A man once convicted of murder and released on parole was tracked down and arrested after a dramatic multi-agency manhunt involving SWAT teams, high-tech surveillance, and a helicopter pursuit through Alaska’s rugged terrain.
A federal jury convicted George Moises Romero Jr., 37, on Wednesday of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a violent felon in possession of body armor.
Romero, a name long known to Alaska law enforcement, was originally sentenced to 24 years in prison after a 2006 conviction in Anchorage Superior Court for Second-Degree Murder, Second-Degree Robbery, and Third-Degree Assault.
Despite the gravity of his crimes, Romero was granted discretionary parole and released in 2019 — a decision now under renewed scrutiny.
But his freedom was short-lived. On June 4, 2024, a parole violation warrant was issued for his arrest. The Fairbanks Area Criminal Suppression Unit launched a manhunt to apprehend the convicted killer, knowing he posed a serious risk to public safety.
Law enforcement officials used real-time cell phone tracking to try to locate Romero, only for him to slip through their fingers at the last moment. As the SWAT team prepared to execute a search warrant at his suspected location, Romero vanished, fleeing surveillance and relocating to Alaska’s remote Goldstream Valley.
Undeterred, the Alaska State Troopers deployed a helicopter equipped with high-powered cameras on June 6, 2024. They located a vehicle associated with Romero and tracked its movements from the sky.
Then came the moment that played out like something from a Hollywood thriller: The helicopter team watched as Romero was dropped off at the edge of the woods, carrying camping equipment and preparing to disappear into the wilderness.
But the woods would not be his escape. Ground teams moved in, and Troopers intercepted Romero before he could vanish. He was wearing body armor and carrying two loaded firearms, with extra magazines and ammunition strapped to his person. A third firearm and more ammunition were found in a duffle bag he carried.
The case was a joint effort by the Alaska State Troopers, the Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team (FANT), the FBI Anchorage Field Office, the Fairbanks Resident Agency, and the ATF Anchorage Field Office.
Romero’s conviction followed a three-day federal trial in Fairbanks. Prosecutors Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek and Antitrust Division Trial Attorneys David Bernhardt and Lauren Weed led the case.
Now back in custody and facing a likely lengthy federal sentence, Romero’s case is prompting new conversations about parole and public safety in Alaska.
Across Alaska, in communities large and small, people who voted for Kamala Harris for president in 2024 took to the streets as protesters on Saturday. There have been numerous protests like this since Trump was elected.
President Donald Trump has given them lots to protest, including tariffs on countries like China that practice slavery, and countries like Canada and Mexico, which allow and even encourage imports of illegal drugs and immigrants into Alaska. He’s been ejecting illegal immigrant gangsters and returning the rights of girls to compete in sports without boys taking their trophies. Trump has done all that he was elected to do, and in a very short period of time.
The protesters object to Trump trying to stop waste, fraud, and abuse in government.
Some protesters held signs that called Trump a fascist. One child held a sign that said, “Pet kittens, punch Nazis.”
Here’s Anchorage:
Protesters in Anchorage on April 5, 2025.Teaching the young to hate.
Observers told Must Read Alaska that when the protesters got to Town Square in downtown Anchorage, they were faced with a group of vagrant Native individuals who told them to leave because they own the land. A fight ensued. One vagrant was taken into custody for spitting on a protester. By “arrest,” that likely means handcuffs and a piece of paper telling the person when to report to court, and a release.
About 3,000 persons took part in Anchorage, including the one sign-holder who advertised on her sign that this was her “resisting bitch face.” Another person was seen stashing an AR-15 firearm in a tent. Later he got a gas can and lit a bunch of wood and pallets on fire at Barrow Street and 2nd Ave.
One observer noted he was “glad these people are out on the streets protesting and not in the halls of government making decisions.”
Here’s more of Anchorage’s protest, in video:
In Fairbanks, the scene was basically the same, but festive. It was more a social gathering than a protest. Mayor David Pruhs was sitting on the City Hall steps watching the whole thing unfold and even had a cookout going.
Photo courtesy of Robert LypePhoto courtesy of Robert LypeProtesters in Fairbanks. Courtesy of Robert Lype.
Juneau protesters numbered over 1,000 in front of the state Capitol. One man carried an American flag upside down and defaced with black spray paint that said: “Fight fascism!”
