Sunday, November 9, 2025
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House passes more entitlements for state workers

Suzanne Downing
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House passes more entitlements for state workers

Making the argument that it’s impossible to find people to work for the State of Alaska, House Democrats (and their allies) passed a bill on Monday that gives special privileges to State workers and public school teachers — privileges that other Alaskans will not get.

House Bill 28 would offer up to $24,000 in student loan forgiveness to former Alaskan students who return to the state to work in government jobs. It passed the Alaska House in spite of arguments made about fairness to other Alaskans — police officers, health care workers, veterans, or people in the trades.

HB 28, sponsored by Rep. Andi Story of Juneau, establishes a three-year pilot program to reimburse student loan payments for individuals who work as teachers or state employees. The program would grant up to $8,000 per year in student loan repayment for qualifying Alaskans who left the state for education or were out of state for at least a year after earning their degree.

The pilot program would be funded through the Higher Education Investment Fund — a state resource originally intended to support broad access to higher education, not a specific segment of workers.

Higher Education Investment Fund already supports the Alaska Performance Scholarship, a merit- and need-based aid program for Alaska students pursuing postsecondary education in-state. Redirecting money from the HEIF to support a narrowly tailored forgiveness program has raised concerns about eroding existing, more inclusive programs like the APS, and sucking dry the fund.

Rep. Story argued that one of the areas that the State needs help in filling jobs is for workers who help with social service entitlement benefits for Alaskans.

“That is really, really important,” she argued, adding that it will help Alaska get more out of school performance because it will create better teachers, as they won’t leave the state so soon.

Over the weekend the legislature’s budget Conference Committee set the Higher Education Investment Fund as a backstop for the budget, should other procedural votes fail.

Has legislative budget negotiation process just jumped the shark by going into ‘free conference’?

While the bill’s intent is to combat Alaska’s persistent out-migration, especially among young, educated residents, opponents on the conservative side of the house, such as Rep. Dan Saddler and Rep. Kevin McCabe, argued it unfairly prioritizes government employment over private-sector jobs and ignores those who do not attend college at all.

Alaska’s private sector is also experiencing significant out-migration and labor shortages, but no equivalent loan forgiveness or incentive program exists for that portion of the workforce. Opponents of HB 28 see the Legislature is favoring the growth and retention of government employment over building a balanced economy.

Rep. Story represents Juneau and northern Southeast Alaska, a region with one of the highest concentrations of State employees in Alaska, which means she is bringing home the bacon for her constituents.

The pilot program does little for the broader population of residents struggling with economic and educational barriers, particularly those who enter the workforce straight out of high school or attend vocational training without amassing significant debt.

HB 28 passed on a vote of 23-17.

Supreme Court sides with Trump on deportation of Venezuelans

Suzanne Downing
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5
Supreme Court sides with Trump on deportation of Venezuelans

Editor’s note: Updated to reflect Judge Morgan Christen was not on the panel that made the appeals court decision.

The Supreme Court on Monday granted a win to the Trump Administration, allowing the termination of Temporary Protected Status for more than 300,000 Venezuelan nationals living in the United States, which means they can now be deported. The court ended the lower court ruling that blocked the Trump Administration from deporting the Venezuelans, some of whom are criminal gang members.

In an unsigned order, the justices lifted an injunction issued by Senior US District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco, who had last week halted the Department of Homeland Security from ending the TPS designation for Venezuela. The high court’s decision allows DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to move forward with the termination of TPS benefits for Venezuelans, even while lawsuits over the decision continue.

The TPS program was created by Congress in 1990; it allows the executive branch to grant temporary refuge and work authorization to nationals of countries facing extraordinary conditions such as armed conflict or natural disasters.

Venezuela was granted TPS designation in 2021 under President Joe Biden and then-DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Then, millions of illegal foreign nationals were released into the country through other Biden programs, with more than one million granted TPS status, including people from countries that have strong ties to terrorism.

Earlier this year, Noem announced the end Venezuela’s TPS status, citing changed conditions in the country. The move triggered a legal challenge by affected individuals and advocacy groups, who sought an emergency order blocking the termination. Judge Chen granted that request, describing Noem’s actions as “unprecedented” and raising concerns that the decision may have been based in part on discriminatory stereotypes.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco declined to stay Chen’s injunction pending appeal, prompting the Trump administration to seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court.

Judge Morgan Christen of Alaska, who was part of this Ninth Circuit panel, was not part of the unanimous appeals court decision to deny Noem’s stay request, a decision that has now been overturned.

