Algerian man Imane Khelif has beat Italy’s Angela Carini in a welterweight round of Olympic women’s boxing and will advance. It took just 46 seconds for Carini, of Naples, Italy, to give up the match after taking a couple of heavy blows to her head.
The International Olympics Committee has decided to allow men who have X and Y chromosomes to box women. On Friday, a male boxer from Taiwan will be pitted against a woman from Uzbekistan. Yu-Ting will box in the Women’s 57kg division on Aug. 2, 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. His opponent is Sitora Turdibekova, a woman.
After the less-than-a-minute match, Carini was clearly traumatized, and was seen crying in the boxing ring.
Khelif will fight again on Saturday against an as-of-yet undetermined opponent.
Chalk it up to wardrobe failure: Fletch Fletcher, a language arts teacher at Dimond High School in Anchorage, made social media this week, with his name and physique featured in the “Libs of TikTok” channel on X/Twitter.
In a video apparently shot by a student, a teacher wearing a dress appears to have his hardened penis tenting out of the fabric, right at eye level where a student under his watch is working on a computer. The distance between the erection and the student’s hand is mere inches. That teacher is identified as Fletcher, although not verified by Must Read Alaska as such.
Meet Fletch Fletcher. A male teacher at @ASDschools who now identifies as nonbinary. He likes to wear tight dresses to school so his bulge sticks out. I’m told he also wears very tight pants and it makes the students extremely uncomfortable.
According to the Libs of TikTok account, Fletcher also wears tight pants that show his bulge and make students uncomfortable.
Students of Dimond High School who are familiar with the situation may contact Must Read Alaska in the comment section below and ask that their names be kept private if they have information that is pertinent to this report.
It’s a balloon, or it’s not a balloon. It was the size of a car. But we’re not sure what size of car. If the Pentagon knows what it shot down over the Arctic Ocean, it’s not saying. At this point, it’s still in the category of an unidentified flying “object” that was north of Prudhoe Bay until taken down by an F-22 out of Elmendorf.
The Department of Defense did give at least a few more details about the nature of the mission, which took place this morning over the Arctic, while it was still dark in northern Alaska. As revealed by Must Read Alaska earlier on Friday, the military had detected the object on Feb. 9, and determined it was unmanned. A jet from Anchorage to Red Dog Mine was rerouted toward Nome to avoid the item on Thursday.
“The object was flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder. President Joe Biden ordered Northern Command to shoot down the object. Civilian airliners typically fly between 40,000 and 45,000 feet.
The object, whatever it was, fell onto sea ice off the coast of Alaska and U.S. Northern Command has begun recovery operations, Ryder said.
“U.S. Northern Command’s Alaska Command coordinated the operation with assistance from the Alaska Air National Guard, Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” he said.
The object was about the size of a small car, the general said, and does not resemble in any way the Chinese surveillance balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina earlier this week. “We have no further details about the object at this time, including any description of its capabilities, purpose or origin,” he said.
Two F-22s flying out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, took down the object. The one missile shot was an AIM-9X Sidewinder. “We have HC-130, HH-60 and CH-47 aircraft participating in that recovery,” the press secretary said.
The shoot-down of a China spy balloon six days earlier has drawn criticism from many observers, who note that the White House didn’t acknowledge the spy balloon until it was photographed and reported by a newspaper in Billings, Montana. Only then did the Biden Administration admit it knew about the balloon, and it has changed stories about the timing and nature of its decisions ever since.
The Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday passed ordinances opposed by residents across the city and also objected to by operators of homeless shelters and facilities.
The first ordinance expands the zoning for homeless shelters into areas called B-3 business districts. Most of the B-3 areas are in Midtown Anchorage. Assemblywoman Meg Zaletel of Midtown was the sponsor of the ordinance that will bring more crime and social problems to Midtown neighborhoods.
Zaletel is the subject of a recall effort that is now underway.
The B-3 district in Anchorage “is intended for primarily for general commercial uses in commercial centers and area exposed to heavy traffic. These commercial uses are intended to be located on arterials, or within commercial centers of town, and to be provided with adequate public services and facilities,” according to the Municipality, but the zone butts up against residential neighborhoods. The purpose of the ordinance is to spread out the homeless problem to reduce its impacts on the downtown district and make other neighborhoods share the burden.
The second ordinance is going to require homeless shelters to be licensed by the municipality by 2023. This ordinance was objected to by faith-based organizations who say that the Assembly, run by a leftist majority, is trying to force women’s shelters to admit transgendered individuals.
The Biden Administration’s head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of “impending doom” from a resurgence of Covid-19 and appealed to governors and mayors to reinstate mask mandates. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, welled up with tears as she ask America to “hold on a little while longer” and continue wearing masks.
“I am asking you to just hold on a little longer, to get vaccinated when you can, so that all of those people that we all love will still be here when this pandemic ends,” Walensky said. The nation has “reason for hope. But right now, I’m scared.”
“Please, this is not politics — reinstate the mandate,” President Joe Biden said. “The failure to take this virus seriously is precisely what got us into this mess in the first place.”
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, on Twitter, said no, he would not be implementing a statewide mask mandate.
“No thanks, @POTUS – you can keep your mask mandate. We’ll keep doing it the #Alaska way: trust the people & let them live their lives,” Dunleavy wrote.
To date, 31 percent of Alaskans have received at least one dose of a vaccine against Covid. Over 21 percent of Alaskans are fully immunized. Anchorage has a mask mandate that has been in place for almost a year but the state has never had a one-size-fits-all mandate.
Must Read Alaska updates relating to the COVID-19 coronavirus will be included on this running post, where you can see updates throughout the days and nights ahead. Check back for updates.
10:30 am, 04/03/2020: The Carlson Center in Fairbanks has been converted into an overflow field hospital, in the event that the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital reaches capacity. Close to 100 cots have been set up, while Fairbanks and North Pole have reported a total of 42 COVID-19 cases to date, most not needing hospitalization.
10 pm, 04/03/2020: The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Research Center survey results released on Friday show 92% of small employers said they are negatively impacted by the pandemic, up from 76% saying the same just 10 days prior. The survey was taken March 30 among a random sample of 300,000 members of the small business organization.
The survey showed continued decline in the small business sector since the NFIB’s previous similar survey, which was conducted on March 20.
The NFIB on Friday stated, “The severity of the outbreak and regulatory measures that cities and states are taking to control it are having a devastating impact on small businesses.”
10 pm, 04/02/2020: The Department of State says that due to public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, it is only able to offer passport service for customers with a qualified life-or-death emergency and who need a passport for immediate international travel within 72 hours.
Life-or-death emergencies are serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family (e.g. parent, child, spouse, sibling, aunt, uncle, etc) that require you to travel outside the United States within 72 hours (3 days).
The State Department advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel at this time due to the global impact of COVID-19. Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions. Even countries, jurisdictions, or areas where cases have not been reported may restrict travel without notice.
3 pm, 04/02/2020: The Alaska Railroad passenger service will be postponed to July, rather than its originally scheduled start date of May 8.
Usually, the summer train season starts with the arrival of cruise ships in Seward and Whittier, where passengers disembark and travel by train to Anchorage and north to Denali and Fairbanks.
Aurora Winter Train is suspended through the end of the 2019-2020 winter season
Coastal Classic Train has daily scheduled service may begin July 1
Northbound service for the Denali Star Train is may begin July 1, with daily bi-directional service starting July 2
Glacier Discovery Train returns July 3
Hurricane Turn Train: operates April 2, May 7, and June 4. Standard Thursday-Monday service begins July 2, 2020
10 am, 04/02/2020: From Flowingdata.com comes this handy toilet paper calculator to help you gauge how many weeks you can go before you’ll need to start scouting for toilet paper again:
In short, if you’re a household of two, using 8 sheets per wipe, and wiping 8 times a day, you’ll need about seven rolls to last you two weeks, according to the calculator, which you can adjust according to number of people, number of wipes, and number of squares used. Other variables are noted in the analysis.
8 am, 04/02/2020: Costco announced this week it changed its guest policy to deal with the influx of panic shoppers. As a temporary measure, the warehouse store will allow members one guest per membership card. Previously, members could bring up to two guests with them. The company is trying to limit the number of people in the warehouse to create the social distancing suggested by the CDC.
1:30 pm, 04/01/2020: Attorney General Kevin G. Clarkson filed a complaint against Juan Lyle Aune, alleging that Aune profited from the spread of COVID-19 by purchasing thousands of N95 respirators from Alaska stores, and then reselling the respirators on Amazon and eBay for unconscionably high prices. The complaint asks the court to impose a separate $25,000 fine for every such sale Aune made.
“Price gouging is simply unacceptable,” said Clarkson. “The Department of Law is fully committed to taking action against those who would engage in unscrupulous behavior to profit off of COVID-19.”