Photo credit: Jeff Landfield, Alaska Landmine.
In Washington, D.C. Must Read Alaska sources said that protesters included some “furries,” people who identify as animals.
The protests were impressive in numbers in all the major cities, such as Boston, where 20,000 people reportedly took part in a city that voted heavily for Kamala Harris.
NEW: Thousands of protesters take to the streets to protest against Trump & Musk in Boston.
Protesters are demanding that the admin stop all efforts of eliminating government waste and fraud.
A proposed ordinance for the Anchorage Assembly to consider during its April 8 meeting would make the recreational use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) illegal in the municipality.
Ordinance No. AO 2025-50 is being introduced by Assemblyman Randy Sulte. It would prohibit the recreational use, possession, sale, and offering to another of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), amyl or butyl nitrite (“poppers”), and Kratom, by amending Anchorage Municipal Code list the new offenses in the misdemeanor table.
Recreational use of nitrous oxide is not explicitly illegal under federal law in the United States, and is not classified as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, its sale or distribution for human consumption (i.e., recreational inhalation) is regulated by the FDA under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and misuse can lead to federal penalties if prosecuted as “misbranding.”
At the state level, recreational use of laughing gas for the purpose of causing euphoria is illegal in California, New York, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. It is not illegal in Alaska.
Nitrous oxide itself has a functional use in canned whipping cream, where it is used as a propellant to dispense the cream from the canister and aerate the cream. But some people looking for a quick rush use the cans as “whippets,” where they release just enough gas from the canister (usually using a balloon to capture the gas) and inhale it for a buzz that will last up to a couple of minutes. Repeat use of whippets may have adverse health effects. People also sell and buy nitrous oxide canisters for recreational highs.
Butyl nitrite poppers are a type of recreational inhalant drug consisting of a volatile liquid — butyl nitrite — which is inhaled for its psychoactive effects. Poppers are routinely sold under various brand names like “Rush,” and “Bolt,” and they skirt federal regulations by being advertised as “room odorizer,” “video head cleaners,” or “leather cleaners.” Like nitrous oxide, when inhaled, the vapors produce a rapid, short-lived high, lasting 30 seconds to a few minutes, characterized by euphoria, a “head rush,” and muscle relaxation, especially smooth muscles like those in the anus or blood vessels. Misuse can lead to coma or death.
Kratom is a from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Various products containing it are sold in both retail stores and online. Kratom leaves are often used to self-treat conditions such as pain, coughing, diarrhea, anxiety and depression, opioid use disorder, and opioid withdrawal, according to the Food and Drug Administration. An estimated 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2021, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. It is not a controlled substance.
Sulte says the the proposed ordinance fills a gap in criminal law by identifying the chemical compounds in whippets and poppers and prohibiting their use or sale for recreational purposes, as a Class B misdemeanor. Sell or providing them to a minor is classified higher as a Class A misdemeanor.
The US Senate voted in the wee hours of Saturday morning to pass a wide-ranging budget resolution paving the way for making Trump’s first-term tax cuts permanent, increasing border security, and restoring defense spending. It was a big step, and the resolution heads to the US House in what is still a long process.
The “blueprint,” as it is being called, lays the foundation for a yet-to-be-written bill to make permanent the tax relief implemented under President Donald Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It also authorizes an additional $1.5 trillion in new tax reductions to stimulate economic growth.
In a surprise development, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted in favor of the resolution on final passage, in an increasingly rare moment of aligning with her Republican colleagues. That left only two GOP senators — Rand Paul of Kentucky and Susan Collins of Maine — breaking ranks to vote against the measure, although they did for differing reasons.
The final vote came after a long night of debate, as Democrats launched a delaying tactic of offering amendment after amendment to stall passage of the resolution and inflict as much pain as possible on the Republican majority. Despite their efforts, Republicans remained united past midnight in pushing forward a plan that would deliver on key Trump promises.
Among the amendments rejected during the session was a Democrat measure to bar Pentagon officials from using commercial messaging apps like Signal to discuss classified operations. That amendment was directed at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who recently came under fire by Democrats and their media allies for using the encrypted Signal app to discuss sensitive military planning.
Republicans also rejected Democrat proposals that would have blocked tax breaks for top earners and large corporations.
