Alaska
Peltola supports Democratic plan to avert government shutdown, Begich silent on preferred option • Alaska Beacon
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a Republican plan to fund the federal government past Oct. 1 and avert a government shutdown.
The plan would fund the federal government at present levels for six months, using a process known as a continuing resolution, and require voters to provide proof of citizenship in order to vote in federal elections.
With House Republicans divided and unwilling thus far to negotiate with Democrats, the plan — preferred by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana — appears to lack the votes needed to advance.
Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, said she prefers an alternative proposal, one that would extend federal funding through December, buying Congress enough time to pass 12 funding bills that set budgets for various parts of the federal government.
“A six-month CR would effectively cut defense and military spending,” Peltola said, referring to the proposal advanced by Johnson. “We need to keep the government open and running but we can’t keep kicking the can down the road either. We need a short-term CR so Congress can debate and reach agreement on final spending bills this year.”
The House’s divide on the budget illustrates the choices at play for voters in this fall’s U.S. House election. Polling indicates Alaska is one of a few “tossup” states that could choose either a Republican or Democrat, possibly tilting control of the House in the process.
Peltola’s chief opponent in the House race, Republican Nick Begich, hasn’t taken a position on the government shutdown.
A campaign spokesperson, when asked about Begich’s position, replied by criticizing Peltola for missing votes in Congress.
“It’s time for Congress to do the job that the American people elected them to do: Show up and get the job done to ensure we have a federal government that functions properly,” said Bernadette Wilson, senior adviser to Begich.
Alaskan Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe and imprisoned out-of-state Democrat Eric Hafner are also on Alaska’s U.S. House ballot.
Congressional Republicans are divided in multiple ways, with some hardline Republicans saying they would prefer to shut down the federal government rather than pass another continuing resolution. Those resolutions, they say, contribute to the growth of the federal debt.
Among those hardliners are members of the Freedom Caucus, which was among Begich’s early supporters in this election.
The current Republican mainstream in the House, represented by Johnson, is seeking a long extension of present spending, coupled with a voter ID requirement endorsed by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Johnson and other top Republicans endorsed Begich after their first choice, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, withdrew from the U.S. House race following the primary election.
It isn’t clear whether Begich would side with Republican hardliners or the more mainstream group if he were elected.
If House Republicans fail, as expected, to advance a shutdown-averting deal on Wednesday, it would open the door for House Republican leaders to negotiate with House Democrats on a compromise proposal that could be sent to the Senate for further work.
Congressional Democrats, and President Joe Biden, oppose the proposed new voter ID requirement as unnecessary, and Biden has vowed to veto it if it reaches his desk.
Alaska
Yundt Served: Formal Charges Submitted to Alaska Republican Party, Asks for Party Sanction and Censure of Senator 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.”
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.
Related
Alaska
Pilot of Alaska flight that lost door plug over Portland sues Boeing, claims company blamed him
The Alaska Airlines captain who piloted the Boeing 737 Max that lost a door plug over Portland two years ago is suing the plane’s manufacturer, alleging that the company has tried to shift blame to him to shield its own negligence.
The $10 million suit — filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tuesday on behalf of captain Brandon Fisher — stems from the dramatic Jan. 5, 2024 mid-air depressurization of Flight 1282, when a door plug in the 26th row flew off six minutes after take off, creating a 2-by-4-foot hole in the plane that forced Fisher and co-pilot Emily Wiprud to perform an emergency landing back at PDX.
None of the 171 passengers or six crew members on board was seriously injured, but some aviation medical experts said that the consequences could have been “catastrophic” had the incident happened at a higher altitude.
Fisher’s lawsuit is the latest in a series filed against Boeing, including dozens from Flight 1282 passengers. It also names Spirit AeroSystems, a subcontractor that worked on the plane.
The lawsuit blames the incident on quality control issues with the door plug. It argues that Boeing caught five misinstalled rivets in the panel, and that Spirit employees painted over the rivets instead of reinstalling them correctly. Boeing inspectors caught the discrepancy again, the complaint alleges, but when employees finally reopened the panel to fix the rivets, they didn’t reattach four bolts that secured the door panel.
The complaint’s allegations that Boeing employees failed to secure the bolts is in line with a National Transportation Safety Board investigation that came to the conclusion that the bolts hadn’t been replaced.
Despite these internal issues, Fisher claims Boeing deliberately shifted blame towards him and his first officer.
Lawyers for Boeing in an earlier lawsuit wrote that the company wasn’t responsible for the incident because the plane had been “improperly maintained or misused by persons and/or entities other than Boeing.”
Fisher’s complaint alleges that the company’s statement was intended to “paint him as the scapegoat for Boeing’s numerous failures.”
“Instead of praising Captain Fisher’s bravery, Boeing inexplicably impugned the reputations of the pilots,” the lawsuit says.
As a result, Fisher has been scrutinized for his role in the incident, the lawsuit alleges, and named in two lawsuits by passengers.
Spokespeople for Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Alaska
FIRST ALERT: Heavy snow incoming to Southcentral, Southeast, and Southwest Alaska
ANCHORAGE, AK (Alaska’s News Source) – A large winter storm is not only bringing heavy snowfall, but warmer temperatures are approaching! The most impacted areas will include Southcentral, Southeast, and Southwest Alaska, with close to a foot of snow accumulation likely through Tuesday afternoon.
Anchorage will receive a trace of snow overnight and into the early morning hours with about 1 to 3 inches of snow by early Monday afternoon. Close to 5 inches of snow will fall across the Kenai Peninsula and Copper River Basin by Monday afternoon before Tuesday morning brings closer to a foot of snow accumulation across the region. Anchorage and Mat-Su snow totals by Tuesday morning will likely reach 8 to 10 inches.
www.alaskasnewssource.com/weather/alerts/
Juneau will most likely get the heaviest rounds of snow from this storm system with close to a foot of snow likely to accumulate by Monday afternoon with even more snow Tuesday morning. Across Southeast, snow total will vary but Sitka and Ketchikan will receive near 3 to 7 inches. Brace for a few days of heavy snowfall with wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour. Rapid snow accumulation will add hazard to roads and rooftops so be vigilant and weather aware.
Download the free Alaska’s News Source Weather App.
This storm is already making landfall from the Kuskokwim Delta to Bristol Bay. Expect 8 to 16 inches of snow by Monday night as the heaviest rounds will pass over late Monday morning. Wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour will add blizzard-like conditions with reduced visibility. The Aleutian Chain is bracing for high winds as the gusts up to 70 miles per hour are likely tomorrow. Light rain will pass through as a result of residual moisture of the tail-end of this storm.
The Interior will remain mostly dry tomorrow with mostly cloudy skies stretching over the Brooks Range and into the North Slope. Overnight lows are still quite chilly, sitting near 50 and 60 below zero. Coldest temperatures of the season were record Sunday morning at -50 degrees in Fairbanks, being the coldest temperature since February 2024 which was also -50 degrees. Light snow is possible Tuesday, but otherwise, very calm and quiet weather remains across central and northern Alaska.
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