Wednesday, November 12, 2025
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Revenue Commission Adam Crum leaves Dunleavy Administration for probable gubernatorial run

In a move widely interpreted as the clearest signal yet of his intent to run for governor, Adam Crum has submitted his resignation as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue, effective Aug. 8. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced the change Friday and praised Crum for his leadership and service across two major state agencies.

Crum, who previously led the Department of Health and Social Services before taking the helm at Revenue, has been a visible figure in the Dunleavy administration and is considered a likely contender to succeed the term-limited governor in 2026. He is a well-known businessman from the Mat-Su Valley.

“Commissioner Crum has been an exemplary leader whose unwavering dedication and innovative approach have significantly benefited Alaskans,” Dunleavy said in a written statement. “His collaborative spirit and commitment to serving our communities have made a lasting, positive impact.”

As health commissioner, Crum steered Alaska through the turbulent Covid-19 pandemic, coordinating support for industries like tourism and fishing while managing public health responses. When the Department of Health and Social Services was split into two agencies in 2022, Crum transitioned to lead the Department of Revenue, where he focused on stabilizing state finances and modernizing revenue systems.

His resignation comes as political chatter in Republican circles intensifies about the 2026 election cycle. Crum has not publicly confirmed his candidacy, but stepping down from his executive post is widely viewed as a necessary and proper step for a statewide campaign.

In a prepared statement, Crum thanked the governor and his colleagues, saying, “It has been an honor serving Alaskans… I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Alaska’s prosperity and am excited to see the state’s continued success.”

The governor’s office said an acting commissioner will be appointed in the coming days.

Attorney General Treg Taylor is also believed to be running for governor but has not announced his resignation. However, he has increased his public speaking engagements to a level where it appears he is campaigning. Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom has also announced she is running.

The last year of the Dunleavy Administration is being set up with key members of his cabinet leaving or being distracted during a critical time, when Dunleavy is working to launch the Alaska LNG project.

On Thursday, Sen. Shelley Hughes filed for office. Others who have filed are former Sen. Click Bishop, Mat-Su Mayor Edna DeVries, Dr. Matt Heilala, Angoon resident James Parkin, and political activist Bernadette Wilson. All are Republicans.

Palmer voters to decide in October on eliminating city manager residency rule

Voters in Palmer will weigh in this fall on whether to eliminate a longstanding rule requiring the city manager to live within city limits — a rule that dates back to the city’s incorporation in 1951. The matter has resurfaced with the hiring of a new city manager, Kolby Hickel Zerkel, who does not yet live in Palmer.

The proposed change will appear on the Oct. 7 municipal ballot and, if passed, would remove the residency requirement entirely rather than expanding the eligible living area.

The Palmer City Charter says the city manager “be a resident of the city,” residing within the city’s roughly five-square-mile boundary. But some members of the Palmer City Council argue the rule is outdated. There is limited amount of housing in city limits, for one thing. Modern times allow people to work remotely and constant communication.

If the measure passes voters, it would have an immediate impact on Zerkel, who lives in Anchorage and said she has struggled to find suitable housing in the city. She has indicated that she plans to move to the Mat-Su area or Palmer, regardless. Zerkel was appointed after the previous city manager Stephen Jellie resigned after less than two months on the job following controversies surrounding his actions and potential legal issues. Zerkel previously served as deputy municipal manager in Anchorage and as the State Operations Director for US Senator Dan Sullivan.

A separate change approved by the City Council lifts all residency requirements for department heads, including the fire and police chiefs, but this ordinance does not require a public vote.

Council members voted 4-2 to place the city manager residency question on the ballot.

Mia Costello: Alaska’s bold future and prosperity with passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill

By REP. MIA COSTELLO

As a lifelong Alaskan, I’ve seen our state’s heart beat strongest where the land yields its bounty. From the oil fields of the North Slope to the mineral-rich mountains of the Interior, Alaska’s economic lifeblood has always been its resources. The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, crafted with the input of our Congressional delegation and signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, is a game-changer, and it represents a bold step toward securing our prosperity through safe, responsible development. This isn’t just a bill, it’s a lifeline for Alaskans and a beacon for our future.

The federal legislation throws open the doors to Alaska’s vast potential. It mandates lease sales across 1.6 million acres in ANWR, 20 million acres in NPR-A, and millions more in Cook Inlet, unlocking oil and gas reserves that will fuel our economy for decades. In addition to opening more federal land for resource development, the bill secures a 70-30 revenue split with the federal government for ANWR, NPR-A, and Cook Inlet, up from the current split of 50-50, bringing additional royalties directly back to Alaska starting in 2034.