Some nonbinding Democrat amendments were voted down, such as one that condemned the Trump Administration’s idea of closing the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which had become politicized under the Biden Administration, and his temporary freeze on military aid to Ukraine.
The resolution as passed raises the federal debt ceiling by $5 trillion, a move aimed at avoiding a catastrophic default this summer. The current debt ceiling is $36.1 trillion; without an increase, the government can no longer borrow, which would threaten payments on interest payments to bondholders.
The Republican-led plan also has $521 billion in new spending, including $175 billion earmarked for border enforcement and $150 billion for the military.
The vote is another step in the budget reconciliation process, having cleared the hurdle of the Democrats’ objections. The passage means the Senate can now pass budget-related bills with a simple majority, without having to endure filibusters by the Democrats and without needing 60 votes, but just a simple majority, which will sideline some of the Republicans who normally vote with Democrats, such as Murkowski and Collins.
But the challenge is that the House and Senate must approve identical budget resolutions directing congressional committees to draft the actual legislation, which will take several months.
It’s a momentary victory for Republicans and Trump in a complicated budget reconciliation process that few Americans understand.
A national movement is afoot to defund Planned Parenthood. On Wednesday, while the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, a case testing whether a state can withhold Medicaid funding from organizations that conduct abortions, pro-life people across the country rallied to stop taxpayer money from going to Planned Parenthood, the organization that conducts 42 percent of the nation’s abortions.
Alaskans are a part of that movement, as evidenced by a Defund Planned Parenthood event in front of the Anchorage Planned Parenthood office on Lake Otis Boulevard. Mary Kemper of Pro-Life Alaska organized the event, with help from Students for Life and Alaska Family Council.
Kemper has an ever-present smile and is one of the kindest human beings a person could meet. A devout Catholic, Kemper has committed her heart to save pre-born children. She spoke at the event, as did Student for Life leader Francis Bird, Alaska Family Council president Jim Minnery, and longtime sidewalk advocate and pro-life activist Windy Perkins.
The crowd of approximately 55 supporters listened on, waved signs, sang hymns, and prayed.
Across the street, a group of a half dozen counter protesters showed up with signs reading, among other things, “No Forced Pregnancies” and “Find a New Hobby,” the latter presumably directed at the folks attending the much larger Defund gathering. Saving babies is apparently not an effective use of one’s leisure time.
Other than a few motorists flipping the bird or yelling unintelligible or obscene comments at the group, it was a calm gathering. Honking horns and thumbs up greatly outnumbered the naysayers.
During her talk, Kemper mentioned the Medina case as well as the fact that Alaska is among several states to which President Trump has cut Planned Parenthood funding. At issue is the abortion mill’s failure to abide by the new restrictions placed on organizations that fail to follow the administration’s DEI guidelines. The combined money being withheld from the states totals “only” about $27.5 million, but every dollar counts.
Minnery told a story about questioning a pro-abortion activist about the definition of the term elective abortion. The activist’s response, after a long pause, was that they do not know what that means. The implication being that all abortions in their eyes are not elective; rather, they are considered medically necessary.
Labeling all abortions as medically necessary is, besides being untruthful, a convenient way to get funds into the hands of the abortion providers. After all, if the procedure is medically necessary, it is less controversial, even among many pro-life supporters who are willing to make exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, or the life of the mother.
Labeling all abortions medically necessary clearly shows how fundamentally important abortion is to those who support it. The Clinton doctrine of “safe, legal, and rare” has been replaced with “shout my abortion” . . . and shout down anyone who dares to put value on the lives of the pre-born.
In response to an email sent out by Alaska Family Council to announce the event, one recipient wrote back to inform us that Planned Parenthood is evil, so it is encouraging to see so many people, especially teenagers and young adults, gather together in Alaska, and across the country, to stand up for this noble cause.
Tim Barto is vice president of Alaska Family Council and a regular contributor to Must Read Alaska.
The Alaska House Finance Committee advanced a proposed state operating budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. It contains $14 billion and includes a full statutory Permanent Fund dividend, estimated at around $3,800 per eligible Alaskan.
