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Kassie Andrews: Pre-conference workshop notes

By KASSIE ANDREWS

The fourth annual Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference began with a pre-conference workshop led by Dr. Erin Whitney, director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Arctic Energy Office. As part of the DOE’s ongoing effort to “bring the Arctic to DOE and DOE to the Arctic,” Whitney opened the event by introducing the Arctic Energy Ambassadors, a cohort of 12 professionals selected to represent each of Alaska’s regions.

Launched in 2023, the Arctic Ambassador Program—developed with the Denali Commission and Alaska Municipal League—seeks to build regional energy leadership and support clean energy transitions across Alaska. Ambassadors help link their regions to DOE resources and expertise. Around half of the ambassadors in the lineup referenced regional project goals of expanding renewable energy such as wind, solar, electric vehicles, and batteries, with none mentioning coal, oil, or gas. The Cook Inlet ambassador, Cassidi Cameron, from the state’s most gas-reliant region, emphasized a resiliency project centered on renewables and food security.

Following Whitney’s remarks, the event transitioned to a panel titled “Perspectives from Headquarters,” featuring representatives from major DOE offices that oversee or collaborate with the national laboratories. Presentations included the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), the Office of Science, and the Office of International Affairs.

The Office of Science, which oversees most of the DOE’s 17 national laboratories, emphasized its work in fundamental research, advanced computing, and climate-related field studies in the Arctic. This includes research sites in Alaska focused on permafrost, sea ice, and atmospheric systems. The office also utilizes supercomputing to model the viability of energy infrastructure placement, such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), in Arctic climates.

EERE highlighted projects supporting energy efficiency and cold-climate housing in Alaska’s rural communities. Lou Hrkman cited active partnerships in more than 15 Alaska locations under the  Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project, formerly known as the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project.

The Office of Indian Energy emphasized Alaska’s major role in its portfolio, with 28 percent of its project funding and 42 percent of its technical assistance directed to Alaska Tribes. The office supports planning and implementing viable energy projects with tribal groups and other DOE labs.

The panel noted strong geothermal potential in Alaska, a push to streamline NEPA reviews using AI from multi-year timelines to 28 days and cybersecurity concerns over Chinese-made solar inverters.

A highlight of the event was the participation of directors from nine of the 17 national laboratories, each offering brief overviews of their lab’s relevance to Arctic energy development. Notably, during his Jan. 15, 2025, Senate confirmation hearing, DOE nominee Chris Wright referred to these national laboratories as the “crown jewels of our nation’s scientific research and technology innovation,” each offering brief overviews of their lab’s relevance to Arctic energy development:

  1. Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the nation’s nuclear laboratory, highlighted its work on Arctic energy security, supporting microgrids, and enhancing military base resilience.
  2. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) presented a partnership with the Kuskokwim Corporation to revitalize regional timber and milling industries for efficient housing construction. Absent was any mention of NREL’s research supporting the feasibility of a 100 percent renewable power grid by 2035.
  3. Pacific Northwest National Lab shared its work in predicting “landfast” ice. That is, ice attached to the shore and a separate project in Sitka deploying sensors to better forecast snowmelt and rainfall for their hydropower operations.
  4. Ames Laboratory presented its breakthroughs in rare earth recovery from electronic waste and its leadership of the Critical Materials Innovation Hub.
  5. Sandia National Labs highlighted its “Vanilla” unmanned aircraft system, noting a 39-hour continuous endurance flight in Alaska’s Oliktok airspace.
  6. Los Alamos National Lab focused on AI, advanced Earth system modeling for infrastructure and coastal planning and cryosphere research supporting national security agencies, like the Coast Guard and Navy.
  7. National Energy Technology Lab (NETL) focused on emissions reductions for hydrocarbons, critical mineral recovery, and advanced carbon management. In collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, NETL is also studying the feasibility of converting the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to transport liquid hydrogen instead of crude oil—part of a broader effort to transition legacy infrastructure toward long-term decarbonization goals.

It was also announced that 12 of the 14 microgrid projects selected under the DOE’s $8 million Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP) were based in Alaska. These projects received over $4.3 million in direct funding and aim to lower energy costs and increase reliability in rural, often diesel-reliant communities.

As Alaska continues to play a central role in national energy innovation, this pre-conference workshop underscored DOE’s intent to align federal energy policy with regional priorities. However, that direction appears to lean heavily on decarbonization frameworks, raising questions about how Alaska’s hydrocarbon-dependent realities will be addressed in the years ahead.

