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Fairbanks Borough Documents Detail Travel Expenditures by Borough Assembly Members

Natalie Spaulding
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Fairbanks Borough Documents Detail Travel Expenditures by Borough Assembly Members

By BEN CARPENTER and NATALIE SPAULDING

Editor’s Note:

This story contains grammatical and technical corrections to the original story published on Friday, September 26, 2025, under a similar title. In our effort to provide transparency, MRAK is republishing the article with corrected expenditures. We apologize to our readers and Borough officials for not independently verifying the data provided to us.     

Also corrected is the terminology used for a public records request made to the state government. A Freedom of Information Act (FIOA) request is made to the federal government.

This correction also updated the article to reflect that three employee expense reports were omitted from the documents given to Ruth Ewig.

A municipal tax cap is one way to prevent a borough or local government entity from spending taxpayer money on unwarranted travel expenses or political causes. Understanding current borough spending habits can help voters decide about the necessity of a tax cap. Fairbanks residents Jon and Ruth Ewig conducted a public records request to shine light on borough expenditures.

In their effort to show why a tax cap is both necessary and desirable, Ruth Ewig requested documents detailing borough expenditures through a public records request. The documents she received show that Fairbanks North Star Borough representatives Savannah Fletcher, David Guttenberg, Brett Rotermund, Mindy O’Neall, Scott Crass, and Kristan Kelly cumulatively spent at least $16,394.23 of taxpayer money on travel expenses from February 5, 2024 – February 21, 2025. Guttenberg and O’Neall may have spent an additional $6,764.38, based on projected costs submitted by Guttenberg and O’Neall.

According to the documents provided to MRAK, David Guttenberg spent the most money. He spent $7,387.26 on three trips. Additionally, Guttenberg filed two Travel Authorization forms—one to attend the NACO Legislative Conference and one to attend the AML Winter Legislative Conference—in which he estimated $6,408.03 in projected costs.

In total, Gutenberg may have spent more than $13,000 of taxpayer money on travel expenditures. Gutenberg was required to fill out an Employee Expense Report following his trip with the actual amount of money spent as well as all receipts and records of expenditures during his trip. The expense reports for these two trips were not included in the public records request given to Ruth Ewig.

Mindy O’Neall spent $3,112.20 on three trips and an estimated $356.35 on a fourth trip. The borough also failed to provide Ruth Ewig with the expense report containing the actual amount spent on the fourth trip, which was a trip to Victoria BC, Canada to attend a conference about “preventing hate and building social cohesion.”

According to Ruth Ewig, the documents show that Guttenberg and O’Neall failed during their authorized Juneau trip to keep their appointments with their interior legislative delegation. Released Assembly reports do not account for their absences.

During the February 2024-2025 time frame, Borough Assembly member Brett Rotermund spent $1,879.09 on one trip; Scott Crass spent $1,814.76 on two trips; Savannah Fletcher spent: $1,722.11 on three trips; and Kristan Kelly spent $478.81 on one trip.

The public records reviewed by Mrs. Ewig also reveal that North Star Borough Assembly members used Borough funds to attend the Alaska Municipal League’s Annual Local Government Conference. Additionally, the Borough Assembly paid $50,000 to a lobbyist.

In 2024, according to Ewig, Borough Assembly members O’Neall, Crass, and Fletcher spent $125,000 sponsoring a campaign to remove the tax cap and to increase real property land taxes by $10 million. That campaign failed.

“These travel expenditures do not represent a wise use of taxpayer-generated revenues,” said Ewig. “Fairbanks residents know that raising the tax cap is not necessary, and that these funds can be better utilized on the proper functions of government.”

Public Records: Borough Travel ExpendituresDownload

Federal Department of Interior Reverses Biden Policy on Native Allotments 

Jon Faulkner
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Federal Department of Interior Reverses Biden Policy on Native Allotments 

By JON FAULKNER

In a setback to Native allotment holders in Alaska, last week the U.S. Department of the Interior reversed a controversial Biden administration policy and reaffirmed the State’s territorial jurisdiction over Alaska Native allotments. 