The full PFD was an apparent mistake that Democrat Rep. Andy Josephson of Anchorage made when he proposed the budget. He is not one to promote a full PFD, but it was an oversight he made as chair of House Finance. He was then stuck with it, as , rural Democrats on the Finance Committee were too fearful of their reelection chances to take it out. The Democrat majority, with rural Reps. Neal Foster and Nellie Jimmie showing reluctance to take money from their constituents, just didn’t have the votes to reduce the dividend.
Thus, the budget is nearly $2 billion in the hole, with no apparent easy way to fund it.
The proposal has been sent to the House floor for a vote, where skepticism remains about being passed in its current state. The House is supposed to pass a funded budget, but Josephson’s budget has no funding.
Josephson admitted in a Finance Committee meeting that he had had secret talks with the Senate, so he may have something up his sleeve.
To fund the deficit, there is still the Constitutional Budget Reserve, which has about $2.8 billion in it. But that requires a three-quarters vote of both House and Senate to tap into.
The CBR was established by voters in 1990 as an article of the Alaska Constitution. Its stated purpose is to serve as a savings account to help stabilize the state’s finances by providing a reserve of funds to cover budget deficits during times of low revenue, particularly when oil prices or production decline. The CBR is meant to store excess revenue from certain one-time sources, such as settlements or legal judgments related to mineral revenues (primarily oil), and to protect the state against fiscal volatility due to its heavy reliance on resource-based income.
The state government has used the CBR to balance its budget for 10 years in a row, starting around fiscal year 2015.
Meanwhile, the supplemental budget to pay for items in this fiscal year passed the House on Thursday, also unfunded. On a vote of 21-19, the House Democrats may be thinking there will be enough money in the CBR to also pay for this year’s supplemental needs. But there’s not enough in the CBR for the supplemental and next year’s deficit.
The end-game is upon the Legislature, which has a final date of April 20. Negotiations will continue and those who frequent the Capitol are predicting that a special session will be called, which could extend the power plays until May 21. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
Alaska must critically reform and streamline its state agencies to maximize local autonomy and eliminate counterproductive collaborations with federal agencies that restrict land use, hunting, and responsible resource development.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources needs continued restructuring to simplify permitting processes, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and efficiently promote balanced land development for Alaskans.
Similarly, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game must refocus its mandate on managing fish and wildlife sustainably, prioritizing local needs over federal constraints.
Additionally, comprehensive evaluations and targeted reforms of state agencies in Alaska are critical to achieving Alaska’s goal of self-determination, economic vitality, and responsive governance. Self-examination by the state of its bureaucracy is timely and necessary.
But the unspoken reality for Alaskans is the settlement of all federal lands in Alaska. This has been languishing for decades due to political, environmental and market concerns. Alaska stands unmatched as America’s greatest untapped frontier, holding within its borders an extraordinary abundance of natural resources essential to our nation’s continued prosperity, economic security, and global competitiveness.
The following information outlines a hypothetical framework addressing historical challenges, abundant natural resources, and fostering a strong and collaborative relationship between the State of Alaska and over 200 Alaska Native Tribes. This approach honors the promises made through critical historical compacts, including the Alaska Statehood Act, ANCSA, and ANILCA, while proposing innovative solutions for managing Alaska’s vast natural wealth for the benefit of all Alaskans.
II. Historical Challenges and Context
Alaska has historically faced systemic challenges due to federal land management practices, significantly affecting resource development, economic opportunities, and local autonomy. Despite explicit statutory commitments established through the Statehood Act, ANCSA, and ANILCA, repeated federal breaches have hindered Alaska from fully benefiting from its natural resource wealth.
Critical Issues:
Limited Access: Federal restrictions blocking access to resource-rich lands.
Alaska has endured decades of exhaustive studies, prolonged analyses, repeated approvals and denials, bureaucratic stalling, and political inaction regarding its land and resource management. This chronic cycle of “analysis paralysis” has severely hampered the state’s economic and social progress. Alaskans have patiently awaited fulfillment of federal promises, only to face continual delays and broken commitments. The time for perpetual evaluation has passed; decisive action is now urgently needed. Alaska must finally be provided with the tools and authority necessary to fully realize its vast potential and take its rightful place as one of America’s most productive, prosperous, and strategically vital states.