According to the complaint, Aune purchased respirators from several Alaska stores, including Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Spenard Builder’s Supply. On one trip to Lowe’s, Aune purchased the store’s entire supply of 3M N95 Respirators – a total of 293 20-packs. According to the complaint, Aune told a Lowe’s employee that he was “flipping” the masks for a profit of about $50 per box.
The complaint alleges that Aune generally purchased 20-packs of N95 respirators for $17 to $23 in local stores, before reselling the 20-packs on Amazon for an average price of $89.25. Aune also sold 20-packs of N95 respirators on eBay for as much as $89.99.
Alaskans are encouraged to report price gouging, scams, and deceptive trade practices related to COVID-19 to the Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Unit at [email protected] or calling at 907-269-5200 or 1-888-576-2529.
9:30 pm, 03/31/2020: Alaska Municipal League has a running list of links to dozens of communities and their current health mandates, including travel bans to and from villages. The link is here.
9 pm, 03/31/2020: The Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center closed public beaches, parks, and playgrounds on Monday.
10 am, 03/31/2020: 88 percent of Americans have experienced changes to their lives since COVID-19 hit the U.S., according to new Pew Research Center data. Twelve percent report their lives have remained relatively unchanged. According to the research, 51 percent of Democrats say their life has changed in a major way, compared to 38 percent of Republicans.
Republicans are reporting less psychological distress: 17 percent of Republicans report “high distress” compared to 30 percent of Democrats.
2 pm, 03/30/2020: The Municipality of Anchorage is setting up an emergency medical care center in the Alaska Airlines Center, located across from Providence Hospital on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus. The facility may be able to care for COVID-19 patients who are not needing critical care, but do require some medical care. The facility, usually used for basketball games, has been covered with cots in anticipation of a surge of patients, according to the Emergency Operations Center, now operating out of the Loussac Library. Anchorage, including JBER, Eagle River, Chugiak, and Girdwood, has at least 59 confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus.
2:45 pm, 03/29/2020: The “Quick Test” is coming. The number of tests that have been performed in the United States for COVID-19 now exceed 894,000 Americans. Starting April 2, Abbott Labs will be manufacturing 50,000 new test kits a day that give quicker answers. The Abbott “point-of-care” test has received FDA approval and will be available to urgent care clinics next week. It gives a positive result in five minutes and a negative result in 13 minutes.
2:30 pm, 03/29/2020: President Trump said that Cigna and Humana will be waiving the copays on insurance for costs associated with the coronavirus.
2:15 pm, 03/29/2020: President Trump today extended the current federal guidelines on social distancing to April 30. He said the peak for the contagion COVID-19 and death from the virus is expected to come in two weeks from now.
7 am, 03/28/2020: Anchorage has a shortage of personal protective equipment and medical supplies. The following are needed immediately and Anchorage Emergency Operations is asking for donations: – Non-contact medical grade thermometers, Please see picture attached Universal Transport Media (for guidance see: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Labs/Documents/LaboratoryTests.pdf#page=23) – Nitrile exam gloves (no latex gloves) – N95 masks – Surgical masks – Medical gowns – Face shields which protect eyes Open and expired PPE are acceptable for donation. Used PPE is not being accepted. Homemade cloth masks for use by Anchorage Fire Department that are made to the following specifications:
Recommended materials include a single layer of tightly-woven material, such as a dish/tea towel or bed sheets/antimicrobial pillowcases.
The materials used must be able to be washed/dried on high heat.
Please wash your hands and keep your area clean when making the masks.
When completed, please bundle masks in packs of 25 or less in a sealed zip lock bag and drop off at the donation center.
Do not make masks if you have any respiratory illness symptoms.
Masks will be laundered by AFD before use.
Open and expired PPE are acceptable for donation, however used PPE is not being accepted.
Please take donations to: CrossFit Alaska 9191 Old Seward Highway Entrance faces Scooter Ave Hours of donation: 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM 7 days a week.
6:45 am, 03/28/2020: Late Friday night, President Donald Trump authorized Defense Secretary Mark Esper to order units and individual members in the National Guard and Reserves, as well as “certain Individual Ready Reserve members,” to active duty, the Pentagon announced. The troops will assist with response to the Wuhan coronavirus.
“The Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, are authorized to order to active duty not to exceed 24 consecutive months, such units, and individual members of the Ready Reserve under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned, not to exceed 1,000,000 members on active duty at any one time, as the Secretary of Defense and, with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Secretary of Homeland Security consider necessary. The Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as applicable, will ensure appropriate consultation is undertaken with relevant state officials with respect to the utilization of National Guard Reserve Component units activated under this authority.”
7:15 pm, 03/27/2020: In Ketchikan, the inter-island ferry that operates to Prince of Wales Island will implement a four-day-per-week schedule starting March 28.
The ferry will run Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Passenger service will be limited to essential travel, which means those returning home or traveling for critical medical care, or those transporting essential goods and services. The number of passengers on board has been reduced by 75 percent to allow appropriate space between passengers. More information can be found at the ferry system’s link.
6 pm, 03/27/2020: Alaska is the No. 3 state for the number of citizens tested per capita, said Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer. New York is No. 1 in testing.
1 pm, 03/27/2020: Mayor Ethan Berkowitz of Anchorage extended the “hunker down” order through at least April 14, but said that date should not be considered a “hard end.” Orders could continue for a while, he said at a press conference today. Berkowitz said property taxes would be delayed for at least a month, and there will be no utility shut-offs for a month. In addition, any state or federal assistance that people receive will not be garnished for municipal fees or taxes due.
Building permit fees will be reduced by 25 percent, he said, and other fees will be either reduced or rebated, since many permitted businesses like restaurants and bars are not operating.
10 am, 03/27/2020: A Navy hospital ship has arrived in Los Angeles to help with the overflow from hospitals. The USNS Mercy has 1,000 beds and will treat non-coronavirus patients, freeing up local hospitals to focus on the surge of COVID-19 patients
9:30 pm, 03/26/2020: North Pole Mayor Mike Welch was tested Thursday for COVID-19 at Tanana Valley Clinic after experiencing symptoms and being asked to come in for the swab test.
7:30 pm, 03/26/2020: Alaska Medicaid will allow 68-day fills on medications that would normally be limited to 34 days. With the allowed accumulation, this permits a patient to be able to have approximately 10 weeks of medication on-hand. If a specific patient condition warrants, individual exceptions for a day’s supply beyond 68-days can be requested of the pharmacist.
6:32 pm, 03/26/2020: More that 2,400 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Alaska, said Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum. That is less than one percent of Alaskans, but a quick uptick in testing since the first case diagnosed in Alaska just 14 days ago.
5:44 pm, 03/26/2020: KUOW, public broadcasting in Seattle, has decided to stop airing the president’s press conferences on COVID-19 because the station feels they are not factual.
At the same time, President Trump’s approval rating among voters has started to climb in recent days, with the survey site fivethirtyeight.com saying his approval is now over 45 percent.
12:15 pm, 03/26/2020: At least 81,321 people in the U.S. are known to have been infected with the coronavirus, more cases than China, Italy or any other country has seen, according to data gathered by The New York Times.
11:45 am, 03/26/2020: The Port of Seattle has delayed the Alaska cruise season indefinitely.
11 am, 03/26/2020: The second phase of the congressional relief package that passed the Senate will bring $1.5 billion to the State of Alaska. It will also deliver rapid relief to small businesses, and expand unemployment. It will send a surge of resources to medical professions, said Sen. Dan Sullivan. It must be approved by the House.
7:28 am, 03/26/2020: State officials have corrected information about how many are hospitalized in Alaska due to COVID-19. The correct number as of March 25, 2020 is 3.
11:30 pm, 03/25/2020:Mayor Ethan Berkowitz of Anchorage has said the city will not enforce the mandatory 10-cent fee per paper bag that the city requires merchants charge their customers. However, he did not say merchants may issue single-use plastic bags for merchandise and groceries.
10:40 pm, 03/25/2020: A second employee of Fairbanks Memorial Hospital has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. This individual is included in the current count of 59 in Alaska who have been stricken with the virus.
10:35 pm, 03/25/2020: Royal Caribbean has extended the suspension of its cruises through May 12. “Because of announced port closures, we expect to return to service for Alaska, Canada and New England sailings July 1, 2020,” the company said. Norwegian Cruise Line is cutting pay and moving to a four-day work week for most staff.
3 pm, 03/25/2020:The current case count in Alaska is 44. An employee of Fairbanks Memorial Hospital has tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus. Another Fairbanks person, a patient of the Tanana Chiefs Conference’s Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center, has also tested positive. l
3 pm, 03/25/2020: Jake Metcalfe, the executive director of the largest state employee union in Alaska, is seeking an injunction against the Dunleavy Administration to force all nonessential state employees to work from home for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. He also wants the court to mandate staggered work hours and social distancing rules for all state employees.