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the high court’s decision.

While the Supreme Court’s order allows the termination of TPS for Venezuelans to proceed for now, it leaves open the door for individual challenges to outright removal or loss of work authorization.

Video: Governor explains why he vetoed second education spending package

Suzanne Downing
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24
Video: Governor explains why he vetoed second education spending package

The controversial education funding package House Bill 57 got the veto pen treatment on Monday, the last day the governor had to axe the $183 million annual expenditure.

The bill would have increased the Base Student Allocation funding by $700 per student and had other provisions. But the funding was the main aspect of the bill that was transmitted to Gov. Mike Dunleavy on May 1.

“Today I vetoed the education funding bill HB 57 because it lacked sufficient education policy reform necessary to improve student outcomes,” Dunleavy said in a video that he released in the early afternoon.

The Legislature is likely to go into an hastily-called joint session to attempt to override the bill before the May 21 constitutional deadline for adjournment.

Earlier this session, Dunleavy vetoed another education package, House Bill 69, for similar reasons, and the House and Senate failed to override his veto.

The liberal members running the Legislature then took parts of HB 69 and shoved it into a different education bill, HB 57, to try to permanently boost education spending.

Fizzled fast: Democrats fail to override governor’s veto of spendy education bill

Special election on cruise ships is on the May 28 ballot in Sitka. Could it harm local businesses?

Suzanne Downing
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5
Special election on cruise ships is on the May 28 ballot in Sitka. Could it harm local businesses?

The Sitka City and Borough Special Election is May 28, with just one question on the ballot: Should there be a limit to cruise ships visiting the city?

The group “Small Town SOUL” wants to limit cruise ships that have over 250 passengers, as well as restrict cruise ships from the port before May 1 and after Sept. 30. Ships would be limited to six days a week. The initiative would cap daily cruise ship passengers at 4,500 and annual passengers at 300,000 per cruise season. There are other provisions involving scheduling, permitting, reporting, and enforcement.

Early voting has already begun in Sitka, with in-person balloting through May 27 at Harrigan Centennial Hall, except for Memorial Day (May 26) and Sundays.

This is the third round for ballot initiative sponsor Larry Edwards and Small Town SOUL, which proposed a ballot initiative in 2022 to cap cruise ship passengers at 240,000 annually, with a weekly maximum of 13,350 visitors. The Sitka municipal clerk rejected this petition in September 2023, citing “confusing, misleading, and incomplete” terms and violations of the Alaska 2008 Alaska state constitution, specifically regarding the establishment of a port district.

In 2024 the group submitted another petition to limit cruise passengers to 300,000 annually and 4,500 daily, and it shortened season from May 1 to Sept. 30. That proposal was also rejected by the municipal clerk on July 2, 2024, for “misleading, confusing, and incomplete terms” and potential violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Tonnage Clause.

The group was undeterred and filed the third petition in December, with nearly 700 valid signatures.

Opposing the measure is another group, Safeguard Sitka, which argues that these limits could harm the local economy. In 2023, Sitka saw approximately 560,000 cruise ship passengers, generating significant economic activity. In 2024, there were about 600,000 passengers. Between 20-40% of Sitka’s economy is linked to cruise ship tourism.

If passed, the limitations would take effect for the 2026 cruise season. The cost of the election is over $17,000. Voters may vote in person on Election Day at their respective precinct in Harrigan Centennial Hall. Polls will be open 7 am to 8 pm.

Sitka is a Democrat stronghold, with as much as 30% of the workforce working for government or quasi-government jobs (SEARHC or tribal offices). Another 17% of workers are employed by nonprofits. None of these are stakeholders in the commercial sector, which is driven by tourism and fishing, primarily.

Juneau voters knocked down a similar proposal in October of 2024. Known as the “Ship-Free Saturdays” measure, the initiative proposed banning cruise ships with 250 or more passengers from docking on Saturdays and prohibited cruise ships on July 4, Juneau’s high holy day of partying. Out of 10,880 votes cast, 6,575 (approximately 60%) voted against the measure, while 4,196 (about 40%) voted in favor. 

That was the first time Juneau voters voted on a cruise ship restriction, although there was an attempt in 2021 to gather enough signatures for the ballot; that effort failed.

A new petition is being attempted in Juneau, with different restrictions: Cruise ships would only be allowed five days a week and the annual cap on passengers would be 1.5 million. No cruise ships would be allowed before May 1 or after Sept. 30.