Begich promotes Alaska gas in Japan, Taiwan, Korea

Alaska Congressman Nick Begich has returned to to the US following a high-level congressional delegation to Asia, where he made a case for Alaska’s liquefied natural gas to power America’s strategic trade partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

Begich, a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, joined a delegation led by Chairman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas for a multi-nation tour through Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, where they met with leaders of the countries. The goal was to promote Alaska’s pivotal role in future American energy exports and foster deeper cooperation on trade and critical resources in a region central to U.S. foreign policy and economic interests.

“Thanks to US leadership at home and demand abroad, we are on the cusp of transforming Alaska into a global energy hub, and this trip was a milestone in that effort,” Congressman Begich said. “Our LNG project is a strategic tool to reinforce our alliances, reduce global dependence on adversarial energy sources, and rebalance trade in a way that benefits both the U.S. and our allies. These countries are actively seeking reliable, long-term energy solutions and Alaska is the best-positioned partner to deliver.”

At the heart of Begich’s advocacy was the Alaska LNG project, a proposed $40+ billion infrastructure initiative that would transport natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope to a liquefaction facility in Southcentral Alaska, enabling long-term exports to Asian markets.

In meetings across Tokyo, Taipei, and Seoul, Begich emphasized the reliability, environmental benefits, and strategic value of sourcing LNG from a trusted American partner. “Alaska has the energy resources the world needs—and our allies want,” Begich said in prepared remarks upon his return.

One of the most concrete signals of interest came from Taiwan, where CPC Corporation, an energy company, has already signed a letter of intent to purchase up to six million metric tons of Alaska LNG. In Japan and South Korea, government and industry leaders also showed active interest in both investment in the project and long-term supply agreements.

Begich with delegation and South Korea’s top leadership on energy strategy and economic resilience.

The delegation’s schedule included meetings with:

  • Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi
  • Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and senior leadership at CPC Corporation
  • South Korea’s Acting President Lee Ju-ho and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Dukgeun

In addition to energy talks, the delegation addressed supply chain resilience for critical minerals—particularly those necessary for semiconductors, batteries, and defense technologies. Discussions centered on reducing dependence on Chinese-dominated mineral markets and elevating resource development partnerships with countries like the US.

The congressional group also made key strategic stops with U.S. military leaders in the region, including the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet in Yokosuka, and visited the Demilitarized Zone on the Korean Peninsula.

Congressman Begich stands on the North Korea side of the DMZ for a photo during his visit to the Korean Peninsula.

Begich’s Asia trip highlights a broader push by Alaska’s congressional delegation to position the state not only as an energy powerhouse but as a reliable geopolitical asset for America’s allies in a shifting global order.

“Many leaders I spoke with were unaware that Alaska can produce critical materials like gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite at scale,” Begich said “This presents another opportunity for the US to strengthen supply chain security while opening new pathways for trade and investment.”

In Utqiagvik, Burgum announces rollback of NPR-A rule, pledges to unleash Alaska’s energy potential

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on Sunday evening announced that the Department of the Interior is moving to rescind a 2024 rule that placed significant new restrictions on oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). The announcement was made in Utqiagvik, where Burgum said the move would restore the original intent of Congress to promote responsible energy production in the reserve.

Burgum, along with Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, was in America’s most northern community to meet with residents, officials, and to roll out more of Trump’s American Energy Dominance plan.

“Congress was clear: the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska was set aside to support America’s energy security through responsible development!” Burgum said.

The decision follows a thorough legal and policy review conducted by the Bureau of Land Management and senior officials. That review concluded the 2024 rule under President Joe Biden, formally titled Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, exceeded the agency’s statutory authority under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976, conflicted with its purpose, and created unwarranted barriers to energy development.

“The 2024 rule ignored that mandate, prioritizing obstruction over production and undermining our ability to harness domestic resources at a time when American energy independence has never been more critical. We’re restoring the balance and putting our energy future back on track,” Burgum said.

The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska covers approximately 23 million acres on Alaska’s North Slope. It was established by Congress as a strategic energy reserve in the wake of the 1970s oil crisis. The 1976 Act requires the BLM to carry out an “expeditious program of competitive leasing” while also protecting surface resources.