The Alaska State Employees Association represents 7,500 state and municipal employees across the state.
10 am, 03/25/2030: The United States is the world’s third-most infected country by the Wuhan coronavirus. To date, the top three are:
81,661 China
74,386 Italy
60,115 US
5:15 pm, 03/24/2020: The Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan have been postponed by the International Olympics Committee, for about a year.
3:45 pm, 03/24/2020: The U.S. Department of Education has stopped collections of federal student loans that are in default.
3:33 pm, 03/24/2020: First COVID-19 hospitalization is in Juneau at Bartlett Memorial Hospital. This is the second case in Juneau and the person is in the critical care unit. The person had been traveling in Washington State and Portland, Oregon, both known hot spots.
Meanwhile, the case count is up to 39 in Alaska, with two more having been identified in Ketchikan. This brings the total of positive cases in Ketchikan to eight. These two individuals, upon experiencing symptoms of illness, self-quarantined and sought testing through the Creekside Family Medical Clinic. The testing was processed by a private lab. The two do not have a history of recent travel, so these are considered community transmission cases.
8:45 am, 03/24/2020: Alaska Airlines will eliminate 200 flights per day through March 31. This is a 15 percent reduction of its normal flights. The airline is parking 30 jets from its fleet of 230 aircraft. Flights to Hawaii will be extremely limited and the airline will stop flying to Costa Rica, although for now it will keep its Mexico and Canada routes.
8:30 am, 03/24/2020: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued a shelter-in-place order Monday evening, something he had been pressured to do for several days. Washingtonians are not to leave their homes except for critical tasks in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
7:46 pm, 03/23/2020: Three Bears market has instituted a ban on the use of personal multi-use shopping bags.
“Our grocery store workers are on the front lines of COVID-19, working tirelessly to keep our community fed. With identified community transmission, we ask that shoppers keep their reusable bags at home given the potential risk to Three Bears customers and employees,” the store notified shoppers, effective at all locations immediately. The stores are located in Wasilla, Palmer, and Kenai.
3:15 pm, 03/23/2020: First National Bank stock price went through large price swings today on the stock market before ending sharply lower.
The current stock price is $176, having recovered from its low of $125 at the close of trading. It appears some entity that owns stock in the bank may have dumped the stock this afternoon.
9 am, 03/23/2020: AlaskaUSA Federal Credit Union has temporarily closed several branches and curtailed operates at others:
Branches temporarily closed:
36th Ave
Abbott
N. Eagle River
Juneau St
W. Dimond
W. Northern Lights
N. Pole
W. Fairbanks
Parks Hwy
Vintage Park
Branches with drive-up and appointment services open Monday – Friday, 11 am to 6 pm:
C St
DeBarr
Dimond
Eagle River
East DeBarr
Huffman
JBER
Northern Lights
W. Abbott
Airport Way
Steese Hwy
Homer
Kenai
Soldotna
Palmer
Wasilla
W. Parks Hwy
Glacier Hwy
In-Store Branches open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 11 am to 6 pm:
Bethel
Ketchikan
Kodiak
8 am, 03/23/2020: PeaceHealth Medical clinics are closed Monday and Tuesday in Ketchikan after two caregivers who work there tested positive for COVID-19. The medical center is one of the largest employers in Ketchikan.
11:15 pm, 03/22/2020: FEMA has set up a rumor control web page pertaining to COVID-19, available at this link.
11 pm, 03/22/2020: Juneau has cancelled its Fourth of July parade. The Fourth of July parade is the biggest community event of the year.
10:30 pm, 03/22/2020:Anchorage Office of Emergency Management reminded residents that the Hunker Down order is in effect in Anchorage as of 10 pm Sunday.
Emergency Order EO-03 directs Anchorage residents and businesses to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the chance of Anchorage hospitals becoming overwhelmed and unable to treat those who need urgent medical care, the department wrote.
When left unchecked, this virus spreads exponentially. Some models show that without an order to hunker down, hospitals could become overwhelmed within weeks. The predictions of these models are borne out by what is happening in other communities that waited too long to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Hunker Down order mandates that non-critical businesses close their premises, and that residents stay home as much as possible.
“Non-critical businesses encompass any business that is not specifically exempted as a critical business. This includes (but is not limited to): shoe stores, hair salons and barber shops, nail salons, clothing stores, makeup stores, jewelry stores, car dealerships (service and parts may remain open), tattoo parlors, acupuncture, art studios, and sporting goods stores, in-home housekeeping services, babysitting (except to provide support for critical workers). This is in addition to the closure of gyms, movie theaters, indoor recreation centers, bowling alleys, and nightclubs that were closed.
“Non-critical businesses must close their premises; it is not acceptable to simply transform to a curbside or delivery business as that still places too many workers and customers in harm’s way for a non-critical purpose.
“The emergency order includes a list of critical businesses that can continue to operate while implementing social distancing techniques to the maximum extent possible—including switching to curbside or delivery service.
“The critical business list includes health care operations, grocery stores, convenience stores, maintenance and operations of critical infrastructure, first responders, criminal justice personnel, critical government functions, defense and national security-related operations, food cultivation, social services, journalism, gas stations, banks and other financial institutions, hardware stores, plumbers, electricians, mailing and shipping services, laundromats, educational institutions for the purpose of distance learning, restaurants (for takeout and delivery only), transportation services, hotels, childcare facilities (to serve workers in critical jobs only), and some legal and accounting services. For a full list, refer to the emergency order. These businesses should incorporate remote working whenever possible and adhere to CDC social distancing guidelines including maintaining six feet between people.”
9:15 pm – 03/22/2020: Anchorage police will begin wearing personal protective gear — things like masks and nitrile gloves — when physically interacting with the public. This doesn’t necessarily mean that COVID-19 is presenting the situation, but that police are protecting themselves from unnecessary exposure. Also, dispatchers and officers will be asking people questions related to COVID-19 exposure to help prevent exposure.
All community engagement activities and events, such as the ride-a-long program, Coffee with a Cop, public appearance requests and more, have been suspended until further notice. The APD front lobby at its headquarters is closed.
8:30 pm – 03/22/2020: The Seattle Times did not print its Sunday edition today due to the restrictions and general conditions caused by the COVID-19 virus. The newspaper was founded in 1891 and has been operated by the Blethen family since 1896. A note from the publisher advised:
5:30 pm – 03/22/2020: Sitka has been given a “hunker down in place” strong recommendation, issued by the Sitka Emergency Unified Command. Sitkans are asked to stay home in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. If residents need to shop for groceries, they may do so if they do not believe they have been exposed to the virus. Work from home as much as possible. Non-essential businesses are urged, but not required to close for 14 days. Those picking up or dropping off at the airport are urged to use curbside, and not go inside the airport. Anyone traveling into Sitka must quarantine in accordance with DHSS mandates.
4 pm – 03/22/2020: The current count of COVID-19 cases in Alaska is 22.
3:38 pm – 03/22/2020: An update on donating blood to the Blood Bank of Alaska. Please call 907-222-5600 to schedule an appointment. The staff will schedule you in.
11:06 am – 03/22/2020: Homeless men in Anchorage are being moved into the Sullivan Arena, while homeless women are being moved into the Ben Boeke Ice Arena next door. They are being given sleeping pads that are spaced six feet apart.
10:30 am – 03/22/2020: The current count of COVID-19 cases in Alaska is 21.
10 am – 03/22/2020: Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19, his office announced on Sunday, adding “he is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person.”
11 pm – 03/21/2020: Gov. Mike Dunleavy has launched a web page devoted to the work of the Economic Stabilization Team.
The page contains links for Small Business Administration loans, unemployment insurance, home mortgage assistance, and other resources that will be added as details are firmed. Share this page with those who may need help.
9:50 pm – 03-21/2020: Senior citizens in the Mat-Su Valley are getting some needed support from the Santa Cop and Heroes program, which applied for and received a $50,000 grant from Southcentral Health Foundation to provide 400 food kits to seniors 60 and older in the valley. Contact them at this link and get on the list for a food drop if you are running low of food, have no family support, and you meet the age qualifications.
8:30 pm – 03/21/2020: New testing protocols for Alaska have been put in place by the Department of Health and Social Services, in response to a shortage of equipment.
Testing supplies are running low. Until the shortage is resolved, health care providers are now prioritizing testing to specific groups. Health care providers do not need to call the Alaska Section of Epidemiology to approve testing, but those patients who are asymptomatic may not be tested. Here is what the testing technicians are being advised:
Patients who have a clinically compatible illness (e.g., fever, cough, or shortness of breath) AND at least one of the following criteria should be considered for testing:
12 pm – 03/21/2020: North Star Borough Mayor Bryce Ward announced an emergency declaration on Friday. The declaration will help with the procurement of aid and assistance from State and federal agencies when they become available. The borough is home to nearly 100,000 Alaskans and encompasses Eielson Air Force Base, Salcha, Fox, Two Rivers, and Chena Hot Springs.