This proposed initiative, led by Juneau’s leading cruise ship critic Karla Hart, might be on the October, 2025 municipal election ballot for Juneau.

A similar ban was passed by voters in Bar Harbor, Maine in 2022, capping daily cruise ship passengers at 1,000, which was a major reduction from the 2,000 to 4,500 passengers who typically disembarked daily during the season.

The cap, effective December 2022, was upheld by a federal judge in 2024 despite a lawsuit from local businesses.

Since then, businesses have reported devastating consequences. Business owner Shawn Porter of Little Village Gifts reported that up to 40% of her annual revenue comes from cruise passengers, but ships cancelled visits, with minimal bookings for 2025, since ships cannot selectively disembark passengers to meet the cap. The Association to Preserve and Protect Local Livelihoods, which represents businesses like Bar Harbor Whale Watch and pier operators, estimated a $20 million annual loss for businesses.

Cruise ship foes in Juneau come up short on signatures to get Saturday ship ban on ballot
Win Gruening: Ignoring the consequences of ship-free Saturdays?

Former Fairbanks Assemblywoman gets tap on wrist for running illegal radio ads in ’23

Suzanne Downing
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35
Former Fairbanks Assemblywoman gets tap on wrist for running illegal radio ads in ’23

Former Fairbanks North Star Borough Assemblywoman Savannah Fletcher was censured by the Assembly on Friday and fined $3.

In a 5-4 vote, Fletcher was censured for what was deemed a “minor and technical” ethics violation, relating to radio ads she recorded in 2023 that encouraged residents of Fairbanks to get involved with borough agenda items that were important to her.

In those ads, she offered opinions on matters coming before the Assembly, and she did not disclose that these were her own opinions, not the opinions of the Assembly. She also did not disclose who paid for the ads. The radio ads were privately funded, not paid for by the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Assemblyman David Guttenberg acknowledged helping pay for the ads.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly’s Ethics Board found that radio spots violated ethics rules due to her inflection, word choice, and focus on specific topics that were part of her own agenda.

Fletcher, a licensed attorney, member of the Alaska Bar Association, and member of the Alaska Judicial Council, faced scrutiny over the violation’s implications for her professional work. She is an expert litigator on behalf of the liberal Northern Justice Project and makes her living suing conservatives and governments that make decisions she disagrees with.

She left the Assembly in 2024 and ran for state Senate, losing to Sen. Mike Cronk in November.

Will there be any penalties for Savannah Fletcher?
Fairbanks leftist Savannah Fletcher has a huge conflict of interest she did not disclose

‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ passes out of US House budget committee

Suzanne Downing
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11
‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ passes out of US House budget committee

President Trump’s budget and priority bill advanced from the House Budget Committee in late-night vote Sunday. The next stop is the Rules Committee, and then the bill will advance to the House floor for a vote.

The four holdouts from the Freedom Caucus voted present, which allowed the bill to pass 17-16.

Read about the main points of the bill at this link:

Listicle: Highlights of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ of interest to Alaskans

The committee didn’t meet until after 10 pm on Sunday, delayed because the four conservatives had voted against the legislation on Friday, as they wanted more cuts. By Sunday night they had found it more valuable to move the bill forward by their “present” votes.

The bill will still have to be debated in the Senate, where Sen. Lisa Murkowski has already hinted that she may be a dissenting vote unless Planned Parenthood and green energy initiatives from the Biden era be funded.

What’s the status of the US House budget package that has longterm help for Alaska’s energy economy?

Has legislative budget negotiation process just jumped the shark by going into ‘free conference’?

Suzanne Downing
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26
Has legislative budget negotiation process just jumped the shark by going into ‘free conference’?

In the legislative process called “conference committee,” legislators from the House and Senate are appointed to a joint committee to hash out differences in the budgets passed by the respective bodies.

On Sunday, the Conference Committee waded into “free conference” zone, which is when they start adding things to the budget that have not been passed by either body.

But the Conference Committee does not have free conference powers; instead, it has limited conference powers.

At issue is a major hole in the existing year’s budget, caused by a significant drop in the price of oil. The budget passed last year by the Legislature was based on $78 a barrel oil, but oil is now down in the $67 a barrel range, and the Legislature needs to backfill this year’s budget with supplemental money — about $180 million. If they don’t, then the governor will have to find cuts between now and the start of the new fiscal year, July 1.

In negotiations on Sunday, the committee decided to add in a draw on the Constitutional Budget Reserve fund, and if that fails to get the needed votes in the House and Senate, then the budget will take $100 million from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, and the Higher Education fund. That’s new lawmaking, which is not allowed in conference committee.