 “We are encouraged that Interior has returned to a position grounded in Alaska’s unique history,” said Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox. “The Supreme Court has often said, ‘Alaska is the exception, not the rule.’ Today’s action respects that principle and restores the jurisdictional balance Congress intended and courts have repeatedly affirmed.”  

Native Allotments originated in a 1906 Congressional act that granted individual Alaska Natives the right to claim up to 160 acres of unappropriated federal land, conditioned upon their continuous use and occupancy. These personal homesteads were created without tribal participation; by 1960, 80 allotments existed. After statehood, applications for allotments surged and over 17,000 exist today, totaling over three million acres, mostly centered around villages. 

When Alaska achieved statehood in 1959, Native land claims were unresolved. With the discovery of oil on Alaska’s North Slope, settlement of land claims became necessary before a pipeline could be built.  The 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) created Native corporations and vested them with land and cash, but in exchange extinguished certain aboriginal land claims. ANSCA also ended new allotments but preserved existing ones as restricted lands—inalienable without federal approval. These allotments fell under a cloudy jurisdictional divide: federal oversight for certain easements or land use restrictions, but state laws for day-to-day governance. 

ANSCA policy was generally re-affirmed in 1993 when the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Solicitor issued an opinion declaring that Alaska’s federally recognized tribes—over 200 strong—lacked territorial jurisdiction over Native allotments. These lands, the opinion argued, were not “Indian country” in the legal language adopted from Lower 48 cases, but were subject to state and federal territorial jurisdiction, much like non-native properties. This position held for three decades, affirmed in 2021 by a federal court in the Native Village of Eklutna case which ruled allotments resembled general homesteads, not tribal territories. 

In February 2024, a new Solicitor Opinion issued by the Biden Administration abruptly reversed Interior’s long-standing policy by recognizing tribal jurisdiction over allotments owned by members. This altered Alaska’s legal map, sparking uncertainty across millions of acres: Would tribal land laws apply to non-natives, or just members? State officials criticized the action as Federal overreach, as inconsistent with Alaska’s unique history and decades of legal precedent, while also bypassing Congress and the State’s public process.  

Meanwhile, pressure was mounting in Alaska as plans for casinos and gaming facilities on native land were circulating, posing jurisdictional issues for state and municipal administrators.   

Finally, in February 2025, the State filed a lawsuit challenging a series of federal decisions that were based on the Biden Administration’s now-reversed rule. Alaska’s Department of Law hopes this litigation is permanently resolved by the Interior’s latest action.    

According to a Department of Law press release: “Today’s decision restores Interior’s prior position: that the State maintains primary jurisdiction over land owned by Alaska Natives, Alaska Native corporations, and Alaska tribes (with the exception of trust lands beneficially owned by the Metlakatla Indian Community). 

Read the revocation on the Solicitor’s Opinon webpage. 

Press Release – Interior Restores Alaska’s Territorial Jurisdiction over Native AllotmentsDownload

Tlingit & Haida Tribes Push Back on Haines Borough Tax Claim, Seek Exemption for Tribal Operations 

Jon Faulkner
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2
Tlingit & Haida Tribes Push Back on Haines Borough Tax Claim, Seek Exemption for Tribal Operations 

By JON FAULKNER 

HAINES – In a move highlighting ongoing tensions between local governments and Alaska Native tribes over taxation, the president of the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska has formally urged Haines Borough Mayor Tom Morphet to drop a small claims court action seeking roughly $7,500 in unpaid sales taxes from a tribal business. 

In a letter dated August 29, 2025, Tlingit & Haida President Richard J. Peterson detailed the tribe’s receipt of court documents around August 18, 2025 from Haines’ chief fiscal officer, alleging non-payment of taxes tied to The Gathering Place, a short-term rental operation at 360 Lutak Road. Peterson noted that the claim may not have been properly served but emphasized the tribe’s preference for dialogue over litigation. 

