Students, staff and volunteers throughout the Anchorage School District may soon face stiff punishments for indirectly “disturbing” someone’s claimed sexual orientation.

In a proposed revision, the board will be introducing changes to its Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying policy at its Aug. 6 meeting. The changes were recommended by a subcommittee and passed on to the board for a final vote.

The current policy seeks to foster a positive school environment by defining harassment, intimidation and bullying, while also imposing punishments on staff, students and volunteers who run afoul of the rules. Disciplinary actions include suspension or expulsion for students, suspension or termination for staff, and denial of opportunities for volunteers.

The current policy makes no mention of sexual orientation, nor does it address “indirect” harassment. Instead, it defines harassment, intimidation and bullying as action that “physically harms” a student, “has the effect of substantially interfering” with education, is “intimidating or threatening,” or substantially disrupts orderly school operations.

The new and vastly expanded proposal, however, defines harassment as “the intentional behavior by a student (or group of students) that is disturbing or threatening to another student. Intentional behaviors that characterize harassment include “unwelcome verbal or written comments,” which are either “direct or indirect” and related, but not limited to, race, religion, sexual orientation, cultural background, economic status, size or personal appearance.

Other districts across the nation that have instituted such sweeping policies have used them to target conservative and religious minded staff.

While the proposed Anchorage policy includes a disclaimer stating it “should not be interpreted to prohibit a reasoned and civil exchange of opinions or debate that is protected by law and School Board Policy,” the policy opens the door for district officials to clamp down on a wide range of unwanted free speech.

The nonprofit legal group, Alliance Defending Freedom, has represented numerous educators across the nation who have been targeted by similarly worded policies.

“Unfortunately, radical gender ideology and its accompanying pronoun demands aren’t giving people that freedom,” the group’s website warns. “Many corporations and government officials label it offensive, discriminatory, and harmful not to use a person’s ‘preferred pronouns.’ And, in the name of diversity and inclusion, this leads them to fire or ‘cancel’ those who don’t toe the line. Ultimately, activists’ goals are to change the way you think, to punish any dissent, and to render it difficult (if not impossible) to communicate the truth that God created each of us either male or female.”

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Last week I was staying up late and getting up early to review the latest versions of on-again, off-again fare skirmishes both in Europe and between Anchorage, Hawaii and the West Coast.

Just to be clear: Airlines don’t run ads or issue news releases announcing that fares are going down or popping right back up. But if you happen to be planning a trip in the midst of a fare war, you could score a really good deal. Last Tuesday and Wednesday, some travelers scored tickets to Hawaii on Delta for $128 each way. Anchorage-Portland tickets were available for $108 one-way, before popping back up on Thursday.

At the same time, a big discount wave washed over Europe. Delta and United were the major players, with basic economy fares as low as $456 round-trip between Anchorage or Fairbanks and Barcelona.

Those fares to Europe all have popped back up to the $600 range for round-trip tickets. That’s not a bad price for fall or winter travel to Europe, but I’m quite confident the rates will drop again.

All of the great rates I found were basic economy fares. Travelers buying the cheapest fares board last, which means there’s no overhead bin space. They receive less credit toward their frequent flyer plan and cannot choose their seats in advance. The budget travelers are also last in line for any upgrades, too.

So, the challenge for mileage hounds and upgrade-seekers is how much extra airlines will charge for those add-ons: advance seat assignments, full mileage credit and a decent shot at an upgrade.

[US proposal would bar airline fees for parents to sit beside kids on flights]

When the basic economy fares first were introduced, the upcharge was about $30 each way for most destinations. Between Anchorage and Seattle, Delta still charges $30 more for the main cabin fares, while Alaska Airlines charges $35 each way.

For Saver travelers, Alaska Air awards 30% of the actual miles flown toward a traveler’s Mileage Plan account. Delta doesn’t allow any SkyMiles credit for basic economy flyers.

South of Seattle, the spread between the basic and main cabin increases. Between Anchorage and Honolulu, Alaska Air charges $55 one-way for an upcharge to a main cabin fare on its nonstop flight. Delta charges $50.

Travelers headed to Chicago can fly nonstop from Anchorage on Alaska or United. American also flies each day — but their flights are more expensive. I don’t know why. Both Alaska and United charge $40 each way for an upcharge to the main cabin.

