Alaskans who lived in the state during the Gov. Bill Walker Administration recall how bad crime got during that era under Walker’s Senate Bill 91, which allowed criminals to get bounced from jail with no penalties time and again. The justice system was a revolving door and Alaska became known as a lawless place, until Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2019 signed the law repealing the crime-spree legislation.
Anchorage has a catch-and-release problem just like SB 91. It’s called Rule 45.
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance has built a budget blueprint for cities showing how to have that revolving door of criminals without state legislators repealing it. All cities must do is to stop prosecuting crime and let the clock run out.
The municipal prosecutor’s office at the Anchorage Mayor’s Office is overwhelmed with cases. The office, which deals with all the misdemeanor cases in the city, as well as assaults, domestic violence, thefts, disorderly conduct and more, can’t keep up.
In addition to the local cases brought through arrests, there are State of Alaska cases that start out as felonies, but are reduced to misdemeanors and end up in the municipal prosecutor’s inbox.
With 13,000 cases per year, Anchorage currently doesn’t have enough prosecutors to handle the workload in what is quickly becoming a lawless city.
The backlog has led to about 60 cases a week being automatically dismissed by the court, simply because the cases run out of time set by the Supreme Court.
The law known as Rule 45 relates to getting a speedy trial, which is defined as a trial within 120 days.
Since thousands of cases are not brought to trial within that time in Anchorage, that 240 cases a month adds up to about 2,880 potential criminal convictions a year that are dismissed due to Rule 45.
In addition, Anchorage leadership now has a “restorative justice” mindset, as defined by portions of the mayor’s first budget document.
In Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s budget, she lays out more money for parks and trails, and funds for diversity and equity offices, but no more hiring of criminal prosecutors.
That means the management of criminal cases is, by design, working as Senate Bill 91 intended all along.
Criminal defense attorneys in Anchorage now look like rock stars because their clients are getting off scot free, as long as they don’t violate their conditions of probation while they await trial. They just have to keep their noses clean for 120 days, and they will not have to face justice.
It’s now clear that Mayor Suzanne LaFrance is cognizant of how this works. She has already let experienced prosecutors go, and the prosecutor’s office has hired seven new very green prosecutors, but the office needs as many as 30 prosecutors to handle the workload. She has budgeted for no more criminal prosecutors.
In her budget, LaFrance adds more money to administration in the Municipal Attorney’s Office and takes 4.68% of the funds away from the criminal prosecutors.
She has added no positions to the criminal division, while boosting the civil division budget by 7%. The civil division deals with impounded vehicles, and provides “legal counsel, support, and advice on specific legislation, the Municipal Code, Charter, legislative procedures, the responsibilities and authority of the Municipality; represent the Municipality and its officials and employees in civil litigation.” This civil division handles DEI complaints and other civil lawsuits.
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The mayor has already thrown in the towel on dealing with the criminal class that is now running the homeless encampments, and the dismissal of charges may ultimately lead to low morale in the police force; why bother arresting people for theft if they’re just going to skirt Rule 45 due to a planned lack of prosecution by the LaFrance Administration?
Notably, the mayor has also proposed no increases in police office personnel in Anchorage, now a force of 614 full-time positions, or about one officer for every 471 residents, roughly the national average.
Businesses in the downtown neighborhood in Anchorage are reporting a sharp increase in burglaries and daytime thefts and some business owners are discussing hired armed security for their establishments or sleeping in their businesses at night.
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s 2025 budget for Anchorage is proposed to be nearly $36.5 million more than the proposed budget by former mayor Dave Bronson for the 2024 budget cycle. The Anchorage Assembly boosted his budget to $611 million and overrode his budget vetoes.
This makes the LaFrance proposed budget the highest in Anchorage history and that is 6% higher than the proposed budget by Bronson, who was attempting to trim about $2.4 million from the prior year’s budget.
LaFrance’s budget is just barely below the tax cap, which is the amount that the city can tax property owners, which is $344 million. Property taxes cover about 60% of the city’s budget, with state and federal monies, as well as some fees covering the balance. The median homeowner in Anchorage pays $4,508 in property taxes to the municipality, the highest in the state.
