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Opinion: Not everyone who praises you is your friend; not everyone who criticizes you is your enemy

Greg Sarber
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Opinion: Not everyone who praises you is your friend; not everyone who criticizes you is your enemy

This article was first published on Seward’s Folly, the author’s personal Substack, September 19, 2026.

Over the past year, I have given constructive criticism to many Republican candidates running at the district, state, and federal level. Some have ignored the advice; some have responded positively. One candidate called me last week to complain about the coverage their campaign received. Not everyone is happy to get criticism, but wise people use it as an opportunity to improve.

This refusal to accept suggestions isn’t limited to politicians. I saw this same behavior from some of the leadership in the early days of Prudhoe Bay. Oil production was prioritized above all else, and all of the work teams were working as fast as possible. As was probably inevitable with that mindset, safety suffered.

Management took two different approaches to this problem. The Type A managers would issue some harsh ultimatum, like “I’m going to fire the next guy that has an accident!” Of course, when that word got around, the number of reported safety incidents went to zero. That doesn’t mean the accidents stopped; the ultimatum just drove reporting underground. Nobody wanted to get fired, so they kept their mouths shut when accidents happened, and if they got hurt, they self-medicated or waited to see their personal doctors when they went home. This approach didn’t solve the problems; it just hid them from view, and nothing changed.

The Type B managers took a different approach. They encouraged honest reporting after an accident and would conduct a thorough investigation. Sometimes they found external factors were responsible, where equipment was not adequate for the task, or it had worn out and failed from overuse. These findings allowed changes to be made which fixed the root cause of the problems so that the same type of accident wouldn’t be repeated.

The Type B managers realized that a negative incident, just like constructive criticism, is an opportunity to learn and improve, but only if you don’t ignore it.

One example of where constructive criticism was successful in the current election cycle is with gubernatorial candidate Dave Bronson. During a meet-and-greet in Homer last December, his position on addressing the Supreme Court’s grand jury change made by SCO1993 was inadequate. This is an important issue for voters on the Kenai Peninsula, so I wrote an article noting his weakness in this area. Mr. Bronson wasn’t very happy to receive the criticism, but he refined his position and published an article about it in the Alaska Watchman. I respect him for that.

We can’t know whether Bronson’s position on grand jury rights factored into his primary success, but one thing is clear. House District 8 around Soldotna is the center of interest in Grand Jury rights on the Kenai. While Bronson received 8.13% of the votes statewide, in House District 8, Bronson received 12% of the votes. In this case, constructive criticism was not only effective at helping a candidate refine his message but also helped him to have success in the election. Other candidates should heed his example.

It is difficult to take feedback from others. Sometimes it can be viewed as a personal attack, but every candidate has areas where they could improve. Those who chafe when criticized should understand that not everybody who praises you is your friend, and not everybody who criticizes you is your enemy. A wise person understands the difference and tries to learn from the feedback.

APFC holds annual Board meeting September 30-October 1

Natalie Spaulding
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APFC holds annual Board meeting September 30-October 1

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) will hold its Annual Board of Trustees Meeting on September 30-October 1, 2026, in Nome. Alaskans can attend in-person or virtually via Teams Webinar. At this meeting, APFC will review portfolio performance, consider the new proposed charter for the annual review of Benchmarks, provide an asset class overview, host public and private market presentations, provide a corporate operations overview from IT, elect corporate officers, and review the 2027 & 2028 meeting calendars.

Earlier in September, the APFC Board of Trustees held meetings to review and approve the annual audited financial statements and advance the FY28 budget. The annual audit was conducted by an independent external auditor— KPMG— as required by state statute. The results of the audit will be included in APFC’s Annual Report, which will be published ahead of the Annual Board of Trustees Meeting at the end of September.

On September 2, the Board’s Ethics, Audit & Cybersecurity Committee reviewed the results of KPMG’s external audit of the
Alaska Permanent Fund’s FY26 financials.

“Independent review is an important part of ensuring the Fund is managed with integrity, transparency, and accountability,” commented Committee Chair Ryan Anderson after the committee’s review. “The results presented today provide important validation of APFC’s financial reporting and reflect the high standards the Corporation works to uphold on behalf of all Alaskans.”