The bill also includes $1 billion for critical minerals development, positioning Alaska as a key supplier of materials used in energy, defense, and manufacturing. We have the deposits, and now we have the federal support needed to develop them. Combined with $4 billion for Arctic infrastructure which will be used for roads, ports, and a new polar icebreaker in Juneau, the bill offers both near-term construction jobs and long-term economic stability.

These investments strengthen Alaska’s role in domestic energy production and in Arctic policy. At a time when global energy markets are uncertain and international competition is increasing, this legislation ensures Alaska is part of the solution. It’s also worth emphasizing that the bill doesn’t relax standards or bypass environmental oversight. It supports development within existing regulatory frameworks and honors Alaska’s history of balancing economic activity with environmental responsibility. We know how to develop resources the right way, and we’ve been doing it for decades.

The bill doesn’t solve every challenge we face, but it gives Alaska a solid foundation. It reaffirms the principle that we can and should use our own resources to support our own people. This isn’t about making a political statement, it’s about putting Alaska in a stronger position to succeed.

Now that the bill has passed, the focus should be on implementation. We need to support lease sales, ensure permitting stays on schedule, and work with industry to get projects moving. We also need to be prepared for the legal and political challenges that will inevitably follow. 

To help guide this process, I will be working with our federal delegation to establish the Alaska Development, Resources, Energy, and Modernization (AK DREAM) Commission. The Alaska DREAM Commission will be focused on the efficient and effective implementation of the pro-Alaska policies included in the federal legislation and will work to ensure coordination between agencies, accelerate project timelines, and keep the promises of the legislation on track.

Time is of the essence, and our state must come together to capitalize on this bold agenda. This bill gives Alaska the chance to lead again; let’s make the most of it.

Rep. Mia Costello is the House Minority Leader and represents District 15-Anchorage.

Anchorage Assembly to hear briefing on $50 million needed for Performing Arts Center repairs

The Anchorage Assembly will receive a briefing Friday afternoon on the $50 million in repairs that may be needed for the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, a downtown cultural hub that has suffered from decades of deferred maintenance.

The 2:10 pm presentation, prepared by ACPA, Inc. — the nonprofit that has operated the center since its opening in 1988 –warns that the PAC is facing escalating infrastructure failure, decades of underinvestment, and operational constraints that threaten its core functions, safety, and long-term viability.

Despite hosting between 150,000 and 250,000 patrons annually, supporting eight resident companies, and serving as an economic engine for downtown Anchorage, the PAC’s facility has not seen consistent capital investment from its municipal owner.

According to ACPA’s report, only a handful of improvements have been publicly funded over the decades, including a roof replacement in 2005 and a recently approved $1.8 million allocation for fire safety and elevator upgrades. The funds for that have yet to be fully deployed due to engineering and procurement delays.

Most of the PAC’s systems date back to its original 1988 construction and have surpassed their life expectancy. ACPA’s recent facility assessment, conducted with support from Stantec and Theatre Projects, identified $22.9 million in near-term repair needs, many of which are tied to life safety.

Among the most urgent concerns:

  • An aging and partially defunct fire panel system.
  • Freight and passenger elevators in danger of failure due to water intrusion in the piston shaft.
  • Obsolete air handling and ventilation systems.
  • Failing lighting, public address, and building control systems.
  • A compromised building envelope with visible cracking and joint failures.
  • A generator that is no longer functional.

ACPA staff are currently mitigating several of these issues manually, such as pumping water from the elevator shaft every few months due to piston corrosion, a stopgap measure the Municipality has reportedly agreed to monitor for failure rather than proactively resolve.

The center’s operating agreement with the Municipality dates to 1988, when ACPA was allocated a $1.175 million annual management fee. That amount has not kept pace with inflation, the ACPA says in its handout. Had it been adjusted each year, today’s fee would be over $3.3 million. Instead, the facility receives $1.58 million, leaving ACPA to shoulder the difference.

Despite limited resources, ACPA has launched multiple initiatives to sustain the PAC, including the creation of CenterTix in 2005 and a partnership with national Broadway promoter Nederlander in 2023. The Broadway Alaska program has generated revenue, but was paused earlier this year due to mounting operational challenges and the need to realign resources.