Last year, the leftist Assembly blew through the tax cap for the first time in Anchorage history, when it revised Mayor Bronson’s budget higher, in violation of the law. The Assembly was forced to pull back some of its illegal spending plans, but still passed a budget higher far higher than Bronson had requested and overrode his vetoes. This year, the Assembly has been given only $173,300 to spend if it wants to go right up to the tax cap.
With capital budget items added in, the LaFrance 2025 budget will actually reach a record $645 million, about 4% more than this year’s overall budget of $620 million.
According to budget documents, the priorities of LaFrance’s ministration are diversity, equity, inclusion with plenty of workforce dedicated to social engineering goals, which include hiring people for ethnicity rather than skill or experience. There are many pages dedicated to the public libraries, and few pages dedicated to the criminal prosecution division of the Municipal Attorney.
In the capital budget, the mayor plans to spend $4.5 million on pedestrian safety. This means following the Assembly leadership’s lead in lowering speed limits around Anchorage, reinstalling lights that were removed when “light pollution” was the government fad, and even dedicating some of the asphalt roads to pedestrians. Most of the 13 pedestrian deaths this year were due to drug- or alcohol-infused vagrants wandering into the middle of the roads — outside of crosswalks — during broad daylight and without signaling to drivers their intention to take over the lane the drivers use. The deaths increased after last October, when the Anchorage Assembly passed an ordinance that makes jaywalking permissible in most circumstances.
The mayor also has several million budgeted for homeless, camp abatement, and other issues involving Anchorage’s growing criminal class that has taken over sidewalks and greenbelts.
In LaFrance’s budget letter to the Assembly, the 2025 budget includes key changes to:
Invest in housing, shelter, and camp abatement to address homelessness Expand the Mobile Crisis Team to 24-hour service – Fully fund the Anchorage Safety Patrol; shift service from the Anchorage Health Department to the Anchorage Fire Department to streamline crisis response Improve recruitment and retention in the Prosecutor’s Office – Raise snowplow operator pay to improve snow removal capacity, reliability, and expertise — Invest the Anchorage Child Care and Early Education Fund in stimulus payments to stabilize the childcare sector, and innovative pilot projects that improve access to quality, affordable childcare and early education Kickstart a new grants team focused on securing federal and state investments for Anchorage’s needs Make Municipal jobs more competitive to improve consistency and function of services
According to the mayor’s budget document, Anchorage has lost 12,000 residents during the past decade, and yet the homeless population has surged and the constant theme of government is that there is not enough housing, an indication that the working Alaskans are leaving the city and that nonworking members of society are filling in to a degree.
A flyer received by Alaska voters from the Division of Elections shows them how to vote in the ranked-choice voting election that is coming up on Nov. 5. The flyer is one of the many expenses that have added millions of dollars to election costs in Alaska. But this informational flyer has an additional aspect that caught the attention of some: The flyer shows people how to rank in the presidential race. There are a number of made up presidential candidate names on the sample ballot. And then there’s the name “Harris.”
“Odem Harris,” to be exact. And the example given to voters to educate them on the ranked-choice process has Harris marked as the voter’s first choice.
Critics contacted Must Read Alaska and said they were surprised; it was either intentional or an example of incompetence, since there is a Harris on the ballot for president. None of the other made up names will be on the actual ballot in November.
Vice President Kamala Harris, although she was not originally nominated by the Democratic Party for president, became the de facto party nominee after President Joe Biden was exposed as being incapable of leading during his debate with Donald Trump in June. The Democrats nominated Harris formally at their August convention on Aug. 19, but had already taken the vote by email and had the delegates pinned down by Aug. 6.
On the Mike Porcaro Show on Wednesday (6.50 KENI AM), Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher explained that it was a mistake an instructional flyer that went out to all voters had the presidential candidate “Harris” on it, with Harris marked as the first choice for president.
Beecher said the flyer was not checked for such an error before it was mailed.
A report on Wednesday at Must Read Alaska exposed the problem with the flyer, which shows voters how to rank their choices in the presidential race.
There are eight candidates on the example ballot, seven of which have names that will not appear on the actual ballot. Then, there was the name of “Harris,” a name that voters will actually see on their ballots. Ballots are already being sent to voters who requested vote-by-mail ballots and to overseas voters.