Chief Financial Officer Valerie Mertz and Senior Portfolio Accountant II Jacki Mallinger presented an overview of the audited financial statements. As of June 30, 2026, the end of FY26, the Alaska Permanent Fund had an audited total Fund balance of $91.9 billion. The value of the permanent savings in the Principal amounted to $59.4 billion, with $14.4 billion associated unrealized appreciation. The Earnings Reserve Account (ERA) contained a $4.0 billion commitment for the FY27 Percent of Market Value (POMV) draw, $10.6 billion in realized earnings, and $3.5 billion in unrealized appreciation. The total Fund return for the fiscal year was 12.42% net of fees.

According to an APFC press release, APFC reported a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) net income of $10.1 billion, incorporating both realized and unrealized gains. The realized statutory net income totaled $8.2 billion and was deposited into the ERA for legislative appropriation, which is available for appropriation to support inflation proofing, the annual POMV draw for dividends and government services, or other purposes. Given the lack of appropriation, there was no transfer from the ERA to the Principal for FY26 inflation proofing, which is estimated to be $1.5 billion. The FY26 POMV draw to the general fund amounted to $3.8 billion, and mineral royalty deposits to the corpus totaled $535 million.

The September 2 meeting also included a legal update from General Counsel Chris Poag, a cybersecurity update from Chief Information Security Officer Scott Balovich, an internal control framework update from Chief Risk & Compliance Officer Sebastian Vadakumcherry, and an ethics update from Chief Executive Officer Deven Mitchell.

Sept 2 meeting recordings

Video recordings of the Ethics, Audit & Cybersecurity Committee meeting and the Regular Board of Trustees Meeting can be found here: Board Meetings – APFC

Participate in Sept 30-Oct 1 meeting

The full agenda for the Annual Board of Trustees Meeting September 30-October 1 in Nome, Alaska, can be reviewed here: Sept.-30-Oct.-1-2026-APFC-Board-of-Trustees-Annual-Meeting-Agenda.pdf.

Webinar link for Day 1, September 30: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b4ec1189-e828-422d-8b9d-3d7809a0db0e@f64a57bf-8495-4905-a783-5c01f55b2fa4?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog

Webinar link for Day 2, October 1: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/de8db8f2-397a-4352-8d19-71a8a41d8924@f64a57bf-8495-4905-a783-5c01f55b2fa4?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog

Submit comments to the Board by emailing [email protected].

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 a portion of Alaska’s nonrenewable mineral 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 fund, 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. The Alaska Permanent Fund is the largest sovereign wealth fund in the U.S., with $91.9 billion in assets as of June 30, 2026.

For more information, visit www.apfc.org.

30,000 children read total of 360,000 books for Second Lady Vance’s Summer Reading Challenge

Must Read Alaska
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30,000 children read total of 360,000 books for Second Lady Vance’s Summer Reading Challenge

On Friday, September 4, 2026, Second Lady Usha Vance’s second annual Summer Reading Challenge officially ended after three months of encouraging childhood literacy.

“I am so proud of all the children who completed my Summer Reading Challenge! I hope every participant saw just how fun and exciting reading can be and that they continue reading beyond this summer. Thank you to all of the parents and teachers who encouraged their kids and students to dive into books over the past few months and to all of our partners who made this such a rewarding experience,” said Second Lady Usha Vance.

To enter the Summer Reading Challenge, students grades K-8 submitted a reading log online with 12 books they read over the summer, and received a personalized certificate, a prize from the online prize shop, and entries into a statewide raffle for a Kindle e-reader and a nationwide raffle for a trip to visit the White House.

Over 30,000 children from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., as well as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico, completed the Challenge, doubling the submission rates of last year’s pilot program. At 12 books per submission, competitors logged more than 360,000 books by over 35,000 different authors. Average participant age was eight years old, between second and third grade, which is a crucial age for solidifying early literacy habits.

