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.
Angela Carini (blue, female) abandons fight against Imane Khelif (red, male) a few minutes into fight /1 pic.twitter.com/yOIvZkDaow
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
Alaska State Troopers are responding to a small plane crash near the south end of the Kenai Peninsula.
Two people perished and one is in critical condition. It appears from photos shared on social media that the plane, a small commercial commuter, crashed on the beach at about 2 pm.
The injured passenger has reportedly been medevaced to Anchorage.
The crash site is near the Nanwalek, which is a hamlet formerly known as English Bay where there is a short gravel air strip. It is south of Homer, southwest of Seldovia and near Port Graham.
The plane appears to belong to Smokey Bay Air, which is a commercial air charter service out of Homer.
No sooner had the Senate passed House Bill 57, which suddenly added $184 million to school districts in Alaska, than the Senate asked the House to send the bill back. Someone spotted a provision in it, added by Sen. Rob Yundt of Wasilla, which was clearly unconstitutional.
Yundt had worked with Democrats Sen. Loki Tobin and Sen. Bill Wielechowski to pass an amendment that would provide some $23 million in reading grants. That amount used to be a rounding error in the state budget, but these days it’s a lot of money.
The way the amendment is worded makes the reading grants dependent upon passage of Senate Bill 113, by Sen. Wielechowski, which taxes businesses that are conducting internet sales in Alaska. Apparently, Yundt had made a deal with the Democrats to support that tax, and his amendment dedicated some of that expected revenue to the reading grants. That bill has passed the Senate but not yet passed the House.
That addition of dedicated funds made the bill unconstitutional.
During the “sausage-making” process that all bills and amendments go through, the constitutionality aspect was overlooked by the lawyers who work in Legislative Legal. Someone pointed it out to the Senate Majority after the vote had already been taken on Monday.
House Bill 57 has had a twisted life. It started out as a simple bill by Anchorage Democrat Rep. Zack Fields that would get school districts to ban the use of cell phones by students during school hours.
But then it became the mule for what is now about $200 million in more spending for education, and a hefty increase to the Base Student Allocation formula. Once the Senate got ahold of the bill, it became tarted up with all kinds of wants and desires, with no fiscal notes. Yundt fell into the trap and Democrats did him no favors.
During floor remarks on Monday, Sen. Yundt effusively praised the Democrats for helping him get his amendment passed. He noted that he is not an education expert, but more of someone who makes deals and looks for the “soft spots.”
“This is what teamwork looks like,” Yundt said, after thanking the Democrats for their cooperation.
The bill is now been bounced back to the Senate Rules Committee and will return to the floor on Wednesday for repair.
The fix may be that the word “shall” can be changed to “may,” in Yundt’s amendment, but if that happens it means there is no real funding source for the $23 million he wants, and that makes it unpalatable to many in a year where funds are scarce. The fiscal support for the amendment has all but collapsed.
Meanwhile, there’s another aspect to the bill that has constitutional questions and makes it vulnerable for a lawsuit on down the road.
HB 57 has a provision that mandates the Department of Labor and Workforce Development track Alaska high school graduates for 20 years to see what happens to them in their lives. There are no specific parameters to the tracking, which may involve their careers or may involve other things, such as personal data; it’s just a general tracking provision in law that keeps tabs on Alaskans until they turn 38 years old. Critics say this is a severe violation of the Alaska Constitution’s privacy provision.
Alaska Congressman Nick Begich knows all about ranked-choice voting. He’s been through the process twice — once in 2022 and again in 2024. He’s had to explain it countless times to thousands voters both in Alaska and Outside.
On Monday, Begich filed a bill to outlaw ranked-choice voting in federal elections. Cosponsoring the bill is Congresswoman Abraham Hamadeh of Arizona, a Republican.
The Preventing Ranked Choice Corruption Act is intended to protect the integrity of America’s elections by amending the Help America Vote Act, and reversing the growing voter confusion and disenfranchisement with emergent RCV systems, which vary from state to state and county to county where they are being used.
“The nation does not need more uncertainty and confusion injected into the federal election process,” said Congressman Begich. “One person, one vote’ is a proven, tried and true method that is easy to understand, easy to audit, and quick to report. Experiments with our national election systems risk disenfranchisement of voters and lead to outcomes that do not represent the true will of the American people.”
President Donald Trump has also expressed strong opposition to ranked-choice voting and has advocated for its ban. He called it a “fraudulent joke” and “one of the greatest threats to democracy” in posts on TruthSocial and during his Anchorage, Alaska rally in 2022 he criticized the complicated voting method that had just gone into effect.
