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The Sunday Minefield – October 16, 2022

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The Sunday Minefield – October 16, 2022


The November election is simply over three weeks away. Absentee ballots are already hitting Alaska mailboxes and early in-person voting begins on October 24. The Alaska Public Workplaces Fee granted an expedited listening to on a criticism that alleges Brett Huber illegally coordinated with the Dunleavy marketing campaign whereas working for a pro-Dunleavy impartial expenditure group. And up to date marketing campaign finance experiences present a Texas billionaire couple are spending large cash to affect Alaska elections.

A pleasant message and reminder to all our readers. The Landmine is made potential on my own and a staff of superior Alaskans. We’re working onerous to supply in-depth election protection for the entire ongoing races. In case you benefit from the content material we offer, please contemplate making a one time or recurring month-to-month donation. You possibly can click on right here to donate. We have now a donation system that makes it tremendous simple. We might actually admire it. And due to everybody who has been supportive.

APOC Listening to Reveals Nothing Burger

On Wednesday the Alaska Public Workplaces Fee (APOC) granted an expedited listening to for a criticism introduced by the Alaska Public Curiosity Analysis Group (AKPIRG). The listening to came about on Friday afternoon. The criticism alleges that Brett Huber illegally coordinated with the Dunleavy marketing campaign whereas working for a gaggle known as A Stronger Alaska – a pro-Dunleavy impartial expenditure group financed by the Republican Governors Affiliation. Brett Huber isn’t any stranger to Alaska politics or APOC. He ran Governor Mike Dunleavy’s (R – Alaska) 2018 marketing campaign. He ran a gaggle opposing Poll Measure 2 in 2020. Though the group was unsuccessful he collected $45,000. After leaving his employment with the Dunleavy administration he was given a $50,000 contract by Dunleavy.

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Brett Huber is certainly one who lives off authorities and marketing campaign largess. He isn’t a sympathetic determine. And the proof certain doesn’t look good. Huber was gathering $11,500 a month from A Stronger Alaska whereas he additionally had a contract with Dunleavy’s workplace and was listed as a deputy treasurer for the Dunleavy marketing campaign. However the listening to on Friday revealed zero proof of any coordination between Huber and the Dunleavy marketing campaign. Scott Kendall is the lawyer representing AKPIRG on the criticism. He served as chief of workers to former Governor Invoice Walker – who’s at the moment operating towards Mike Dunleavy. Kendall loathes Mike Dunleavy and needs nothing greater than to have Invoice Walker again. That is a crucial a part of all of this.

Kendall questioned Huber extensively through the listening to, who was below oath. Kendall spent a while on the concept of a “cooling off” interval between when somebody leaves a marketing campaign and goes to work on an impartial expenditure group. The issue is Alaska has no such regulation. Huber defined that he was listed as a deputy treasurer for Dunleavy’s marketing campaign so he might accumulate cash for a single fundraiser that was held earlier than he was related to A Stronger Alaska. He mentioned he bought ethics approval for the contract with Dunleavy’s workplace. He mentioned he isn’t the choice maker for A Stronger Alaska and simply offers recommendation and consulting for the marketing campaign. Does the circumstantial proof offered look unhealthy? Sure. But it surely proved no coordination and the burden of proof is on AKPIRG and Kendall to show, not the opposite manner round.

After Kendall questioned Huber, he known as Paula DeLaiarro as an “impeachment witness.” DeLaiarro, who works for the progressive consulting agency Ship Creek Group, is well-known for her experience with APOC reporting. DeLaiarro alleged that the Republican Governors Affiliation, who donated $3 million to A Stronger Alaska, truly by no means gave the cash to them in response to IRS information. Throughout questioning Huber informed Kendall he didn’t know the place the cash he was being paid got here from as a result of it was direct deposited in his account, however he despatched his invoices to A Stronger Alaska. Legal professionals for A Stronger Alaska, the Republican Governors Affiliation and Huber objected as a result of this was not a part of the criticism and so they weren’t given any details about it. Kendall’s large shock turned out to be one other nothing burger, no less than for this criticism.

