Covid-19 raised havoc with the worldwide financial system. There was an enormous demand for items and companies that had been dormant throughout bodily separation security measures. You will need to perceive that over 50% of upper costs could be attributed to the massive company earnings that focus America’s wealth right into a small variety of individuals. Former President Trump and congressional Republicans’ lower taxes for the rich and firms, whereas ignoring the infrastructure. A Democratic initiative lastly was handed. Our nation must put money into drugs, science, analysis, the humanities and critically in training. The U.S. attained a excessive stage of wealth and well being after WWII by making investments.
Voters want solely look to Kansas for example of what occurs when a Republican governor institutes an austerity program. Because the governor slashed training, the voters responded by electing a Democratic governor and average Republicans left the social gathering. Alaskans have skilled austerity with Gov. Dunleavy. He lower help for training whereas refusing to finish $1.2 billion in “tax credit score” subsidies for the extremely worthwhile oil business.
Alaskans have a substitute for Dunleavy; they will elect Les Gara as governor and Jessica Prepare dinner as lieutenant governor. When Gara was 6 a robber broke into his father’s workplace and killed him. Gara grew up in foster houses. He attended public colleges and earned his legislation diploma. Jessica Prepare dinner’s mom was murdered when she was 3. Gara and Prepare dinner help robust, accountable legislation enforcement.
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Prepare dinner is a 20-year public college instructor who lives in Palmer together with her husband Ed, an Air Power veteran. Her management roles embrace serving as vp of each our state and Anchorage Schooling Associations. Gara and Prepare dinner will probably be robust supporters of training.
Gara has spoken about local weather change. This major problem is threatening our infrastructure and inflicting entire communities in rural Alaska to be compelled to relocate. Gara and Prepare dinner help constructing the renewable vitality infrastructure to decrease gasoline prices and supply good paying jobs throughout the state.
Alaska’s state parks have been underfunded and understaffed by the earlier administrations and Gara will work to reverse this and help the tourism financial system. Gara is an avid angler and is worried about water high quality.
Gara and Prepare dinner have been constant, dedicated advocates for well being care together with making certain that girls could make their very own determination about contraception, together with abortion. For governor and lieutenant governor please rank Gara and Prepare dinner No. 1.
Within the race for Alaska Senate District P, voters may have the chance to re-elect Scott Kawasaki. He received election to the Fairbanks Metropolis Council at age 24 and served within the state home earlier than being elected to the senate in 2018.
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Kawasaki desires to make use of his expertise to make sure that Alaska has the monetary stability to maintain and retain our native companies, {and professional} workforce, for years to come back, by defending the Everlasting Fund dividend, enhancing Alaska’s infrastructure and offering entry to training. Kawasaki helps efforts to reinforce the psychological and bodily well being of Alaskans together with a girl’s proper to make her personal well being choices. Please rank Kawasaki No. 1.
John Bennett is operating for Senate District Q. Like his district, Bennet has a various background that features: constructing cabins, mushing canines, trapping, searching, chopping wooden and dealing winters on the North Slope and at Bristol Bay.
Bennett believes that Alaska wants a sustainable system for Everlasting Fund withdrawals, accountable useful resource growth, an finish to company subsidies, to broaden and preserve its infrastructure, and make long-term commitments to educating and coaching. He desires to handle the Manh Choh mine ore haul, groundwater contamination, and excessive vitality prices. Please rank Bennett No. 1.
Maxine Dibert is operating for Home District 31. She have to be a runner to show third grade and knock-on doorways after college and on weekends! Dibert’s life is steeped in training, together with working at a camp for teenagers in foster care.
Please rank Dibert No. 1 for District 31.
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Van Lawrence served on the Borough Meeting for six years and is operating for Home District 32. He has used his legislation diploma for labor and different causes. He has the expertise wanted to go to Juneau. Please rank Lawrence No. 1 for District #32.
