Kyle Hopkins, a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, broke the news on X: The newsroom at the Anchorage Daily News has voted to unionize.
“@nlrbgov counted our ballots today via Zoom after receiving a few mail-in ballots. This makes the ADN the only unionized newsroom in Alaska. Thank you for your support!” Hopkins wrote. He did not reveal what the vote tally was.
The Alaska State Troopers and Wasilla Police Department are actively searching for a person they believe is armed and dangerous in the area of Millers Reach Road and Parks Highway in the Houston area. Residents are encouraged to lock their doors, stay inside, and contact the Alaska State Troopers if they notice anything suspicious at (907) 352-5401.
The Parks Highway is closed in both directions between West King Arthur Drive and West Cheri Lake Drive. The length of the closure is unknown at this time. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Weather in Western Alaska was tough sledding on Election Day, as a massive storm covered much of the lower coast, impacting communities from Dutch Harbor all the way to Bethel.
There are gale-force winds in Dillingham on Tuesday morning, with heavy rain on top of icy roads. Winds are at 26 mph.
In Bethel, there’s been a blizzard warning since Monday night, and winds are at 30 mph.
Ketchikan, in southern Southeast Alaska, is expecting two inches of rain.
The Department of Justice has sent officials to Western Alaska to monitor the elections. They are experiencing a fall gale and blizzard that may impact voter turnout, as blowing snow, ice, and rain whip the rural communities along the coast.
The Division of Elections website was dysfunctional on Election Day morning. Visitors were given a message that “The Elections Website is Temporary Unavailable. We apologize for the delay. The Elections website will be available shortly.”
Update: The Division of Elections website is working again as of 9:45 a.m.
Voters can find their precinct and voting locations by using this tool:
https://akelections.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=579890d66c7e40ae9f7cc227d76669b1
If that tool is too confusing, try this: https://myvoterportal.alaska.gov to look up your precinct.
The Division of Elections offered no explanation for why the website was not working. It was down, as of 9 a.m., for at least one hour. Across Southcentral, there have been high winds.
Update: Around 9 a.m. the message on the website said the reason for the dysfunction was due to high traffic volume.
People in line at voting locations, where lines are long, are saying they are having to cast “questioned ballots,” since the website is not working. If you are voting at your local precinct, you should not have to cast a questioned ballot.
This story will be updated.
For several days, House candidate Ruben McNeil and State Senate candidate Mike Cronk have been waving campaign signs at the corner of Johansen and Geist Road in Fairbanks with a group of supporters.
On Monday, Democrats, led by Senate candidate Savannah Fletcher and House Rep. Ashley Carrick, showed up with their group of sign-wavers. They brought a small wagon in which they had lit and were tending a blazing fire. They had it placed perilously close to cars in the turn lane, endangering everyone in the vicinity.
Law enforcement responded to get the group to move the burning material onto the sidewalk. Meanwhile, the Democrats allowed their unleashed dogs to dart in and out of traffic around the intersection.
One Democrat sign-waver, trying to muscle into the prime spot, smacked one of the McNeil sign holders on the head with a sign, and the group purposefully tried to push the McNeil and Cronk supporters from their spots.
Through it all, Fletcher’s baby was crying and wriggling in the arms of its father. Savannah kept telling her husband, “No, not now.”
Tuesday is Election Day in America, and Americans will be making a choice about their future.
Rep. Mary Peltola didn’t return to her hometown of Bethel to vote in the general election. Instead, she was in line at Anchorage City Hall, with news cameras trained on her and her new downtown liberal friends on Monday, one day before the election ends.
Peltola gets her absentee ballots mailed to her at her Prominence Pointe address in a dressy neighborhood of south Anchorage. She ordered her primary absentee ballot for that address, but instead voted early. And she ordered her general election absentee ballot for that address. But it appears she voted early in person again.
She and Mayor Suzanne LaFrance were in the line at City Hall, shaking hands and taking selfies with voters. There was not an American flag pin or hat anywhere to be seen.
Nick Begich, who is challenging Peltola for the one Alaska seat in Congress, voted at the Division of Elections office on Gambell Street on Monday.
JayWalk Media’s Matt Miller asked protesters at Madison Square Garden in New York City if Donald Trump is really as bad as Hitler, who killed six million Jews (as well as thousands of Roma gypsies, and homosexuals.)
The protesters said, yes, Trump is actually as bad as Hitler.
Watch the interviews here:
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan sent Must Read Alaska his views on ranked-choice voting and why is is voting Yes on Ballot Measure 2:
“The stakes in this upcoming election couldn’t be higher and Alaskans have a real opportunity to elect strong Republican leaders up and down the ballot who will fight for hard-working families, defend our state’s critical interests, and stand up to the Biden-Harris administration’s far-left policies harming our communities and our way of life. With so much on the line, now is the time to do everything we can to ensure strong voter turnout on Election Day,” he said.
“I urge every Alaskan to make their voice heard by voting, bringing a friend, family member, or neighbor to the polls, and helping spread the word about the important issues we’re facing, Sullivan said.
“Alaskans will also face a critical question on Ballot Measure 2 –– to decide whether ranked choice voting should remain in Alaska. As I’ve stated before, I am voting Yes on Ballot Measure 2 to repeal ranked choice voting and encourage Alaskans to join me. Like many others who did not support ranked choice voting in 2020, I still believe this new election system has created unnecessary confusion among voters,” he said. “By returning to our previous election system, I believe we can restore confidence in our elections and reaffirm one of the bedrocks of our democracy: one person, one vote.”