APOC has ten days to concern a ruling. However my wager is they arrive out with a ruling a lot sooner that claims no proof of coordination was given and that directs APOC workers to proceed the investigation into the criticism. Throughout the listening to Scott Kendall claimed he’s nothing greater than a lawyer who was employed by AKPIRG. Let me be clear: that’s utter bullshit. Kendall is a self-righteous political operative who has been round Alaska politics a very long time. He was behind Poll Measure 2 that gave us the mess of ranked alternative voting. He most likely wrote or helped write the rattling criticism towards Huber. He has develop into more and more poisonous to our political system. And he isn’t going anyplace. He’s an skilled at utilizing the courts and different establishments to wreak as a lot havoc as potential towards his political opponents.

Different Happenings

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Whereas going by means of all of the APOC finance experiences, I saved coming throughout two names – John and Laura Arnold. They’re billionaire philanthropists from Texas. John Arnold used to work for, await it, Enron. They gave large cash to assist Poll Measure 2 in 2020. They’ve donated almost $150,000 to teams and candidates in Alaska this yr, most of it since September. Invoice Walker and Heidi Drygas have obtained $70,000. Placing Alaskans First Committee, an impartial expenditure group that helps progressive candidates, has obtained $50,000. And a number of other Senate candidates, all more likely to be in a coalition, have obtained $27,500 collectively.

Tim Sullivan introduced he’s the brand new authorities affairs supervisor for Alaska USA. Congrats, Tim! He was beforehand the director of exterior affairs on the Alaska Railroad for ten years however abruptly left that position in March with no clarification.

In case you have not seen this it’s superb. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka, launched by Dave Donley, addressed a crowd at Thursday Evening on the Fights. It’s past cringe. Along with the ladies in bikinis strolling across the ring, nobody within the crowd is to listen to what she needed to say. I’d like to know who suggested her to do that.

This Week’s Free Unit 

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This week’s designee grew to become manifestly apparent on Thursday. This week’s Free Unit is the Alaska Democratic Celebration, particularly West Anchorage Democrats. It began when the official voter pamphlet got here out. Jennie Armstrong, the Democrat and entrance runner operating for the open West Anchorage Home seat, wrote that she has been an Alaska resident since 2019. This instantly made me surprise if she was even certified as a result of the Alaska Structure requires three years of residency while you file to run for the Legislature. After an investigation, it’s clear Armstrong is just not certified because of residency points.

However let’s simply say her declare that she has been a resident since Could 20 is true. Which in response to her personal Instagram posts about her journey to Alaska is just not the case. That might imply she met the naked minimal for residency to be a candidate for the Legislature by eleven days. Eleven days! Tremendous free. Oh, and take a look at that soiled delete on her Instagram about when she moved right here. Very free. Love these receipts.

After I consider Democratic or progressive areas of Anchorage, I consider Downtown and West Anchorage. Consultant Matt Claman (D- Anchorage), who at the moment holds the Home seat however is operating towards Senator Mia Costello (R – Anchorage) for the Senate seat, waited till absolutely the final minute to announce that. That means he both hand selected Armstrong, just like what Senator Tom Begich (D – Anchorage) did with Loki Tobin, or was egocentric and gave nearly no time for Democrats in West Anchorage to think about submitting for the seat. The result’s a Democratic candidate who moved to Alaska 5 minutes in the past. Here’s a listing of just some Democrats and progressives who dwell in West Anchorage and have been in Alaska a hell of so much longer than three years:

  1. Nicole Borromeo
  2. Grace Kubitz
  3. Carolyn Corridor
  4. Meeting member Austin Quinn-Davidson
  5. Stephanie Quinn-Davidson
  6. Meeting member Kameron Perez-Verdia
  7. Anna Brawley
  8. Mark Wiggin

The complete state of affairs is about as free because it will get. Particularly if Armstrong is deemed ineligible to serve within the Legislature. Keep tuned. Traditional Free Unit habits by the Alaska Democrats.

In case you have a nomination for this week’s Free Unit, or if in case you have any political information, tales or gossip (or any previous pics of politicians or public officers) please e mail me at jeff@alaskalandmine.com.

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Alaska

Short-lived cold snap, with another warming trend this weekend

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Short-lived cold snap, with another warming trend this weekend


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Temperatures across the state are cooling off, as our strong low from the weekend moves into the Chukchi Sea. This will set up for colder air to spread across the state this week, as another short-lived cold snap is expected. While some light snow is possible for the Interior, areas of the Slope and Western Alaska, Southcentral will stay on the drier side until the night. Meanwhile, Southeast will continue to hold onto moderate rain with gusty conditions.