Harris is marked as the voter’s first choice in the instructions sent to voters:
The flyer sent to voters shows that presidential candidate “Harris” is the first choice
The example ballot has other problems. One of the candidates has the name “Vasquez.” Although there is no Vasquez appearing on the presidential portion of the General Election ballot, there is a Vazquez (slightly different spelling, with z rather than s) appearing as a candidate in the Senate District H race in Anchorage. Some 29,000 voters will get that ballot, as Republican Vazquez challenges Democrat incumbent Sen. Matt Claman.
On the division’s example ballot for president, Vasquez is marked sixth.
The use of “Harris” and “Vasquez” as a presidential candidate also appeared in the Division of Elections’ instructional video, but on the video, Harris’ name was not marked first. This is a screen shot of the video:
Screenshot of the Divisions of Elections instructional video for ranked-choice voting in the presidential race. The video is no longer available at the division’s website.
As of Thursday, in the library of instructional videos at the Division of Elections website, the presidential race explanation video has been removed:
Division of Elections has removed the video that shows presidential candidates.
In the state general election cycle in 2022 — the first time Alaskans used ranked-choice voting — the Division of Elections used animals to explain how to vote your ranked-choice election ballot:
The Division of Elections used animals in 2022 to explain how to mark your ranked-choice ballot.
This year, the instructional material was created and provided to the division by an outside vendor, and the Division of Elections staff did not thoroughly check the work for the serious issue of an actual candidate’s name appearing in the instructional material, and being marked as the preferred candidate.
According to prominent American sociologist Joseph Elton, “Acculturation is the adoption of cultural traits, norms and customs by one society from another… There is no clear line [that] can be drawn between acculturation and assimilation processes. Assimilation is the end–product of a process of acculturation, in which an individual has changed so much as to become dissociated from the value system of his group, or in which the entire group disappears as an autonomously functioning social system.”
Acculturation and assimilation to a new culture by newcomers is a personal and self-determined process—the right to make one’s own decisions without interference from others. No one can force a newly arrived legal and properly vetted immigrant to accept the cultural traditions, lifestyle, and customs of his/her new country. The newcomer himself must see a socio–economic necessity and benefits in accepting new traditions and values to ultimately embrace and accept his/her new culture without external influence.
Indeed, language, religion, education, economics, technology, social organization, art, appearance and political structure are typical categories of culture. Culture is a uniquely human system of habits, moral values, and customs carried by the society from one’s distant past to the present.
True, for a newcomer’s adaptation, these socio-economic and cultural categories are essential for survival in a foreign environment. Nevertheless, changing/adapting people’s behavior (e.g., temperament, manners, demeanor, gestures, conducts, actions, bearing, comportment, preferences, motivation, ambition, etc.) is the most critical obstacle for acculturation and assimilation to new cultural traditions. To assimilate to a new socio-economic environment, newcomers often face culture shocks, as I did in my early days in the United States.
I was born and raised in an internationally isolated, socially closed and predominantly Caucasian socialist society—Kiev, former Soviet Union. While riding public transportation in Kiev, I would occasionally be in the presence of a student from Africa and, as everybody else, I would stare at this person with an epistemic curiosity. In fact, it was only upon my arrival to the United States (Philadelphia) in February of 1978 that I, for the first time, interacted with black people and other ethnic minorities daily in various public places; I have not had any preconceptions about or prejudice toward blacks or other ethnic groups in America—absolutely none.
Initially, as a young emigree in my mid-20s in the United States, I held various menial minimum-wage jobs: I shoveled snow, painted houses, assisted in various construction projects, washed dishes and served customers in the restaurants, and participated in several archaeological projects for Temple University, etc.
In 1979, I successfully completed the course of study in mixology and customer service and passed all necessary tests given by the Philadelphia Professional Bartenders School.
Soon after my completion of the bartender school, I was called for an interview in one of the unassuming bars in southwest Philadelphia, a large area encompassing Philadelphia International Airport and several residential districts, with streets lined with row houses. Southwest Philadelphia’s demographics included a large West African community and a population that was about 70% black, 25% white, and 5% Asian.
Upon arriving for the interview in the early afternoon, the owner of the bar (middle-aged black man) greeted me and briefly checked my credentials. “You must be a qualified bartender,” he acknowledged, glaring directly into my eyes. “But look around you, what do you see?” he continued, pointing to the surroundings. There were 5-6 black customers in the smokey bar observing the scene of the interview. “You will never make it here, you don’t belong here,” declared the owner. He then showed me to the door.