United’s basic economy is particularly onerous regarding carry-on luggage. Unless you pay the upcharge, you’re not allowed to bring aboard a standard-size rolling suitcase to stuff in the overhead bin. If you get to the gate and the agent busts you for trying to smuggle on your suitcase, there’s an extra $25 penalty in addition to the bag fee.

Between Anchorage and Washington, D.C., Alaska Airlines charges between $50 and $84 each way for the upcharge to main. United charges between $50 and $74 each way. Delta charges between $30 and $65 each way.

If you’re traveling within Alaska on Alaska Airlines, all the economy seats are main cabin seats. Further, travelers can check up to three bags at no additional cost.

Both Alaska Airlines and Delta Air passengers can check two bags at no additional charge when traveling to or from Alaska and the Lower 48 or Hawaii. Delta travelers who reside in Alaska must belong to the airline’s SkyMiles loyalty plan. Alaska Air travelers must belong to its Club 49 plan for residents.

Travelers to Europe face a different equation when it comes to the difference between basic economy and the main cabin. The upcharge to main cabin also includes a checked bag.

If you’re flying to Paris, the cheapest fare on Delta in mid-October is $591 round-trip. A checked bag will cost you an additional $150. If you choose to pay $210 more, you can pick your seat in advance and get your first checked bag at no additional cost.

United offers the same package, for a little less: $200. American also charges $200 more and includes a pre-assigned seat and one checked bag (up to 23 kilograms).

Travelers to Asia have a few more twists in the equation. Flying to Singapore, United Airlines has a great fare of $798 round-trip. There’s just one stop in San Francisco on the outbound date I checked (Aug. 29). Even a basic economy ticket includes one checked bag. An upcharge to the main cabin for $160 round-trip includes the fee for a second checked bag.

By the way, United’s return flight from Singapore goes through San Francisco and Denver. It makes for a 30-hour travel day.

Traveling from Anchorage to Tokyo on Delta, the cost for basic economy is $1,552 round-trip. That price includes a free checked bag. The upcharge to main is $260. Once you’ve got your credit card out, though, Delta is likely to tempt you with an upgrade to Comfort+ for an additional $360. That’s a total of $2,172, or $620 more than the basic economy rate. The biggest benefit with Comfort+ is a few inches of extra legroom.

Depending on the airline, travelers to Asia may be able to choose a seat in advance and pay for it even if they’re traveling on a basic economy ticket.

[With seat sizes and passenger priorities changing, the cheapest ticket isn’t always the best]

There are different terms and conditions for traveling to different continents, including South America and Africa. The take-home message is this: The advertised price probably is not what you’re going to pay when you check out. In addition to basic vs. main, there may be additional fees for preferred seating, for any food you pre-order or if you want to pay for priority boarding or to go to a lounge before your flight.

For travelers who compare airlines before making a decision, these additional fees and options make the job harder. A travel agent can advise you on the best options for a flight, including whether or not you’re likely to make a tight connection in … say … Seattle. But the agent will charge an additional fee. Even so, if booking travel is not your core competence, an agent’s counsel could save you a lot of money and aggravation.

It can be confusing to keep track of what airline offers this or that. But it’s worth it to be aware that the optional fees will boost the cost of your next trip.

Jeremy Salvador was all smiles on Tuesday as he processed three silver salmon at the cleaning table at Anchorage’s Ship Creek Bridge.

Salvador has been reaching his limit of three silvers regularly, using a combination of technique, local knowledge and guile.

“I’ve been getting them both ways, bait and flossing,” said Salvador, who has fished Ship Creek since he was a teenager. “Just getting them at the right time. I just prefer coming in the morning. There are less people during the weekdays, so that’s about when I come.”

This year, he appears to be the exception. So far this summer, there’s been a dearth of silver salmon, also known as coho, throughout Southcentral Alaska. While there’s still time for runs to arrive within normal windows, there’s also a level of concern.

Salvador said despite his success, the fishery has been sluggish, and the low turnout of anglers this week at Ship Creek, even during ideal tide conditions, appears to reinforce that notion.

Donald Arthur, the Anchorage assistant area sportfish manager with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said coho runs are highly variable, sometimes starting as early as the first week of July.

“Typically across all those range of timings, we usually see a pretty good peak in the last week of July into the first few days of August, usually start to see limits by then,” he said. “And we are definitely not seeing that right now, which raises some concerns that either the run is just simply late — which, fingers crossed, that is the case. Or it’s weak, or a combination of both.”

