Those of us who believe in fair play, the tit-for-tat variety, continually are flabbergasted at how the media treat folks based on their political leanings.
Take, for instance, the recent case of Tammy Randolph, Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s nominee to the University of Alaska Board of Regents. She withdrew her name from consideration this week after a storm of criticism for past social media posts.
The Anchorage Daily News reported: “The Alaska Democratic Party blasted some of her posts on its social media feeds on Friday, describing her appointment as “outrageous.” Fairbanks writer Dermot Cole posted screenshots of her posts on his blog. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner also posted screenshots from Randolph’s Twitter feed.”
Frankly, some of the posts contained harsh language and were, to be kind, a little rough – certainly not something you would expect from a university regent. She owned up to them, apologized and pulled her name.
Then, take the case of liberal Anchorage Assemblyman Chris Constant, who, in a fit of liberal pique last year fired off stunningly crude, shocking Facebook posts directed at the editor of a local news and commentary website, Suzanne Downing, a Republican who needles the political Left mercilessly.
Constant oh-so-cleverly told readers she is a “calumnious unfit noisome turd” and a “callous unfit nasty trashmouth.” Pretend you are 14 years old and, as he urged Facebook readers, read between the lines.
Read the rest of this commentary at Anchorage Daily Planet:
Updated: The Coast Guard suspended the search for a missing Guardian Flight plane at 5:30 pm on Thursday, after conducting marine and aerial searches for more than 63 hours in an area encompassing 240 square miles near Kake. Numerous other searched were conducted by partner agencies and volunteers.
The plane was enroute from Anchorage to Kake to pick up a patient on Tuesday when it never arrived. Must Read Alaska has learned that no Mayday call was made. The locator beacon also never went off.
Despite search efforts, no other debris was located Wednesday night or Thursday, after an initial find of part of a wing, which is believed to belong to the missing plane.
Earlier on Thursday, the Guardian Flight spokesman said the company believes the wing is from their plane.
“…the debris found by searchers unfortunately gives us a very strong indication that it was our airplane. While search and rescue efforts are continuing in an attempt to find survivors, we are resigned to accept that the aircraft was ours,” said Randy Lyman, vice president of base operations of Guardian Flight.
On board the flight were Pilot Patrick Coyle, 63, Flight Nurse Stacie Rae Morse, 30, and Flight Paramedic Margaret Langston, 43, all based in Juneau.
Another life was on board: an unborn child of Morse, expected in April.
Also, Margaret had been earlier identified as Margaret Langston Allen, but the company said her married name is Langston.
The weather forecast in the search area tonight calls for clear skies, with a low around 23. North wind 15 to 20 mph.
Today, President Donald Trump approved Alaska’s request for a major disaster declaration.
He ordered federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by an earthquake on Nov. 30, 2018.
The president’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the Municipality of Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
“Almost one month ago, I asked the President to declare a federal disaster in the aftermath of the November 30th earthquake. Today, we’re pleased to announce that request was granted,” said Gov. Michael Dunleavy. “We are eternally thankful for President Trump and his entire team, including FEMA, for working quickly to evaluate our request and respond to our needs. The November 30th earthquake hit Alaska hard and recovery efforts and repairs will take time, but we are looking forward to working with our federal partners and doing what it takes to get Alaska back up and running.”
“We have successfully worked with FEMA in the past to help Alaskans recover from disasters. Alaska is not like other states and recovering from an earthquake is not like other disasters,” said Brig. Gen. Torrence Saxe, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs. “Our role is to ensure the recovery effort utilizes all funding streams, incorporates local, state, and non-government organizations, and responds to the needs of Alaskans.”
In addition to helping with home repairs, low-cost loans, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the disaster, federal funding also is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the earthquake in the Municipality of Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures in all areas within the State.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State. After spring thaw, more damage may be ascertained as needing further federal funds for repairs.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated region can apply for assistance by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.
The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
As of Jan. 31, more than 13,000 people have registered for State of Alaska Individual Assistance. Each of these applicants will have to register for federal disaster recovery programs separately.
FEMA and DHS&EM will establish a Joint Field Office in southcentral Alaska to deliver the state and federal programs. Bryan Fisher, State Coordinating Officer, will work with FEMA staff to establish disaster recovery priorities. State staff will work side-by-side with FEMA staff to ensure that programs are utilized to their maximum efficiency.
FEMA’s Individual Assistance program authorizes up to $34,900 in grants to eligible individuals and homeowners affected by the earthquake. The Public Assistance program will provide federal reimbursement for not-less-than 75% of the costs to repair and rebuild infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the quake.