A week later I found a bartending job in the Greek “Dionysus Restaurant” in Society Hill, which is nestled in the heart of historic Philadelphia, a picturesque enclave known for its well-preserved Georgian and Federal-style homes. For about a year, I sincerely enjoyed my work, as well as my humorous Greek coworkers, traditional Greek dancing, generous customers, delicious food and the authentic environment of the restaurant until I departed for the Graduate School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island in the Fall of 1980.
In 1983, after receiving my M.A. in anthropology from Brown University, I was enrolled in the Ph.D. program in anthropology at Bryn Mawr College until the Summer of 1985. Bryn Mawr is located on the Main Line of the western suburbs of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue. It is a long-established upper-middle class area, incorporating small cities of Overbrook, Merion, Narberth, Wynnewood, Ardmore, Haverford and Bryn Mawr.
My stipend at Bryn Mawr College was only $400 per month; I had to supplement my income by working the night shift as a security officer at the Bryn Mawr College and as a waiter in a small restaurant in Ardmore for several hours in the early afternoon. The restaurant in Ardmore was owned by a Jewish family and mostly visited during lunch hours by middle-aged and elderly white customers from the neighboring Main Line cities. The ambiance in the restaurant was pleasant and the food was delicious.
Frankly, I was a lousy waiter; I was always tired after my night shift and mentally preoccupied with my studies. However, my coworker, a young black man in his early 20s, was a thorough and energetic waiter. He was quick, clean, disciplined, punctual, served customers efficiently and remembered all items in the menu from A to Z. He was also a hard-working student at the Philadelphia Community College. In observing this young man and his work ethic, I could predict that he was going to succeed in life and fulfill his dreams and aspirations. And, eventually, regardless of his race and ethnic background, all doors would be open for him in our country.
Indeed, the process of acculturation and assimilation can be long and turbulent for many legal newcomers. It is critical, therefore, for American society to be inclusive, tolerant, and educated in cross–cultural communication to welcome legal and properly vetted newcomers to our multi-ethnic and exceptional country.
Alexander B. Dolitsky was born and raised in Kiev in the former Soviet Union. He received an M.A. in history from Kiev Pedagogical Institute, Ukraine, in 1976; an M.A. in anthropology and archaeology from Brown University in 1983; and was enroled in the Ph.D. program in Anthropology at Bryn Mawr College from 1983 to 1985, where he was also a lecturer in the Russian Center. In the U.S.S.R., he was a social studies teacher for three years, and an archaeologist for five years for the Ukranian Academy of Sciences. In 1978, he settled in the United States. Dolitsky visited Alaska for the first time in 1981, while conducting field research for graduate school at Brown. He lived first in Sitka in 1985 and then settled in Juneau in 1986. From 1985 to 1987, he was a U.S. Forest Service archaeologist and social scientist. He was an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Russian Studies at the University of Alaska Southeast from 1985 to 1999; Social Studies Instructor at the Alyeska Central School, Alaska Department of Education from 1988 to 2006; and has been the Director of the Alaska-Siberia Research Center (see www.aksrc.homestead.com) from 1990 to present. He has conducted about 30 field studies in various areas of the former Soviet Union (including Siberia), Central Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and the United States (including Alaska). Dolitsky has been a lecturer on the World Discoverer, Spirit of Oceanus, and Clipper Odyssey vessels in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. He was the Project Manager for the WWII Alaska-Siberia Lend Lease Memorial, which was erected in Fairbanks in 2006. He has published extensively in the fields of anthropology, history, archaeology, and ethnography. His more recent publications include Fairy Tales and Myths of the Bering Strait Chukchi, Ancient Tales of Kamchatka; Tales and Legends of the Yupik Eskimos of Siberia; Old Russia in Modern America: Russian Old Believers in Alaska; Allies in Wartime: The Alaska-Siberia Airway During WWII; Spirit of the Siberian Tiger: Folktales of the Russian Far East; Living Wisdom of the Far North: Tales and Legends from Chukotka and Alaska; Pipeline to Russia; The Alaska-Siberia Air Route in WWII; and Old Russia in Modern America: Living Traditions of the Russian Old Believers; Ancient Tales of Chukotka, and Ancient Tales of Kamchatka.
Nick Begich built a business in Alaska, that’s a good thing. It brings significant benefits to our state, including tax revenue, employment, infrastructure, and long-term stability for Alaskans.