Anchorage-area fisheries like Ship Creek, Bird Creek and Campbell Creek are enhanced with stocked fish, but reports of anglers reaching their limits have been rare, Arthur said.

He said Fish and Game is monitoring the situation closely. While they will often take a couple weeks off during the early portion of the run, they’re conducting two surveys a week at Ship Creek.

That lack of fish caused the postponement last weekend of the Coho Rodeo, a silver derby held in Ship Creek. Dustin Slinker, who operates The Bait Shack, rescheduled the tournament for Aug. 10 in the hope that the run would improve by then.

“There’s some low numbers,” he said. “Given what historically has been in this creek, you know, given this this time of year. … I hope these fish are just late coming up, but 13 seasons looking out the window, (this is) by far the slowest start to cohos that I have seen.”

Beyond Anchorage, the state reacted to the slow return, issuing an order limiting the coho catch on Friday. Fish and Game announced a reduction in bag limit to one fish in all waters of the Susitna River drainage effective 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Baited hooks were also banned as part of order. The same limitations were put in place in the Little Susitna River and Jim Creek.

Projected escapement for coho may fall short of goals in those areas, Palmer Area Management Biologist Samantha Oslund said in statement.

[Studies show there are likely more ‘sushi worms’ in Alaska salmon and other fish than there used to be]

‘Usually it’s gangbusters out of Seward’

A reliable indicator of the timing and potential strength of Anchorage-area cohos can be found in Seward, where the massive silver run is celebrated by anglers and the centerpiece of the annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby. Arthur said that as of earlier this week, some people were catching more king salmon than silvers.

“Usually it’s gangbusters out of Seward,” Arthur said “You go to Pony Cove or Cheval Narrows this time of year, and usually it’s hard to keep coho off.”

Andy Mezirow, who operates the Gray Light charter service in Seward, said Friday silver fishing has been strong this week in select areas. He anticipates more about the strength of the run will be learned in the next week, when he expects salmon will populate the inner bay.

“Outside the bay, fishing has been quite good,” he said.

Randy Wells ran a charter fishing service in Seward for more than 15 years before his son took over the operation this summer. He said silver runs have continued to start running later in the year. When Wells sat on the board of directors for the Seward Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the derby, he pushed to make it later to coincide with the trends. The 69th derby is set to run from Aug. 10-18.

“I saw the run getting later and later and later,” he said. “They have done that but haven’t pushed it late enough.”

Wells still feels the timeline for fish arriving en masse is in the normal range he’s seen in recent years.

Salmon runs across Alaska have varied drastically this year depending on region and species. The Kenai River sockeye run has been strong. In Bristol Bay, commercial fishing operations have been fielding smaller fish. King salmon runs have faded to the point that a federal agency is investigating whether they should be classified as an endangered species.

Variability between species and regions

Arthur said differences in environmental conditions can have a significant effect on runs. For coho, those factors can even be intensified.

“Coho spend only just over a year out in the saltwater,” he said. “Outside of jack king salmon, they spend the shortest amount of time in saltwater. They grow the fastest during that time. They’re the fastest growing salmon species. But because they’re only out there for one year, they need good conditions in that one year. That’s why we see a lot of variability with coho, but also just variability between species and regions.”

Slinker said the approachable nature of the fishery makes cohos a favorite among locals and visitors.

“This is a fishery that I enjoy,” he said. ”Visitors from out of state, women, kids, individuals that necessarily do not fish, it tends to be an easier fishery. We get our gear in the water and have an honest opportunity at catching these fish. Not only because they’re an aggressive fish, but because they come in big schools.”

But so far, few of those schools have arrived at Ship Creek.

Even with his recent success, Salvador said that in his experience, the runs have been both later in the season and not as strong as in his early years in the creek. He’s now fishing closer to the mouth of the creek than he used to.

“The runs are not like they used to be for silvers,” he said, standing on the walking bridge. “I used to never have to walk down that far because they’d be right over here and you’d see them just loaded (in the water).”

Arthur said the unpredictability and high variability of the species is part of why the state generally doesn’t forecast coho runs.

While each year is unique, Slinker worries that bad returns could hurt the long-term viability of the fishery.

“At the end of the day, we’ve got to have fish,” he said. “Not only for now, for anglers and everyone to sustain through the wintertime but for the following year so we can continue to fish,” he said. “If we have a low return this year, what is it going to look like in another two years when these class of fish come back?”

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