Ms. Vance launched the Summer Reading Challenge to combat summer learning declines and encourage kids to love reading all year long. As another part of her childhood literacy initiatives, the Second Lady also hosts a read-aloud podcast called “Storytime with the Second Lady.”

Please visit whitehouse.gov/read for more information on the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge and other literacy initiatives.

Press release provided by the Office of the Vice President.

AARP Alaska Voter Survey: Governor’s race insights

Natalie Spaulding
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AARP Alaska Voter Survey: Governor’s race insights

On September 17, 2026, AARP published its Alaska Voter Survey, providing data collected from 800 random Alaskans likely to vote in the general election. The survey focuses on providing insights into issues valued by Alaska’s seniors. 63% of the survey participants are aged 50+, 25% aged 35-49, and 12% aged 18-34. According to the survey, Jonathon Kreiss-Tomkins (D) received 55% of the votes in the final round. 198 participants (approximately 25%) did not rank their ballots. Of those 198 participants not represented in the final round, 144 of them did not vote because they were undecided, and 54 of them had exhausted ballots by the final round.

The initial survey results for the gubernatorial election reveal 18% of participants undecided (but intending to vote in November), 7% voted for Treg Taylor, 14% for Dave Bronson, 20% for Bernadette Wilson, and 40% for Jonathon Kreiss-Tomkins. The undecided votes were then removed, and percentages were recalculated, revealing 49% for JKT, 25% for Wilson, 18% for Bronson, and 8% for Taylor among participants who chose at least one candidate in Round 1 (equal to 656 voters after undecided voters were removed).

According to ranked-choice voting rules, the candidate with the fewest votes drops off the ballot, and second choice votes come into play. According to the AARP survey, 82% of participants who chose Taylor as their first choice ranked a second choice— 42% ranked Bronson second, 37% ranked Wilson second, and 4% ranked JKT second. 18% of voters who chose Taylor as their first choice did not rank a second choice, causing their ballots to be exhausted. 8% of 656 (number of votes after undecided voters removed) equals 52 votes for Taylor and of those 52, approximately 9 voters did not rank a second choice, lowering the total number of voters from 656 to 647.

The redistribution of Taylor’s votes left JKT with 50% of the votes, Wilson with 28%, and Bronson with 21% in Round 2.

In Round 2, Bronson dropped off the ballot. 67% of Bronson’s voters ranked either Wilson or JKT next. Wilson received 63% of Bronson’s redistributed votes and JKT received 4%. 33% of Bronson’s voters did not rank either Wilson or JKT, and their ballots were exhausted. 21% of 647 (the new total votes after Round 1) equals approximately 136 votes for Bronson in Round 2. Of those 136 votes, 33% were exhausted— equal to 45 votes— lowering the total number of voters from 647 to 602.

Of the 602 votes still active, JKT won with 55% of the votes (equal to 331 votes) in the final round. Due to ballot exhaustion, approximately 54 participants who voted for at least one candidate were not counted in the final tally.

The survey counts the initial 144 undecided participants as “not ranking.” Adding the 144 undecided voters to the 9 voters who chose Taylor but did not rank and the 45 who chose Bronson but did not rank equals a total of 198 participants who did not rank, or approximately 25% of the initial 800 participants. The majority of the 25% not-ranking participants did not vote at all because they were undecided. Of the 7% participants who chose at least one candidate but did not rank one of the finalists— Wilson or JKT— some may have ranked Bronson #1, Taylor #2. Despite ranking Taylor #2, their ballots were still exhausted because Taylor had already been eliminated.

The survey does not specify how many people bullet voted, meaning picked only one candidate. At least 9 people bullet voted by picking only Taylor and then having their ballot exhausted. The survey does not specify how many of the 45 voters with exhausted ballots after Bronson’s elimination had ranked Taylor #2 or only bullet voted Bronson. The survey also does not specify how many of Wilson’s votes were bullet votes, though 105 of her votes came from voters ranking her either #2 or #3 (19 from Taylor’s voters, 86 from Bronson’s voters). Wilson received a total of 271 votes out of the 602 active votes (45%) in the final round, meaning approximately 39% of her votes came from voters ranking her #2 or #3.