III. Natural Resource Wealth
Alaska boasts extensive natural resources:
A. Oil and Gas
National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska (NPR-A): Holds approximately 900 million barrels of conventional oil and over 53 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Potential for billions of barrels of untapped oil.
Non-North Slope Federal Lands: Mandated development under ANILCA Title X remains largely unrealized.
B. Timber and Agricultural Resources
Tongass National Forest: Historically yielded over 520 million board feet annually. Current management strategies severely limit output and employment.
Chugach National Forest: Approximately 5.4 million acres, with timber potential and historically sustainable forestry practices.
State and Native Corporation Forests: Vast lands managed by the state and Native corporations provide additional commercial forestry opportunities.
Traditional Farming: Limited but growing potential for cold-tolerant crops like potatoes, carrots, barley, oats, and greens, primarily in the Mat-Su Valley, Kenai Peninsula, and Delta Junction regions.
Livestock and Ranching: Raising cattle, reindeer, goats, sheep, and poultry adapted to Alaskan conditions.
Specialty Agriculture: Berry production, greenhouses, controlled-environment agriculture, and niche markets (e.g., peonies, herbs) are emerging opportunities.
C. Known Mineral Resources
The above table provides an overview of Alaska’s abundant and diverse mineral resources, including strategically important metals and industrial minerals. Alaska hosts world-class deposits of gold, copper, silver, molybdenum, zinc, rare earth elements, and strategic industrial materials such as barite, limestone, gypsum, jade, and diamonds.
C. Alaska’s fish, marine life, and related activities
Commercial Fishing: Alaska produces over 60% of the nation’s commercial seafood, including salmon, halibut, crab, pollock, and cod. This sector generates billions of dollars annually, supports thousands of jobs, and fuels local economies.
Subsistence Fishing & Marine Harvesting: Vital to Alaska Native communities, subsistence fishing and harvesting of marine life are deeply embedded in cultural traditions and provide food security across rural areas.
Recreational & Sport Fishing: Significant drivers of tourism, attracting visitors for salmon runs, halibut fishing, and other marine experiences, adding millions to the state’s economy each year.
Marine Ecosystem Services: Healthy marine habitats support biodiversity, carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and other environmental benefits.
D. Resources Yet to be Discovered or Fully Developed
Alaska’s geology suggests vast undiscovered mineral and energy resources, including critical minerals essential for technological advancements.
Offshore oil, gas reserves, and renewable energy opportunities (wind, geothermal, tidal) remain significantly unexplored.
The state’s geothermal potential offers opportunities for renewable energy development, particularly in regions with volcanic activity. Certain areas in Alaska have favorable conditions for wind and solar energy projects, contributing to the state’s renewable energy portfolio.
IV. Strategic Objectives
A. Natural Resource Development
Fully realize ANILCA mandates to responsibly develop oil, gas, timber, and minerals.
Reinstate original intent behind NPR-A, ANWR, and Title X of ANILCA, ensuring expeditious resource exploration and development.
Reactivate forestry operations in Tongass and other parts of the state to restore sustainable harvest levels and employment opportunities.
Clear regulatory barriers to mineral development to promote investment and economic diversification.
B. Protection and Enhancement of Traditional Uses
Guarantee traditional access and use of conservation system units for subsistence, recreation, and economic activities.
Ensure agency adherence to Section 1110(a) access rights under ANILCA without imposing unauthorized restrictions or permit requirements.
C. Recognition and Protection of Valid Existing Rights
Honor and guarantee access to private inholdings, Alaska Native lands, mining claims, and state-owned lands through simplified and streamlined processes.
Reassert R.S. 2477 rights-of-way to facilitate efficient transportation and access infrastructure essential for rural and resource-dependent communities.
V. State and Tribal Partnership
For the first time in American history, Alaska, in collaboration with its unparalleled number of federally recognized sovereign tribal governments, is positioned to create a unified strategic partnership to fundamentally redefine state and tribal land management through the direct transfer of federal land titles. By building a powerful alliance grounded in mutual respect, shared economic goals, and recognition of tribal sovereignty, Alaska and its tribes can leverage unprecedented political and legal influence to negotiate the full transfer of federally promised lands, including parks, national monuments, preserves, and other federally controlled areas, directly into state and tribal ownership. This coordinated approach emphasizes a collective vision where both state and tribal governments hold clear, legally secured titles, cooperatively managing and operating lands to realize commitments made at statehood and reaffirmed through ANCSA and ANILCA. This historic strategy prioritizes local autonomy, economic prosperity, and sustainable management practices, positioning Alaska as a national model for state-tribal partnership, sovereign land stewardship, and genuine self-determination.