Broadway Alaska’s temporary suspension through the 2025–2026 season is not a termination of the program, the briefing clarifies. Instead, the pause allowed ACPA to address building deficiencies, stabilize finances, and renegotiate a sustainable management structure with the Municipality.

ACPA’s message to the Assembly is: Without immediate investment and a revised operating agreement, the PAC cannot continue to provide low-cost access for nonprofit and resident arts groups, support tourism and economic growth, or guarantee the safety and comfort of audiences and performers.

A follow-up presentation of Phase 1 assessment findings is scheduled for Aug. 4.

The meeting will be broadcast at the YouTubelink below.

Prior to this meeting, the Anchorage Assembly also scheduled a work session for 11:50 am: “Worksession Draft AR for Better Public Meetings Project.”

Trump executive order targets vagrancy, lawlessness, and urban decay in America

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order outlining a new federal framework to support local crackdowns on public encampments, open drug use, and vagrancy. “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets” prioritizes federal support for cities that adopt stricter enforcement measures and civil commitment programs for the mentally ill and addicted.

The executive order directly targets urban camping and street disorder, calling for an alignment of federal and local efforts to reduce crime and vagrancy in public spaces. In particular, it encourages civil commitment for individuals with severe mental illness or substance use disorders who pose a risk to themselves or others, a measure that would mandate treatment rather than relying on voluntary services.

Federal grant funding under the new policy will now prioritize jurisdictions that enforce bans on public camping, restrict drug use in public areas, and actively address what the order describes as “urban disorder.” The White House said the policy reflects a “common-sense” approach to restoring safety in American communities and addressing root causes of the homelessness crisis, including untreated mental illness and drug addiction.

While the executive order does not specify funding levels or implementation deadlines, it puts the onus on federal agencies to coordinate with cities and states in developing enforcement strategies and programmatic support.

The announcement comes as Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, continues to grapple with a growing vagrancy crisis.

Despite increased shelter capacity and tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funding, large encampments persist across public spaces, and the fire department has linked several recent wildfires to vagrant camps in wooded areas. Earlier this month, Anchorage police responded to gunfire at an encampment near Mulcahy Stadium, raising further concerns about escalating risks.

Anchorage’s own new anti-camping ordinance, which prohibits overnight camping on public property when shelter space is available, aligns with the federal priorities outlined in the executive order. However, enforcement remains inconsistent.

The Trump administration’s policy signals stronger federal backing for cities that move aggressively to enforce such ordinances. The initiative may also pressure municipalities such as Seattle and Portland that have resisted such measures to revisit their approach or risk losing federal support. Most certainly, these cities will file lawsuits. Already, the attorney general of Washington State has filed 29 lawsuits against Trump.

The administration has argued that mandatory treatment is a necessary tool when voluntary outreach fails and communities face ongoing threats from encampment-related violence, fires, and health crises.

While the long-term impact of the executive order is uncertain, its immediate effect is to place federal influence and taxpayer funding squarely behind cities that pursue aggressive policies to clear public spaces and address homelessness through enforcement and treatment.

The order does not override existing state laws but signals a shift in federal posture that may influence future legislation, funding priorities, and public policy debates across the country.

Dramatic video: Alaska Airlines jet hits deer on runway in Kodiak

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 struck at least two deer—possibly three—while landing at Kodiak Airport on Thursday morning, damaging the aircraft’s landing gear and prompting the cancellation of all scheduled passenger flights for the remainder of the day.

The incident occurred around 8 a.m. as the aircraft was completing its landing rollout. Despite the unusual runway hazard, the plane was able to taxi safely to the terminal, and there were no injuries reported among passengers or crew.

The collision caused damage to the plane’s landing gear, which will be repaired locally in Kodiak. In the meantime, operations were temporarily suspended, and passengers scheduled to travel to or from the island were being rebooked on alternate flights.

In November of 2020, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-700 struck and killed a brown bear sow during landing at the Yakutat airport.

Breaking: Sen. Shelley Hughes making ‘major’ announcement at public event in Palmer

Alaska State Sen. Shelley Hughes is set to make a major announcement about her political future this evening at a public gathering in Palmer. Political prognosticators believe she is announcing her long-awaited run for governor.

The event will take place at 6:30 pm in the recently refurbished barn at Rebarchek Park, located on the south end of the Alaska State Fairgrounds, just outside the gated area.

