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62,000 Alaska ballots to be counted today

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The Division of Elections will count some 62,000 ballots today, which is day seven since the election ended on Nov. 3 at 8 pm.

On election night, 36,268 were counted, which means that by the end of today, over 98,000 ballots will have been counted in two counting sessions.

Comparing that to the 15 days of counting in 2016 when 123,246 ballots had been counted, the division will be at about 80 percent of that number. 2016 was a record year for ballots that came in from outside their precincts (by-mail, online, fax, early, in person, special needs and questioned). This year is a record year for absentee ballots.

Results will be released at 5 pm, and then again later in the evening. The Nome region is not expected to be counted because the U.S. Mail had not yet delivered the voter registers from the villages in the area.

The estimated ballots cast in this election is now believed to be over 150,000. The deadline for them to arrive is Nov. 13 (overseas ballots have until Nov. 18 to arrive).

Brad Tilden announces he’ll retire from Alaska Air

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Brad Tilden will retire as CEO of Alaska Air Group on March 31, 2021 after eight years as head of the company. He will be replaced by Ben Minicucci, who currently serves as president of the company. Tilden will remain chairman of the board.

Seattle-based Alaska is the nation’s fifth-largest airline.

“We are through the initial phases of our coronavirus response, and Alaska is on a solid trajectory,” said Tilden. “Now is the time to position Alaska for future growth, and now is the time to move forward with this long-planned transition. Ben has proven himself over a long career as a person who cares passionately about our people and our culture, as a leader who builds strong teams and produces results, and as a person who will work tirelessly to push this great company forward. He has earned this role, and I look forward to supporting him as board chair.”

“I am honored and humbled by this incredible opportunity, and profoundly grateful for Brad’s leadership and partnership,” said Minicucci. “Our company is built on the strength of its people and our values, and I am so proud of who we are and all we have accomplished. The way in which our employees have navigated through challenges is truly inspiring – and the last nine months is no exception. I’m excited and optimistic about our future as we continue this journey together.”

During Minicucci’s 16-year career with Alaska, he has contributed in various roles of increasing responsibility. In 2016, he became president of Alaska Airlines and he was also named CEO of Virgin America upon Alaska’s acquisition of the airline. From 2009-2016, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He was vice president of Seattle operations (2007-2009). Minicucci joined Alaska in 2004 as staff vice president of maintenance.

Oregon Secretary of State fires election director after he reveals security issues

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In further election-related security news, Oregon’s elections director was fired in a text message by the Oregon secretary of state on Thursday night after he pointed out in a memo a series of serious problems with the state’s technology for running elections.

Elections Director Stephen Trout learned that he was fired while the vote counting was still underway in Oregon during a record-breaking election that has yet to be certified. Secretary of State Bev Clarno announced to elections officials on Friday morning that Trout was leaving the department immediately.

Trout said he would have stayed on with the secretary of state’s office until Dec. 15, to complete tasks associated with the election. But he was told to clean out his desk.

“I would not abandon my staff or the counties before the election is over, especially since I was the only one at the SOS office with a security clearance that could be notified of any election attacks during this certification process,” Trout wrote in an email to reporters. “There is no resignation letter because I didn’t resign. I was laid off via text message late Thursday.”

Oregon was the first state in the nation to institute all-mail-in voting in the 1990s, along with with automatic voter registration.

Muni Attorney, Clerk deny two more recall petitions

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By SCOTT LEVESQUE

The acting mayor of Anchorage shall not be recalled — at least not this acting mayor, and not by this petition request.

The Anchorage Municipal Clerk’s Office denied two petitions on Monday — one to recall Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson, and another to remove Assembly member Kameron Perez-Verdia.

The denial was at the recommendation of the Municipal Attorney’s Office.

Municipal Attorney Kate Vogel stated to the petitioners that the recall petition “does not satisfy the legal standards required for recall, and we, therefore, recommend that the application for recall petition be denied.” 

Vogel explained, “The allegation that an assembly member voted yes on an ordinance, without more, is nothing more than a statement of political disagreement with the elected official’s legislative decisions. But this is not a valid basis for recall in Alaska.”

A recall is permitted only under three substantive statutory grounds: Misconduct in office, incompetence, or failure to perform prescribed duties. All three present the public with a broad scope for potential recall efforts. 

The Municipal Attorney’s Office is using a narrow and subjective review process to determine a petition’s validity and David Nees, one of the recall organizers, is dumbfounded:

“We’re really frustrated with it [the decision]. She [Vogel] is tightly interpreting a law that is supposed to be loosely interpreted so the general public, not attorney-types or full-time politicians, can participate in the process without being tangled in red tape and regulations.” 

Delays from the Clerk and Municipal Attorney on the recall petitions have become standard since Sept. 2, when the first denial was issued after 30 days of review

Alaska State Statues, Section 29.26.290., states the Clerk’s Office must, within 10 days after the date a petition is filed: (1) certify on the petition whether it is sufficient; and (2) if the petition is insufficient, identify the insufficiency and notify the contact person by certified mail.

