal censure by the Alaska Republican Party, declaration of ineligibility for Party endorsement, withdrawal of political support, prohibition from participating in certain Party activities, and official and public declaration that Yundt’s conduct and voting record contradict the Party’s values and priorities.

Reasons for the charges are based on Yundt’s active support of House Bill 57, Senate Bill 113, and Senate Bill 92. Constituents who filed the charges argue that HB 57 opposes the Alaska Republican Party Platform by “expanding government surveillance and dramatically increasing education spending;” that SB 113 opposes the Party’s Platform by “impos[ing] new tax burdens on Alaskan consumers and small businesses;” and that SB 92 opposes the Party by “proposing a targeted 9.2% tax on major private-sector energy producer supplying natural gas to Southcentral Alaska.” Although the filed charges state that SB 92 proposes a 9.2% tax, the bill actually proposes a 9.4% tax on income from oil and gas production and transportation.

Many Alaskan conservatives have expressed frustration with Senator Yundt’s legislative decisions. Some, like Marcy Sowers, consider Yundt more like “a tax-loving social justice warrior” than a conservative.

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