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Linda Boyle: New Covid in town is Nimbus, brought to you through China and Asia

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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25
Linda Boyle: New Covid in town is Nimbus, brought to you through China and Asia

By LINDA BOYLE

The newest Covid variant is Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) a mutation of the Omicron variant. While touted as highly infectious, it doesn’t seem to cause hospitalizations or deaths at the levels seen with the original variant of delta. The overall severity of the variant has been marked as low.   

This variant was first detected in China in January. In the two-week period that ended on June 21, Nimbus accounted for an estimated 43% of Covid cases in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nimbus can evade antibodies created by past infections or jabs even more easily than omicron (LP.8.1). Thus, It is apt to spread more rapidly.  

The most common Nimbus symptoms are dry cough and shortness of breath. The signature symptom is a razor sharp sore throat. Patients have reported a sore throat so severe that it felt like swallowing “sharp metal objects.” The throat is so sore it often leaves those infected with a hoarse voice. The sore throat shows up about 24-48 hours after you are infected.

 According to the CDC, all other possible Nimbus symptoms include: 

  • Fever or chills 
  • Cough 
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
  • Congestion or runny nose 
  • New loss of taste or smell 
  • Fatigue 
  • Muscle or body aches 
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting

It’s interesting to see the loss of smell or taste a signature symptom of the original delta variant. However, it is only seen in 6-7% of those who contract Nimbus. It is therefore not a reliable indicator of Nimbus as you could have it without the loss of smell or the loss of smell may be due to something else. It is not known why this particular symptom has decreased over time although it is thought a higher immunity to the virus could be a factor. 

While I cannot find a specific number of Nimbus infections in our state, here is a graph from Alaska Health Department that displays respiratory infections through May 31. With this particular variant multiplying quickly and being highly infectious, I am sure it is here in Alaska.

It is best to simply think it is already here and to be aware of the symptoms should you be exposed. The CDC expects numbers to rise during the summer months; and we have lots of visitors coming from all over the world to assist in the spread.  

For the razor sharp sore throat: 

  • Drink warm (not hot) tea to soothe the throat lining.
  • Add moisture to your room to avoid irritation in the throat.
  • Eat light and slightly overcooked foods to ease swallowing.
  • Do saltwater gargles to relieve throat pain and swelling.
  • Look for lozenges with Menthol, Dyclonine, or Benzocaine, as these numb the area for some time, providing relief. 

Like previous episodes of Covid, the treatment remains the same.  Rest, fluids, painkillers, throat lozenges.  If symptoms worsen, seek medical help. 

Your contagious time will be from a few days before symptoms to eight to 10 days after.

Many people recover from symptoms like congestion, sore throat and cough in about two weeks. But tiredness, shortness of breath and other symptoms can linger for weeks or even months afterwards.

The World Health Organization stated they thought the previous jab would work on this new variant. The data from the CDC on the effectiveness of that jab against emergency room visits or urgent care visits was about 33%. The CDC doesn’t say if it was effective at preventing you from getting Nimbus; the jab just prevented emergency room or urgent care visits. 

Nimbus is nimble. It is highly contagious. But it’s more like a serious cold.

Meanwhile, what will be the next Covid variant?  Will anyone ever be held accountable for Covid?

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.

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Indivisible Action picks three targets for new attack ads: Sen. Dan Sullivan is one of them

Suzanne Downing
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26
Indivisible Action picks three targets for new attack ads: Sen. Dan Sullivan is one of them

Indivisible Action, the political arm of the hard-left Indivisible movement, has launched a new wave of digital advertising targeting three Republican senators, including Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska. Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show the group spending over $15,000 on digital ads opposing Sullivan, a similar amount against Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, and another tranche targeting Ohio Sen. Jon Husted.

That means Alaskans on the Internet will be seeing attack ads with photos unflattering to the US Senator.

The campaign comes as Indivisible Action, backed by grassroots donations and activist organizing, seeks to apply pressure on vulnerable or high-profile Republican incumbents ahead of the 2026 election cycle. According to the most recent FEC disclosures, the organization began the year with over $1.5 million in cash on hand.