So far, 14 states have banned ranked-choice voting statewide and another 11 are in the process of banning it.
Congressman Hamadeh emphasized the dangers Ranked Choice Voting poses to election integrity nationwide.
“The same Democrat pawns who support allowing non-citizen voting without voter ID and same-day voter registration also want to turn our Democracy into a rank choice voting scheme,” Hamadeh said. “Their motives are clear – they do not want to help Americans vote – they only want to help corrupt politicians win.”
Three states use RCV in statewide elections — Alaska, Hawaii, and Maine.
Alaska’s new Repeal Nowgroup is circulating a petition to repeal the ranked-choice voting used in Alaska.
“In Alaska, ranked-choice voting has led to a delay and lack of transparency,” said Bernadette Wilson, one of the sponsors of Repeal Now. “It’s added to voter confusion and disenfranchisement. This is why we are actively collecting a new round of signatures to repeal this convoluted system in November of 2026.”
Wilson added, “We know voters were deceived and we feel confident they will vote yes to repeal this time.”
The state legislature is considering House Bill 57, a bill that raises the Base Student Allocation, restricts cell phone usage in schools, and tracks student graduates for 20 years following graduation. Here is the bill section on tracking students:
“The Department of Labor & Workforce Development shall (8) gather data on the progress of each high school graduating class in a district by collecting career, postsecondary education, and residency data on each student in the graduating class; the department shall gather the data required under this paragraph HB57 every five years for 20 years after the high school graduation date of each high school graduating class; the department shall publish a biennial report on the data gathered under this paragraph;”
Supposedly, the intent of tracking students until they are 38 years old is to determine if our K-12 education system is successful late in life. Are they employed? Are they on welfare? Are they elected officials? Are they employed by the government or private sector? Are they incarcerated? Are they still in Alaska? Are they lobbyists? Are they nonprofit CEOs?
How will they track these graduates? Will they implant chips in the students? Will they require the student graduates to inform the State of Alaska whenever they change jobs or move to another state?
This legislation would appear to fly in the face of the Alaska Constitution’s Right to Privacy clause. Alaska Constitution, Article I, section 22 says:
§ 1.22 – Right of Privacy
“The right of the people to privacy is recognized and shall not be infringed.”
Apparently, the Senate believes that Alaska’s Right to Privacy does not apply to high school graduates.
Sen. Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer) offered an amendment to change the student graduate tracking from 20 years to the more recent 3 years. That amendment was defeated 14-6.
Those who voted to track students for 20 years: Senators, Stevens, Giessel, Bjorkman, Claman, Dunbar, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Tobin, and Wielechowski.
Sen. Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) stated that three years alone would not give future legislators the needed information.
Sen. Robert Myers (R-North Pole) asked what do we do with the data we collect now. Do we do anything with the data we already have? He went on to say, “If a 38-year-old person is not doing well, I have to figure out if it’s actually the school that caused that”.
It’s a little late to determine a causal relationship after 38 years.
Sen. Matt Claman (D-Anchorage) tried to compare collecting 20 years of data of a high school graduate to 5 years of victimization data that is collected. He said that the collection of this student data would help show the legislature and K-12 system how well they are doing.
Sen. Mike Shower (R-Wasilla) supported the amendment and had serious concerns about protecting the collected data. He said there is no way we can protect the information we already have as has been shown by hacks to the state’s data. He said, “The more we get the more we cannot protect.” “The easiest way to protect it is to not collect it.”
There was really no mention of the Alaska Constitution Right to Privacy clause.
Maybe we should collect 20 years of data on legislators following their initial election. That way we may be able to determine the causal relationship of their votes.
Will we see high school graduates marching across the stage to get their diploma while being implanted with a chip?
David Boyle is an education writer for Must Read Alaska.
An Alaska House of Representatives bill that was originally about cell phone use in schools has passed the Senate after being decorated with numerous amendments having nothing to do with cell phones.
One of those amendments to House Bill 57 has the State of Alaska tracking Alaska high school graduates for 20 years — until they are 38 years old.
That amendment came from the Senate Finance Committee last week. For many Alaskans, it means the State of Alaska will be tracking them and collecting data on them for half of their natural lives.
Sen. Jesse Kiehl reassured the Senate that the information would be kept strictly confidential, a claim that was disputed by Sen. Mike Shower, who said data leaks happen all the time and with greater frequency; it wasn’t that long ago that election files were hacked and the state had to issue credit repair benefits to thousands of Alaskans.