11:30 am – 03/21/2020: Kenai Borough offices are closed to the public. Borough employees will still conduct government business under modified work schedules during regular business hours Monday – Friday. Those who can, will work from home, while others will come to work and practice the recommended guidance to ensure safe workspaces. You can also find contact information by department at www.kpb.us.
The Central Peninsula Landfill and transfer sites will continue to remain open to the public. Steps have been put in place for staff and the public’s protection. Please follow directional signage and staff instructions.
Dispatch and Fire/EMS will maintain operations; however, public will not be allowed to enter these facilities. First responders are following guidance specific to call outs. Nikiski Fire Service Area will continue their potable water service to residents with modifications.
Kenai Borough residents are asked to use the drop box located by the main front doors of the Borough Administrative Building (BAB) to deposit payments or department-specific documents, or mail delivery:
Kenai Peninsula Borough Attn: Department Name 144 N. Binkley Street Soldotna AK 99669
8 am – 03/21/2020: Anchorage medical community is experiencing a shortage of personal protective equipment such as nitrile gloves, face masks and medical gowns. They are asking providers and businesses to donate. Due to global demand, there is no definitive shipping date for more these items. The national demand for PPE and Alaska’s distance from suppliers, avoiding PPE shortages in Anchorage will require stretching existing supplies as long as possible. The following is needed immediately:
Nitrile exam gloves (no latex gloves)
N95 masks
Surgical masks
Medical gowns
Face shields that protect eyes
Please take Personal Protective Equipment to:
CrossFit Alaska 9191 Old Seward Highway Entrance faces Scooter Ave
Hours of donation: 9 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week. For questions, email [email protected] or call 907-343-4019
4:30 pm – 03/20/2020:The City and Borough of Juneau implemented voluntary temperature checks for travelers arriving at the Juneau International Airport. Passengers with a temperature of 100.4 F will be advised to contact a medical provider and to self-quarantine.
4:15 pm – 03/20/2020: A shortage of testing swabs has led Anchorage Office of Emergency Management to ask doctors to donate swabs, or the current Anchorage supply will be exhausted on Sunday. Due to global demand, there is no definitive shipping date for more swabs.
The following swabs are needed immediately: Nasopharyngeal swab with synthetic tip (ex. Dacron, Nylon, Polyester), with non-wooden shaft. NP swab should have sterile tube containing 2-3ml viral transport media (VTM) Please take swabs to: Drive Thru COVID19 Testing Site 4115 Lake Otis Parkway
Please use the back entrance/ employee parking lot (behind the tan and brown building). Hours of donation: 9:00 AM- 7:00 PM 7 days a week.
3:30 pm – 03/20/2020: Must Read Alaskahas learned that Mayor Ethan Berkowitz will order all Anchorage residents to shelter in place beginning this evening.
3:25 pm – 03/20/2020: An employee of the office of the Vice President has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement.
“This evening we were notified that a member of the Office of the Vice President tested positive for the Coronavirus,” wrote Pence Press Secretary Katie Miller. “Neither President Trump nor Vice President Pence had close contact with the individual. Further contact tracing is being conducted in accordance with CDC guidelines.”
11 am – 03/20/2020: President Donald Trump said the U.S. Department of Education will not require standardized testing for students in elementary through high school for the current school year.
10 am – 03/20/2020:The Anchorage Health Department and satellite locations have limited services to phone and appointments only, effective March 19.
Many services and benefits will be available via telephone or limited to in-person appointments; no in-person business or services will be available without an appointment. The contact numbers for the resources are:
• Community Health Nursing: 343-4799 • Aging and Disability Resource Center: 343-7770 • Women, Infants and Children: 343-4668 • Child Care Licensing: 343-4758 • Environmental Health (Food and Air): 343-4200 • Community Safety and Development: 343-4822 • Main Number: 343-6718
9:42 am – 03/20/2020:
How many cases? 255,729 worldwide. Known in Alaska: 12. Every person typically infects two others.
– Did it start in a Wuhan lab? The coronavirus may have originated in a government laboratory 300 yards from the Wuhan fish market where the authorities say the outbreak started, the Daily Mailreports.
– California is sheltering in place: 40 million Californians have been ordered to stay home indefinitely, only going out for essential jobs, errands, and solitary exercise, Gov. Gavin Newsom said. He warned the public that the patients who are contracting the coronavirus — 1,000 now in the Golden State — may soon overwhelm the state medical facilities.
– New York going into lockdown: Gov. Cuomo is shutting down all non-essential businesses across the state, leaving just grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential operations open. He is banning all non-solitary outside activity, like outdoor basketball games and other team sports and he is requiring all non-essential government and private-sector employees to work from home, starting Sunday.
– President Trump has closed almost all traffic but commercial trucks at the southern border with Mexico.
– The Trump Administration has postponed the IRS income tax deadline to July 15.
10:15 pm – 03/19/2020:The U.S. Supreme Court has closed its building to the public and postponed its March argument session, which was to begin March 23.
10 pm – 03/19/2020:Funerals and weddings are among the events now banned in Washington State, as the epicenter of the coronavirus tries to get a handle on social distancing.
10 pm – 03/19/2020: Alaska Public Offices Commission is closed to walk-in traffic until further notice. APOC offices will remain staffed and will continue to serve the public and respond through alternative forms of contact including post mail, email, fax, and telephone, during its normal business hours of 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
9:45 pm – 03/19/2020: Although the Blood Bank of Alaska is in need of blood, it’s asking for a voluntary 28-day deferral for anyone who has traveled out of state and to foreign countries in the last five weeks, and a 28-day deferral for donations for all travel out of state.
2:50 pm – 03/19/2020: An active-duty Airman has tested positive for COVID-19 on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The member recently returned from overseas travel and is following public health protocols while self-quarantined at his or her off-base residence.
JBER officials have ordered Health Protection Condition Bravo and are continually monitoring the situation while working closely with local, state and federal agencies.
12:50 pm – 03/19/2020: Anchorage Police Department has closed its front counter at its headquarters due to a significant drop in public visits. As a result, APD has put together resources to helping the public online and/or via the phone.
During this time, the traffic citations will be handled via paying by phone at 907-786-2429.
Subject line should be your last name and citation number. Attach these necessary documents, as appropriate:
Proof of insurance- Photo: must show you had insurance at the time the ticket was issued.
Proof of Registration- Photo: must show documents of registration from the DMV and photo of license plate with the new sticker on your vehicle.
Headlight/Taillight- Photo: must show vehicle with lights on and license plate visible.
Window Tint- Two Photos: must show entire driver side door of vehicle and include photo from front of vehicle showing license plate.
Proof of Driver’s License- Call 786-8600, ext 2.
11:30 am – 03/19/2020 – Simon Malls, owner of the Fifth Avenue Mall in Anchorage, has closed all of its malls across the nation until March 29.
“The health and safety of our shoppers, retailers and employees is of paramount importance and we are taking this step to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” the company wrote.
8:40 am – 03/19/2020: The U.S. State Department will announce a Level Four travel advisory instructing all Americans abroad to return home or to shelter in place because of the global threat of the coronavirus. This is its most stringent warning. Just four days ago, the department raised the travel advisory to Level 3, with strong recommendations. Under Level Four, Americans will be strongly advised not to travel abroad.
8:40 am – 03/19/2020: The U.S. embassies in Mexico have suspended routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services starting March 18, 2020, and until further notice. The U.S. Embassy and consulates will continue to provide essential consular services to U.S. citizens in Mexico as well as emergency visa services. The closure will effect the seasonal labor supply for American farms and fisheries.
11:32 pm – 03/18/2020: Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau has instituted screening for patients and visitors for symptoms of COVID-19, along with travel history and possible exposure to the virus. Families, staff, and departments in the hospital are restricting access and enforcing visitor control policy, including:
For hospitalized patients:
Limit one visitor on the units at any time.
No visitors are allowed in the Hospital from 8 p.m. – 6 a.m. overnight, unless accompanying a newly admitted patient or a maternity patient.
No visitors under age 16.
Visitation rules may be more restricted on units and floors with patients who have reduced immune systems or special populations.
Exceptions: End of life” situations, minor patients (≤18 years old) may have two visitors but this is limited to only parents or guardians, and individuals with significant physical disabilities are limited to one support person in addition to a visitor.
11:25 pm – 03/18/2020: Homer Mayor Ken Castner declared an official emergency in response to COVID-19 in Alaska and in support of COVID-9 prevention measures being implemented throughout the Borough and the State. The declaration will be effective for seven days, and then may extend if the City Council ratifies it at its meeting on March 23. The declaration creates a unified command structure with local responder agencies and South Peninsula Hospital.