During a media event in Anchorage earlier in the day, Burgum talked about how vast the NPR-A is, comparing it to the size of a state like Indiana.

The 2024 rule had expanded procedural requirements and placed new limits on development across roughly 13 million acres of the reserve, designating them as “Special Areas.” Under that rule, companies would have needed to prove their operations would cause minimal or no adverse effects to surface resources, criteria that the Department of Interior says have no clear legal basis in the governing statute.

Rescinding the rule aligns with recent Executive Orders issued by President Trump in January 2025: E.O. 14153, Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential, and E.O. 14156, Declaring a National Emergency. Both orders direct federal agencies to reverse restrictive policies and revitalize domestic energy production, particularly in resource-rich regions like Alaska.

When finalized, the rescission would revert the NPR-A’s management framework to the pre-May 7, 2024 regulations. Those rules have historically guided leasing decisions through an “Integrated Activity Plan” process that includes provisions to protect wildlife habitat, subsistence use, and surface values.

The proposed rescission will be published in the Federal Register and open to public comment for 60 days.

Follow Must Read Alaska for more news coming out of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Sustainable Energy Conference.

Gold rush: Tectonic Metals launches largest-ever drill program at Flat Gold Project in Alaska

It’s the season for drilling core samples. Tectonic Metals officially launched its most ambitious exploration campaign yet at the Flat Gold Project on Monday, starting a multi-rig drill program that could be a turning point for gold development in Alaska.

The 2025 Phase One drill program is deploying three drill rigs — two already on-site and a third en route — to the expansive 99,840-acre project located on predominantly Native-owned land managed by Doyon, Limited, one of Alaska’s largest Native Regional Corporations and Tectonic’s second-largest shareholder.

The Flat Gold Project is 25 miles north of the Donlin Gold Project in southwestern Alaska. On Native-owned land belonging to Doyon, Ltd., it is in the Kuskokwim Mountains, about 290 miles from Anchorage and 350 miles southwest of Fairbanks.

The campaign represents a major step toward unlocking the full potential of what Tectonic says is a “tier-one,” intrusion-hosted, free-milling, and heap-leachable gold system. Located near the Donlin Gold Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in the world, the Flat Gold Project is positioned to become a significant player in Alaska’s mining future.

The history of placer gold mining at Flat Creek is part of the broader gold mining legacy of the Iditarod region. Flat Creek is tributary that has been a major site for placer gold production, contributing to the area’s notoriety as one of Alaska’s most productive gold regions, with discovery spanning back to 1908 by prospectors John Beaton and William Dikeman along the Iditarod River. Sometimes this gold mining timeframe is referred to as “The Last Great Gold Rush” in Alaska.

The Iditarod District, including Flat Creek, has produced over 1.5 million ounces of placer gold, making it one of Alaska’s most prolific gold-producing regions. Flat Creek alone is credited with contributing a substantial portion of this total, with historical records indicating over 650,000 ounces of placer gold mined from its gravels.

This figure supports Tectonic Metals’ recent exploration, which identifies Flat Creek as one of Alaska’s most prolific placer gold-producing creeks.

Central to the season’s work is the Alpha Bowl, a high-grade, near-surface oxide gold target that was first drilled in 2024 and is interpreted as the bedrock source of over 650,000 ounces of historic placer gold from Flat Creek.

This breakthrough confirmed Alpha Bowl as part of the Chicken Mountain intrusive system and revealed bonanza-grade gold potential.

The company reported that drill hole CMR24-026 returned impressive intercepts.

“This is our strongest indication yet that we are drilling into the heart of a fertile gold system,” said Tony Reda, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Tectonic Metals. “With two rigs already turning and a third on the way, Phase One is just the beginning.”

The first drill program will generate technical data to support Tectonic’s first mineral resource estimate and a future preliminary economic assessment. Drill targets include deeper structurally controlled feeder zones, oriented core collection, and additional metallurgical sampling.

At Chicken Mountain, which is part of the broader Flat system, mineralization has been confirmed to a depth of 1,066 feet over a 1.86-mile strike length. Metallurgical tests have already shown 96% gold recovery from oxidized material and 91% from non-oxidized samples, confirming the viability of heap leach processing.

Tectonic is also turning its focus to Golden Apex, a smaller intrusion-related gold target with strong placer gold associations and geophysical markers similar to those that led to the Alpha Bowl discovery.