Sen. Shelley Hughes, a Republican from the Mat-Su, tried to reduce that tracking of Alaskans to three years, out of concern for people’s privacy, but the Democrat-led majority voted her idea down.
Here’s how the vote went on Hughes’ amendment to reduce the amount of data-gathering that the state would conduct on its citizens:
Amendment No. 8 failed; it would have limited the data collection of Alaska high school graduates to three years.
Nearly all the amendments offered by Republicans on Monday to improve the bill were rejected.
In addition to monitoring Alaskans for 20 years after high school, the bill adds about $184 million in funding for schools, including an additional $700 per student to the Base Student Allocation.
The Base Student Allocation additional funding would become an ongoing expense into future years, locking legislatures into an automatic increase.
Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Loki Tobin said that it’s not the entire answer for the funding needs, and indicated that the Democrats will be back for more next year.
The bill also expands, ever so slightly, the ability of charter schools to get approved by local school boards.
The bill will now return to the House for concurrence.
In a new report released Monday, the White House accused the Biden Administration of overseeing what it described as a “grotesque social and scientific experiment” on America’s children.
According to the report, during President Biden’s first three years in office, more than 7,000 minors were administered puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, and over 4,000 underwent sex-trait modification surgeries, including mastectomies. That comes to over 3.5 sexual mutilation surgeries on children every day of the Biden Administration.
The White House characterized these interventions as ideologically driven and financially motivated, citing a lack of rigorous scientific foundation. This is a promise that President Trump made before he took office — to end the growing practice of child genital mutilation, also known as transgender surgery.
The report is the first formal update on the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14187, titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” signed on Jan. 28.
The order bars federal agencies from funding, facilitating, or assisting in medical interventions aimed at chemically or surgically altering the sex characteristics of minors.
The update on progress includes restoring scientific integrity. A major focus of the order is stopping the reliance on the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s (WPATH) “Standards of Care Version 8.” The White House report says these standards were shaped by political influence rather than empirical evidence, and that Admiral Rachel Levine, who was Biden’s Assistant Secretary for Health, pressured WPATH to lower age thresholds for surgical procedures on children.
Under President Trump’s directive, the Department of Health and Human Services has rescinded guidance documents endorsing so-called “gender-affirming care” and labeled them as “pseudo-scientific.” However, a court mandated temporary reinstatement of the documents, and HHS complied but issued an emphatic disavowal.
Additionally, a team of eight leading scholars is prepared to publish within 90 days an evidence-based review of best practices for addressing gender dysphoria in children.
The report reveals allegations of politically motivated suppression of research under the Biden Administration. One major federally funded study’s results, the report claims, were withheld from the public to avoid political backlash. HHS and the National Institutes of Health have pledged to enhance data transparency and enforce stricter standards for taxpayer-funded studies.
Federal agencies are also reviewing their data collection methodologies to ensure that records reflect biological reality and provide actionable medical information.
A major change has occurred in the taxpayer funding of child experimentation. HHS canceled 215 federal grants associated with promoting gender interventions for minors, saving taxpayers an estimated $477 million. Examples include a $1.3 million grant to adapt teen pregnancy prevention programs for transgender boys and a $6 million grant to Boston Children’s Hospital for gender-diverse health intervention.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a special alert to healthcare providers emphasizing the dangers associated with puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for children, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to rigorous medical standards rooted in long-term evidence and ethical medical practice. Other health agencies have echoed similar warning.
CMS is also working to expand access to detransition care — medical and psychological support for individuals seeking to reverse prior gender-transition procedures.
At the Department of Defense, healthcare contractors have been ordered to halt coverage for gender-related interventions for minors, effective immediately.
The Office of Personnel Management will end insurance coverage for such procedures for children of federal employees beginning in 2026.
The Department of Justice has initiated investigations into entities accused of misleading the public about the risks of gender medical interventions and drafted legislation to empower affected families to pursue legal recourse. A new “Parental Rights Task Force” is being established to fight against state laws that undermine parental consent in decisions involving child medical transitions.
The administration pledged that these steps are just the beginning. “Our children deserve protection, truth, and care based on real science and the timeless principles of medicine — not ideology or profit motives,” the report concludes.
Eight Alaska attorneys have submitted applications to the Alaska Judicial Council for a vacancy on the Anchorage District Court, following the upcoming retirement of 62-year-old Judge Pamela Washington, who announced her retirement this year. Washington was appointed to the seat in 2010 by then-Gov. Sean Parnell.
The Alaska Judicial Council, composed of seven members — the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court, three non-attorney members, and three attorney members — will vet the applicants.