In a preview statement, Hughes struck an optimistic tone about the road ahead: “We are on the verge of big and new things in Alaska,” Hughes said. “But we need to be smart in the meantime. If we do things right, I have no doubt that the sun will be rising in our great state in a game-changing way — in a way that will positively and multi-generationally impact our livelihoods and our pursuit of happiness. We’ve always known Alaska has promising potential. It’s time we work together to unleash and realize it.”

Hughes began her public service in the Alaska House of Representatives in 2013 before moving to the Senate in 2017. She has represented the Palmer area and surrounding communities for over a decade. Her district has included greater Palmer, Chugiak, Knik-Fairview, and Settlers Bay. Over the years, she has held key leadership roles including Senate Majority Leader, Chair of both the Judiciary and Education Committees, and a seat on the influential Senate Resources Committee.

Hughes has also had a strong footprint nationally. She currently serves as vice chair of the National Federalism Commission, focusing on restoring balance between federal and state authority. She is Alaska’s delegate to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Artificial Intelligence Task Force, and she chairs a 36-member bipartisan working group aimed at strengthening food security and growing Alaska’s agriculture sector. Additionally, she sits on the national board of the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders.

Known as one of the most accessible legislators in Juneau, Hughes has built her career on listening to constituents and emphasizing the importance of civic engagement.

Those unable to attend the announcement in person can tune in virtually via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2036153616?omn=86320546025
Meeting ID: 203 615 3616
One-tap mobile:
+1 253-205-0468,,2036153616#
+1 253-215-8782,,2036153616#

Hughes has not revealed the specific nature of her announcement, but it’s a poorly kept secret that she is running for statewide office.

Win Gruening: Nick Begich III is hitting it out of the ballpark in Congress

By WIN GRUENING

Since winning Alaska’s lone US House seat on Nov. 5, 2024, Congressman Nick Begich has astonished even his most ardent fans. With barely 200 days in office, to use a baseball metaphor, Nick is swinging for the fences. He already has an enviable list of feats for someone in a starting position in Congress.

During his campaign, Nick worked to convince voters that he could fill the shoes of the late Congressman Don Young, Alaska’s longest-serving US House Representative.

Despite being outspent 4-1, Nick shut-out the incumbent Democrat and picked off three other Republicans on the ballot for the win. 

After being sworn into office on Jan. 3, he hit the ground running by introducing three bills to strengthen the general welfare of Alaska Native communities. Two of those bills, House Resolution 42: Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act, and HR 43: Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025 were signed into law last month, a remarkable double-play for a rookie congressman in his first season.

Straightaway, House leadership recognized Begich as a key utility player, and within days drafted him to serve on three prominent committees and eight subcommittees, a work rotation not normally assigned to newcomers. His committee assignments were Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Space, Science, and Technology. 

In his second week, Nick was tagged as vice-chair of the House Subcommittee for Energy and Mineral Resources, focusing on issues critical to Alaska and the nation. In February, he stepped up to the plate once more as vice-chair of Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. These roles in the Congressional lineup are rarely assigned to freshman legislators.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of having a real pro when it comes to game-changing know-how and experience that can benefit future generations. That’s where Nick is ahead of the curve. In March, Nick’s wide-ranging experience in technology was highlighted when he sponsored HR 2032, the BITCOIN Act of 2025, aimed at creating a regulatory framework for digital assets. 

In separate but related legislation, Nick advocated for House passage of the Senate-passed GENIUS Act — short for Generating Essential National Infrastructure for Universal Stability. The legislation creates the first-ever federal regulatory framework for so-called stablecoins, a form of cryptocurrency that is pegged to the US dollar or other traditional assets to minimize volatility. He also co-sponsored the CLARITY Act which established a regulatory framework for “digital commodities,” which includes most cryptocurrencies that rely on a blockchain for their value, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Begich is emerging as one of Congress’s influential voices on cryptocurrency. His knowledge and advocacy in this area led to several national news media interviews and garnering invitations as a featured speaker at a national Bitcoin Policy Institute conference as well aAlaska’s first ever Bitcoin Alaska Conference in Juneau in July. The Juneau conference aimed to promote Bitcoin education, economic empowerment, and bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized digital assets in Alaska. With over 120 attendees, approximately 85% were non-local, coming from other Alaska cities and outside the state.

In what may eventually be regarded one of his most significant clutch plays, Rep. Begich, as a member of the Natural Resources Committee, sponsored a budget proposal to increase Alaska’s share of federal leasing revenues from 50% to 90% starting in 2035 (subsequently renegotiated by the Senate to 70% beginning in 2034). This provision was included in the final budget bill signed by President Donald Trump last week.