“This isn’t just about a bill—it’s about recognizing tribal governments on equal footing with other entities,” Peterson wrote, referencing a 2023 letter to former Mayor Douglas Olerud on the same issue. He proposed amending Haines Borough Municipal Code Section 3.80.050(14), which currently exempts sales, services, and rentals to or by foreign governments, the U.S. government, the state, its subdivisions, and municipalities from taxation. Adding tribal governments to that list, Peterson argued, would align Haines with Southeast Alaska municipalities like Juneau and Sitka, while acknowledging the “critical role” tribes play in community services. 

Peterson outlined an array of programs funded by tribal enterprises like The Gathering Place, including childcare development, job placement and training, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), emergency support, realty and forestry management, burial assistance, language and traditional trades programming, self-governance support, and general financial aid. These services, he stressed, extend benefits to both tribal citizens and their non-Native family members, bolstering the broader Haines community amid fluctuating federal and state funding. 

“Revenue from small businesses like The Gathering Place is even more critical in this current environment of unreliable federal and state funding,” Peterson added, underscoring how such operations sustain vital public services. 

While affirming the tribe’s readiness to defend against the borough’s authority to tax a business on an Alaska Native allotment, Peterson called for a “spirit of partnership” to resolve the matter amicably. He requested that Haines withdraw the claim or seek a court stay on deadlines to allow for discussions. 

Peterson invited direct contact via email at [email protected] or through Connor Ulmer, manager of the Office of the President, at [email protected] or 907-463-7185. 

The dispute comes as Alaska’s rural communities grapple with budget pressures, and tribal contributions to local economies and services often intersect with municipal revenue needs. Neither the Haines Borough nor Mayor Morphet’s office has publicly responded to the letter as of this writing. 

The full letter can be viewed here:    

tlingit_haida_letter_with_attachmentsDownload

Will Voters Turn the Homer City Council Red?

Greg Sarber
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Will Voters Turn the Homer City Council Red?

By GREG SARBER

There will be statewide borough elections held on October 7th, and Homer voters will have the chance to flip the city council from a liberal majority to a conservative one. This is an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often, but could very well happen this year, thanks to excellent candidates and a motivated conservative base.

There are six seats on the Homer City Council, and five of them are currently held by individuals with a left-of-center worldview, giving liberals a 5-1 majority.  However, the election will fill three open seats this year, and the liberal incumbents are facing serious conservative challengers. If all three center-right candidates win, the majority would flip to 4-2 conservative.  The three challengers all have legitimate conservative pedigrees, which offer them an excellent chance to win their contests.  These individuals are in alphabetical order.

Homer City Council Candidates Mike Jones, Elias Garvey, and John Mink

Mike Jones – Mike has lived in Alaska for several years, moving here after he retired from working in the power industry.  He spent his career working as a professional engineer and managing technical teams on major fossil fuel and hydro power plants. Mike has the expertise needed to help the city government understand difficult technical subjects, such as the construction of the proposed deep-water port expansion.  His candidacy was covered in detail in a previous article, which can be found here. 

Elias Garvey – Elias is a lifelong Alaskan with experience in the commercial fishing and construction industries.  Mr. Garvey is a thoughtful individual in public, who feels his job as a councilman would be to protect the public from government overregulation.  He also believes in avoiding unnecessary spending and supports freedom and liberty.  He wants to avoid the distractions that come from spending time in council debating frivolous items, which are not the purview of government at the local level. 

John Mink – John has lived in Homer for over a decade.  He has been heavily involved in civic activities, with the Homer Hockey Association and the Kachemak Jr. Nordic Ski Association.  He has served as the Economic Development Commissioner for the City of Homer and also works as a substitute schoolteacher.  Mr. Mink believes in sustainable growth and fiscal responsibility.  In one of the candidate forums, he mentioned that the primary goal of city government should be to provide the core services needed by the community before exploring spending on other nonessential items.