To support the Vancouver, BC-based company’s rapid advancement, Tectonic granted 3.86 million incentive stock options to directors, officers, and staff. The options are priced at $0.75 per share (Canadian) and vest over 18 months.

“The 2025 drill program is designed not just to expand known zones but to lay the foundation for a future mining operation,” said Reda. “From Alpha Bowl to Golden Apex, we are leveraging every tool—technical, financial, and strategic—to transform Flat into one of North America’s great gold stories.”

For maps, drill cross-sections, and additional project details, visit www.tectonicmetals.com.

Kevin McCabe: Alaska must reject infringement that is presented as ‘gun safety’

By KEVIN MCCABE

The Second Amendment is not a footnote in our Constitution; it is a promise. “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” These are deliberate words from our Founders. They meant what they wrote. They understood that the right to bear arms was not granted by government, but a natural right of men that must be recognized by that government. It is a natural, God-given right, fundamental to liberty and self-governance.

Alaskans know this instinctively. We live in a place where self-reliance is not a slogan but a way of life. Firearms are not symbols; they are tools of survival and security. Yet even in Alaska, legislation has emerged that seeks to undercut this right, not through outright bans, but through clever language and incremental encroachment. This year, two bills in the Thirty-Fourth Legislature, HB 134 and HB 89, are nibbling at the edges.

HB 134, introduced by Representative Carrick, is titled the “Alaska Child Access Prevention and Secure Storage of Firearms Act.” While it seems to promote responsible gun storage, it goes further. It amends existing laws and creates a new criminal offense that holds gun owners legally accountable if a minor or prohibited person uses their firearm to commit a crime. Though it stops short of confiscation, it lays the foundation for a legal structure that mirrors so-called “Red Flag” laws. It moves responsibility away from the individual committing the crime and places it on the law-abiding gun owner, a significant and dangerous precedent.

HB 89, introduced by Representative Josephson, creates “gun violence protective orders” that allow law enforcement or family members to petition a court to remove firearms if someone is deemed a threat. These orders can be issued without the gun owner’s presence and require the surrender of firearms within 24 hours. Twenty-four hours, in Alaska? Violations carry stiff penalties, including jail time and heavy fines. This firearm confiscation without due process is not safety, it is big government control.

The Founding Fathers warned us about such measures. Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1776, “No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms within his own land.” Patrick Henry declared at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, “The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.” They did not believe the right to bear arms should be handed out selectively by the state. They believed it was inherent to the dignity and sovereignty of a free citizen.

George Mason, also at the Virginia Convention, stated plainly, “To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” John Adams, quoting Cesare Beccaria, considered the father of modern criminal law and criminal justice, warned that laws forbidding arms “disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.” He added that such laws “make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants.” These are warnings written in blood and experience.

The American Revolution began with British efforts to disarm the colonies. In 1775, General Gage ordered the seizure of weapons in Boston, with thousands of muskets and pistols taken from the people. The Founders never forgot that. They lived the reality that a disarmed populace is a controlled populace. Their solution was clear: the citizen must be armed, both for self-defense and as a check on government power.

That dual purpose is embedded in the Second Amendment. James Madison, in Federalist No. 46, wrote of “the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation.” He understood the link between personal liberty and national sovereignty.

These are the principles that shaped our nation. They should be the same principles that guide Alaska’s Legislature today. Yet HB 134 and HB 89 disregard them. They prioritize theoretical safety over constitutional certainty and open the door to abuse, placing power in the hands of judges and petitioners without the presence or knowledge of the accused. They presume guilt and seize property before any crime has occurred.

In rural Alaska, the implications are even more severe. Law enforcement may be hours or days away. Court systems are distant, and legal representation is scarce. The practical result of these bills is not increased safety; it is the criminalization of responsible firearm ownership and the erosion of liberty for those who live farthest from government services.

History is full of warnings. In the 20th century alone, governments that disarmed their citizens:

Turkey in 1911,
Russia in 1929,
Germany in 1938

All paved the way for atrocities that cost millions of lives. The pattern is always the same: disarm, then dominate. While we often assume that such tragedies cannot happen here, the Founders knew better. Their solution for this eventuality was the Second Amendment.

In 2008, the United States Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess firearms for lawful purposes, including self-defense within the home. That ruling, like the Amendment itself, is not subject to Alaska reinterpretation or legislative dilution.