While this long-sought-after change in Federal leasing revenues will eventually generate billions of additional dollars for the state, other budget provisions championed by Begich will also benefit Alaskans for generations to come. These include re-instated lease sales cancelled by the Biden Administration, regulatory reform, stream-lined permitting, legal protection for projects from court challenges, timber harvest increases, and funding for water-related projects, among others.

Rumors of a rematch between Begich and Democrat Mary Peltola in the 2026 election persist, especially from partisans who wish it true. Nick’s ability to deliver results during such a short period certainly argues against it.

We’re only in the first few innings but just look at the scoreboard. Only beginning to establish his mark in the sport of politics, Rep. Begich’s playing stats are extraordinary.

He is a natural talent who will only improve in the seasons to come.

After retiring as the senior vice president in charge of business banking for Key Bank in Alaska, Win Gruening became a regular opinion page columnist for the Juneau Empire. He was born and raised in Juneau and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970. He is involved in various local and statewide organizations.

Photo tour of a vagrant TarpMart, where everything must go (because it’s probably stolen)

Outlaw encampments continue to spread across Anchorage, bringing with them a host of public safety concerns, including gunfire, fires, and stolen property, despite weak efforts by an ineffectual mayor to address the crisis. Must Read Alaska readers have dubbed these encampments SLAZ — Suzanne LaFrance Autonomous Zone, after the mayor who promised voters she would clean up the city.

Last week, gunshots rang out at an encampment near Mulcahy Stadium, rattling families and disrupting youth baseball games. Players were sent scrambling into dugouts for cover, and although Anchorage police responded to the incident, the department has yet to provide the public with any detailed information.

The shooting, coupled with encampment fire seen in the same woods this past Tuesday, prompted the Must Read Alaska team to investigate that area and others.

A massive encampment has emerged along Chester Creek Trail south of Kendall Ford, at the intersection of 20th Avenue and the New Seward Highway. The site has grown rapidly and now includes piles of broken-down bicycles, parts, and even what appears to be a pop-up, open-air storefront set up in a tent.

A sign affixed to a large tent advertises prices for items and another sign tells people that if they are not shopping, they should move along.

They are selling everything from Chips Ahoy for $4 to Gillette razors for $1 each. You can buy Tate’s chocolate chip cookies, otter pops, and cigarettes (three for $5).

Here’s the price list for the store:

Vagrant Value Village? Price list for encampment store along Chester Creek.

It’s a jarring sight on what was once a popular urban trail for biking and walking. At least 100 people are encamped there. Many of the tarps and tents appear to be in relatively new condition.

The rapid expansion of this and other camps follows the city’s high-profile removal of the sprawling Davis Park encampment earlier this year. That operation, which came at a cost of thousands of dollars to taxpayers, removed more than 700,000 pounds of debris. As the city moved in to abate that camp, vagrants set it on fire as they exited, complicating the abatement and turning it into a fire and crime scene. No arrests were made.

Encampments have simply reconstituted in other areas of town, often with even less oversight.

The situation near Kendall Ford, Mulcahy Stadium, and other areas has become a flashpoint in the city’s ongoing debate over how to handle transient outlaws, addiction, and public disorder.

As part of an ongoing series, we continue to document these developments with photographs and firsthand accounts from across Anchorage. The summer of 2025 is proving to be yet another test of the city’s political will to restore safety and livability to its public spaces. Note that our photos capture only a small portion of what we saw in the new SLAZ encampment along Chester Creek.

Mayor LaFrance, as part of her campaign in 2024, accused former Mayor Dave Bronson of incompetence.

This is what competence apparently looks like:

Missing your generator? Vagrant encampment along Chester Creek has a generator and shopping carts galore.
An APD officer going off-duty and the Merril Field Tower were amongst the multiple sources reporting thick, dark smoke rising from the woods of Russian Jack Springs Park. Propane tanks popped off as APD worked to make access to the out-of-control wildfire which started in an encampment. Photo credit: Anchorage Fire Department.
Tarps, tents, and plenty of bikes at the massive encampment along Chester Creek Trail on July 24, 2025. Campfire smoke was observed thoughout this sprawling encampment.
Vagrant Village: Multi-family units along Chester Creek Trail on July 24, 2025.
Must Read Alaska encountered dozens of these tent-and-tarp dwellings along the Chester Creek Trail.
This encampment dwelling comes with all the usual items, plus a large rug that covers the bare ground in front of the tent.