Ballot Measure 2 undoes the scheme caused in 2020, when Outside dark money convinced Alaskans to adopt a controversial voting method called ranked-choice voting. This year, Ballot Measure 2 asks voters if they want to return to normal elections. Over $13 million in dark money has been spent by the Democrats and their operatives who are trying to prevent normal elections.
By BRENDA JOSEPHSON
On Tuesday, our nation brings the 2024 election cycle to a close. People have poured their hearts into campaigns and candidates, ballot initiatives, and bond issues. No matter what the outcome, emotions will run high on Tuesday night. Whether your family is celebrating or in need of solace, there is no better way to nurture them than with some delicious old-fashioned comfort food.
Tomato soup and a grilled cheese are my go-to comfort foods. The simple soup and sandwich combo evokes memories of my childhood, warming me up after a cold day. The most enjoyable part was always the generous amounts of cheddar cheese on the grilled bread, which melted onto the plate. Dipping the sandwich into the tomato soup enhanced its decadence, creating a harmonious blend of flavors that soothed both body and soul.
Taking a break to savor some homemade comfort foods is a wonderful way to unwind and appreciate the small things. Tomato soup is a basic dish with a variety of options. I especially enjoy a roasted tomato and red pepper variation that uses fresh vegetables.
If the idea of roasting fresh vegetables for soup overwhelms you, below this first recipe is a simple tomato soup recipe using common pantry staples. Continue reading toward the end for that basic recipe.
Roasted Tomato and Red Pepper Soup
Ingredients:
2 pounds of ripe tomatoes
5 large red peppers
6 tablespoons of butter
2 large onions (yellow are preferred)
1 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
4 cloves garlic minced
6 cups of bone broth, stock, or bouillon of your choice
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for extra spice)
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for extra spice)
For garnish: sour cream and basil, parsley, or cilantro
Makes about 3 quarts (approximately twelve 1-cup servings)
Start by cleaning and cutting the red peppers into strips, then cut the tomatoes in half and place them cut side up on a sheet pan. Melt half of the butter (3 tablespoons) and drizzle over the vegetables. Place them in a preheated oven set at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes or until the red peppers are tender and the tomatoes start to dry.
While the red peppers and tomatoes are roasting, dice the onions and melt butter in a large sauce pan. I use a 3 1/2-quart enameled pot for this purpose. After melting the butter, add the diced onions and salt, then cook on medium heat, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to caramelize into a light golden color. This will take about 20 minutes more or less.
Add the minced garlic to the onions and cook for one to two minutes until the garlic starts to soften and become aromatic. Then add the roasted tomatoes and red peppers to the caramelized onions and garlic.
Next, add the broth or stock to the onions, tomatoes, and red peppers. You can use any type of broth or stock, such as beef, chicken, or vegetable. I use moose bone broth for soups and stews.
Next, blend the ingredients until you achieve the desired soup consistency. If you have an immersion blender, this step is simple. While a regular blender can serve the purpose, it requires transferring the hot ingredients into the blender before returning them to the pot for the final simmer.
The final step is to add the other seasonings. Add black pepper and paprika to the soup. Add the optional cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper flakes for a spicier taste. Bring the soup to a boil, then turn it down and simmer for ten to twenty minutes to allow the flavors to combine. Taste the soup to check if it needs additional salt or other seasonings and adjust it to taste.
Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and fresh basil, parsley, or cilantro. My preference is to use cilantro on the roasted tomato and red pepper soup. Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich and enjoy!
The roasted tomato and red pepper soup is a delicious twist on a classic comfort food. If you prefer to prepare a basic tomato soup, you probably already have the ingredients on hand. Here’s my take on a classic:
Basic Tomato Soup
Ingredients:
2 each 14 ounce cans of tomatoes (I use fire roasted tomatoes)
2 tablespoons of butter
1 medium onion
½ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
1 to 2 cups of bone broth, stock, or bouillon of your choice
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for extra spice)
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for extra spice)
For garnish: sour cream and basil or parsley
Makes about 1 quart (approximately four 1-cup servings)
Start by cutting the onion and melting butter in a small sauce pan. I use a 1-quart enameled pot for this purpose. After melting the butter, add the onions and salt, then cook on medium heat, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to caramelize into a light golden color. This will take about 20 minutes more or less.
Then add the canned tomatoes and one cup of broth, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Simmer, covered with a slightly ajar lid, for 45 minutes. The simmering time is important because it diminishes or eliminates any unpleasant aftertaste that commercially canned tomatoes may have.
Next, blend to puree the ingredients. If the soup is too thick, add more broth until you achieve the desired consistency.
The final step is to add the other seasonings. Add basil, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika to the soup. If you prefer a bit of spice, add the optional crushed red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then turn it down and simmer for ten to twenty minutes to allow the flavors to combine. Taste the soup to check if it needs additional salt or other seasonings and adjust it to taste.
Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and fresh basil or a few flakes of dried basil leaves. Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich and enjoy.
If tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches do not appeal to you, try a large bowl of moose stew with sourdough toast. Most Alaskans have their own special way to prepare this comforting cold weather staple. I look forward to sharing my recipe in a future post.
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.