4 pm – 03/18/2020: The known positive cases in Alaska increased by three on Wednesday, increasing it the total to nine. Two of the new cases are in Anchorage, one is in the Seward area. All three are travel related, with one coming from Europe, and the other two from the Lower 48.
3:30 pm – 03/18/2020: The first member of Congress to test positive for the coronavirus is Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican who represents southwestern Miami-Dade County.
2 pm – 03/18/2020:Alyeska Resort has closed the ski area for the remainder of the season. closing its ski area for the remainder of the winter season. “As of today, March 18, 2020, all Alyeska Resort mountain operations, including lifts, aerial tramway, rentals, Mountain Learning Center and restaurants will be closed. Our decision to close the resort was not easily made but we feel these measures are necessary out of concern for the health and safety of our community, guests, employees, and the surrounding communities of Southcentral Alaska,” the management wrote on Facebook.
2 pm – 03/18/2020: Canada and the United States have restricted non-essential travel across the border. Both countries say supply chains will not be impacted, but travelers going north and south for recreational or tourism purposes will be turned back. key supplies will still flow between the two nations. President Donald Trump posted a note on Twitter this morning.
12 pm – 03/18/2020: The U.S. Census has suspended field operations for at least two weeks. The Census Bureau is asking everyone to respond online at 2020Census.gov. Door-knockers will not be utilized for now. The Census will continue to accept online, phone and mail responses.
9 am – 03/18/2020:Pikka, the oil prospect hope for the Alaska economy, has been deferred by Oil Search until prices improve. Oil is in the low 20s today.
8:45 am – 03/18/2020:Seattle area is running out of masks, leading volunteers to start making them by hand for hospitals.
A group of volunteers at Providence St. Joseph Health on Tuesday started sewing surgical masks and constructing face shields with marine-grade vinyl, strips of foam, elastic bands, and double-stick tape.
8 am – 03/18/2020: Blood Bank of Alaska is low on O negative and O positive blood donors and need continual blood donations of all blood types in order to meet the need for blood in Anchorage and throughout Alaska. To meet current blood needs, 700 donations are needed in the coming weeks.
The Blood Bank of Alaska is taking donations by appointment only in order to ensure the safety of donors and staff. To donate call 907-222-5630 or visit www.bloodbankofalaska.org to make an appointment
9:25 pm – 03/17/2020: Amazon has suspended receiving nonessentials such as TVs and toys in its warehouses so it can focus on stocking household staples and medical supplies. The crush of orders forced the decision as Americans are avoiding stores and placing orders online for everyday goods.
8:25 pm – 03/17/2020: A Canadian government official told The Seattle Times on Tuesday that Canada and the US are working on announcing a mutual ban on non-essential travel between the two countries.
8:25 pm – 03/17/2020: Hospital systems in Seattle are reporting two dozen hospital workers have been infected with the coronavirus, putting a strain on the medical infrastructure at the heart of the outbreak in the U.S.
7:20 pm – 03/17/2020: The State of Alaska is closing all bars and restaurants statewide on Wednesday at 5 pm, except for take-out food or deliveries, as well as other closing facilities, such as bowling alleys, by order of the chief medical officer.
The Department of Health and Social Services is also suspending all long-term services and supports that occur in “congregate settings,” including senior centers, adult day services, and any site-based day habilitation or supported employment activities where individuals gather together.
5:40 pm – 03/17/2020: The Port of Alaska remains open and the shippers are on a normal shipping schedule. COVID-19 has not disrupted the arrival of goods to Alaska, according to a news release from the Municipality.
“Food and supplies are at normal levels in Anchorage, and demand is currently high, creating empty store shelves. More goods are on the way, however delays of about one week in restocking shelves may happen due to the time it will take from time of order to stocking shelves in Anchorage and Alaska. The Municipality encourages residents to be patient as store shelves are restocked.”
5:20 pm – 03/17/2020: The State Department of Health and Social Services has issued guidelines for parents whose children attend day care centers:
The department, per CDC recommendation, is advising that child care facilities stay open if they safely can do so. Health officials do not want children to be cared for by elders, because people aged greater than 60 years are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness. Employers are encouraged to talk to their workforce. We also know that children, while they may carry the disease, get sick from COVID-19 much less frequently than adults.
The guidance for child care centers is thus:
Follow aggressive measures to screen children for respiratory infection and do not allow any ill child into a child care center.
No child who has been outside of Alaska in the last 14 days should be allowed in a child care center.
No one who has a fever or respiratory symptoms should be allowed to work in a child care center.
Keep numbers below 10 for group settings.
Cohort kids, keeping the same group of kids together.
Adhere to social distancing (at least six feet) to limit mixing.
Spend time in well-ventilated spaces as much as possible.
Practice frequent and rigorous environmental cleaning.
No one over the age of 60 or with underlying medical conditions should be working in child care centers.
Families should consider alternative child care opportunities, if possible.
5 pm – 03/17/2020: A mobile testing station has been set up by Providence in a parking lot on Lake Otis Blvd., right next to Bernie’s Pharmacy:
Mobile testing began on Tuesday, next to Bernie’s Pharmacy, in an adjacent parking lot on Lake Otis Blvd.
3:30 pm – 03/17/2020: Johns Hopkins University says that over 100 people in the United States have died from the coronavirus in less than one month since the community spread of the virus was first reported on Feb. 26. There are now over 5,894 confirmed cases and 105 deaths, and 200,000 cases globally.
3 pm- 03/17/2020: The Alaska Democratic Party has closed its headquarters on Fairbanks Street in Anchorage. The five employees of the party are working remotely. The Alaska Republican Party, which only staffs its offices part time, could not be reached for comment.
The City and Borough of Juneau has declared an emergency, allowing it to draw in more help from the state and federal government for health and safety measures, and purchase needed emergency supplies. The resolution of Monday night will assist local business as they apply for federal loans and assistance.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly held a special emergency meeting on Tuesday. Among agenda items was sending a letter to Alaska’s congressional delegation, urging suspension of the Jones Act. The assembly will also discuss emergency measures and the lifting of cumbersome borough code during the emergency.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is ending the reign of Mark Springer, chairman of the Marijuana Control Board. Springer’s term ends on March 1.
While showing Springer the door, the governor reappointed Christopher Jaime, a State Trooper from Soldotna. And he added Casey Dschaak of Dillingham to the rural seat that is held by Springer for a few more weeks.
Springer, of Bethel, is a vocal opponent of the governor’s overall agenda and, critics say he loathes Dunleavy’s very existence.
In addition to signing the recall petition, he has used his time during board meetings to express his hostility toward the Administration and brags about the Recall Dunleavy sticker on his coffee mug.
Springer has been at odds with his fellow board members as well as the governor. When the matter of whether to retain former alcohol and marijuana agency director Erika McConnell came up, Springer, as chairman, refused to put it on the agenda until he was forced to by other board members.
McConnell had already been “fired” by the Alcohol Beverage Control Board, to whom she also reported, but it took a vote of the Marijuana Control Board to remove her. Springer voted against her removal, but she was fired anyway by a majority of the board, with only one other vote, from board member Loren Jones, favoring McConnell’s retention.
Dschaak, the incoming member of the board, he served in the U.S. Army and works in the field of logistics in Dillingham.
The Marijuana Control Board meets next week in Juneau and will select a new chair from the members.
Readers will notice that Must Read Alaska took on a new look over the weekend. It went from a blog to a sleek news site.
Like anything, it will take some getting used to, especially on the production side of things, but will allow this one-woman news operation to have a more rapid response to events of the day.
I’ll continue to refine the categories over the coming weeks, and while I work at it night and day, want to extend my thanks to everyone who has donated to the cause of giving an alternative view of what is presented in the mainstream media.
Feel free to join in the fun and send a donation to:
Must Read Alaska
3201 C Street Suite 308
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — August 27, 2026 — Tyonek Native Corporation (Tyonek) and HEX LLC (HEX) have entered into a long-term Agreement to advance responsible energy development and opportunities in the Cook Inlet region. The agreement establishes a framework for responsible oil and gas exploration, development, and production activities on Tyonek-owned lands.
The agreement grants Alaskan-owned HEX access to over 5,000 acres of Tyonek surface estate while ensuring strong protection for environmental stewardship, subsistence resources, cultural values, and the interests of Tyonek shareholders.
“As a locally owned Alaska company with an existing presence on the Kenai Peninsula, we are excited to partner with Tyonek Native Corporation on this important initiative,” said John Hendrix, President and CEO of HEX. “We greatly value the opportunity to work with Tyonek and its shareholders as we advance exploration efforts, create potential economic opportunities for the region, and ensure that stewardship of the land, respect for subsistence traditions, and environmental protection remain at the forefront of our operations.”
