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Legend Urban Rahoi turns 100, parties like he’s 99

Suzanne Downing
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Legend Urban Rahoi turns 100, parties like he’s 99

When Urban Rahoi has a party, Fairbanks friends show up. So does Sen. Dan Sullivan and even former Miami Dolphins football player Larry Csonka, who flew from Florida for the occasion. They’re shown above in the photo along with Sullivan’s father-in-law, Bud Fate.

Rahoi and over 1000 friends gathered Saturday at the Pioneer Park Centennial Center, where a massive cake was frosted, lit, and staged.

And yes, an attractive woman (Paula Gambardella) jumped out of the cake.

Born in Upper Michigan in January of 1919, Rahoi began flying in 1934 and flew B-17 Flying Fortress bombers over Africa and Europe in World War II. He was also a bush pilot in Alaska, a hunting guide, homesteader, and builder.

He was married to Vienna on his 21st birthday, and brought her to Alaska, where they homesteaded along the Tanana River. She died at home in his arms at age 82, on Jan. 3, 2010.

In 1947 he started Interior Airways with Al Wright and Jim Magoffin. Over his flying career, he’s survived three crashes.

Rahoi also ran as a candidate for Alaska House of Representatives a few times, most recently in 2012.

Sen. Sullivan remarked on his legendary life: “What really describes a life, when you think about your service in World War II, flying B-17s, and what you’ve done for our great state, literally it’s no exaggeration. You are part of the Greatest Generation, that saved America and built Alaska.”

Indeed, Rahoi ‘s flying career spanned over 80 years, and he has piloted his plane as recently as 2018.

 

In September of 2016, Rahoi was at his remote lodge about five hours from Fairbanks. He was doing some repair work on his runway when he started feeling strange. He was suffering a stroke. Knowing something wasn’t quite right, he flew himself back to Fairbanks from Ptarmigan Lake, over an hour away, in his Cessna 206.

He continued not feeling well so drove himself to the hospital. Today, the stroke effects interfere with his balance, making it difficult to walk far, but he still does physical therapy, works out, and continues to get out on snow machines with friends who are more than ready to lend a hand.

During the party, video greetings were played from both Congressman Don Young and Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Czonka gave Rahoi his old autographed Miami Dolphins helmet for his next snow machine race. He recalled how Rahoi had urged him to get off his butt at age 65 and go sheep hunting with him. Rahoi was 85 at the time.

The event was organized by a dozen friends, led by one of his closest, Craig Compeau, who has made sure that Rahoi has gotten on his snow machine every year in the “Tired Iron” race for antique sleds, during which Rahoi rides a 1965 Polaris Mustang.

Survey: Senate Democrats want to hear from you

Suzanne Downing
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Survey: Senate Democrats want to hear from you

SURVEY ASKS YOUR OPINION

Sen. Bill Wielechowski of Anchorage and his fellow Senate Democrats have a survey they want you to complete, because they want your opinion before they head to Juneau for the lawmaking season. The survey asks everything from your opinion on crime and the Pebble Project to whether you think state spending is too high, too low, or just about right. There’s also a question about paying back the portion of the Permanent Fund dividend that was cut during the Walker Administration.

Here’s the link to the survey:

https://www.aksenatedems.com/2019-session-survey/?fbclid=IwAR3ewDLxFHpuhyU9QnMh476bpaZjPDHGKEq8Qfl-ZiRSUrpVk4fwEU2GH5A

Sweeping changes to Uniform Code of Military Justice just went into effect

Suzanne Downing
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EVERYTHING FROM SEX TO COMPUTER CRIMES ADDRESSED

The Uniform Code of Military Justice was updated and went into effect this week, meant to modernize definitions for many offenses and adjust penalties and court-martial panels.

It also brought in a new category of computer crime laws and added definitions concerning behavior that pertains to extra-marital affairs.

The changes attempt to strike a balance between protecting the rights of the accused and empowering commanders to maintain discipline.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice is the foundation of military law in the United States that applies to all who serve in the branches of the military, including the National Guard. This is the most robust set of changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice since it was enacted in 1950.

Alaska has nine military bases, with Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks and JBER — Elmendorf AFB and Fort Richardson — the largest. Alaska has more than 17,300 active military personnel and 4,593 reserve personnel, to which the UCMJ applies.

ADULTERY INCLUDES SAME-SEX

The offense of adultery is now called “extra-marital sexual conduct.” The new offense includes same-sex affairs and broadens the meaning of sexual intercourse.