The right to bear arms is not something to be balanced against the whims of political pressure or temporary fears. It is a bedrock of a free society. As Jefferson wrote in a letter to his nephew in 1785, “Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks. Not because violence is inevitable, but because freedom must be preserved.”

In Alaska, where isolation and wilderness are part of life, that right is essential. HB 134 and HB 89 may appear measured and moderate, but they start us down a path we cannot afford to walk. They represent a retreat from the vision of our Founders, from the realities of our state, and from the rights of our people. 

We must reject them. 
The Constitution is not a suggestion.
The Second Amendment is not conditional.
In Alaska, we will not be disarmed.

Despite what you may hear from Alaska Gun Rights, Representative McCabe is an ardent supporter of the second amendment, he is a shooter, a reloader and a hunter. He serves in the Alaska House where he represents District 30.

David Boyle: Anchorage School District wants to promote kids who cannot read

By DAVID BOYLE

What should be done with a student who can’t read at grade level?  

Should that student be retained in the current grade or be promoted even though he/she cannot read at grade level?

The Anchorage School Board knows what the Alaska Reads Act says regarding the retention of elementary students who cannot read at grade level. It just doesn’t seem interested in following the law.  

The district is planning changes to the current policy that states holding back a student in the early elementary grades may be necessary:

“The School Board recognizes that, especially in lower elementary grades, retention may be necessary to ensure student proficiency in reading and mathematics.”

This policy follows the Alaska Reads Act statute and the corresponding Administrative Regulations. The Reads Act states:

“Following that meeting, the parent or guardian shall determine whether the student will progress to the next grade.”

The Reads Act provides many types of interventions to help the student reach grade level reading, including extra tutoring, helping parents with at-home reading lessons, and even summer school for those students falling behind.

The intent of the law is that those students who are deficient in reading in their early grades should be retained in their current grade. Passing them on to the next grade does not help the child learn to read so he/she can be successful in future courses.  

In contrast, the newly revised ASD policy on student retention states:

“The School Board recognizes that research indicates that very few children benefit from being retained during the elementary and middle grades.” 

But no board member could point to the research mentioned. Even board president Jacobs, who approved the policy revision, could not identify that research.

It appears as if the Alaska Association of School Boards has suggested the policy change, but its web page shows none of this student retention research.

Board member Donley said that a study done in the Los Angeles Unified School District showed that retention helped English Language Learner students.

Donley said that the district had a non-retention policy for more than 20 years and the students did poorly on reading and math tests. He stressed that we need to do what is in the best interest of the student.  

Superintendent Bryantt stated, “As someone who has a doctorate in education policy, I would highly recommend that one look at the meta-analyses. I did find one from 2001 that said on the subject of student retention…most studies showed negative impact.”

Dr. Bryantt may also want to look at much more recent research done by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, which showed that test-based retention in third grade improved student performance in Florida. Here are the results: 

  • Students retained in third grade under Florida’s test-based promotion policy experienced substantial short-term gains in both math and reading achievement. They were less likely to be retained in a later grade and better prepared when they entered high school.
  • Being retained in third grade led students to take fewer remedial courses in high school and improved their grade point averages.
  • There was no negative impact on graduation. Being held back did delay students’ graduation from high school by 0.63 years, but being older for their grade did not reduce their probability of graduating or receiving a regular diploma.

I have an Air Force friend who is stationed in Florida and whose daughter has had a difficult time with her reading. Guess what?  Her mother took her under her wing and worked hard to bring her daughter up to speed on her reading skills. Look at the proud mom’s Facebook post:

“Proud mom post!! Madison has struggled this year with her ELA and reading scores. The state of Florida requires a level 2 (below grade level) or higher scored to pass the 3rd grade specifically. It’s been a stressful few weeks of preparing, taking a week off of ball to spend time in her room studying to prepare for these hard tests. She has struggled all year to pass them and had one last chance this week for the end of year testing, or she would be retained and have to retake 3rd grade next year. She scored a LEVEL 4, ABOVE GRADE LEVEL!”

It seems as if Florida law was successful in assisting this child to stay with her classmates.  Her mom was informed that Madison needed help and needed focus time to study.  Her mom provided her with that environment. And Madison was successful in meeting the goal.  She even exceeded that goal.

So, a child can be brought up to speed in reading with parent’s help.