“We are committed to pursuing economic opportunities that create value for our shareholders while protecting the lands, cultural resources, and subsistence traditions that are central to the Tyonek way of life,” said Stephen Peskosky, CEO of Tyonek Native Corporation. “This agreement reflects a balanced approach that supports responsible resource development alongside strong environmental and community safeguards.”
The agreement reflects a shared commitment to local economic growth, environmental stewardship, and long-term community benefit. The agreement includes provisions designed to maximize economic benefits for Tyonek shareholders and affiliated businesses. HEX has agreed to consider qualified Tyonek shareholders for employment and training opportunities and to provide contracting opportunities to qualified Tyonek subsidiaries and affiliates.
In recognition of the importance of subsistence activities to the Tyonek community, the agreement includes measures to minimize impacts on traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering practices and provides Tyonek with authority to impose additional protections where necessary.
About Tyonek Native Corporation
Tyonek Native Corporation is the Alaska Native village corporation for Tyonek, established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Tyonek operates a portfolio of businesses including aerospace and defense manufacturing and services. Tyonek is dedicated to protecting shareholder interests, supporting community development, preserving cultural traditions, and responsibly managing its land and natural resources.
About HEX LLC
HEX LLC is Alaska’s only 100% Alaskan-owned oil and gas producer and operator. The company operates strategic assets and critical infrastructure in Cook Inlet and is pursuing disciplined growth opportunities across Alaska to support long-term in-state energy security and responsible resource development.
In 2025, the company doubled its natural gas production, and its six wells provided 10% of the gas coming from Cook Inlet. Alaskans consume roughly 190 MMcf of natural gas per day on average, based on 70 Bcf in annual Railbelt demand.
HEX is headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, with operations in Nikiski, Alaska.
This article was first published by 907 Honest on August 8, 2026.
In “Opinion: Oil & gas history every Alaskan should know,” we followed Harold Heinze from the North Slope discovery wells to the creation of the Permanent Fund. His generation treated Alaska’s oil as a depletable asset that had to be converted into permanent wealth for future residents. That philosophy became the Fund itself. The 1982 statutory formula that created the Dividend made every Alaskan a shareholder. It was ownership, not a government program.
That ownership has been dismantled.
The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend was never a discretionary government program. Rooted in the 1976 constitutional amendment and the 1982 statutory formula, it was a universal ownership right—every Alaskan a shareholder in the state’s resource wealth. The formula delivered transparent, predictable income insulated from annual politics.
Governor Bill Walker’s 2016 line-item veto shattered that social contract. By unilaterally cutting the dividend, the state converted a formula-based entitlement into an ad-hoc appropriation. The result: a two-tiered fiscal reality.
Beginning with the 2016 veto, the state turned a formula-based right into a discretionary budget tool. What followed was the largest reallocation of resource wealth in Alaska history—maybe even American history—roughly $25 billion taken from household economies and redirected to the treasury.
The human cost is not abstract. A single year’s shortfall of nearly $2,000 per person lands as a 15 percent effective tax on a modest-income family of four and barely registers for the highest earners. The poorest Alaskans carry a burden ten times heavier than the wealthiest.
Children are taxed from birth. A child born in 2016 will lose more than $42,000 by age 18—seed capital that was meant for education and the next generation of Alaskan enterprise.
Rural communities feel it first. In places where the cost of living is already two to three times higher, the missing dividend has erased double-digit percentages of household income and pushed poverty higher.
The PFD money closed deficits, shored up pensions, and grew businesses and towns. Alternatives that would have shared the burden—progressive income or sales taxes—were set aside. The path of least resistance became the largest undeclared tax in American history: budgets stabilized by destabilizing family finances, while lining the pockets of NGOs, Unions, and Special Interest Groups.
Fifty years after the foundations Heinze helped build, the oil era’s easy over-achievement is over. The hard work of turning the remaining resource into lasting resident value remains unfinished. The Permanent Fund Dividend is not a free check from the sky. It is the product of decades of deliberate effort by people who understood that resource wealth must become permanent wealth.
Treating it as a discretionary budget tool severs the social contract those people wrote. The foundations are still here. The choice is still ours—though I have very little faith that the current legislature cares about the future of Alaska, and it shows.
Learn More About Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend
Check out Must Read Alaska’s series The Great Debate: The People of Alaska vs the Legislature by Jon Faulkner and Michael Tavoliero:
After sustaining high oil prices of over $120 a barrel, the United States has managed to maintain control of the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz, boosting oil transportation volumes to approximately 10 million barrels a day— about half the pre-war volume. Prices have responded by lowering to around $85-$95 a barrel, approximately 25% higher than prices before the start of Operation Epic Fury.
According to reporting by Axios, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the situation stated: “We have been controlling the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz for two months now. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps can be a nuisance, but they don’t control the strait. We do.”
A task force operating out of the Army headquarters in Fort Bragg, North Carolina has coordinated with regional Gulf partners to move multiple tankers through the southern lane of the strait all together at a single inbound time and a separate outbound time each day. U.S. Air Force fighter jets protect the ships from Iranian cruise missiles and drones. The operation works in large part due to the U.S. Central Command’s success in degrading Iran’s radar and maritime surveillance systems, hampering Iranian visibility of transits. U.S. officials have said Iran is operating only a few radars and small IRGC fast boats to monitor strait activity.
President Trump launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026, alongside Israel, seeking to eliminate Iran’s ability to secure nuclear weapons and aid Iranian citizens in securing freedom from an oppressive regime. The operation successfully assassinated the Iranian tyrant Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as other Iranian military leaders.
During his thirty-seven years as Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei presided over a deeply oppressive authoritarian regime that systematically deprived the Iranian people of fundamental human rights, political freedoms, and personal autonomy. Under his rule, the regime brutally crushed domestic dissent through arbitrary detentions, widespread torture, and public executions, leaving no space for political opposition, a free press, or independent civil society. Through the violent enforcement of strict religious mandates by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the morality police, his government ruthlessly suppressed women’s rights, targeted religious and ethnic minorities, and violently put down popular uprisings—most notably the 2009 Green Movement, the economic protests of 2019, and the 2022 nationwide “Woman, Life, Freedom” demonstrations, where security forces killed thousands of peaceful protesters and imprisoned tens of thousands more.
Following Khamenei’s assassination, power has largely remained in the hands of the IRGC with increased oppression of civilians, highly restricted press, and increased economic hardship due to Iran’s refusal to relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz.
There is a growing number of conservative Christians who have decided they are finished with politics in America. They have stopped voting, stopped participating in the process, and in many cases grown apathetic toward governance altogether. What happens when Christians voluntarily surrender their voice?
The reasons are numerous and often understandable. Some are simply exhausted with modern-day politics. Some distrust the process or believe their vote does not matter. Some have watched candidates become turncoat politicians. Others cannot reconcile voting for candidates whose character, temperament, or past conduct is objectionable. Those concerns are real.
However, we must confront a more difficult question: Is withdrawing from the electoral process really the “Christian thing to do?”
Josh Howerton, Senior Pastor of Lakepointe Church in Texas, recently addressed this very question: “Are your conservative values above your Christian values, so that if the conservative thing is ever at odds with the Christian thing, you abandon the Christian thing and do the conservative thing? Or, are your Christian values above your conservative values so that it stands in authority over all?”
His answer is clear: “I’m sticking with the Christian thing.”
That must be our starting point. Our Christianity does not answer to our conservatism; our conservatism must answer to our Christianity. Christianity first. Conservatism second.
Scripture repeatedly addresses leadership, authority, and the consequences of righteous versus unrighteous leadership. Christians are instructed to respect legitimate governing authority. In America, we have something previous generations rarely possessed: a direct voice in determining who exercises that authority. Why would we voluntarily surrender it?
God established institutions of responsibility—the family, the church, and civil government. When responsibility is abandoned, it does not disappear. Someone else fills the space. When Christians abandon their responsibility in public life, Satan does not wait for our endorsement to take over. He is eager to exploit the spaces we surrender—whether our family, our church, or our government.
Government does not stop because Christians become frustrated. Laws are written, policies enacted, judges appointed, schools governed, and families affected. Someone will exercise that authority in place of your absence. As Howerton put it, “When godly people don’t exercise their choices, then godless people will do so.”
Failing to participate does not make an election disappear; it is simply a surrender of our influence over the outcome. When Christians abandon the process, those who reject our values take ground and advance their ungodly causes. They vote, they organize, they recruit candidates, they seek office, and they govern.
Another misconception must also be confronted: some Christians believe voting for a candidate represents blessing that person. It does not. A vote is not a sacrament.
Your ballot does not declare a candidate righteous, nor does it endorse everything that candidate has said or done. You are not choosing a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, or a best friend. You are choosing someone to govern—someone who will advance the values and principles that are dear to us.