All three of these candidates are more qualified than the incumbents they will be running against.  However, the biggest challenge they face is the voter apathy that impacts off-cycle elections in Homer.  That is illustrated in Table 1.

Unfortunately, in borough elections, the voter turnout is typically low, averaging only 19.77% of the registered voters.  Only the most motivated individuals bother to vote, and in Homer, they tend to be the same rabid partisans that you see waving protest signs on Homer street corners.  They vote when conservatives do not, so Homer ends up electing a city council with 5 of the six seats filled by individuals with a left-of-center worldview.

However, it doesn’t have to be that way.  There are enough conservative voters in Homer to elect center-right candidates.  Data from the last four elections in Table 1 shows that the average margin of victory in city council elections is only 285 votes.  There were more than that number of conservatives who turned out for the Charlie Kirk memorial in Homer on September 17th.  If all of the memorial attendees voted, they could swing elections in favor of conservative candidates. If conservatives are motivated, Homer could elect the three conservative challengers in this year’s election.

Local elections are more important than most people think.  On October 7th, there will be elections held in boroughs around Alaska.  In addition to local governance, some of the people getting their start in city councils around the state this year will be the same candidates running for legislature in ten years and for governor in twenty.  If you are a conservative who complains about the liberal and RINO politicians who run our cities, our legislature, and represent us back in Washington DC, it can all change if you start electing conservative politicians at the local level.

Be sure to get out and vote on October 7th.  Absentee voting is now open, and you have 10 days to do so.  If you are a conservative, use the memory of Charlie Kirk’s murder as motivation.   It is time for conservatives to take back Alaska from the leftists running our state, and it all begins 10 days from now, on October 7th. 

Greg Sarber is a lifelong Alaskan. He is a petroleum engineer who spent his career working on Alaska’s North Slope. Now retired, he lives with his family in Homer, Alaska. Greg serves as a board member of Alaska Gold Communications, Inc., the publisher of Must Read Alaska.

Deven Mitchell: 49 Forward For Generations of Alaskans

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
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Deven Mitchell: 49 Forward For Generations of Alaskans

By DEVEN MITCHELL, CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR APFC

I was born about a decade after Alaska became the 49th state, and have shadowy memories of life before oil revenue poured in. The preparedness to take care of ourselves demonstrated by gravel and shovels in the back of trucks during the winter, the limited access to markets reflected in ordering clothes out of a 2-inch-thick JCPenney catalog once a year, or the reality of drinking powdered milk because that’s what was available, were not unique to my household.

The Alaska Permanent Fund embodies that generation’s pioneering, hardy spirit. Those Alaskans, who had far less than we do today, selflessly chose to transform a portion of our resource wealth into a renewable financial resource for future generations rather than spend it on themselves. That foresight and generational sacrifice have proven invaluable to our quality of life today. Out of respect for the past and with the vision of a vibrant future, the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) is committed to ensuring the Fund continues to be a source of strength, stability, and shared prosperity for every Alaskan.

At this 49-year mark, APFC’s mandate remains clear: protect and grow the Alaska Permanent Fund for all generations. The 2025 APFC Annual Report, “49 Forward, ” reflects that progress.

202509_Annual Report Press ReleaseDownload

Long-Term Performance
This past fiscal year, the Permanent Fund delivered strong results, exceeding long-term benchmarks and demonstrating the value of a disciplined, diversified investment strategy. As of June 30, 2025, the Permanent Fund reached a record high of $85.1B, with over $7.8 billion earned and a 9.35% rate of return. The ability of the Fund to beat its performance metrics over the long-term matters more than any one year’s market high. While markets inevitably fluctuate, the Fund is constructed to provide steady, risk aware performance and to maximize reliable long-term returns.