According to Susanne DiPietro, executive director of the council, this evaluation will include comprehensive background investigations, a survey of Alaska Bar members, and personal interviews with each candidate.
The application deadline was April 18. Public interviews and hearings are scheduled for August. After evaluations are complete, the Council will nominate at least two applicants for the vacancy, sending the list to the governor, who will have 45 days to appoint a judge from among the nominees.
The applicants for the Anchorage District Court position are:
John Haley: An Alaska resident for over 11 years, Haley has practiced law for the same length of time. A 2013 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, he currently serves as a senior assistant attorney general in the Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Unit. He is a registered Nonpartisan. Bio here.
Dustin Pearson: Pearson, a municipal prosecutor training specialist with the Municipality of Anchorage’s Department of Law, has been an Alaska resident and practicing attorney for 14 years. He earned his law degree from Seattle University School of Law in 2008. He is a registered Undeclared. Bio here.
Eric Salinger: Salinger, who has lived in Alaska for 12 years, is an administrative law judge in Anchorage. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2013. He is a registered Undeclared. Bio here.
Peter A. Scully: A private practice attorney in Anchorage, Scully has been an Alaska resident for over 11 years and has 15 years of legal experience. He graduated from Vermont Law School in 2010. He is a registered Undeclared. Bio here.
Jonathan Stinson: Currently serving as a magistrate judge in Anchorage, Stinson has been a lifelong Alaska resident for 34 years. He graduated from the University of California Irvine School of Law in 2020 and has been practicing law for about 4½ years. He is a registered Republican. Bio here.
Matt Stinson: An assistant attorney general with the Department of Law, Matt Stinson has lived in Alaska for 31 years and has practiced law for about 4½ years. He earned his degree from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law in 2020. He is a registered Republican. Bio here.
Sam Vandergaw: Vandergaw, an assistant attorney general in the Office of Special Prosecutions, has been an Alaska resident for over 40 years and has 15 years of legal practice. He graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2009. He is a registered Nonpartisan. Bio here.
Matt Widmer: A private practice attorney in Anchorage, Widmer has lived and practiced law in Alaska for nearly 20 years. He is a 2005 graduate of William & Mary Law School. He is a registered Nonpartisan. Bio here.
The Alaska Judicial Council takes public comment on the qualifications of these applicants during the evaluation phase. Members of the public can submit comments or request additional information by contacting DiPietro at the Alaska Judicial Council office, 510 L Street, Suite 450, Anchorage, AK 99501-1295, or by calling (907) 279-2526.
On April 22, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced their plan to phase out eight harmful petroleum-based synthetic dyes in foods. The dyes up for removal are found in foods such as Pop-Tarts, hot dog casings, Takis tortilla chips, and Mountain Dew soda.
To assist with this transition, the FDA will be authorizing four natural color alternatives and will accelerate the review of others.
One of those synthetic dyes is Red No. 3 which is already slated to be out of our food by 2027-2028. Bear in mind, this dye was removed from cosmetics because of its potential cancer risk nearly 35 years ago. Somehow, it was more important to protect our faces than it was to protect our children.
The FDA plans to pressure food companies to speed up that elimination process. The Red No. 3 dye is found in cakes, cupcakes, candy and frosting and “has been linked to cancer and behavioral issues,” according to the FDA.
Dr. Makary discussed studies such as one done by The Lancet that “raised concerns about the ‘correlation’ between petroleum-based synthetic dyes and ailments such as hyperactivity, obesity, diabetes, cancer, gastrointestinal problems, allergies and more.”
California, so often maligned for doing the wrong thing, is actually doing what’s right and leading the charge. Last year, California banned six dyes from use in public school lunches.
“Evidence shows that synthetic food dyes are associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in some children,” said California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment DirectorDr. Lauren Zeise. “With increasing numbers of U.S. children diagnosed with behavioral disorders, this assessment can inform efforts to protect children from exposures that may exacerbate behavioral problems.”
Many of these dyes have already been banned in European countries. Why have the dyes not been banned in the US? What’s the difference between the two approaches?
The European Union and other countries follow what is called the “precautionary principle” meaning the manufacturer must prove the additive is safe prior to gaining approval.
In the US, the government uses the GRAS principle which is “generally recognized as safe.” This GRAS principle was written into the 1958 Amendment to the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act. We “assume an additive is safe unless there is solid proof it is not.”
Who determines if the additive is safe? There is a loophole in the law. The food companies can set up their own panels and self-certify without any independent review from the FDA. Many additives on today’s market were added to our food through this backdoor process.