Indivisible Action is part of the broader Indivisible network, a progressive organizing force that sprang up in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s 2016 election.

The movement was founded by Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin, former congressional staffers who co-authored the “Indivisible Guide,” a strategic manual for resisting the Trump agenda. Since then, the organization has grown into a nationwide activist infrastructure with chapters in all 50 states.

Greenberg and Levin, who now serve as co-executive directors of the Indivisible Project, have focused their efforts on pressuring Congress and shifting political narratives through grassroots mobilization and digital engagement. Their efforts have earned them national recognition, including a place on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2019.

With the 2026 primary season heating up and control of the Senate on the line, the investments by Indivisible Action signal an early start to the Senate seat election.

Except for one detail: No Democrat has filed to contest Sullivan, who remains popular in Alaska. Speculation in political circles surrounds the idea that former Rep. Mary Peltola will be convinced by Democrats to mount a challenge to Sullivan, but she has, so far, not shown her intentions.

Woke mob meets brick wall: Colony Days Parade hijack crushed by community backbone

AIDEA gives green light to $70 million loan for methanol plant to tap stranded North Slope gas

Suzanne Downing
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18
AIDEA gives green light to $70 million loan for methanol plant to tap stranded North Slope gas

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority has finalized loan agreements providing up to $70 million in project financing for a groundbreaking energy facility on the North Slope, to be built by Alyeschem LLC.

The facility will be the first of its kind in Alaska, producing methanol and ultra-low sulfur diesel from stranded natural gas and waste carbon dioxide.

The project, part of Alyeschem’s Distributed Chemical Manufacturing platform, is designed to turn previously untapped resources into essential fuels and chemicals for oilfield operations. Methanol is a critical fluid used to prevent pipeline corrosion and freezing and producing it locally will reduce dependence on imported fuels and bolster the resilience of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.

“This facility is an Alaskan solution to long-standing logistical challenges, which will allow us to replace key fluids currently imported to the North Slope with locally made methanol and clean diesel,” said I.R. Wilcox, CEO of Alyeschem. He emphasized the project’s long-term role in sustaining the North Slope’s energy economy and adapting to global market demands.

The hydrogen generated in the process will be used to refine high-sulfur diesel into ultra-low sulfur diesel, improving fuel quality and cutting emissions for oilfield operations. Alyeschem plans to expand production in the future to include dimethyl ether and chemicals used in enhanced oil recovery.

Construction will take place on a previously developed AIDEA gravel pad, minimizing environmental impact. With permits secured and front-end engineering completed, Alyeschem is preparing to break ground. The location was selected to serve oilfield operations directly, reducing long-haul transport needs and logistical bottlenecks.

The facility is projected to eliminate approximately 4,000 truck trips annually, significantly reducing emissions and road wear across the region. It is also expected to cut CO₂ emissions by an estimated 93%—about 45,000 tons per year—compared to current fuel delivery methods.

Backed by strong support from Gov. Mike Dunleavy, the North Slope Borough, and state leaders, the project is anticipated to generate over $5 million annually in tax and royalty revenues for the state and borough. AIDEA expects to receive at least $2.39 million annually in loan repayments and royalties.

“This is exactly the kind of project AIDEA was created to support,” said AIDEA Executive Director Randy Ruaro. “It unlocks the economic value of stranded gas, creates jobs, and strengthens Alaska’s energy infrastructure for decades to come.”

AIDEA Board Chairman Dana Pruhs echoed that sentiment, saying, “This Alaskan project meets AIDEA’s mission by creating Alaskan jobs and providing an economic return to Alaskans for generations.”

Construction is expected to create around 80 jobs, with 15 permanent positions once the facility is operational. Alyeschem has committed to hiring Alaskans and supporting long-term employment in the Arctic.

Geoff Johns, AIDEA’s Chief Financial Officer, called the project a high-impact investment: “Alyeschem’s facility not only generates strong returns for public funds but also catalyzes private capital and innovation in Alaska’s energy sector.”