The Bible describes many with dramatically different personalities. John the Baptist was hardly polished by modern standards, and Paul could be direct and confrontational. History, meanwhile, offers plenty of pleasant, polished politicians who advanced destructive policies. Politics is not about personalities, niceties, or personal preferences. It is about policies, governance, and the preservation of our values and freedoms.
Niceness is not righteousness. Personality is not policy. Character still matters. Integrity, accountability, a candidate’s record, and whether that person keeps promises all matter. But often we have candidates who fail to meet our ideal package. We are then left with this question: How do we vote for people who’s past and personalities are questionable?
Before Election Day, we must do our homework. It is our responsibility to choose which candidate on the ballot is most likely to advance policies that benefit our children, our communities, our state, and our nation—and vote against those who will most likely cause the most harm.
This is not perfection versus imperfection. It is available choice A versus available choice B.
Practically speaking, it does not matter how many righteous policies a politician may advance. If Christians will not vote, those policies will not move forward. Somebody will show up and vote. Will it be someone who is godly or someone who is ungodly?
Staying home does not “send a message.” Despite believing this is an effective form of silent protest, it is not. No one will hear your message. No one knows you are protesting the election.
If you want better candidates, participate earlier. Recruit them. Support them. Run for office yourself. But refusing to vote does not cancel the election. It simply means the decision is made without your input.
Intentionally or not, we are handing our children and grandchildren a cultural inheritance shaped by the policies resulting from our participation—or our refusal to participate. Candidates disappear, but policies endure for generations. The question is not simply, “Do I like this candidate or that candidate?” It is: Of the candidates available, which is most likely to leave my children and grandchildren a better inheritance?
Christ called us the salt of the earth. Salt does not eliminate decay; it slows it and preserves what is good. That is an important way to understand our responsibility in public life.
Politics cannot save America. Evangelism and discipleship remain more important than politics, but that does not excuse political withdrawal. As salt, we have a responsibility to preserve what is good and slow societal decay where we can. Your vote is one way we exercise that responsibility. Your vote is not a sacrament, it is not a declaration of perfection, nor is it an expression of affection. Your vote is an exercise of responsibility.
To Christians who have stepped away from civic participation: come back. A political party does not deserve your loyalty, and candidates do not deserve your admiration. Yet, your Christian values and responsibility must be greater than your disappointment with politics.
Participate in the electoral process. Help recruit better candidates. Support good candidates. Encourage good people to serve. Consider whether you should run for office. Vote. Vote. Vote.
When Christians withdraw from the electoral process, it simply moves forward without their voice. Our duty demands action. Vote for our children. Vote for our grandchildren. Take a stand. Reclaim the ground we have surrendered. Do not let evil prevail.
Today, August 26, 2026, Alaska Attorney General Mills announced a landmark $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc.—one of the largest state consumer protection settlements in history outside the Big Tobacco settlements of the 1990s. In addition to the payment, Meta must implement a sweeping set of safety features designed to protect children on Instagram and Facebook. The agreement resolves claims by 47 States and D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands that the company designed Instagram with addictive features, knowingly exposed young users to serious mental harms, and intentionally misled the public about the safety of its platforms, among other things. This settlement is a monumental victory for the protection of America’s children and will fundamentally transform how the entire social media industry designs products for kids and teens. Under the settlement, Alaska will receive around $16 million.
“This settlement was a necessary and imperative step to protect our children,” said Alaska State Governor Mike Dunleavy. “Social media promised us connection and the ability to productively engage with each other in life’s joyful and mundane moments. What social media gave us was a generation of children scarred by bullying, harassment, doom-scrolling and predation. This is a good first step towards protecting our children from online dangers, and I hope we see more actions like this in the future.”
The Department of Law Consumer Protection Unit represented Alaska’s interests in the settlement. Their work helped reach a settlement that included safety features as well as financial restitution.
“As a mom of two, I can’t tell you what a relief this settlement brings to me knowing there will be better safeguards on Meta’s platform to keep teens healthy and positively engaged,” said Acting Alaska Attorney General Cori Mills. “As Attorney General, I am incredibly proud of all the work our consumer protection team brings to Alaskans on these and many other issues. Regardless of political party, attorneys general across the United States have consumer protection teams communicating and working together to tackle some of the largest and most important issues faced by consumers, and it is only through that collaboration that settlements like this are possible. This truly is a historic moment, and I am hopeful it sets the precedent for social media platforms going forward.”
Attorney General Mills also acknowledged that this problem extends well beyond one company and credited Meta for being the first major platform to reach a comprehensive resolution on youth safety.
The settlement requires Meta to implement a series of safety features on Instagram and Facebook, including:
Hard cap daily time limits and “Productive Pauses” for children: for its two platforms, Instagram and Facebook, a combined two-hour daily time limit with mandatory pauses after 15 minutes of continuous use and again at 60 and 90 minutes to interrupt endless scrolling. These limits remain in effect for five years. If Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube adopt comparable terms, the daily limit on each platform will drop to 60 minutes for 10 years.
“Nighttime blocks” restricting children’s access from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Limited school-time access for children, eliminating push notifications on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the school year.
Robust age assurance measures to more effectively verify the age of young users.
Safer, age-appropriate content controls, including stronger safeguards against bullying, content promoting eating disorders, and content related to suicide and self-harm.
Stronger, more user-friendly parental controls.
Limits on social comparison features, including beauty filters and visible “like” counts, that have been linked to poor mental health outcomes in kids and teens.
Both the implementation and efficacy of the features will be regularly assessed by an independent auditor and the settling states.
These are groundbreaking changes to Instagram and Facebook and more significant and comprehensive than previously ordered by any court. And perhaps most importantly, this settlement represents a down payment toward an industry-wide social media experience that allows kids to connect in a healthy way.
Beginning in 2021, nearly every attorney general in the country cooperated to investigate the social media industry for designing and promoting platforms to children and teens despite known harms. After a bipartisan, nationwide investigation found that Meta designed Instagram’s features to addict children while internally documenting the resulting mental health harms and failing to warn parents, attorneys general across the country sued Meta individually or as part of a consolidated federal lawsuit. This settlement resolves those cases and claims by the other settling states and territories. The settlement also resolves the states’ claims against Meta for its sharing of nonpublic information about Facebook users with third parties, like Cambridge Analytica, leading up to the 2016 election.
“Social media has become a near-constant part of teenagers’ lives, and their mental health has declined as they struggle under constant social comparison,” said Assistant Attorney General Helen Mendolia. “This settlement equips parents to limit how Facebook and Instagram disrupt the school day and their kids’ sleep, creating safeguards that encourage teenagers to put down their phones and reengage with the world around them.”
The attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming joined the settlement.
How is your faith? Where do you place it on your list of priorities?
I recently had the opportunity of being part of an event that was going to be, what some would call, “controversial.” A series of talks that would test people’s beliefs, answer questions long needed to be answered, and/or reinforce the beliefs of those whose faith was more grounded.
Some Christians simply rejected it, believing the ideas to be outside of their “modernist” version of Church teachings. Over 2,000 years of accepted orthodoxy is now suddenly on the fringes of the Church’s teachings—being called old-fashioned, too traditional, rigid, and non-inclusive.
Many Christians were excited to hear things that would affirm all that they had been taught and believed. But when it came closer to the event, some of those people who were excited began to back out. Some for reasons not given; others because they were concerned how their attendance at this event would look in the eyes of those who did not approve of it.
What is it that we are afraid of? Does it really matter what we think others might think of us? St. Thomas More puts it this way: “I do not care very much what men think of me, provided that God approves of me.”
God will test us in three ways:
He gives you what you want immediately and tests your gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
He does not give what you want and tests your faith (2 Corinthians 5:7)
He delays what you want and tests your patience (Isaiah 40:31)
These tests may seem heavy, but it is proof that God is preparing you for something far greater than you could ever imagine.
After Jesus fed the 5,000, only a remnant followed Him. He had twelve Apostles, yet only three went further with Him in the garden, and only one stood with Him at the foot of His Cross. The closer we get to the Cross, the smaller the crowd gets.
Where were all those people that Jesus fed? Where were all those He healed—the paralytic at the pool, the man whose sight was restored, the man who was lowered through Peter’s roof, the lepers that were cleansed, the ones raised from the dead? Where were His Apostles—save John who stood at the foot of the Cross, and Judas who had betrayed Him—who professed Jesus as the Messiah?
When the going got tough, the tough got… well, they scattered. How often do we compromise our beliefs when real fear sets in?
Therein lies the question to each and every one of us here today: Do you have what it takes to stand up to the authorities, to those who stand against the Truth—the Truth that has been handed down to us for over 2,000 years? How far are you willing to go? Will you have the fortitude to go all the way to the Cross and stand with Jesus? St. Josemaría Escrivá reminds us: “Compromise is a word found only in the vocabulary of those who have no will to fight.”