Harvard Law School graduate. Former chief data officer for the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General. U.S. Department of Justice counsel. Counsel and chief investigator for the Office of Inspector General. Ordained pastor and church planter. Leader of bible study groups. Mother of five. Wife. Descendant of Oregon Trail settlers. Raised in Alaska. Graduate of Steller Secondary School.
That’s it in a nutshell. Now, Kelly Tshibaka is the new commissioner of the Department of Administration for the State of Alaska.
Tshibaka was named today to the post by Gov. Michael Dunleavy. Her name is not a household word in Alaska. But she was raised in Alaska before heading off to college and a career in government service.
“We are excited Kelly has accepted this role to help refocus and reprioritize areas of management, operations and government efficiencies within the Department of Administration,” said Gov. Michael Dunleavy. “Her resume speaks for itself – a born and raised Alaskan, a stellar background and education, and work experience tested at the highest levels of the federal government. My message from the start has been government can and should be managed better, more efficiently, and with far greater outcomes. Kelly has succeeded in these areas in the past and we are confident the Legislature will concur that she is eminently qualified for this position. We welcome Kelly back to Alaska.”
In 2015, Tshibaka was appointed chief data officer at the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, where data analytics has resulted in more than $920 million in financial impact or audit findings in 2016.
Before that she served as the Acting Inspector General of the Federal Trade Commission and in the Office of the Director for National Intelligence, where she conducted civil liberties and privacy oversight and was counsel to the Inspector General. Earlier, she was special assistant to the Department of Justice Inspector General, conducting sensitive investigations; overseeing audits, investigations, and inspections; and assisting in managing employees nationwide.
At the Postal Service, she tracked down fraud, waste, and abuse. Her data analytics team helped auditors recover $121 million in fines and restitution for fraudulent billings to the Postal Service, and avoid making more than $110 million in payments on improper billings.
The Department of Administration provides centralized administrative services to state agencies in matters of finance, personnel, labor relations, leasing of space, central mail distribution, property management, risk management, procurement, retirement and benefits programs, information and telecommunication systems. It operates and maintains 18 state-owned buildings in Juneau, Anchorage, Nome, Palmer and Fairbanks.
The Department of Administration also provides indigent defense and children’s advocacy through the Public Defender Agency and the Office of Public Advocacy, and vehicle registration and driver licensing through the Division of Motor Vehicles, as well as a host of other services. The department has administrative responsibilities for the Alaska Public Offices Commission, Alaska Public Broadcasting, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Tshibaka was tapped to round out the governor’s core team of senior policy advisors – focusing primarily on areas of management, audit and government efficiency. When the Department of Administration vacancy occurred upon the departure of John Quick, the governor asked her to step into that role.
COAST GUARD, PARTNERS, SAMARITANS CONTINUE SEARCH FOR MEDEVAC SURVIVORS
The U.S. Coast Guard, partner agencies, and volunteers continued to scour the the waters near Kake on Wednesday after an overdue Guardian Air plane that was approaching the village on Tuesday evening never arrived.
The twin-engine Beechcraft King Air 200 was due to arrive at 6:19 pm; dusk in the area was at 5 pm.
Aircraft debris was found in Chatham Strait, about 22 miles west of Kake, near the south end of Admiralty Island. It was initially spotted from the air by a Wrangell-based search-and-rescue effort and was picked up by the Coast Guard. But officials haven’t confirmed the debris is from the overdue aircraft.
The Alaska Army National Guard has joined the search that is led by the Coast Guard to find the medical plane that was enroute to pick up a patient. Kake is on the northwest shore of Kupreanof Island.
On board were three Juneauites, identified by Guardian Flight as pilot Patrick Coyle, 63, flight nurse Stacie Rae Morse, 30, and flight paramedic Margaret Langston Allen, 43, all based in Juneau.
The electronic locating transmitter (black box) on board the aircraft has not been broadcasting, according to Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa out of Petersburg and the Cutter Bailey Barco out of Ketchikan are continuing the search, along with a Sitka-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, assisted by:
Alaska National Guard
Alaska State Troopers
Petersburg Search and Rescue
Kake Search and Rescue
Wrangell Search and Rescue
Alaska Marine Highways Ferries
Good Samaritans with small boats in the area
The weather forecast in the area for Thursday shows a gale warning, with an arctic front pushing south over the Panhandle. Northerly winds are expected to increase through the day behind this front and peak on Friday afternoon before diminishing very slowly through Sunday. The water temperature is 42 degrees and water conditions are reported to be rough.