Generating Revenue for the State
The Alaska Permanent Fund has become a cornerstone of the state’s finances, providing more than half of the unrestricted general fund through the 5% Percent of Market Value draw. This draw is based on a historical 5-year average balance of the Fund and provides a very predictable and stable transfer to the state. The current two-account structure was created almost 50 years ago and has been incredibly resilient over that time. However, the Fund’s investments and accounting rules have changed substantially, which has led to inconsistent inflation proofing, vulnerability to unsustainable draws, or, in certain markets, earnings that aren’t spendable. It’s time to modernize.

One Fund. Built for Generations.
When you describe one fund, with constitutional deposits, that has one limited draw per year, where the fund’s remainder is permanently protected from politicians, most people think that is what we already have. Well, actually, the current Fund structure is very complex, is vulnerable to inflation, overdraws, funding limits, and adheres to accounting rules that are long gone. I’ve found the average Alaskan has little understanding of these risks and quickly shifts to “how can we make it better?” and truly “permanent.” Shifting to a single constitutional endowment will secure automatic inflation proofing, reliable funding, and a protected Principal for future generations.

Transparency & Engagement in Action
The Alaska Permanent Fund was built by Alaskans to benefit Alaskans, and its stewardship depends on engagement and transparency. On October 1–2, APFC’s Board of Trustees will host its Annual Meeting on the Fund’s performance, strategy, and direction; we welcome public participation. Send your public comments via [email protected]. Forty-nine years have shown what a generation of extraordinary Alaskans can provide. It is now our generation’s turn to build on that legacy so that when the Alaska Permanent Fund turns 98 in another 49 years, Alaskans will be just as grateful to us.

About APFC
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) manages the assets of the Alaska Permanent Fund, a globally recognized sovereign wealth fund. Established in 1976, the Fund preserves Alaska’s nonrenewable mineral and oil wealth as a renewable financial resource for current and future generations of Alaskans. The Fund also serves as the primary source of revenue for Alaska’s unrestricted general funds, supporting the state’s economic stability and prosperity. APFC is a quasi-independent state agency with one mission: to manage and invest the assets of the Alaska Permanent Fund and other funds designated by law. As of June 30, 2025, the Alaska Permanent Fund is the
largest sovereign wealth fund in the U.S., with $85.1 billion in assets. For more information, visit apfc.org.

Alaska Chamber Business Awards Announced 

Natalie Spaulding
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Alaska Chamber Business Awards Announced 

Today, the Alaska Chamber of Commerce announced the 2025 recipients of its Premier Business Awards. These include:  

Bill Bivin Small Business of the Year: Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal 

Rita Sholton Large Business of the Year: STG Inc. 

Local Chamber of the Year: Kenai Chamber of Commerce 

William A. Egan Outstanding Alaskan of the Year: John Hendrix 

Selected from among statewide nominees by the Chamber’s Executive Committee, the recipients will be honored for their outstanding contributions to Alaska’s economy at the Alaska Business Summit on Oct. 9, 2025, at the Alyeska Resort. 

According to a press release, the categories and basis for nomination and awards are: 

Bill Bivin Small Business of the Year: Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal 

Established in 1993, the award “recognizes independently owned and operated Alaska businesses with fewer than 100 employees that demonstrate leadership and community involvement. 

“Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal (the Terminal) is the only cruise ship dock in Sitka and has transformed the visitor industry in Southeast Alaska. Founded by Chris McGraw, the Terminal took shape without guaranteed cruise line contracts, relying instead on vision and entrepreneurial risk-taking. Today, the Terminal welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, providing critical infrastructure that fuels Sitka’s economy and supports local jobs. 

“Beyond dock operations, the Terminal provides space for small businesses, including bars, restaurants, retailers and tour operators. It has become an anchor for Sitka’s tourism sector, spurring economic activity that generates sales, property, and head tax revenues for the city. The Terminal has also shown strong civic leadership, including organizing community-led efforts to protect local businesses from harmful ballot initiatives.” 

Rita Sholton Large Business of the Year: STG Inc. 