It’s unclear if the Conference Committee members are aware that they have violated the rules of the Legislature by adding things to the budget, as opposed to the limited conference rules of having to stay within established brackets.

The conference committee closed out their work and will have the budget on the desks of legislators by Monday, so that they can have it for 24 hours before voting on it.

Breaking: Biden diagnosed with aggressive form of prostate cancer

Suzanne Downing
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114
Breaking: Biden diagnosed with aggressive form of prostate cancer

Former President Joe Biden has an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office announced on Sunday.

After experiencing urinary symptoms last week, he went for a checkup and on Friday his office announced a nodule had been found and it’s cancerous.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” his personal office said. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians, the statement said.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 12.8% of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, with the majority of diagnoses occurring after age 65.

Biden is 82.5 years old and has been suffering from cognitive decline, which has been evident to the world, although his family has not acknowledged that publicly.

Linda Boyle: FDA prepares to change Covid requirements and update drug approval processes

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Linda Boyle: FDA prepares to change Covid requirements and update drug approval processes

By LINDA BOYLE

Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads the US Department of Health and Human Services.  Dr. Marty Makary heads up the Food and Drug Administration. They are reforming the drug/vaccine approval process to ensure gold-standard research is followed.

Dr. Makary, a Johns Hopkins University surgeon and researcher, practices surgical oncology and gastrointestinal laparoscopic surgery.  

Just recently, Dr. Makary raised doubts about all Americans needing that seventh Covid booster and questioned the “success of past clinical trials.”  Makary stated better data are needed. 

“We can’t just extrapolate from a clinical trial from four or five years ago,” he said. “Americans have a very low uptake and a very low confidence of the Covid boosters right now.”

Some 85% of healthcare workers didn’t take that last booster jab, Makary said, and he acknowledged that asking drug companies to change their approach to Covid jabs may mean there will not be a new booster in the fall.

The FDA also is considering whether Covid boosters should only be given primarily to high-risk groups, rather than to all people.  It is expected within the next few days the FDA will come out with a statement that Covid jabs will no longer be recommended for children, teens, and pregnant women. This is a huge change.

Linda Boyle: Why is Alaska pushing Covid vaccine instead of focusing on vitamin D?

Using risk assessment, recommendations may be made that only those older than 65 would still need at least two doses a year along with those people who have an underlying health condition that increases their risk.  

To satisfy those who may be wanting to still get the seventh booster, they will still have that option.    

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice is expected to vote on this potentially new guidance in June. The panel’s decision will influence how the federal government supports immunizations, including how insurance companies are required to cover vaccines and how doctors talk about the shots to their patients. 

In discussing changes to the approval process, Dr. Makary wants to make the rules clear and transparent. There is the expectation that the Emergency Use Authorization, which has been used for the Covid jabs since 2020, will no longer apply to future Covid jabs. 

I have often wondered why that rule was still in effect, concerning the fact that then President Biden had declared the pandemic over on May 11, 2023. Why was EUA still used? Oh wait. Best course of action for Big Pharma. 

Makary’s approach to Covid-19 jabs certainly is different from the FDA under Biden. During those years, the FDA routinely just rubber stamped the jab’s annual booster. 

Makary said that it is his job to “upholding gold standard science and rebuilding public trust, not to save pharma companies tens of millions of dollars.” 

Dr. Vinay Prasad was recently appointed director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. His background is in hematology-oncology, and he is professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco.

Prasad is currently meeting with the industry and agency staffers as he  prepares to unveil a “massive framework,”  that will incorporate the agency’s regulatory stance on vaccines, according to Makary.

There is a lot going on to change the vaccine approval process, to provide the public valuable information to have real informed consent, and to gain public trust.  I don’t expect Big Pharma to be too happy. The gravy train is coming to a halt.  

Linda Boyle: The tale of two states’ approaches to Covid shots and treatment this year

Maybe now more legal action will ensue as we learn more about what these vaccine manufacturers hid from Americans.  

Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense, has been actively “working to protect individual liberties, including the right to bodily autonomy, informed consent and parental rights.”  

I am pleased to announce Mary Holland will be one of the speakers at our upcoming Alaskans 4 Personal Freedom  (www.AK4PF.org) conference on Oct. 11, 2025, in Anchorage. Stay tuned for more information and save the date! 

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.

Linda Boyle: When it comes to toxic dyes in foods, why not follow Europe’s lead?
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