(The Image at the top of this story is file photo of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa)
(6-minute read) TORRENCE SAXE TAKES REINS AT ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD, DMVA
Torrence Saxe, Alaska’s commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, has spent a lifetime in military service that started at age 18, when he first enlisted in the Army Reserves.
Overnight, he went from carrying a book bag at Eastern Washington State University to carrying a M-16. Deployed shortly after he joined, he participated in the first Gulf War — Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
As a medic in a unit that was primarily in charge of prisoners of war, he saw a lot of casualties, both from enemy combatants and American soldiers.
“War is a terrible thing,” he said during an interview last week. “And I want to make sure my men and women are prepared for it.”
“Be ready for war,” Saxe is known to advise his staff. “Because war is ready for you.” It’s a philosophy he picked up not only from reading The Art of War by Sun Tsu, but also from personal experience.
Returning home from the war zone, Saxe finished college and then, getting a discharge from the Army, attended officer school, and joined the Air Force.
Born to a family that were apple and pear orchardists in Eastern Washington since the 1800s, Saxe was the kid who left the orchard for a military career that took him far and wide across the globe. He’s quiet and conducts himself professionally. And in 30 years, he has never had a break in his military service.
MONTANA / COLORADO YEARS
Saxe’s first job in the Air Force was as a nuclear operations officer, working underground in missile silos in Montana. Should the president ever decide to launch a nuclear missile, he and his colleagues were the ones with their hands on the switch.
From there, he was assigned to Clear Air Force Base, his first trip to Alaska in 1999. There, he became chief of training and standardization at the radar station that detects incoming ICBM and submarine-launched missiles.
Then it was to England for him, and a space surveillance unit that was becoming a detachment. Saxe became the commander of that detachment.
Returning to Colorado, he was assigned to Peterson Air Force Base as an executive officer and then a staff officer in charge of the personnel department.
Saxe then joined the National Guard and returned to Clear Air Force Base in 2004, ultimately becoming the commander for the 213th space warning squadron.
Uniquely, he is the only person who has ever been the base commander as a guardsman.
He stayed eight years at Clear AFB before attending War College at Maxwell Air Force Base.
By 2013, he was headed to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and the 176th maintenance group, as commander.
Prior to his current position, Saxe was the commander of the 168th Wing at Eielson AFB.
KC-135R Stratotanker is towed into a hangar at JBER, part of the 168th Wing at Eielson Air Force Base, upon its return from a mission in Southeast Asia.
Saxe is the only person in the Air Guard who has been a commander at all three Alaska bases.
In addition to his professional life, he is married and is a father of six children.
Just two weeks ago, he was surprised to be named commissioner Alaska’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, including becoming adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard.
Saxe will appear before the Senate Affairs Committee on Thursday in the Butrovich Room 205 at 3:30 pm for his confirmation interview.
FOCUSING ON DISASTER RESPONSE
While the Alaska National Guard needs to maintain focus on the federal mission, Saxe said he also wants to emphasize the Guard’s role for disaster response, such as after the Southcentral earthquake on Nov. 30. He sees there’s room for the Guard to better prepare to help communities.
He also wants to empower his workforce so he can grow new leadership for the future. This he feels he can accomplish by pushing authority downward through the ranks, and helping people with their personal development.
“We’re building up the bench of leaders,” he said, adding that “Team Alaska” is his theme. And that includes rural Alaska, and communities off the road system, such as his planned trips to Bethel and Galena.
Recently, he put a recruiter in Juneau for the Air Guard. That was a first, and important to him.
“This is the symbolic and actual capital and we are not here enough,” he said.
He also said that under his watch, there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment and sexual assault: “We have a culture to build on.”
(3-minute read) PEOPLE NOT WITHIN TAXING JURISDICTIONS ARE BEING CHARGED
Must Read Alaska has learned that consumers in Juneau, North Pole, Homer, and Wasilla are reporting that Amazon is tacking on a sales tax for their purchases — even if they don’t pay local sales tax.
As earlier reported, buyers started noticing the sales tax in Juneau and inquired with the city’s Tax Office.
In the Capital City and in North Pole, that tax is 5 percent. But it’s 7 percent in Kodiak, and 3 percent in Wasilla.
Some buyers are unhappy because they live outside of the local taxing jurisdiction, but Amazon is collecting the tax anyway because it’s done by zip code.