Established in 2018, this award honors “companies with more than 100 Alaska employees that exemplify leadership in their industry and consistent community involvement. 

“STG Inc. is a leader in rural infrastructure development, building projects in some of the most remote and weather-challenged regions of Alaska. Their work includes major contributions to telecommunications, fiber installation, and structural foundations, such as their foundational role in GCI’s TERRA network connecting Western Alaska. 

“STG is known for its deep cultural awareness and commitment to local communities. They prioritize local hiring and mentoring, often transforming trainees into long-term team members. Beyond project sites, STG invests in communities by donating goods, supporting elders and engaging in local volunteer efforts. The company also supports statewide organizations, including the Scotty Gomez Foundation and Calista Education and Culture Fund. Internally, STG fosters employee well-being with competitive benefits and a culture rooted in collaboration and generosity.” 

Local Chamber of the Year: Kenai Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center

This award “recognizes local chambers for consistent community involvement and strong reputations for business support. 

“The Kenai Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center has elevated its role as a trusted, dynamic, and forward-thinking organization under the leadership of Executive Director Samantha Springer. In 2024, the Chamber was instrumental in revitalizing the Kenai Cultural Center, bringing back monthly rotating exhibits for the first time since 1993. It also launched the Kenai Chronicles Lecture Series, expanded scholarship programs and created the Kenai Peninsula Cultural Foundation, a new 501(c)(3) organization focused on historical preservation, education and community restoration. The Chamber regularly hosts community-wide events like the Fourth of July Parade, Christmas Comes to Kenai and a new Haunted Chamber attraction, creating opportunities for residents to connect and celebrate what makes Kenai unique. 

“The Chamber fosters regional collaboration, recently partnering with the Soldotna Chamber on shared programming and campaigns. Its initiatives promote economic sustainability, youth development and civic pride, positioning it as a vital force in the Central Peninsula.” 

William A. Egan Outstanding Alaskan of the Year: John Hendrix 

Established in 1964, this award honors “an individual who has made substantial and continual contributions of statewide significance in the private sector. 

“John Hendrix is celebrated for his entrepreneurial spirit and decades of contributions to Alaska’s energy sector. A civil engineer with more than 40 years of international and local experience, Hendrix chose to invest his expertise back into the state where he grew up. 

“Hendrix has held leadership roles at Apache Alaska, BP, Schlumberger and NANA, and served as oil and gas advisor to the governor’s office. More recently, he founded HEX, LLC and acquired Furie Operating Alaska, which operates offshore platforms in Cook Inlet and supplies natural gas to communities in Southcentral Alaska. Beyond his professional achievements, Hendrix has devoted his time and resources to supporting education, youth sports and community organizations across the state.” 

The Alaska Chamber is a non-profit founded in 1953 working to promote a positive business environment in Alaska. 

Full press release below:

2025-alaska-chamber-awards-press-release-final-0925Download

Natalie Spaulding, a 2025 Hillsdale College graduate, recently joined the Must Read Alaska team.

Fairbanks Borough Documents Detail Travel Expenditures by Borough Members

Natalie Spaulding
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20
Fairbanks Borough Documents Detail Travel Expenditures by Borough Members

By NATALIE SPAULDING

A municipal tax cap is one way to prevent a borough or local government entity from spending taxpayer money on unwarranted travel expenses or political causes. Understanding current borough spending habits can help voters decide about the necessity of a tax cap. In an effort to show why a tax cap is both necessary and desirable, Fairbanks residents Jon and Ruth Ewig conducted a FOIA request to shine light on Fairbanks North Star Borough expenditures.

Ruth Ewig requested documents detailing borough expenditures through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The documents she received show that Fairbanks North Star Borough representatives Savannah Fletcher, David Guttenberg, Brett Rotermund, Mindy O’Neall, Scott Crass, and Kristan Kelly cumulatively spent $34,800 of taxpayer money on travel expenses from February 5, 2024 – February 21, 2025.