JKT received approximately 7 votes from voters ranking him #2 or #3 (2 from Taylor’s voters, 5 from Bronson’s voters).

The 18% undecided voters could significantly alter the race depending on who they choose for #1 and whether or not they rank. If undecided voters pick Wilson #1 or rank her #2 or #3, she could beat JKT in the final round. Or undecided voters could bump either Taylor or Bronson ahead of Wilson in Round 1— initiating a whole new tabulation scenario. It is also possible that undecided voters land Kreiss-Tomkins a win in Round 1.

AARP’s Alaska Voter Survey: Alaska Voter Survey

President Trump announces “infinite life” security agreement with Greenland

Must Read Alaska
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President Trump announces “infinite life” security agreement with Greenland

President Trump announced a historic agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland that gives the United States permanent control over security and all other needs in Greenland, completely addressing longstanding U.S. concerns. The President called it an “Infinite Life” Agreement — one with no end — and emphasized there will be no cost to the United States.

Under the deal, no U.S. adversary may ever establish a base, maintain a military presence, or make sensitive investments in Greenland without America’s express written approval. For more than a century, Presidents recognized Greenland’s strategic importance but did not take action. President Trump says that he has now permanently and conclusively addressed it, and the administration will immediately begin developing a large military presence in the appropriate part of this highly strategic parcel of land.

President Trump announced the agreement on Truth Social:

I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has entered into an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns. There will be NO COST to the United States!

At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America. Additionally, from now on, no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval.

For over 100 years, Presidents have known the strategic importance of Greenland, but NONE of them were able to do anything about it. I am proud to be the President that permanently and conclusively addressed this very important situation. This is an “Infinite Life” Agreement, there is no end! We are very honored and proud of what has just taken place, and everything agreed to today will be cherished by the American People.

We will immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many. We will work with the people of Greenland in its development and construction. This solution is a great one for the United States of America, Denmark, Greenland, and all of our Allies. We look forward to working with the wonderful people of Denmark and Greenland toward a magnificent future with respect to this large, and highly strategic, parcel of land. We will be very protective of it! This is a dream come true for the United States of America, one that is very important, historic, and special.

Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.

Out with the Broken, In with the Blessed

Deacon Dez
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Out with the Broken, In with the Blessed

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… if it is broke, just get a new one.

There is one thing that I remember from my childhood with such clarity about my dad: if something broke, he would fix it; if it was outside of his ability, he called the right person to do the job.

We live in an age of instant gratification and a state of disposal. If you want something, you just hop on the internet, search for it and swipe your card. In a couple of days, it is on your doorstep. Out with the old, in with the new. No real effort, quick and simple.

We pretty much want a quick fix for everything.

In today’s world, you do not have to look very far to see that people are hurting on every level. Broken into a thousand pieces. The human condition has not changed in, well… ever.

We are all broken in some way. The only difference today is that our brokenness is now given a name, a diagnosis. Some will use it like a crutch whenever they get a chance, and in that, knowing now what they know, instead of dealing with it, will limp their way through life playing the victim.

Our brokenness usually comes from some trauma that we have experienced in our life, and the scars that remain, the memories of that experience, like an open wound, will never heal if they go untreated.

If we dig down deep, and are truly honest with ourselves, we can recognize and see it for what it is. It is what we do with it that will make all the difference.

If we do not see it in its reality, it will continue to be the driving force that will shape and distort the rest of our lives. We will throw away relationship after relationship, job after job, until we find ourselves alone and miserable.

We give in to our lower faculties (emotions) and we give up. We stop looking at ourselves as broken, because our brokenness becomes the norm. It is easier to lean on our brokenness than to begin the healing process.

What we need to do is call on the right One to do the job. The One, True Physician that can truly bring us healing and peace. Will it be easy? No… because it will mean that you have to let go of all the hurt, pain, and fear, and everything else that comes with surrendering your will to God’s will in your life.

So, how do we begin the process of healing? Where do we start?