With this strategic investment, Alaska takes a bold step toward transforming its stranded natural gas into an engine for clean fuel, economic development, and energy resilience.

Former Alaska Permanent Fund-owned Portland building linked to Antifa activity near ICE offices

Suzanne Downing
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Former Alaska Permanent Fund-owned Portland building linked to Antifa activity near ICE offices

A Portland apartment building once partially owned by the Alaska Permanent Fund is at the center of controversy after reports emerged linking it to militant Antifa activity near the city’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.

The apartment unit, which has been used as a staging ground by black-clad protesters in what observers describe as coordinated “shift changes,” was previously 50% owned by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation through its investment in Simpson Housing LLP. The fund sold its stake in Simpson Housing in 2017.

Over the past several weeks, federal authorities have been monitoring the unit due to its proximity to the ICE facility and the suspicious activity associated with it. One individual was observed exiting the building, donning a mask, and heading directly to the ICE facility — a routine that Post Millennial observer Katie Davis Court says is common among protesters who are part of the ongoing unrest in Portland.

On Saturday, federal officers from the Department of Homeland Security conducted a raid on the unit after a suspect brandished a firearm at officers near the ICE facility. The suspect fled on foot but was ultimately apprehended after a pursuit.

The apartment has become a flashpoint in the city’s battle over immigration enforcement and federal jurisdiction, with critics calling it a “safe house” for radical activists involved in the assault on the ICE facility as part of a strategy to maintain around-the-clock protest presence.

Pants on fire: Biden’s personal physician pleads Fifth in order to avoid talking about hiding the decline

Suzanne Downing
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Pants on fire: Biden’s personal physician pleads Fifth in order to avoid talking about hiding the decline

Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the former personal physician to President Joe Biden, invoked the Fifth Amendment (right to not self-incriminate) on Wednesday during a closed-door deposition before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. O’Connor refused to answer questions as part of an ongoing congressional investigation into Biden’s cognitive health while in office.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., called Dr. O’Connor’s refusal to testify “further proof” of a broader cover-up to hide the former president’s alleged mental decline.

Former Rep. Mary Peltola is on record saying that Biden was one of the sharpest people she had met in DC.

Peltola once called Biden ‘sharpest in DC’ but House probe now targets massive White House cover-up

“Dr. O’Connor took the Fifth when asked if he was told to lie about President Biden’s health and whether he was fit to be President of the United States,” Comer said. “It’s clear there was a conspiracy to cover up President Biden’s cognitive decline.”

The inquiry has gained new momentum following Biden’s recent disclosure that he had been battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones, a fact kept from the public until May, when it was disclosed the cancer had become serious.

On the same day as O’Connor’s deposition, government watchdog Protect the Public’s Trust filed a formal complaint with the D.C. Board of Medicine, calling for an investigation into the physician’s handling of Biden’s diagnosis and questioning whether O’Connor violated medical ethics.

“Physicians and other healthcare professionals must comply with strict standards of behavior,” PPT said in its filing, citing medical board rules that prohibit willfully filing false records, misrepresenting treatment, or demonstrating a careless disregard for a patient’s welfare, even if no harm occurs.

The watchdog’s complaint points to a series of public statements from the White House over the course of Biden’s presidency, which portrayed the president as healthy and mentally fit. That narrative persisted even as questions abounded among medical professionals and the American public regarding his visible signs of frailty, his trips and falls, and his constant verbal bumblings.

The matter is of greater importance in the context of the hundreds of autopen orders, pardons, and proclamations made by Biden during the time period in question.

Who really approved those pardons? House probes Biden’s mental decline and autopen use

Adding weight to the debate is testimony from former White House physician and Professor of Medicine Lawrence C. Mohr, who has emphasized that the role of a White House doctor involves unique ethical challenges. “They have a responsibility to the president as an individual patient and a responsibility to the nation,” Mohr has said. “The nature of these dual responsibilities confront White House physicians with a variety of unique issues, including presidential disability, implementation of the 25th Amendment, and a president’s right to privacy versus the public’s right to know.”