Will you compromise who you are, a professed Christian, and deny knowing Him the minute you are challenged—or will you stand up and be counted as a warrior for the Truth? Let us learn from the example of the saints: courage in the service of God. He calls upon us to endure suffering of body and of mind, if it be necessary, to prove our fidelity to Him; and He promises to support us by His strength, His light, and by His heavenly consolation.
Remember what Jesus said: “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32–33)
There is no mincing of words here. Jesus is very clear in what He is telling us.
We are not all called to the sacrifice of martyrdom; but we are all bound to make our lives a continued sacrifice of ourselves to God, and to perform every action in this perfect spirit of sacrifice. Thus, we shall both live and die to God, perfectly resigned to His holy will in all His appointments (Butler’s Lives of the Saints).
“And if you be unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
Semper Fidelis! (Always Faithful!)
Live your life worthy of HIS Sacrifice + God Bless You +
Louise Stutes finally revealed the identity of the anonymous donors who contributed to her election campaign back in 2022, and just as we suspected, Stutes had good reason to keep their identities secret. What she revealed is concerning about her own campaign, but it is just the tip of the iceberg of a vast funding enterprise that involves RINO Republicans, multiple Democratic candidates in this year’s election, and the PAC supporting Ranked Choice Voting.
This all started when Rep. Louise Stutes got caught committing multiple campaign finance violations. Representative Stutes signed a consent decree with the Alaska Public Offices Commission, admitting her guilt. In return, the APOC let her off the hook for over $260,000 in fines, as long as she agreed to certain conditions, one of which was for Stutes to reveal the identities of five anonymous donors to her 2022 campaign. Stutes has now revealed their identities.
You might not know who these people are, but they are influential political donors from the East Coast and California who have donated millions of dollars to support liberal, mostly Democrat politicians. Louise Stutes is not the only Alaska politician to receive campaign funding from them. A search of the APOC and Federal Election Commission websites provided information on additional donations they have made.
The same anonymous individuals who donated to Stutes’ 2022 election campaign make lavish political donations every year, and there is a common theme. All the candidates are either Democrats or liberal Republicans. In Alaska this year, one of these donors— Jason Carroll— gave money to left-wing candidates Mary Peltola, Bill Hill, and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
However, it is their donations outside the state that really tell you their political ideology. In just 2026 alone, these individuals have given $17.7 million in donations to Democratic Party organizations, Democratic candidates, and liberal PAC’s in multiple states around the country.
They are one of the biggest funding sources for the Unite America PAC. This is the large political action committee that funded the original campaign to get the Ranked-Choice voting initiative approved in 2020 and is fighting Ballot Measure 2 that would repeal RCV in November’s general election.
It is no wonder that Stutes did not want to reveal their identities. Stutes hid who they are because she pretends to be a Republican to get elected, and if rank-and-file members of her party knew that rich liberal donors were supporting her like a Democrat, it would hurt Stutes’ election chances.
The bottom line of this story is that voters in Senate District C need to decide if they want to elect a state senator who pals around with liberals and cannot be trusted to tell us the truth. Her lack of candor is not a personal opinion; she admitted as much in her consent decree. Louise Stutes has admitted to committing multiple campaign finance violations and making lies of omission to fool the voters in her District. Now we know why.
As part of the Rural Health Transformation Program, $1.15 million has been awarded to the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) to implement the Presidential Fitness Test in Alaska public schools. DEED will provide funding as needed to Alaska’s school districts for implementation. The Presidential Fitness Test was reestablished by Executive Order 14327 and provides age-appropriate fitness goals for school children. Children who complete the goals for their age-group can receive an achievement award signed by President Donald Trump.
Research continues to demonstrate a strong connection between student health and academic success. Students who are physically active and healthy are more likely to attend school regularly, remain engaged in learning, demonstrate improved concentration, and achieve higher academic outcomes. Healthy students are better prepared to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
“The passage of this executive order allows Alaskan students to refocus on the benefits of health and well-being,” said Governor Mike Dunleavy. “With the assistance of the Departments of Health and Education and Early Development, I am proud to move this initiative forward and help better the future of health of Alaska.”
Through the Rural Health Transformation Program, DEED will work collaboratively with school districts to reestablish student fitness assessments aligned with the federal Presidential Physical Fitness Test while accounting for the unique needs of Alaska’s diverse communities. Education awards will help support districts by providing resources for physical fitness assessment equipment and professional development for educators.
The initial phase of this work will focus on building statewide capacity, conducting needs assessments, and providing districts with the resources and training necessary to successfully implement Presidential Physical Fitness testing beginning in the 2027–28 school year.
“This is an exciting step in returning to a priority of health and fitness of our student population,” said Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena Bishop. “With this emphasis placed back on well-being, our students will be afforded the opportunity to both learn and live well.”
“Healthier communities start with healthy kids,” said Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg. “The Presidential Fitness Test gives schools another tool to encourage students to move more and have fun with physical activities. Our goals are to support kids and their families in building healthy habits that will stick with them for life.”
DEED looks forward to working alongside educators, families, community partners, and the Department of Health to ensure every Alaska student has the opportunity to develop healthy lifestyles that contribute to academic achievement, personal well-being, and lifelong success.
The Rural Health Transformation Project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $272,174,855.72 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS.
This article was originally published on 907 Honest under the title “The Architect of Alaska’s Oil Era,” August 7, 2026.
Harold Heinze arrived on the North Slope in February 1969 as a young Arco reservoir engineer. Locked away in Dallas under extreme secrecy, he and Gary Downey decoded the first five discovery wells by reading microscopic “scratchings” on blackened aluminum pressure cylinders. Their forensic work on pressure recovery, drill-stem tests, and oil-in-place estimates underpinned Arco’s winning bids in the historic $900 million 1969 lease sale—the moment Alaska’s wealth and regulatory future were sealed.
When the National Environmental Policy Act hit the ready-to-build pipeline, Heinze’s generation invented Arctic environmental compliance from scratch. Two breakthroughs defined the project: solving the 140°F “hot oil” problem that would melt permafrost, and pioneering Vertical Support Members plus heat-dissipation technology that kept the tundra frozen. Those delays became the engineering discipline that made the 1977 startup possible.
Startup itself was pure high-stakes theater. Four companies finalized the three-inch-thick Prudhoe Bay Unit Operating Agreement with less than 24 hours to spare, creating a single operating unit that avoided tax chaos and locked in state royalties. Then came the quiet revolution: Drag-Reducing Agents (“Slickum”) let throughput jump from 1.2 million to 2 million barrels a day without extra pump stations, turning conservative design into industrial over-achievement.
Heinze later crossed from Arco Alaska president to DNR Commissioner under Governor Hickel. He treated oil as a depletable asset that must be converted into permanent wealth—the philosophical core of the Permanent Fund. Under the Alaska Statehood Act, the state was entitled to select about 105 million acres of federal land. By the early 1990s, roughly 20 million acres remained unselected, with a hard deadline of January 1994. As DNR Commissioner, Heinze secured extra funding, assembled a multi-agency “War Room” team, and used strategic mapping to prioritize the final selections. The goal: maximize resource potential (oil, minerals, etc.) while securing land corridors for better connectivity and long-term conservation/public value. This effort locked in the remaining entitlement, shaping Alaska’s permanent land base for future economic and resource use.
Safety culture was forged in crisis. The 1977 Pump Station 4 explosion taught that a construction mindset kills people once live oil is in the line; “safety first” became non-negotiable and every worker gained the right to shut down unsafe work. During the Exxon Valdez spill, Heinze deliberately stepped aside from managing cleanup funds, handing the role to Marty Rutherford so the state’s response would never look like “oily” corporate self-interest.
The unfinished chapter remains the gas. Reinjection (instead of flaring) delivered >50% recovery—double the industry average—but turned gas into a mechanical tool rather than an export commodity. Heinze’s mid-1990s Hickel export deal and later ANGDA in-state line were both technically sound and politically rejected.
Fifty years on, the foundations he helped build—data-driven lease strategy, Arctic engineering standards, unitized operations, Permanent Fund logic, decentralized safety, and deliberate land selection—still shape Alaska’s choices. The oil era’s easy over-achievement is over; the conversion of the remaining resource into lasting state value is the work still in progress.
Yet I fear that many Alaskans are growing disconnected from the very resources that built this state. The Permanent Fund Dividend is not a free check from the sky—it is the product of decades of time, effort, and billions of dollars of investment by remarkable people who turned a depletable asset into permanent wealth for future generations.
Phil Izon authored and led the 2024 repeal ranked-choice voting initiative and remains active in Alaska politics. He is the founder of 907 Honest, a media company focused on Alaska, Arctic, Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii politics, government, business, food, history, & technology.