SOUTHCENTRAL:

Temperatures this morning are 10 to 20 degrees colder than yesterday, as colder air has settled back into Southcentral. Clear skies and calm winds are evident this morning for parts of the region, with light snow falling through the Copper River Basin. We’ll see fairly quiet conditions today, outside of Kodiak which will see increasing snow and rain into the afternoon and evening hours. This comes as our next area of low pressure moves up the Alaska Peninsula.

We’ll see light snow spreading north across the Kenai overnight into Wednesday, with light snow expected through Prince William Sound. Several inches are likely through the Kenai and Chugach Mountains, with the pass expected to see a couple of inches of accumulation. Western parts of the Kenai will see the potential for a few inches, while inland areas of Southcentral largely stay dry. If Anchorage and surrounding locations see any accumulation, it’ll amount to less than half an inch.

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As snow tapers off Wednesday, we’ll see the return to colder and drier conditions into Thursday. Thursday may be the coldest day this week across the region, before another warming trend carries us into next week. Right now holding with snow through early next week, but areas of wintry mix are possible as highs warm above freezing.

SOUTHEAST:

The winter storm warning for Skagway and higher elevations expired at 6am this morning. While some light snow showers are still possible, little accumulation will occur the rest of the day. Scattered to periodic showers are occurring elsewhere across Southeast today, with less than half an inch of rainfall through the day. Any moisture available into the evening will see a transition to some wintry mix or snow into Wednesday morning. However, the better chance will come from another low lifting north into the panhandle. Any snow and wintry mix we see for Wednesday will primarily stay confined to the central and southern panhandle. We’ll see much cooler weather taking hold this week for Southeast.

INTERIOR:

Some areas of light snow are possible this morning, with less than half an inch to be expected. While temperatures are still warm for much of the Interior, highs will steadily fall throughout the day. Many areas will see lows bottom out near or below zero by tomorrow morning. We’ll see high pressure keep things dry and sunny through the next couple of days, with the coldest stretch of weather from Wednesday morning into Thursday morning. Much like the rest of the state will experience, a warming trend arrives this weekend. We’ll see the return to highs in the 20s, with some snow in the forecast. Be prepared for some gusty conditions through the Alaska Range by the close of this week.

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SLOPE/WESTERN ALASKA:

Areas of light snow and blowing winds will continue to impact the Slope, with a winter weather advisory remaining in place for the Central Brooks Range and the Beaufort Sea Coast. Both locations will see up to 1 inch of snow and gusty winds up to 35 mph. While the winter weather advisory will expire for the Central Brooks Range this afternoon, the Beaufort Sea Coast will see the alert continue into Tuesday evening. Snow and blowing snow will be the primary impact today, with a return to colder weather through the rest of this week, this comes as high pressure settles into the area.

The storm responsible for the damaging winds for Southcentral over the weekend, has pushed north into the Chukchi Sea. We’ll still see some light snow accumulations for Western Alaska, with 1 to 3 inches expected. Some fo the heaviest snow will fall across the Seward Peninsula and the Western Brooks Range.

An area of low pressure in the Bering Sea will keep gusty winds and snow in the forecast for Gambell/St. Lawrence. Be prepared for heavy snow at times and areas of reduced visibility. Overall, colder weather will settle into Western Alaska, with the possibility of morning fog in the valleys over the next few mornings.

ALEUTIANS:

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Some light areas of snow will occur for the Pribilof Islands and into parts of the Alaska Peninsula today, as a weak low moves up the Peninsula. This will be the main focus for snow into Wednesday for Southcentral. This low will bring heavy precipitation and gusty winds for the Eastern Aleutians and the Alaska Peninsula. Looking ahead through the rest of the week, we can expect to see more a ridge beginning to build into the region. This ridge will slowly shift east, keeping several upper level disturbances traversing the Aleutians. Temperatures will remain fairly warm in the 30s and 40s.

OUTLOOK AHEAD:

Model consensus continues to agree on another warming trend heading our way into next week. This stretch of warmth will likely lead to many spots cementing themselves within the top warmest January’s on record. While we’ll spend the rest of this week on the colder side, highs steadily climb this weekend into next week. We’ll see highs in Southcentral climbing back above freezing, with areas of the Interior climbing back into the 20s.