The changes to law allow for legal separation from one’s spouse as a defense. In the past, military service members could be charged with adultery even if they had been legally separated for years but were not divorced.

Also in the past, prosecutors had to prove traditional intercourse to obtain a conviction for adultery. Under the new code, oral sex and other types of sexual intercourse are included.

PROTECTING JUNIOR SOLDIERS

Article 93a of the Uniform Code added stiffer penalties for recruiters, drill sergeants, and others in “positions of special trust” who are convicted of abusing their authority over recruits or trainees.

The maximum sentence was increased from two years to five years of confinement for those in authority engaging in prohibited sexual activities with junior soldiers.

Under the new code, even if the sexual behavior is consensual, it’s still a crime.

Article 132 now protects victims and those reporting crimes from retaliation.

An adverse personnel action against someone reporting such a crime can get the person in authority up to three years confinement without pay and a dishonorable discharge.

COMPUTER CRIMES

Article 123 now has penalties for those soldiers who access unauthorized information on government computers. Distributing classified information can earn a maximum sentence of 10 years confinement, but even wrongfully accessing it can get up to five years in jail.

Unauthorized access of personally identifiable information, or PII, is also a crime. Intentionally damaging government computers or installing a virus can also bring five years in the clinker.

Also updated are offenses involving the fraudulent use of credit cards, debit cards, or other access devices to acquire anything of value. The penalty for such crimes has been increased to a max of 15 years confinement if the theft is over $1,000.

If the theft is under $1,000 the maximum penalty was increased from five to 10 years confinement. This penalty also applies to those misusing a government travel card.

Cyberstalking is also now included as a stalking offense under Article 130.

COURTS-MARTIAL

A “bench trial” by a judge alone can now determine guilt or innocence for many offenses. Almost any charge can be referred to such a forum, except for rape and sexual assault, which requires referral to a general court-martial. However, if the offense has a sentence of more than two years, the accused has a right to object to such charges being referred to a bench trial and could request a special or general court-martial.

If found guilty at a bench trial, a soldier cannot be given a punitive discharge and the max sentence would be limited to no more than six months forfeiture of pay and no more than six months confinement. The judge can still adjudge a reduction in rank.

More than half of the cases in the Army are settled by plea agreements other than by trial.

Special courts-martial will now be set at four panel members. A court-martial convening authority can also authorize alternate members to be on a special or a general court-martial, she said.

Capital offenses such as murder require a 12-member panel.

For a non-capital court-martial, three-fourths of the panel members must agree with the prosecution to convict the accused. For instance, if only five members of an eight-member panel vote guilty, then the accused is acquitted. A conviction for a capital offense still requires a unanimous verdict.

OTHER CHANGES

More changes to punitive offenses include the definition of burglary, which now includes breaking and entering any building or structure of another, anytime, with the intent to commit any offense covered by the Uniform Code. In the past, burglary was limited to breaking and entering the dwelling house of another in the nighttime.

The penalty for wearing unauthorized medals of valor has increased from six months to a max of one-year confinement along with forfeiture of pay and a bad-conduct discharge. This includes wearing an unauthorized Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart or valor device. The maximum penalty for wearing any other unauthorized medal is still only six months.

The changes to the punitive articles are not retroactive to crimes committed before Jan. 1, 2019, but some procedural efficiencies will apply retroactively.

A team of military legal experts has travelled to 48 installations in 2018 to train 6,000 legal personnel and law-enforcement agents about the changes. Classes included everyone from judges to law clerks, and privates to generals.

[Read more at Army News Service]

Destroyer to be named USS Ted Stevens

Suzanne Downing
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The newest destroyer being built for the U.S. Navy will be named after the late Sen. Ted Stevens, a man whom Alaskans also refer to as Uncle Ted. Stevens died in a plane crash in Alaska in 2010.

The announcement came not from the Navy, but jointly from the offices of Congressman Don Young, and Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan on Friday afternoon.

“It is an honor to help Secretary Spencer announce the naming of the USS Ted Stevens today,” said Sen. Sullivan. “As an Army Air Corps officer, a civil servant, and a historic U.S. Senator from our great state, Senator Stevens remains one of the shining examples of public service to our nation. We Alaskans affectionately called him ‘Uncle Ted.’ However, before he was our U.S. Senator, Senator Stevens bravely flew missions behind enemy lines in the Pacific Theater during WWII, supporting the now famous ‘Flying Tigers.’  I can think of no more fitting tribute than to name DDG-128, a powerful Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, after Ted Stevens. May this ship bearing his name continue his remarkable legacy for decades to come and may her crew gain inspiration for their missions from one of our country’s truly great men.”