While the White House traditionally summarizes the president’s annual physical exam, there is currently no legal requirement for full disclosure of medical records.

Republicans have renewed calls for legislation requiring greater transparency, citing the lack of legal safeguards as a loophole ripe for abuse.

“Congress must assess legislative solutions to prevent such a coverup from happening again,” Comer said. “We will continue to interview more Biden White House aides to get the answers Americans deserve.”

With both a congressional investigation and a formal ethics complaint now in motion, pressure is growing on former administration officials to address lingering questions about what the public wasn’t told about Biden’s health.

Signature issue: Ketchikan Clerk approves recall petitions against three school board members

Suzanne Downing
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5
Signature issue: Ketchikan Clerk approves recall petitions against three school board members

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Clerk has approved recall petition applications targeting three members of the Ketchikan School Board: Judy Leask Guthrie, Jordan Tabb, and Board President Katherine Tatsuda.

Petitioners allege the three violated state laws and board policies by authorizing expenditures beyond available revenues and approving hires that did not meet qualification requirements.

According to the petitions, the board members failed to provide proper financial and administrative oversight of Superintendent Michael Robbins, who stepped down at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

“The Board approved and failed to prevent expenditures that exceeded authorized budget limits, resulting in a fiscal year 2024 deficit of $379,786. This violated state law and Board Policy 3100, which requires a balanced budget,” the petition reads. “The lack of oversight continues: on June 11, 2025, the Board approved contracts exceeding the adopted budget by $371,629 without identifying additional income or adopting a corresponding budget amendment.”

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District’s budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is $42 million, as approved by the school board in a 6-1 vote on May 1. Board member Ali Ginter was the lone “no” vote.

In addition to budget issues, the petitions claim the board failed to ensure compliance with hiring rules that require the district to employ “the most highly qualified person available for each open position.” On at least one occasion, the board approved a superintendent recommendation to hire individuals with only emergency certification, despite more qualified candidates being available. The most recent instance cited occurred on May 28, 2025.

The school district has seen significant upheaval. Not only did the superintendent resign, but earlier this year School Board President Michelle O’Brien and board member Keenan Sanderson resigned.

Petitioners now have 60 days to collect 530 valid signatures per petition from registered voters in the borough. If successful, the recall questions will appear on the Oct. 7 ballot.

Grave concerns: Composting right-of-way voted down by Haines Assembly

Suzanne Downing
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1
Grave concerns: Composting right-of-way voted down by Haines Assembly

The Haines Borough Assembly voted 4-2 on Tuesday to deny an easement request by the Takshanuk Watershed Council that would have allowed the environmental nonprofit to build infrastructure across Jones Point Cemetery, the only cemetery in Haines. The decision followed two hours of public testimony and capped weeks of mounting opposition from residents and tribal members.

The easement would have permitted the nonprofit to construct a 7-foot electrified wildlife barrier and establish access across a portion of the cemetery property as part of its commercial composting operation. The project is located on an adjacent parcel, where TWC owns approximately 50 acres.

While composting has support in the community, the proposed encroachment on cemetery land drew resistance. Residents packed the Assembly chambers to voice concerns about the sanctity of the cemetery and the legality of using land protected by a 1922 deed, which limits it to burial-related purposes.

Opponents of the easement also highlighted that the compost facility was constructed before a land use permit was issued. TWC applied for an after-the-fact permit on Oct. 31, 2023, months after building the structure. Some residents expressed frustration that the nonprofit had not planned for the facility entirely on its own property, despite owning ample acreage.

The Assembly vote came after the Haines Planning Commission had recommended the easement by a 5-1 vote in June. That meeting drew about 90 minutes of public comment, nearly all opposed. Residents again turned out in large numbers Tuesday, with many people present who had rarely or never spoken at Assembly meetings.

In the hours leading up to the Assembly meeting, the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska sent a two-page letter opposing the easement. The letter noted that the nonprofit also encroaches with its trails on an adjacent Native allotment and raised objections to TWC’s use of cemetery land. The Tlingit and Haida Central Council’s opposition was especially significant, as it had provided funding to TWC, including for this composting facility. The Tlingit and Haida money given to the composting project originated from the US Department of Agriculture.