In August, the Municipal Clerk’s Office declared it would take 30 days, not 10 days stated in the statute, to certify a sufficient or insufficient recall petition. The Muni has also stated it has no certain deadline it must meet in terms of responding to an application for a recall petition.

Thus far, the only recall petition approved by the Clerk’s Office is a watered-down version, rewritten by the Municipality Attorney. That petition is to remove Assembly Chairman Felix Rivera.

Additionally, the sponsors of that petition request were initially informed they would not be allowed to hire signature collectors, although they have since determined on their own that they have a legal right to do so.

The Anchorage Clerk’s Office has denied four separate recall petitions — for Quinn-Davidson and Perez-Verdia and two recall petition requests against Assembly member Meg Zalatel, at the Municipality Attorney’s recommendation. Rivera’s is the only recall that is able to move forward at this writing.

As for the recent recall rejections from the Clerk’s Office, David Nees sees a long legal battle ahead:

“Yes, we are going to court. These decisions make no sense, and unfortunately, our only two options are to rewrite a recall petition, which we’ve already done, or head to court. We’ll go with the latter. It’s just so sad. The municipality keeps taking a narrow approach to the recall process, including how you can collect signatures. Personally, it’s against the fundamental groundwork of the state constitution.”

A prior attempt to recall Assembly member Zalatel — the first recall to be filed — is now awaiting review by Judge Kevin Saxby, after an appeal was filed by citizen Russell Biggs.

Breaking: Walker, Meyer get the band back together to buy AK-LNG project from state AGDC agency

They’re true believers in the gasline. Former Gov. Bill Walker and former Alaska Gasline Development Corporation President Keith Meyer are leading an effort to take over the Alaska Gasline project from Alaska Gasline Development Corporation.

They announced the launch of Alaska Gasline & LNG LLC, at AGLNG.com today, along with Laborers Local 341 President Joey Merrick, and Bernie Karl, who serves on the board of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority.

The group have established the new private entity with the purpose of “requesting and accepting the leadership of the integrated Alaska gasline and LNG project, and moving the project forward to completion.”

The project has recently completed most of its big federal permits and the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation wants to return it to private hands.

Walker would be those private hands. Under his direction as governor, however, he nationalized the project and drove out the private sector partners. Now, he is willing to take the project on as a private entity.

The group says “AGLNG will undertake the mission of putting the Alaska gasline and LNG export project in service, to the benefit of all Alaskans, and with a specific goal of being in-service by March, 2028, which will be the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the Prudhoe Bay field, North America’s largest oil and gas field.”

The project is projected to cost between $40 billion and $60 billion to build, and it’s clear the principals of the new entity don’t have that cash on hand. As governor, Walker tried to sell off major portions of the project to the Chinese.

Perhaps a new Biden Administration would fund the group? That may be one of the strategies to put together the aggressive funding and construction schedule needed to bring gas online in less than eight years.

This story will be updated.

Open Meetings group cancels next meeting due to new city limitations on gatherings

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The new group called Alaskans for Open Meetings has had to cancel its Tuesday meeting due to the new emergency order from the acting mayor of Anchorage.

Due to the new meeting limits put in place by Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson, the Nov. 10 meeting at Gwennie’s Restaurant in Anchorage was cancelled to protect the restaurant owner from harassment by code enforcers.

Quinn-Davidson has set new emergency rules prohibiting gatherings of more than 15 inside, when no food or beverages are being served, or 10 when food and beverages are being served. This is to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which is now spiking in Alaska.

The group has filed a lawsuit against the Anchorage Assembly for breaking the open meetings laws for several weeks this summer, when the Assembly locked the public out of meetings.

The board of the Alaskans for Open Meetings organization will still be meeting on Tuesday to consider its next move. More about the lawsuit and the organization is at AlaskansforOpenMeetings.com.

The lost year: No school for Anchorage due to COVID spread

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The Anchorage School Superintendent had hoped to have K-2 students back in the classroom starting Nov. 16. But that is not to be.

In a note to parents and the community, Superintendent Deena Bishop said the district will postpone in-class learning. The number of diagnosed cases of COVID-19 are spiking in Alaska and schools in Anchorage have been closed since mid-March.

The superintendent’s letter:

Dear ASD families and community,

Based on the increasing community spread of the virus and the rising demand placed on the Anchorage medical community, I am announcing this evening that the Anchorage School District will not resume in-person learning for Pre-K through grade 2, self-contained special education classrooms, or Whaley School on November 16.

The conditions across Anchorage are currently threatening to push the community’s medical capacity beyond its limits, as reflected on our COVID-19 decision monitoring. Additionally, the increasing number of close contacts has the potential to significantly reduce ASD’s ability to staff schools with predictability. Delaying in-person learning has been a heartbreaking decision, as we all have become aware that the best way to ensure we educate all children for success in life includes in-person learning.

ASD remains steadfast on getting its students back into schools and will continue its plans to do so when conditions allow. More details about the status of in-person learning for all levels of students and information about additional support services will be shared on November 15. Families in need of services are encouraged to call the District’s help line, 907-742-HELP. Help line staff are available to refer those in need to resources for food insecurities, technical assistance, and mental health resources.