An immediate benefit is increased tax revenue. Even if some workers are located elsewhere — think NANA or CIRI — corporations pay state taxes.
Alaska generates revenue from corporate income taxes, payroll taxes, and fees. Headquarters in our state captures taxes on profits, and property, for local employees. There are Alaska businesses that pay higher rates to the State of Alaska, than Seattle residents pay in sales tax, and Washington has the highest state sales tax rate in the country.
Headquarters in Alaska creates local jobs. Positions in management, administration, finance, marketing, and operations can be staffed by residents at a higher pay scale than workers in other countries. This provides direct employment opportunities and helps stimulate the local economy. Employees will spend wages on housing, goods, services, and taxes in Alaska, creating a multiplier1 effect throughout the economy.
Historically we face challenges with talent retention across all industries. An international business centered in the state helps attract and retain skilled professionals who otherwise leave for more economically dynamic regions. Nick’s business brings visibility and opportunities helping to reverse this trend. A more diverse, knowledge-based workforce will also stimulate growth in other sectors. ‘Local dollars make local sense.
Business presence often leads to improvements in infrastructure, transportation, communication, and energy resources. The state and local municipalities may invest in roads, broadband, fiber and critical infrastructure to accommodate the needs of a global business. This development benefits not only the business but also the local population. To support a global footprint Alaskans could end up with internet as fast as the Lower 48.
Alaska’s economy has long been heavily dependent on three industries, energy, fishing and government. This reliance on extractive industries makes the state vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices and environmental changes. Attracting business from another sector diversifies our economy and reduces dependence. Diversification is essential for long-term economic stability. We would no longer depend on a three-legged stool economy.
Nick Begich’s business creates a global market bridge. It provides opportunities for Alaskans to engage in global supply chains or benefit from international trade connections. Moreover, it enhances Alaska’s visibility on the world stage, attracting other businesses to invest or expand in Alaska.
Nick’s business invests in community development, education, or environmental projects.
I was pleased to see Nick’s investment in my old stomping grounds in East Anchorage. This local investment fosters goodwill and strengthens the relationship between business and community, leading to a robust and supportive environment.
A business in Alaska, large or small, offers economic benefits to the state, including tax revenue, job creation, infrastructure, diversification and it strengthens global connections. We want business investments for economic stability and growth. For these reasons, it is good for Alaska.
Randy Daly is a Kenai resident, was in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, former member of the State Chamber of Commerce board and Kenai Chamber of Commerce board.
This time of the year Alaskans become focused on gathering food, fishing, and hunting in preparation for winter. Now that autumn has fully arrived, it is the perfect time to go mushroom hunting for a nutritious and savory complement to your meals.
Alaska’s abundant spruce forests are home to a wide variety of fungi, including numerous edible mushrooms. These include the Pacific Golden Chanterelle (Cantharellus formosus), Comb Tooth (Hericium coralloides), Hedgehog (Hydnum repandum), Bear’s-head (Hericium abietis), Gray Fire Morel (Morchella tomentosa), Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus), Chicken-of-the-Woods (Laetiporus conifericola), several varieties of the Boletes family (Boletaceae), and more.
Judy Hall Jacobson has written several books about foraging wild edibles in Alaska. One of her books, “Mushrooms and Other Fungi of Alaska,” is an in-depth guide to identification, edibility, and gathering in our region.
Jacobson says, “Fifty percent of mushrooms are inedible, either too tough like most woody shelf fungi, indigestible, or too small to consider eating. In comparison, twenty-five percent are edible but unpleasant or tasteless. Twenty percent will make you sick, but your body will get rid of the toxins. However, it will not be a pleasant experience. A mere one percent can kill you.”
Jacobson’s research has led her to conclude that when it comes to Alaska’s fungi, “four percent are tasty.”
Make sure to properly cook fungi before eating them. Unlike plants, mushrooms have cell walls that contain chiton. Shellfish and insect exoskeletons are also chitinous. Heat breaks down chiton, releasing the vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients found in fungi. Cooking is also necessary for food safety reasons. Jacobson cautions that hydrazine, a suspected carcinogen used in rocket fuel, is present in most, if not all, fungi, including the Button mushroom (Agaricus bispora) frequently sold in grocery stores. Cooking breaks down hydrazine.