Those who supported the easement argued that composting serves an environmental good, and some downplayed the permit deficit issues as simple mistakes. But several community members spoke passionately in defense of the cemetery, pushing back against the influence of well-organized, heavily funded nonprofits in local decision-making.

Assembly members Craig Loomis and Kevin Forster cast the two dissenting votes against the motion to deny the easement.

Assembly members thanked the cemetery caretakers for their selfless dedication to the care and maintaining of the cemetery and for taking care of final arrangements with family members of the departed for the last 37 years. They also apologized for the city and borough’s failure to prioritize cemetery needs throughout the years.

For now, the cemetery land remains protected from being traipsed through by people on their way to add coffee grounds, banana peels, and eggshells to the community compost.

Burial grounds or industrial bear-attracting compost dump? Haines cemetery faces eco-NGO takeover
Burial grounds or compost dump? Haines Planning Commission rubber stamps eco-NGO takeover

Video: State Troopers’ dramatic rescue of fishermen

Suzanne Downing
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3
Video: State Troopers’ dramatic rescue of fishermen

Alaska Wildlife Troopers rescued three fishermen in Bristol Bay, after their boat ran into a sandbar, became stuck, and capsized.

“In a place where the sea gives no second chances, these brave Troopers brought three fishermen home,” the Alaska State Troopers wrote. The video posted on social media comes from the body cameras worn by troopers involved in the rescue:

Supreme Court allows Trump Administration to move ahead with federal workforce reduction plan

Suzanne Downing
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Supreme Court allows Trump Administration to move ahead with federal workforce reduction plan

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted a lower court’s block on President Donald Trump’s executive order directing federal agencies to prepare for sweeping reductions in the federal workforce.

The unsigned opinion from the Court grants the Trump Administration the ability to move forward with the executive order while legal challenges continue. The ruling doesn’t end the dispute over the authority of the executive branch to carry out large-scale reductions in force without congressional approval, but it signals that the justices believe the Trump Administration is likely to succeed on the merits of the case.

The executive order in question was issued by President Trump in February, to “promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force (RIFs), consistent with applicable law.” The administration followed up with a memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management to begin implementation.

Labor unions, advocacy groups, and several local governments filed suit in federal court, challenging the legality of the move and requesting an injunction to halt it. Senior US District Judge Susan Illston of San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction blocking implementation and required the government to provide planning documents related to the reductions.

When the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit refused to lift the injunction, Solicitor General D. John Sauer appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the injunction caused “ongoing and severe harm” to the government by interfering with the internal operations of the executive branch.

In its two-paragraph decision, the Supreme Court stated that Judge Illston’s injunction rested on a legal conclusion that the executive order and accompanying memorandum were unlawful. The majority, however, found that the government was likely correct in arguing that both documents are legal. Based on that conclusion and the other criteria, the Court put Illston’s ruling on hold. The Administration may move forward while the 9th Circuit appeal continues.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor concurred, noting that the executive order explicitly calls for plans that comply with existing law.

But Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a 15-page dissent that said that the lower court’s injunction served as a temporary, harm-reducing measure while the legality of the executive order is assessed.

Jackson warned that allowing the order to proceed unchecked “permits an apparently unprecedented and congressionally unsanctioned dismantling of the Federal Government to continue apace, causing irreparable harm before courts can determine whether the President has the authority to engage in the actions he proposes.”

Drawing from her own experience as a former district court judge, Jackson made the nearly comical stretch that the lower court is best equipped to determine the actual scale and legal implications of the executive action. She concluded that the Supreme Court is just unable to do the job: “This Court lacks the capacity to fully evaluate, much less responsibly override, reasoned lower court fact finding.”

For now, the decision is a major victory for the Trump Administration as it seeks to reshape the size and structure of the federal government.

Launch Alaska sues Trump Administration for canceling $5 million grant
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