“During WWII, Senator Stevens earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Yuan Hai Medal, and the Air Medal for his selfless and brave service as an Army Air Corps pilot. In addition to his notable military career, Senator Stevens was a public servant, a mentor, and a dear friend whose dedication and commitment to Alaska was nothing short of extraordinary,” said Sen. Murkowski. “I commend Secretary Spencer and the U.S. Navy for naming a future Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer, the USS Ted Stevens, in his honor—a remarkable acknowledgement of the service, sacrifice, and life of our Uncle Ted.”

“The Arleigh Burke-class of destroyers is one of the toughest and most capable warfighting tools our Nation produces, characteristics which also define my dear friend, the great Senator Ted Stevens,” said Congressman Young. “It is my honor to join my Senate colleagues and Secretary Spencer in announcing the naming of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer as the USS Ted Stevens. From his service as a pilot in the Pacific Theater during WWII flying over the Hump, to his fierce advocacy for Alaska and our Nation, Ted always exemplified American patriotism. He dedicated much of his adult life in service to our Nation, and I hope that this ship continues to embody his legacy and its name gives her crew the inspiration needed to fulfill her missions.”

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers conduct a variety of operations from peacetime presence and crisis response to sea control and power projection, according to the Navy. The USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128) will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously, and will contain a combination of offensive and defensive weapon systems designed to support maritime warfare, including integrated air and missile defense and vertical launch capabilities, the Navy said.

The ship will be constructed at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss., where the other destroyers of this class have been built. The ship will be 509 feet long, have a beam length of 59 feet and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 30 knots.

MORE ABOUT THE DESTROYER

The Arleigh Burke destroyer class is a fighting machine. It’s the Navy’s first class of destroyer built around the Aegis Combat System and certain radar capabilities.

This class of fighting ship is named for Admiral Arleigh Burke, a World War II destroyer officer and later chief of naval operations.

The first ship of the class was commissioned on July 4, 1991, during Admiral Burke’s lifetime. After the Spruance class destroyers were finally decommissioned with the retiring of the last vessel in 2005, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers became the Navy’s only active destroyers, until the Zumwalt class came online in 2016.

The Arleigh Burke class has the longest production run for any post-World War II U.S. Navy surface combatant, and the class has 62 vessels. It has an overall length of between 505 and 509 feet, and its weapons include 90 missiles.

Breaking: Bart LeBon win stands, Supreme Court decides

Suzanne Downing
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Breaking: Bart LeBon win stands, Supreme Court decides

The Alaska Supreme Court took little time in deciding to deny an appeal from Fairbanks House District 1 candidate Kathryn Dodge, rejecting her arguments and allowing the one-vote victory of Rep. Bart LeBon stand.

“We have referred the matter to a special master for hearing and reviewed the record of the recount and the arguments of the parties. Based on this review, we affirm the Director’s decision. A full opinion will follow,” wrote the court, referring to the former director of the Division of Elections, Josie Bahnke.

The court on Friday morning heard both lawyers from LeBon and Dodge argue their cases for why they should be declared the winner. The decision came not long after noon.

[Watch the oral arguments here]

LeBon was welcomed into the Republican caucus, which now stands at 20, since Republican Gary Knopp of Kenai has decided — for now at least — to remain outside of either the Democrats or Republican-led caucus. The Democrats have 19 in their caucus, including two Republicans.

“Alaska’s Courts should be commended for their attention to detail in this race,” said House Speaker-Elect Rep. Dave Talerico. “The first step in repairing Alaskans’ trust in their government is to ensure that our elections carry the highest level of integrity – down to the very last vote.”

“Alaska’s fiscal future could not be placed in more capable hands,” said Rep. Tammie Wilson of North Pole. “He [LeBon] brings a wealth of financial and educational knowledge at a time when it is so desperately needed, and we’re delighted to have his wisdom and leadership as we work to reduce the deficit.”

LeBon won by one vote after a recount that occurred on Nov. 30 in Juneau. Dodge and her lawyers challenged that result by focusing on a handful of ballots they determined should or should not have been counted. LeBon countered by challenging other ballots that would have benefited his outcome had they been decided on differently by the Division of Elections.