The continued federal retention of approximately 220.3 million acres in Alaska, without any explicit constitutional justification relating to national defense, transportation, or critical infrastructure, raises serious constitutional, legal, and equity concerns. Moreover, it has resulted in decades of underutilization and outright waste of abundant natural resources, depriving both Alaska and the nation of vital economic development, strategic resource independence, and sustainable prosperity.
Alaska with its tribal governments have strong grounds to argue for a timely transfer of these federally held lands into state and tribal hands.
In order to accomplish this, a robust and well-defined partnership between the State of Alaska and the 200+ Alaska Native Tribes is fundamental:
Strengthen state-tribal collaboration frameworks, prioritizing joint decision-making in natural resource management and economic development.
Respect tribal sovereignty and support tribal self-determination in managing tribal lands and resources.
Foster cooperative agreements and joint ventures to ensure shared economic benefits and sustainable development practices.
Prioritize infrastructure and economic support for rural and tribal communities disproportionately impacted by historical federal mismanagement.
VI. Proposed Remedy: Land and Resource Management Transfer
Given systemic federal failures, the plan advocates for:
Transferring significant federal lands to State control under conditions that honor original federal mandates and promises.
Enhanced role and explicit consent authority of Alaska and Alaska Native Tribes in future federal land-use decisions.
Leveraging state and tribal expertise for more responsive, efficient, and locally-informed land management and economic development.
Utilizing Alaska’s proven capacity and extensive expertise in natural resource management to immediately improve stewardship, economic outcomes, and environmental protection.
Empowering Alaska Native Tribes to apply their considerable knowledge, cultural expertise, and management capabilities for sustainable, culturally-informed resource development and land management.
VII. Implementation and Governance
Reinstate and empower the Alaska Land Use Council as a joint state-federal-tribal governance body, with state consent as a mandatory condition for federal land-use decisions.
Transparent tracking, accountability, and regular reviews to ensure adherence to statutory and policy commitments.
Strategic state investment in rural and tribal capacity-building, infrastructure, and workforce development to optimize resource-driven economic opportunities.
VIII. Conclusion
This approach marks a transformative step toward empowering Alaskans and Alaska Native Tribes with rightful stewardship over their natural resources. By rectifying historical wrongs, this settlement lays the foundation for sustainable economic prosperity, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship—fulfilling the original promise of Alaska’s statehood compact for present and future generations.
The Alaska Legislature, in a faux embrace of small government voted Senate Bill 15, legislation to allow 18-year-olds to sell alcohol. The bill was passed out of both houses with veto-proof majorities. It is headed to the governor’s desk for action.
From the outside, it would appear that the majority is telling those that installed them to “Here, hold my beer.” A cynic might wonder how bad the service at Juneau bars has been this session. A happy thought would be that they have finally solved the substance abuse problem in Bush Alaska, and introducing youngsters to alcohol at a younger age is no longer a problem.
Of course, such thinking would completely ignore the disaster of changing the legal age for purchasing alcohol to 18 following passage of the 26thAmendment(right to vote at 18) in 1971. The fallout among the newly emancipated young was sufficiently awful that it only took states a couple years to return the legal age to 21. The legal whiplash of those of who rode that wave was awesome.
When you get a lemming stampede like this out of the Legislature, actual issues and fallout is often never considered.
For example, we here in Anchorage are treated to universal ID checks regardless of age when we purchase alcohol. If it is safe enough for 18-year-olds to sell, why are we still carding? This was recently extended to bars and restaurants, where patrons are universally carded.
According to this legislature, alcohol remains sufficiently dangerous that it isn’t legal to purchase until you are 21, but safe enough for 18-year-olds to sell. One or the other could be true, but not both.
Extend this logic a bit to other substances illegal to purchase between ages 18 – 21 – tobacco, vaping and pot.
Are these substances more or less dangerous than alcohol? Most of us would think less, though society via its laws treat them as the functional equivalent of heroin, fentanyl, or worse. If 18-year-olds can sell alcohol, why then can they not sell tobacco, vaping products or pot?