Please rank Grier Hopkins No. 1 in District 34. He has been an efficient chief and has been concerned in training within the legislature the place he’s nicely revered for working with broad coalitions.
Please rank former chief of workers to Adam Wool Ashley Carrick No. 1 for District 35 and Angie Fitch No. 1 for District 36.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has vetoed $10 million in funding for the organization charged with marketing Alaska seafood — but may agree to the funding later.
On Friday, Dunleavy issued a line-item veto for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. The governor’s office said that he could seek the funding later if the institute submitted a more detailed plan for the funds.
“The Dunleavy administration has offered support of supplemental funding next session once ASMI has developed a comprehensive marketing plan,” said Jeff Turner, the governor’s communications director.
The funding could be included in a supplemental budget bill — every legislative session, Alaska governors propose these bills to cover unexpected needs and other expenses that weren’t included in the original budget.
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Alaska’s $6 billion seafood industry employs over 48,000 workers annually in the state, according to a report commissioned by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. The institute is a state agency that aims to increase the economic value of Alaskan seafood.
The veto comes at a time when Alaska’s fishing industry is in crisis, facing low consumer demand and steep competition from Russia, which harvests many of the same species as Alaska. For example, in 2023, the price paid to sockeye-salmon fishers delivering their catches was half of the 2022 price, according to the report.
Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, described the condition of Alaska’s fishing industry as “pretty miserable.”
“I’ve been involved in the fishing industry since 1970 and it’s just the worst I have ever seen,” said Stevens, who is also one of six legislators who are nonvoting members of the institute’s board.
Last year, the institute received $5 million in funding from the state. Before then, they had not received any state general funds since June 2018. The institute relies mainly on federal and industry payments: This year, the institute is expected to receive $13 million in funds from the federal government, and $16.2 million from industry assessments.
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“The governor is always saying that we want to tell the world that we are open for business, but nothing says ‘we’re closed for business’ more than cutting these funds from ASMI,” said Stevens.
If the institute submits a detailed marketing plan for the vetoed funds, the governor could include funding in the state’s supplemental budget during the next legislative session, the governor’s office said. However, any potential funding would not be quickly available to the institute.
“Waiting doesn’t help at all,” said Stevens. “It’s a very short-sighted view of the industry. Now is the time to help it out, not to just delay things.”
According to ASMI’s executive director, Jeremy Woodrow, the institute’s main priorities lie in domestic markets. Multiple factors have influenced this focus. Among them: a strong dollar and weak yen has made Alaskan seafood less competitive in Japan, a key global market, said Woodrow.
Regarding the effect of the veto, Woodrow said: “We support the governor’s budget, one way or another.”
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Additionally, in 2022, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that prohibited Russian seafood imports. This executive order created a “hole” in the domestic seafood market that ASMI is looking to fill, according to Woodrow.
“Any updated marketing plan is going to include those priorities,” said Woodrow.
Tracy Welch, executive director of United Fishermen of Alaska, described the veto as a “missed opportunity” to support the state’s fishers, processors, and coastal communities.
“ASMI has operated on a shoestring budget for quite a few years, and so they do a lot with what they’re given, so I have confidence that they’ll do as best they can,” she said.
Despite her faith in the institute’s ability to “get creative” with the smaller budget, she emphasized the crisis that the seafood industry is currently facing. “The industry needs help now,” said Welch. “Not two years from now.”
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For now, Alaska’s seafood industry will need to wait until the next legislative session to know if the institute will receive additional funding from the state.
“Any funding that we can get to help bolster that mission today, as opposed to tomorrow, is a step in the right direction,” said Welch.
As the nation comes together to celebrate Independence Day, we’re proud to introduce two new tributes to the brave service members who protect our country: our fourth “Honoring Those Who Serve” aircraft and 16th Fallen Soldier Cart.
The Fourth of July is a time to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy and to recognize the sacrifices made by military members. At Alaska, we are dedicated to honoring these heroes and their families in meaningful ways. We take seriously our responsibility to care for our military guests, and we prioritize it with every flight.