[Read: LeBon wins by one vote]

Read the court’s decision here:

Dodge January 4, 2019 Order

 

Electoral College preserves viability of small states

Suzanne Downing
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Electoral College preserves viability of small states

THE ANCHORAGE DAILY PLANET

From the land of dumb ideas come a really dumb idea.

Frothing House Democrats stung by 2016’s presidential defeat and yearning to turn this nation into a pure democracy – something loathed and feared by the country’s Founders – have introduced legislation to kill off the Electoral College.

Nancy Pelosi had hardly stumbled through her speaker acceptance speech when Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., jumped up to offer a bill that would be a first step toward sinking this country into tyranny.

The Electoral College, ensconced in the U.S. Constitution, primarily was meant to protect the political minority’s rights and it hands states the power to elect presidents. Nowadays, it means protecting most of the nation’s states – including Alaska – from the hysterical excesses and whims of a few states with huge populations clustered in cities.

If the Electoral College were eliminated by eventual ratification of a constitutional amendment, as would be required, voters in Alaska and other states with small populations could just stay home on election day. The Founders designed the college to force presidential candidates to appeal to a wider swath of states to reach the magic 270 votes needed to win.

[Read more at the Anchorage Daily Planet]

Thor Stacey named new NFIB director for Alaska

Suzanne Downing
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The National Federation of Independent Business announced that it named lobbyist and Alaska hunting guide Thor Stacey as the new director of the Alaska division of the small business alliance.

Stacey replaces Denny DeWitt, who retired recently, after serving as director for many years.

NFIB is the nonprofit trade group that fiercely defends the interests of small business owners. The group was the plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Obama Administration in opposing Obamacare, a case that was lost at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Stacey said that as a hunting guide, he ran his own business and is excited to now represent the group that guards the interests of “Main Street” small business owners.

“We wanted someone who would make for a seamless transition from the superb small-business advocacy work Denny DeWitt did for us for past 12 years, and we are delighted to have found the perfect candidate and honored Thor Stacey has agreed to come on board,” said Gary Selvy, NFIB’s executive director of state governmental relations. “His experience and talents are perfectly suited to meet the challenges ahead. We wish Denny the best in his well-deserved retirement and look forward to working with Thor.”

Stacey will be joined by Stacy Jenkins, NFIB senior grassroots manager, who will be working to engage small-business owners throughout Alaska .

For the past six years, Thor Stacey has been the director of government affairs for the Alaska Professional Hunters Association and has also led legislative initiatives for Trident Seafoods, Alaska Air Carriers Association, Alaska Wild Sheep Foundation, and IPOP Mining.

A lifelong Alaskan, Stacey served in the U.S. Marine Corps under Alaska U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan. A graduate of Dimond High School in Anchorage, he attended the University of Alaska Southeast to study political science and government, and studied aviation maintenance at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Stacey’s role for NFIB is mainly as a lobbyist to track, report on, and advocate for legislation, but he will also be a subject expert for the interests of small businesses.

Governor visits Kotzebue, topic is public safety

Suzanne Downing
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Governor visits Kotzebue, topic is public safety

A month after he was sworn in as governor in Kotzebue, Gov. Mike Dunleavy is back in the Arctic community. His traveling companions include commissioners and the president of the State Senate: Department of Public Safety Commissioner Amanda Price and Department of Health, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige, and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum.

Senate President Cathy Giessel and two members of Dunleavy’s senior policy group are also attending: John Moller and Ben Stevens.

Dunleavy will be hosting a community town hall meeting today in the Assembly Chambers at 11:30 am. It’s being characterized as a listening session.

Meetings with the Northwest Arctic Borough officials will include the topics of public safety and sexual assault, something Dunleavy has identified as a key focus of his Administration.

Kotzebue is where a young girl disappeared in September, only to be found days later murdered and sexually assaulted. Ten-year-old Ashley Johnson-Barr had been kidnapped and killed on the evening of Sept. 6. Her assaulted body was found eight days later more than two miles from where she had been last seen, at a local playground. The event traumatized the close-knit community; 41-year-old Peter Vance Wilson has been charged with the crimes.