This shows how food additives are banned in Europe but still widely used in the United States. The sad part is we may be eating unsafe and unhealthy food for decades before finding out they may cause cancer or other health problems.
A Forbes articleby Jesse Pines, who is an expert on healthcare innovation, givesthree good examples:
Red Dye No. 3: A vibrant synthetic dye used in gummies, candies and snack cakes; Red Dye No. 3 has been shown to cause thyroid tumors in lab rats. Although banned in European food and in US cosmetics, it’s still found in a variety of products on American grocery shelves. The FDA plans to phase it out by 2027, a timeline that may be accelerated given the recent announcement.
Potassium Bromate: This is a chemical that’s used to enhance dough elasticity in breads and buns. Yet, potassium bromate is also classified as a possible human carcinogen. It’s banned in the EU, UK, Canada and Japan but remains common in US baked goods and in major fast-food chains.
Titanium Dioxide: This a whitening agent found in products like ultra-processed baked products and cheese. Titanium dioxide is banned in Europe due to concerns about DNA damage. Yet it’s still legal in the US.
Meanwhile, approximately 99% of new chemicals added to the US food supply between 2000 and 2021 came through the GRAS process rather than through a thorough FDA review, according to Environmental Working Group. And the panels used to evaluate these new additives were funded by the same companies who wanted to add them to our food. Can you say, “conflict of interest”?
The European Union in 2010 began to systematically review all food chemicals allowed in Europe to decide if those additives were still safe.
We, on the other hand, are just allowing food companies to hire their own panels and tell us the food additives are safe.
I saw a television segment during which a previous FDA official was discussing what RFK Jr. is trying to do to make our food supply safer. He stated he thought we shouldn’t be banning additives until we can prove they harm us.
Maybe I am too pragmatic. If the European Union determined these additives were harmful to us and our children, why not just follow its lead? Especially since we are talking about behavioral problems in our children and potential for cancer for us all.
Oh wait! The food companies are big business, and they have funds to share with those in Congress whose support they need.
Is it more important to keep our food supply safe or bow to the demands of the food industry?
Is it more important to protect our children from colorful food dyes which may cause irreparable harm?
Always follow the money to find the truth.
Linda Boyle, RN, MSN, DM, was formerly the chief nurse for the 3rd Medical Group, JBER, and was the interim director of the Alaska VA. Most recently, she served as Director for Central Alabama VA Healthcare System. She is the director of the Alaska Covid Alliance/Alaskans 4 Personal Freedom.
If a candidate for president held dual citizenship in another country, wouldn’t voters want to know that?
The Dual Loyalty Disclosure Act is a new congressional bill aimed at requiring candidates for federal office to publicly disclose all countries in which they hold citizenship.
While no current sitting member of Congress is known to have dual citizenship, there have been instances in the past. Sen. Ted Cruz, for example, held dual citizenship with Canada before renouncing his Canadian legal status. So did former Congresswoman Michele Bachman, who inherited Swiss citizenship through marriage but soon turned it down.
House Resolution 2356 was introduced on March 26, with Congressman Nick Begich among the bill’s prominent cosponsors. Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, the bill’s prime sponsor, says voters have a right to know whether candidates owe legal allegiance to any countries other than the United States.
HR 2356 would mandate that candidates for positions such as president, vice president, US senator, and US. representative submit disclosures listing all nations of which they are citizens. While federal law already prohibits dual citizens from holding certain federal security clearances, there is currently no requirement for candidates seeking public office to reveal foreign citizenships.
The legislation amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to require candidates for federal office to disclose both their possession of dual citizenship and also the foreign country in which their dual citizenship is held. The disclosure of dual citizenship status would appear publicly in the statement of candidacy filed when political candidates seek election to federal office.
Although it has just been introduced and will need to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by the president to become law, the Dual Loyalty Disclosure Act is part of the national debate over transparency, loyalty, and eligibility standards for federal officeholders.
“Dual citizens elected to the United States Congress should renounce citizenship in all other countries,” said Massie. “At a minimum, they should disclose their citizenship in other countries and abstain from votes specifically benefitting those countries. If we are going to continue to allow Members of Congress to acquire and retain citizenship in other countries, they should at least be required to disclose to voters all countries of which they consider themselves to be citizens.”
The Congressional Research Service publishes reports about the demographics of Congress after each election cycle, but does not include dual citizenship as part of its report.
The bill has just one committee of referral — House Administration. Other cosponsors of the bill include Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, and Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana.