In the meantime, please wear masks in public, practice good hygiene, and follow the Municipal and State health mandates. If everyone does their part in reducing the spread of the virus, the community will be on its way to getting students and staff back into the classroom where they love to be.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Anchorage has ordered all children in school to wear masks, but at this time the only children who are in school are attending private schools.

What? Fairbanks remote classes are closed Monday due to snow, road conditions

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One of the benefits of online learning from the comfort of your home is that your student doesn’t have to slog through the snow to catch the school bus. No matter what winter may bring, your youngster can just keep on learning, via the computer and associated technology.

Not so fast.

A notice from Fairbanks School Superintendent Karen Gaborik, issued at 6:05 pm on Sunday, says all remote classes are cancelled Monday, due to weather. Here’s the official word on the matter:

“Due to the winter storm warning which is predicting more snow, freezing rain, dangerous road conditions, and power outages, ALL remote district classes and in-school sessions are CANCELLED for Monday, November 9, 2020.”  

“As of now, school and classes are expected to resume Tuesday, November 10. Additional communication will be sent if this changes.”

Fagan: It’s time to call evil, evil again

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Former President Ronald Reagan spoke with great authority in West Germany in 1987 when he demanded Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev tear down the very symbol of 20th Century Communist death and oppression. 

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” demanded Reagan. 

Two years later, the Berlin Wall crumbled under the force of liberated and united Germans.  

Four years prior, Reagan had dubbed the Communist-run Soviet Union as the “evil empire.” He described the U.S.S.R. as “the focus of evil in the modern world.” 

We don’t hear the word evil much anymore from conservatives. 

The Bible warns of a time when many will call evil good and good evil.

Communist-run China is currently every bit as evil as the former Soviet Union. China has forced countless mothers to involuntarily succumb to the cold steely hands of murderous abortionists ending the life of their babies. Imagine the grief, pain, and heartache of living in a country that targets your child for execution. 

China has since amended its one-child policy forcing abortions to allow for a second baby, but not a third. But back in 2011, the one-child policy was still in place. 

It was 2011 when then-Vice-President Joe Biden spoke at Sichuan University in China. In reference to the one-child forced abortion policy, he told Chinese college students: 

“As I was talking with some of your leaders, you share a similar concern. You have no safety net. Your policy has been one of which I fully understand. I’m not second-guessing of one child per family,” said Biden.  

Most Americans would agree forcing a mother to abort her child is evil. Apparently not the man poised to be our next president. 

Biden has moved even more pro-abortion recently as he worked to secure the nomination of the party of death. His Left-wing base will tolerate nothing less.  

Biden says he now opposes the Hyde Amendment, a 40-year-old measure prohibiting the use of federal taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions. 

Sixty percent of Americans favor the Hyde Amendment and Biden did once too. Biden justified his flip flop on forcing Americans to pay for abortions by saying “circumstances have changed.” 

What’s changed is the Democrat Party has become increasingly pro-death. 

And then there’s Biden’s chosen running mate, Kamala Harris. Harris has voted against every pro-life bill she’s had before her.

The National Review described her as “without question the most radically pro-abortion candidate to run for president or vice president in the history of our country.” 

As California Attorney General, Harris targeted pro-life activists conducting a sting catching Planned Parenthood on tape in a ghoulish scheme to sell body parts from aborted babies.

Harris is so pro-death culture she ignored the evil Planned Parenthood body part peddlers and instead went after the activists who caught them on tape. 

Earlier this year, Harris and every Senate Democrat filibustered the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. The bill would have required doctors to give the same degree of health care to newborns who survive abortions as any other child born alive.

In half the states, doctors are not required to provide health care for babies who survive their planned execution at the hands of a cold-hearted abortionist. 

With that filibuster, Harris is now on record as favoring infanticide. 

In 2019, Democrats established themselves as the party of death when New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law allowing abortion up to the moment of birth and even after the child is viable and able to live on their own. 

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam also supported legislation in his state allowing for infanticide. In what can only be described as the most chilling words ever to come out of an American politician’s mouth, Northam said this in defense of ending the life of a baby after they survived an abortion: 

“If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.” 

What Northam was literally calling for was keeping the baby alive on the medical table after he or she was born while a decision was made whether to let the baby die. Only the hardest of hearts would see that as anything other than evil.  

Many of the 70 plus million voting for Biden and Harris may not realize they’ve potentially put in the White House two of the most morally depraved candidates in U.S. history.

Most Democrats voted for Biden/Harris more out of a deep disdain and hatred of President Donald Trump than anything else. Trump is the most pro-life president we’ve ever had, and that’s why he’s so hated by so many. 

Too many Americans have seared their conscience when it comes to the genocide of American babies enabled by the Democrat Party. 

Democrats were the key defenders of slavery, segregation, the KKK, and now they are the party that’s the guardian of the death culture in America. 

The 2020 presidential election was not a fight between conservative or liberal, left or right, Democrat or Republican. It was a battle between good and evil. 

It’s time to call evil, evil again. 

Dan Fagan hosts the number one rated morning drive radio show in Alaska weekdays on Newsradio 650 KENI. Dan splits his time between Anchorage and New Orleans.