To begin honing your mushroom hunting skills, start by ensuring your safety in the woods by being alert to the possible presence of bears and moose. Carry bear spray, a loud horn, a communication device, and a firearm if you are comfortable using one.
While foraging, be mindful of the environment. Make sure not to overharvest in one location. When gathering, using a mesh bag or basket helps fungi propagate by spreading spores throughout the forest on your trek. Learn about a few identifiable mushroom species that are common in your area but do not have toxic lookalikes. As you hike through the forest, pay close attention to your surroundings, and you will be on your way to identifying when and where you can find edible fungi.
For example, it is possible to find Hedgehogs under coniferous trees throughout the mushroom season. Chanterelles can be found in both moist areas near streams and wooded areas from August through November. King Boletes often grow in areas under spruce trees during their shorter growing season in September and October. Recent rainfall tends to promote fungi growth and increases your chances of a successful hunt.
Jacobson, a dedicated “shroomer,” lists her favorite mushrooms as the King Bolete (Boletus edulis) due to taste and Hedgehog (Hydnum repandum) due to taste and because they stay firm for days after fruiting. Some of her other top choices include the Sheep Polypore, (Albatrellus ovinus), Woodland Agaricus (Agaicus silvicola), and Cauliflower Mushroom (Sparassis radicata).
Her other guidebook, Edible Mushrooms of Alaska, provides in-depth knowledge of edible species present in Alaska.
King Boletes are widespread in Alaska.
King Boletes are widespread in Alaska and the Yukon. This royal-sized mushroom has a spore-bearing layer on the underside of the cap that contains pores rather than gills or teeth. It is most enjoyable when the cap is small, firm, and harvested before insect and centipede infestations.
The King Bolete’s meaty flesh and mild flavor complement hearty game dishes and stews. It is also enjoyable as its own side dish. While freshly gathered and cooked is the best way to enjoy this species, it also preserves well in a dehydrator. You can easily rehydrate and prepare dried King Boletes to add flavor and texture to a variety of soups, sauces, and dishes.
Hedgehogs are also known as the Sweet Tooth mushroom. This species is easily identifiable due to the soft toothlike spines on the underside of their caps, which resemble Hedgehog spikes. When cooked, Hedgehogs stay firm and have a sweet and nutty flavor that is enjoyable on its own or as a complement to any dish or soup. Cooked Hedgehogs hold up well in the freezer for use at a later date.
The Pacific Golden Chanterelle is popular among foragers in Southeast Alaska. However, foragers typically do not find this species further north. Chanterelles have a bright yellow or pale orange cap. Instead of gills, the cap bears its spores on ridges or well-developed folds.
Because of their high moisture content, cook them using a ‘dry sauté’ method, followed by sautéing in butter or oil and seasoning with salt, pepper, and other desired seasonings until they caramelize. Chanterelles have a robust flavor, with a hint of peppery fruit. They brighten a warm dish of wilted kale and/or spinach, as well as adding a velvety texture and taste sensation to pasta dishes. Chanterelles also make a hearty side dish served on their own.
All too often, our plates are filled with processed foods from faraway places. So, before you head into the woods this fall, grab a foraging guidebook or download an app to arm yourself with knowledge about edible mushrooms and bring home some fungi. Foraging is a wonderful way to connect with nature, learn more about our unique ecosystem, gain inspiration from our region’s unique offerings, and savor the local flavors and textures that Alaska has to offer.
Wilted kale and chanterelles
Wilted Kale Chanterelles
Ingredients:
8 ounces of Chanterelle mushrooms (Cantharellus formosus)
1 ounce of butter
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons of olive oil
3 ounces of white wine (divided into 2 – 1 ½ ounce shots)
1 pound of young kale, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup of vegetable stock or bone broth
Salt and Pepper
Preparation:
Place the Chanterelle mushrooms in a large dry sauté pan on medium-high heat and cook until the moisture evaporates from the mushrooms and they squeak when tossed with a spatula.
Add butter and a pinch of salt and pepper, stirring to ensure even cooking until almost caramelized.
Add garlic and olive oil, cook until the garlic becomes soft and the mushrooms are caramelized.
Add half of the wine (1 ½ ounces or one shot), stirring occasionally until the wine evaporates.
Raise the heat to high, then add the vegetable/bone broth and kale.