“I don’t live within the city limits and my post office box is far outside, but because it uses a 99687 zip code, Amazon charges me tax just as you described for Juneau,” wrote one Wasilla resident.
“I raised a fuss over 90 cents of tax with Amazon and was finally told that I would need to provide a letter from the City of Wasilla stating that my PO Box was outside of city limits to avoid the tax.”
Eagle River residents who because they are in Anchorage, don’t have a local sales tax, are reporting that they are being taxed by Amazon as well. They received the same notice, leaving a question in their minds as to where Amazon is going to remit those taxes, since Anchorage doesn’t have a sales tax.
Amazon’s policy states that the amount of tax charged depends on various factors:
The identity of the seller
The type of item or service purchased
The time and location of fulfillment
The shipment or delivery address of your order
“These factors can change between the time you place an order and when your shipment is complete. As a result, the tax calculated on your order may change. We provide an “Estimated Tax” is displayed at Check Out when confirming an order. The amounts displayed as estimated tax may then be updated later when your order is finalized and completed.”The tax rate applied to your order will be the combined state and local rates of the address where your order is delivered to or fulfilled from. For example, if you live in a state that does not impose a sales tax, you may still see tax calculated on your order if shipped to another state.
“Moreover, the tax rates applied to your order may also be different for a variety of reasons, such as a shipment to a residential home versus a business address.
“Also, the total selling price of an item will generally include item-level shipping and handling charges, item level discounts, and gift wrapping charges. If applied at an order level, these charges, may be allocated to the individual items in an order.”
The Alaska Municipal League is conducting a study of the internet sale tax situation in Alaska and how Alaska Statute may need to change to adapt. The disparity between local sellers and internet sellers has long been a thorn in the side of brick-and-mortar stores in Alaska.
Who could have expected the howls and moans from the Left and the education industry about Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposal to trim $20 million from education to help pay for the tens of millions of dollars in damage caused by the Nov. 30 earthquake? Almost anybody.
Dunleavy is offering two supplemental budget bills – legislation that would amend the current fiscal year’s budget – and one includes the $20 million cut.
The $20 million in question was appropriated by the Legislature last May as it struggled to approve the state operating budget. It was to be handed out to the state’s 53 school districts and the Mount Edgecumbe school in Sitka.
But, the Juneau Empire reports: A state Office of Budget and Management document says, “the additional funding created a situation in which education was funded beyond the statutorily required amount while other programs were underfunded. This reduction is required to meet other obligations of the state.”
Dunleavy took office promising to cut spending and make the state’s books – now running $1.6 billion in the red – to balance. That means there are choices to be made, tough choices, and it will not be easy.
Alaska already spends more than $2 billion annually on education, putting it near the top of states’ education spending. Why should education in Alaska be immune to cuts? And who – other than teachers’ unions – realistically believes that cutting an amount that is less than 1 percent of the state’s education spending is undoable?
The state spends too much – no matter the howling from the Left.
(90-second read) WHILE KNOPP CLAIMS SUPPORT IS 10-TO-1, ONE VOTER DEMANDS PROOF
A 24-hour Facebook poll asking readers if Rep. Gary Knopp is on the right track show some startling results that would normally get any politician’s attention.
Fully 93 percent of the poll participants say Knopp is not on track in his power-sharing plan for the House of Representatives, which would give 50 percent of the power to the Democrat minority in a sort of “Caucus of the Whole” plan.
While not scientific, the poll stands in stark contrast to what Knopp wrote to the Republican Women of the Kenai in a letter he sent to them, claiming that letters from his constituents are running 10-to-1 in favor of his leaving the Republican majority to form up a bipartisan coalition.
The poll results are here:
KENAI VOTER ASKS TO SEE THE LETTERS
“For every letter of frustration that I receive, I receive tenfold in support of my efforts,” Knopp wrote to the Republican Women of the Kenai.
Knopp’s claim of overwhelming support for his position has been challenged by a Kenai voter who wants the representative to prove that he actually has those letters.
Danny Dykema sent a letter to Knopp a week ago, but received no response.
Today, he sent another letter to him, asking him to prove his 10-to-1 claim.
“This week you claim to have a 10 to 1 ratio of emails supporting your plan and that I am a minority with other republicans in criticizing your plan. As a voting constituent in your district, can you provide me any proof of this 10-1 ratio of support or for your radical plan in Juneau?” wrote Dykema. He copied the letter to Must Read Alaska.
Have you sent a letter to Rep. Gary Knopp the went unanswered? Use the comment section below to let MRAK know.