On Dec. 3, Dunleavy stopped in Kotzebue on his way to Noorvik, where he was to be sworn in as governor. The weather in Noovik forced his hand, however, and a ceremony was quickly organized in the high school gymnasium, with students in attendance in an ad hoc assembly, enabling him to meet the noon deadline for the swearing in. He then continued on to Noorvik for his inaugural celebration in the hometown of his wife, Rose Dunleavy.

While in Kotzebue and Noorvik in December, he promised the communities that rural Alaska would not be forgotten. Today is one way that he is making good on that promise.

Kotzebue is an important hometown for the governor, as he taught school and was superintendent of schools there in the 1990 and early 2000s.

Senate President Giessel was a school nurse for the North Slope Borough school district for many years and as a child spent a lot of time in the region with her father, who was a pilot for Wien Air.

The trip includes a stopover at nearby Red Dog Mine. On Thursday, Sen. Giessel shared a study with an audience at the Resource Development Council that shows that the Northwest Arctic Borough has led the nation in the greatest increase of life expectancy, a remarkable occurrence that parallels commercial development of oil, gas and mining in the region.

Don Young swears in Nancy Pelosi as Speaker

Suzanne Downing
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HOUSE SPEAKER HAS THIN MAJORITY THAT IS FARTHER LEFT

Alaska Congressman Don Young swore in the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Thursday.

This is Pelosi’s second time as Speaker in her long career, and the duty to swear her in fell to a congressional warhorse who has served even longer than her. Pelosi was first elected in 1987, and Young has served since 1973. The role of swearing in the Speaker falls to the longest-serving member of Congress, known as the Dean of the House.

Young made quick work of the ceremony, which lasted just under one minute.

The 78-year-old lawmaker from San Francisco had the support of 220 Democrats who voted for her leadership. Fifteen Democrats, however, did not support her leading their caucus, voting “present” rather than in the affirmative. She needed 216 votes to win, and the defections were unusually high for a Speaker, leaving Pelosi with a thin four-vote margin of support and a caucus that is moving farther to the left.

Pelosi and Young are on opposite sides of the political aisle, but both have been in office for decades and have respect for each other and the institution. They both are fierce advocates for their positions but have been able to put personal politics aside to get the job done.

Pelosi came to Young when he was chair of House Resources Committee to ask for his help in getting the Presidio U.S. Army fort converted to a national park, which he agreed to champion for her in his committee. When Young became Dean of the House, Pelosi expressed her thanks for that effort during her floor speech recognizing his new role.

“Despite our differences, it is clear that Don cares deeply about our nation.  Don serves because, in his words, he’s ‘enthusiastic about meeting people and trying to solve their problems.’  As a former teacher, he’s an advocate for quality education for all.  As a former U.S. Army tank operator, he believes in ensuring that service members, families and veterans have the care they have earned.  And in honor of his late, beloved wife Lu Young, he’s been a champion for the Native children of Alaska,” she said last year.

Ten of the new Democrat freshmen and five others defected from supporting Pelosi, who was sworn in along with all other Congress members on the 13th day of the federal government shutdown.

But among Pelosi’s caucus are members of a far-left faction of the House, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, both of whom are members of the Democratic Socialists of America, and who support  expanding Medicare and free public college for all.

Tlaib, the the first Palestinian-American congresswoman, told a cheering crowd that “we’re going to go in there and we’re going to impeach the motherfucker,” referring crudely to President Donald Trump. You can see her remarks here:

But Pelosi told the media yesterday that she isn’t interested in impeachment. As for indictment, she said it was “open to discussion,” and that she disagrees with the Justice Department opinion that a sitting president cannot be indicted, although she did not specify which act by Trump was indictable.

She said on Thursday that the Democrats’ caucus would reject any funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“We’re not doing a wall. Does anybody have any doubt? We’re not doing a wall,” she said.

Pelosi has already had to acquiesce to the far-left freshmen of Congress, who have been taking their cues from left-leaning lawmakers like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has announced she is running for president.

Even the shutdown of the federal government may not have been resolved because Pelosi was not able to make a deal with President Trump before the vote on her speakership, or it may have led to some of her supporters jumping ship.

Her predecessor, former Congressman Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, also was hobbled when he was Speaker by the disparate political views in the Republican Party, especially the harder-right conservatives and Freedom Caucus members that influenced the House Republican Caucus starting in 2014.

Ryan won his speakership with 236 votes over Pelosi’s 184 votes in October of 2015. Pelosi’s current four-vote margin of victory leaves her with a more tenuous position than Ryan had, or that former Speaker John Boehner had before him.

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