Cover and cook for 3 to 5 minutes to wilt the kale.
Remove the cover, continue cooking on high heat, stirring constantly until the liquid evaporates.
Add the final half of the wine (1 ½ ounces or one shot) and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
Remove from heat and serve.
Brenda Josephson is a Haines resident. She is an accounting and tax professional, real estate agent, professionally trained chef, and advocate for good governance. She spends her time fishing, foraging, and savoring Alaska’s abundance of natural and wild foods with her family.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is nearly broke and can’t make it through the rest of the year. Meanwhile, it has spend hundreds of millions on illegal immigrants during the Biden-Harris Administration.
Mayorkas, who faced impeachment earlier this year for his mismanagement of the southern border with Mexico, has been focused on settling illegal immigrants into states seen as key to the election of Democrats this year.
Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska voted against Mayorkas’ impeachment, although it passed the House by one vote. It failed in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
The chickens are coming home to roost for Mayorkas, who said Wednesday, “We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season.”
In other words, FEMA isn’t going to be able to help the millions who have suffered from Hurricane Helene.
Since Biden took office and appointed Mayorkas, more than 8.5 million illegal crossings have occurred at the southern border.
In April, FEMA announced $300 million in direct funding to help illegal immigrants settle in the U.S. and another $340 million went to cities via grants to be used to shelter illegal immigrants.
The federal government is now offering $750 to families who had their houses destroyed by Helene. FEMA plans to spend just $10 million to help these families, but Mayorkas said with more hurricanes on the way, he’s out of money to help.
“As Joe Biden’s enabler in Congress, Mary Peltola is choosing to let Biden’s Secretary of Open Borders off the hook for the disaster they have caused for every community. Peltola is not serious about securing our border,” said National Republican Congressional Committee Spokesperson Ben Petersen.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody pointed out that the total Biden has spend on illegal immigrants is over $1 billion.
“Everyone should be waking up this morning outraged by that comment. This is not something that has just happened recently,” she said. “And Florida’s been warning about this since this administration took over. Mayorkas has come in like a virus and infected what need[s] to be healthy, strong, fundamental programs to ensure the stability and safety of Americans in times of disaster.”
HEX/Furie has brought in a jack-up rig to Cook Inlet and is getting ready to drill for more natural gas. It’s good news for people living in Southcentral Alaska and as far north as Fairbanks.
HEX Cook Inlet, through its affiliates Furie, and Cornucopia Oil & Gas Company, own natural gas leases, natural gas production, and processing infrastructure.
HEX is the only 100% Alaskan oil and gas company operating in Alaska. Majority owned by John Hendrix of Homer and Anchorage, HEX plans to commence a multi-year infield development program, sidetracking non-performing wells and drilling grass roots wells to access previously untapped natural gas reserves in the Kitchen Lights Unit.
Hendrix, a petroleum engineer, bought Furie out of bankruptcy in 2020 with a $7.5 million loan from Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority that was fully paid off eight months early.
“We are immensely pleased with the progress made by HEX in repaying the loan eight months early,” said Randy Ruaro, Executive Director of AIDEA, at the time of the loan completion in October, 2023.
Drilling at the Kitchen Lights Unit can take place during ice-free periods, which is about seven months of the year in Cook Inlet.
Anchorage is in serious need of natural gas. Enstar Natural Gas Company, which provides the natural gas that heats and lights homes in the city, said it expects the city will be out of locally produced natural gas by 2026, unless action is taken. Last winter, during record cold stretches, the city surpassed supply and Enstar asked residents, governments, and organizations to conserve by turning down thermometers to 65, unplugging unused appliances, and to postpone washing clothes.
Alaska is rich in natural gas but the economics of drilling and production in Alaska are made more difficult by the harsh regulatory environment at the federal level, as well as the incessant lawsuits by environmental nonprofit groups.
“The news that HEX/Furie is in possession of a jack-up rig that could bring new gas to market is exciting. HEX’s ability to add to Cook Inlet production is needed, and with today’s announcement, they are one step closer to doing so,” said Rick Whitbeck, Alaska director for Power The Future. “Reliable, abundant, and affordable power is a necessity in Alaska. Alaskans know that tapping our vast reserves of coal, natural gas and oil will keep the lights on and buildings heated like nothing else can.”