Have a safe and wonderful Tuesday!

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

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Anchorage, Alaska hit by hurricane-force winds, structures damaged across city

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Anchorage, Alaska hit by hurricane-force winds, structures damaged across city


Associated Press

Hurricane-force winds cause widespread damage in Alaska’s largest city

Thousands of residents across Alaska’s largest city were still without power Monday, a day after a powerful storm brought hurricane-force winds that downed power lines, damaged trees, forced more than a dozen planes to divert, and caused a pedestrian bridge over a highway to partially collapse. A 132-mph (212-kph) wind gust was recorded at a mountain weather station south of Anchorage. A large low-pressure system in the Bering Sea brought the high winds, moisture and warmer than average temperatures — in the low 40s Fahrenheit (slightly over 4.4 degrees Celsius) — to Anchorage on Sunday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Tracen Knopp.



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Thousands without power in Alaska after hurricane-force winds hit

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Thousands without power in Alaska after hurricane-force winds hit


Thousands of residents in Anchorage, Alaska, faced widespread devastation and power outages Monday after hurricane-strength winds battered the city on Sunday.

Why It Matters

This latest incident comes as power outages across the United States have become a growing concern as extreme weather events increase in frequency and intensity, often leaving millions of Americans in precarious situations. Hurricanes, wildfires, ice storms and heatwaves have caused widespread disruptions, highlighting the vulnerability of aging electrical grids to severe conditions.

Prolonged outages not only hinder daily life by cutting off access to heating, cooling and essential appliances but also pose significant risks to public health, particularly for the elderly and those with medical conditions reliant on powered devices.

What To Know

The Anchorage storm, which began Sunday, delivered gusts reaching 132 mph at a mountain weather station south of the city, according to the National Weather Service. Within Anchorage itself, winds hit 75 mph, toppling trees, scattering debris and partially collapsing a pedestrian bridge over the Seward Highway, the city’s main southern thoroughfare.

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At the height of the storm, 17,500 customers were without power, according to Julie Hasquet, spokesperson for Chugach Electric Association. As of Monday, roughly 5,700 homes remained offline with full restoration expected to stretch into Tuesday.

Dick Powell cuts a birch tree blocking Steeple Drive in South Anchorage during the windstorm on January 12, 2025. A powerful storm in Anchorage left thousands without power.

Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/ AP

The storm’s chaos wasn’t limited to neighborhoods. Anchorage’s airport, a vital hub for passenger and cargo traffic, saw significant disruptions. Winds forced 13 aircraft, including a U.S. Air Force plane, to divert to Fairbanks, which sits nearly 360 miles away.

On the ground, emergency crews scrambled to clear bridge debris, which had obstructed traffic on the highway. However, no injuries were reported when the side fencing and roof of the bridge fell onto the four-lane divided highway on Sunday. Traffic was rerouted and crews removed the debris.

Alaska Department of Transportation spokesperson Shannon McCarthy pointed to the winds as the probable cause of the bridge failure. However, structural engineers are investigating to determine the full extent of the damage.

Meanwhile, the storm marked a rare convergence of high winds, warmer-than-average temperatures and moisture from a low-pressure system in the Bering Sea, said National Weather Service meteorologist Tracen Knopp. Anchorage saw temperatures in the low 40s Fahrenheit, unusual for mid-winter.

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What People Are Saying

Alaska Department of Transportation spokesperson Shannon McCarthy said: “The winds were the leading cause, but our bridge engineers will be out there today and may be able give us a more comprehensive analysis of what happened.”

Julie Hasquet, a spokesperson for Chugach Electric Association, said some customers may not have power back on until Tuesday. She said: “When our crews show up for repairs, they don’t know what they’re going to find.”

Resident Steven Wood told Anchorage television station KTUU about how he and his family was watching the winds blow things around the yard Sunday morning when they saw their neighbor’s roof partially blow off and head right toward them.

“All of a sudden, I see the roof start to peel off, and all I can yell is, ‘Incoming! Everybody run!’” Wood said.

What Happens Next

Cleanup efforts are underway in Anchorage as the city begins recovering from the powerful storm.

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This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.



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