Honoring Those Who Serve Aircraft
In partnership with Boeing, we are proud to unveil our specially designed “Honoring Those Who Serve” aircraft. The design, which is almost identical to three of our other jets, features a new patriotic paint scheme with symbolic imagery representing all six branches of the US Armed Forces: Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force.
From its star-spangled design to the heartfelt message emblazoned on its side, this aircraft is a flying tribute to the courage and dedication of those who serve today, and those who served in the past.
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Every time this aircraft takes to the skies, it serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by US military personnel. We hope our guests, employees and aviation enthusiasts alike will feel a sense of pride and appreciation when they see this aircraft in the air and on the tarmac.
Fallen Soldier Cart
In addition to our new aircraft, we recently delivered our 16th Fallen Soldier Cart to Nashville International Airport (BNA) on June 26. These dedicated carts, designed and crafted by Alaska’s Maintenance and Engineering department, are a solemn and respectful symbol that transports the remains of fallen service members, ensuring they are treated with the utmost dignity and respect.
Alaska has dedicated this special cart to BNA for shared use among all airlines, as a gesture of respect and remembrance. The cart, in its first mission, transported the cremated remains of US Navy Vietnam veteran, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate, Roy Campbell.
Alaska maintenance & engineering employees drove eight days, across 10 states and 2,632 miles to deliver a Fallen Soldier Cart to Nashville on June 26, where it will serve to honor military heroes at Nashville International Airport (BNA).
In 2011, the Fallen Soldier Program was created to ensure military protocols are followed when handling the remains of fallen service members being flown to their final resting place on Alaska Airlines. The cart plays a pivotal role during the dignified ceremonies of loading and unloading the remains of fallen soldiers onto aircraft.
This cart begins its most important duty today—doing what is on the side of our beautiful liveries—honoring those who serve, transporting our fallen heroes home to their final resting place with honor and dignity,” said Carlos Zendejas, Horizon VP of flight operations and Air Force veteran attending the delivery service. “Our hope is that this cart will also bring comfort to the family, friends and loved ones during that very difficult time.”
Adorned with the American flag, the insignia of the six military branches, and a plaque honoring the fallen, our carts are a powerful tribute to those who have served our country.
Alaska has Fallen Soldier Carts at the following airports: Anchorage, Dallas Fort-Worth, Fairbanks, Honolulu, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Nashville, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Spokane, Washington Reagan.
This Fourth of July, as fireworks light up the sky and people gather to celebrate, we invite you to join us in paying tribute to our military heroes. At Alaska, we believe it is our duty to honor those who serve and are committed to doing so with the respect and gratitude they deserve. Learn more
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) – The State of Alaska has filed suit hoping to recoup losses in revenues stemming from federal cancellation of oil and gas leases on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
In a press release Tuesday, the Alaska Attorney General’s office announced the suit, which was filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims. The release mentions nine cancellations on ANWR’s Coastal Plain.
Calling it an effort to hold the U.S. government accountable for the economic impacts of its environmental policies, Attorney General Treg Taylor alleges the federal government is undermining Alaska’s ability to be economically independent.
“The Biden administration’s decisions since day one have been aimed at making the State of Alaska off limits to any resource development to the detriment of Alaska and Alaskans seeking to provide for their families,” said Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor. “As the rest of the nation celebrates the Fourth of July, the federal government has systematically undermined the State’s ability to maintain its economic independence. This was not what was promised Alaskans at statehood, and why the State must continue to fight.”
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“We know these resources can be developed safely and responsibly, and with the support and involvement of the local communities that live within the 1002 Area,” said John Boyle, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. “The only obstacle is the radical environmentalist agenda of the Biden Administration.”
The release claims Alaska was promised the ability to use resource development to build its economy.
It also says the government’s action cancelling the Coastal Plain leases, which had been approved in 2017 under the Trump Administration, constitutes a breach of contract.