Why indeed.
Finally, we have the ongoing substance abuse destruction of people in the Bush. Allowing 18-year-olds to sell alcohol out there will only introduce more of them to alcohol at an earlier age. Does anyone in the legislature think this is a positive lifestyle choice?
Maybe it is time to have another public discussion over the Age of Majority, something pointedly ignored by the legislature in their rush to speed up bar service in Juneau. We as a nation tried this half a century ago. It didn’t go all that well, and that was a society with more intact families and more people going to church on a regular basis. Anyone out there think it will work better this time around?
If this is an example of thoughtful legislation out of this legislature, I shudder to think what they are about to do to public employee pensions, the BSA and the PFD.
While I don’t expect the governor to veto this, I think he should, although it might be overridden.
Alex Gimarc lives in Anchorage since retiring from the military in 1997. His interests include science and technology, environment, energy, economics, military affairs, fishing and disabilities policies. His weekly column “Interesting Items” is a summary of news stories with substantive Alaska-themed topics. He was a small business owner and Information Technology professional.
The new reciprocal 34% tariffs announced by the United States and China could especially impact Alaska seafood prices, due to the state’s heavy reliance on exports and Chinese labor.
The tariffs have been a moving target. On March 4, President Donald Trump imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports, which brought the cumulative tariff’s to 20% on top of existing tariffs from Trump’s first term, which were basically left in place by President Joe Biden.
Then there is the new 34% tariff on top of that. China immediately reciprocated by imposing a 34% tariff.
The tariffs will affect Alaska seafood sent over and processed in China and re-exported to the US, a common practice for Alaska products like pollock and salmon. Over half of Alaska’s fish is sent to China, where pin bones are removed by cheap labor, then is re-imported as packaged for retail to the US.
While Alaska salmon is headed and gutted on this side of the Pacific Ocean, to process fillets and remove pin bones is very labor intensive, so companies like Trident Seafoods and others use the massive processing centers in cities like Qingdao, Dalian, and Yantai in Shandong and Liaoning provinces, which are global seafood processing centers.
China uses forced labor, including conditions that Americans would view as slave labor, in Qingdao and other parts of Shandong Province to process fish. Qingdao has a reputation for using and abusing minorities, particularly Uyghurs and North Koreans, in its seafood processing plants.
The “dual tariffs” now in place as Alaska moves into fishing season will increase cost of processing, which will be passed along to consumers and could soften the demand for wild Alaska salmon.
Meanwhile, farmed salmon from Scotland, Norway, and Chile, are also processed in these same facilities. Those farmed salmon products have very low tariffs — in the teens — between the respective countries. Alaska wild salmon is already significantly more expensive than the farmed salmon that is ubiquitous in the Lower 48.
With China as Alaska’s largest seafood export market, there could be a surplus of seafood in the US market in the coming salmon harvesting season, potentially depressing wholesale prices paid to Alaska fishermen and processors, at least in the short term.
One of the outcomes might be that processors in Alaska turn to domestic processing, which has higher labor costs associated with it than the near forced-labor in China.
As for Chinese consumers, they may turn to competitors like Russia or Norway, as happened in 2018 during a trade war, when Russian pollock imports to the US surged as a result of Chinese tariffs on the US, which led to a 20% drop in seafood sales to China, impacting 65% of Alaska seafood businesses.
Now, if American consumers shift to domestic seafood to avoid tariffed imports (mainly Chinese tilapia, prawns, or shrimp), demand for Alaskan products could rise, which might offset some price drops.
Alaska’s seafood industry employs nearly 70,000 people and generates over $5 billion annually. It’s big business, although less than 10% of Alaska’s GDP.
The US-China reciprocal tariffs will be a dynamic condition that may reduce demand and increase costs in the short-term, and may boost domestic jobs that require the use of more workers coming to the US on the H-2B visa, a non-immigrant visa that allows US employers to bring foreign workers in seasonally for temporary seafood processing jobs when there are not enough US workers available. These H-2B visa workers are especially critical for Bristol Bay salmon runs.
As labor markets and supply chains adjust, Alaska fishing companies and US consumers will likely feel the pinch — at least in the short-term.