In Anchorage we would just push her on to the next grade, doing her a disservice in the long run. 

But it would make it much easier to manage and be less work for the school staff.

The Alaska Reads Act was modeled after the very successful Florida law.  It is working.  

As board member Donley said, “What is in the best interest of the child?”

As the Harvard research stated, “Retention is not an academic death sentence.”

It’s no wonder Alaska high school graduates going to college need remedial reading skills and math skills.   

Finally, we need to ask, “Will your child be able to read his/her diploma?”

David Boyle is the education writer at Must Read Alaska.

Pedro Gonzalez: With HB 57, more funding is less

By PEDRO GONZALEZ

It didn’t take long for Alaska superintendents to go from celebrating a proposed school funding increase to insisting that more would still not be enough.

On May 19, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a former superintendent and school board president himself, vetoed House Bill 57, which would, among other things, raise base student allocation by $700 per head. Most of his reservations stemmed from the ways in which the money would be spent and how it would manifest. 

In a column, Dunleavy called out what he called the “education cabal,” an “entrenched coalition of special interests, lobbyists and status quo defenders,” for caring more about dollar signs than student outcomes.

But the Alaska Legislature had other plans. Following what was Dunleavy’s third veto of an education bill in two years, it overrode him, eliciting cheers from Clayton Holland, a school official.

“All of our communities are really wanting public education funding to be increased and to support their communities,” he told YourAlaskaLink. “And so it is wonderful to have the legislature in the same space.” 

In a statement, the Anchorage School District echoed Holland, but added a word of caution. 

“We applaud the Legislature’s override of the Governor’s veto,” the district said. “But even as we celebrate that progress, uncertainty still remains.”

Suddenly, the idea of an additional $184 billion per year increase to the base student allocation seemed a lot smaller. Superintendents warned that it would quickly prove insufficient against the backdrop of rising inflation and costs. 

Even HB 57 wouldn’t save positions that are on the chopping block in the Kenai Peninsula. Indeed, some superintendents characterized the funding increase as a step backward.

In a prepared statement, Juneau Superintendent Frank Hauser said that although “the $700 increase does not fully keep pace with inflation or the rising costs of delivering quality public education across our vast and diverse state, it represents the most substantial investment in our students and schools in many years and introduces new, bipartisan-supported policies.” 

Hauser, in other words, means that the schools need more, much more.

Apart from disagreements over policy items, Dunleavy’s central point of opposition against HB 57 has been that more funding has not translated into better outcomes. The governor has reiterated that he does not oppose allocating more dollars for education but rather wants to ensure that the state is “investing strategically, with every dollar tied to outcomes” as Alaska faces a variety of economic and demographic headwinds, including declining oil revenues and demographic stagnation. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, too.

Alaska schools have become so hard up for teachers that they are turning to the Philippines, where they are going to find fresh recruits. It’s an expensive and complex process that involves immigration lawyers and visa fees. It has naturally drawn a lot of criticism. School districts say that this route allows them to cut out the agencies that serve as the middlemen and charge as much as $27,000 per teacher. 

But what happens to those who cannot afford or do not want to hire foreign teachers but are also unable to attract domestic ones? The Alaska Council of School Administrators has relied on grant funding from the US Department of Education to enhance recruitment and retention efforts. It’s a desperate measure with uncertain fruit.

The irony of the override, then, is that it more or less leaves the debate more or less where it started amid a darkening picture for education in Alaska. 

Egyptian national charged in terror fire-bomb attack on pro-Israel rally in Boulder

The Federal Bureau of Investigation says an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa has been arrested and charged in a violent terror attack that left six people injured during a peaceful pro-Israel rally in Boulder on Saturday.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was taken into custody at the scene after allegedly launching Molotov cocktails into a crowd gathered near the Pearl Street Mall for a “Run for Their Lives” event. The demonstration was held in solidarity with Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.

Witnesses reported that Soliman shouted “Free Palestine” and other anti-Israel slogans as the firebombs ignited, setting multiple elderly participants ablaze. The victims, ranging in age from 67 to 88, sustained serious injuries. Emergency responders were quick to arrive and began treating the wounded while securing the area.

The FBI has labeled the incident a “targeted terror attack.” FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter) that agents were “fully investigating” the matter. “Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available,” Patel wrote.

Prior to this terror attack, two Israeli diplomats were fatally shot in May outside the Capital Jewish Museum. 