According to the documents released to MRAK, David Guttenberg spent the most money: $13,000. Mindy O’Neall spent $7,500, part of which was used to fund a trip to Victoria BC, Canada to attend a conference about “preventing hate and building social cohesion.”

FOIA Documents Borough ExpendituresDownload

According to Ewig, the documents show that Guttenberg and O’Neall failed during their authorized Junea trip to keep their appointments with their interior Legislative Delegation. Released Assembly reports do not account for their absences. 

The FOIA documents also reveal that North Star Borough Assembly members used Borough funds to attend the Alaska Municipal League’s Annual Local Government Conference. Additionally, the Borough Assembly paid $50,000 to a lobbyist.

During the February 2024-2025 time frame, Borough member Scott Crass spent $5,000; Savannah Fletcher spent $3600; Brett Rotermund spent $3,500; and Kristan Kelly spent $1,000.

In 2024, according to Ewig, Borough members O’Neall, Crass, and Fletcher spent $125,000 sponsoring a campaign to remove the tax cap and to increase real property land taxes by $10 million. That campaign failed. “These travel expenditures do not represent a wise use of taxpayer-generated revenues,” said Ewig. “Fairbanks residents know that raising the tax cap is not necessary, and that these funds can be better utilized on the proper functions of government.”

Natalie Spaulding, a 2025 Hillsdale College graduate, recently joined the Must Read Alaska team.

NEW LOCATION: UAA Turning Point USA Chapter to Hold Vigil for Charlie Kirk

Brenda Josephson
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NEW LOCATION: UAA Turning Point USA Chapter to Hold Vigil for Charlie Kirk

By BRENDA JOSEPHSON

The University of Alaska Anchorage chapter of Turning Point USA will host a public memorial vigil in honor of Charlie Kirk.

This event is scheduled for Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in The Wendy Williamson Auditorium on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus. Everyone is welcome to join the gathering to honor the memory of Charlie Kirk and celebrate his life and legacy.

Senator Sullivan Announces $183.4 Million in Federal Highway Funds. 

Jon Faulkner
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Senator Sullivan Announces $183.4 Million in Federal Highway Funds. 

By JON FAULKNER

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced that a record-setting $183.4 million in federal funds were redistributed to Alaska’s DOT and Public Facilities through the Federal Highway Administration. 

Redistribution funds allow states with previously approved and designed projects to accelerate their construction timelines through a re-allocation of existing federal funds. The $183.4 million places Alaska as the highest in the nation on a per-capita basis for August redistribution funding. 

Senator Sullivan is a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and has consistently advocated for increased funding for Alaska’s federal highway projects, including efforts during President Trump’s first term to secure funding and permits for the massive Cooper Landing Bypass project. 

The road funds will help advance two large projects currently in progress: the West Susitna Access Road and the Cooper Landing Bypass.  They will also cover other safety, pavement protection, and smaller access projects.   

“We have natural resources that exceed most major countries, yet we have fewer road miles than Connecticut, despite our state being 118 times the size. In my seats on both the Environment and Public Works and Commerce Committees, getting more infrastructure—including roads—built in our state so we can unlock our full potential is one of my top priorities,” said Senator Sullivan in a prepared statement.

Sullivan continued: “We’ve had great success securing major awards for transportation infrastructure projects, with hundreds of millions of dollars in long-term investments coming to our state, but more needs to be done. My team and I have had numerous conversations with Transportation Secretary Duffy and his team about our infrastructure challenges and the necessity of working cooperatively with Alaska DOT to ensure that, unlike the previous administration, federal highway funds aren’t bogged down by unnecessary requirements and red tape. I want to thank Secretary Duffy for following through on his commitments and look forward to working with Alaska DOT to ensure that these funds are used to advance infrastructure projects that benefit our communities.” 

Jon Faulkner is the president of Alaska Gold Communications, parent company to Must Read Alaska.

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