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said the agency is dedicating its full resources to the investigation and made it clear that authorities intend to pursue anyone who may have played a role in the planning or execution of the assault.

“This was a deliberate act of terrorism,” Bongino said. “We are treating it with the utmost seriousness. Anyone who aided or abetted this attacker in any way will be found and held accountable.”

Federal immigration records show Soliman entered the United States legally two years ago when granted a visa by the Biden Administration but failed to depart after his visa expired. In response, the Biden Administration gave him a work permit. It is not yet known whether he had any prior criminal history or connections to extremist groups. Authorities are reviewing his digital footprint, travel records, and potential contacts within the US.

The attack sent shockwaves through the Boulder community, which has seen a growing number of politically motivated demonstrations in recent months. Organizers of the “Run for Their Lives” event expressed sorrow over the violence but reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful advocacy.

The victims’ names have not been publicly released, and local hospitals report that several remain in serious condition. Law enforcement was asking the public to come forward with any video or photographic evidence from the scene that may assist in the investigation.

Federal charges against Soliman are expected in the coming days.

Linda Boyle: Medical establishment melts down after RFK Jr. limits Covid jab guidance

By LINDA BOYLE

It’s been known for some time that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. would be making changes to Covid jab recommendations .  

When he announced that on May 27, the media and medical organizations went into a frenzy to decry this decision. No longer would Covid jabs be recommended to children, infants, and pregnant women. The only people who would be recommended for Covid-19 jabs are those over 65 and people with existing health problems.

In the five days since this announcement, a flurry of articles has appeared. Let’s recap.

  1. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in a statement that the organization is “concerned about and extremely disappointed” by the new recommendations. Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, ACOC President, stated, “As ob-gyns who treat patients every day, we have seen first hand how dangerous COVID-19 infection can be during pregnancy and for newborns who depend on maternal antibodies from the vaccine for protection.”  
  2. The American Academy of Pediatrics also was upset with this ruling and stated that removal of recommended Covid jabs from the schedule “ignores independent medical experts and leaves children at risk.” While this organization has routinely depended on the CDC for recommended childhood vaccines, it told MedPage Today that it “may have to rethink how we harmonize with the federal government.”
  3. The New York Times conceded there isn’t scientific evidence to support vaccination among healthy children. However, the Times felt this move by RFK Jr. of “dismantling decades of vaccine safety policies” troubling. 
  4. The FDA announced plans to limit approvals for updated COVID-19 vaccines to people over age 65 and people with one or more health conditions that put them at high risk for the virus. Based on these criteria, the FDA said between 100-200 million Americans would still be eligible for the shots because “so many people have conditions that are considered comorbidities”.  
  5. Others called out the process behind the decision for not following the “normal process” through the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). 
  6. ACIP met in April and discussed this issue extensively.  A poll of members at that time showed 76% of the members supported changing the recommendations from all people under 65 to only high risk individuals.  
  7. Others were concerned that if the jab were no longer routinely recommended, the insurance companies may not pay for it. The shot runs about $200.    
  8.  Daily, the MSM checked the CDC web page to see if the recommended changes were made with articles being written to say the changes had not occurred.  The changes occurred on 29 May—two days after the announcement, but fell short of what RFK Jr. had hoped.   
  9. The CDC issued new immunization schedules that changed the language on its recommendation. No longer is it routinely recommended; instead, it states that healthy children “may” still get the jab. This was the same language used for women who are pregnant. The decision to get or not get the jab should be based on “shared clinical decision-making,” between the parent(s)and the provider.

It is thought the language in the new guidance will allow parents to get their children the jab and have insurance companies pay for it.  

I doubt the food fight is over. There is too much financially at stake. Big Pharma’s stocks are dropping. Those who have pushed these jabs for years aren’t willing to give up the fight.  

Always follow the money. Big Pharma has been vaccinated with billions of dollars. Consequently, its resistance to change has high immunity.

RFK, Jr. and his team have an uphill battle. Yet it is for the good of the American citizen. I pray they are successful. 

Linda Boyle, RN, MSN, DM, was formerly the chief nurse for the 3rd Medical Group, JBER, and was the interim director of the Alaska VA. Most recently, she served as Director for Central Alabama VA Healthcare System. She is the director of the Alaska Covid Alliance/Alaskans 4 Personal Freedom.