First… a story. I was meeting with someone especially close to me, a professed Christian, but sometimes he doesn’t seem to always reflect it. Some days, on fire for the Lord; other days, the angst of life seems to overwhelm him. Anyway… as our eyes met, I really wanted to let him know what I was seeing in him. Against my better judgment, I stayed silent, praying that God would speak to him. I prayed with him. After some time had passed, an awkward silence filled the room. I looked him square in the eyes, smiled, nodded… and walked away from the mirror.

This is the place to start, with the man in the mirror.

Self-examination, self-reflection can and will often do the soul some good. There is no room for excuses. There is no time for double talk. Just some good old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness self-reflection.

It is not meant to crush you, but a drive to push you forward and deeper into grace—to see your flaws, not as a final verdict, but as opportunities for God’s renewing work.

In practical terms, this encourages: regular confession, daily dependence on the Holy Spirit for strength, and humble, ongoing cries for God’s light and support (i.e., illumination of truth and grace to persevere).

This is a sobering, yet hopeful reminder, that our greatest foe is within, but our greatest ally is God, who never leaves us to fight alone.

“Through no merit of ours, but by His creation, we are the image of God. And in the mirror of God’s goodness we see, as well, our own unworthiness, the work of our own sin. For just as you can better see the blemish on your face when you look at yourself in a mirror, so the soul, who in true self-knowledge, rises up with the desire to look at ourselves in the gentle mirror of God with the eye of understanding, we see all the more clearly our own defects because of the purity we see in Him.”

— The Dialogue, St. Catherine of Siena

“A Christian ought not to be afraid of no enemy more than himself, whom he carries always about with him, and from whom he is not able to flee. He should never cease to cry out to God, ‘Unless thou, O Lord, art my light and support, I watch in vain.’” (Ps. 126)

— Pope St. Mark +

Live your life worthy of HIS Sacrifice +God Bless You +

God Bless You +

Ambler Metals’ Arctic Project advances with Notice of Intent published by Army Corps

Must Read Alaska
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Ambler Metals’ Arctic Project advances with Notice of Intent published by Army Corps

Press release provided by Ambler Metals.

Today, September 18, 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Army Corps) published the Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Arctic Project in Northwest Alaska, officially launching the public scoping phase of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental review. 

This milestone follows the Arctic Project’s designation as a “covered project” under the federal FAST-41 program in May 2026 and begins a coordinated, transparent 30-month schedule for NEPA review and associated federal and State of Alaska permitting.

Ambler Metals is committed to working closely with local residents, regional organizations, Tribes, and other stakeholders throughout the public scoping phase. As the Army Corps leads this process, local input and traditional knowledge will play an important role in identifying the issues that should be evaluated through NEPA and in understanding how the project may affect land, water, wildlife, and daily life in the region. That engagement will also help shape measures to avoid, minimize, and address potential impacts.

“This Notice of Intent opens an exciting new chapter for the Arctic Project. We welcome this thorough public process as an opportunity to continue to demonstrate our commitment to meeting the highest environmental standards and ensuring Alaskans benefit from this development,” said Ron Rimelman, President of Ambler Metals. 

He added, “Our business foundation is built on local trust and partnership. Earning and maintaining our social license to operate is essential, and we remain dedicated to ensuring this project supports traditional and subsistence lifestyles while serving as a powerful engine for long-term economic self-determination for Northwest Alaska communities. By offering good-paying, multi-generational careers, the Arctic Project will create opportunities that allow rural Alaskans and our young people to support their families and build lives close to home.”

First discovered in the 1970s, Arctic is one of the world’s highest-grade copper deposits with an estimated grade of approximately 5% copper equivalent. The deposit spans 0.4 square miles and holds an estimated 46.7 million tonnes of probable mineral reserves, including copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver. Ambler Metals has an established partnership with NANA, known as the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects (UKMP), to explore mining in the area. 

“The Arctic Project within the Ambler Mining District represents a tremendous opportunity to create good-paying jobs for Alaskans, generate revenues for local communities and the state, and lessen America’s dangerous reliance on China for critical minerals,” said Senator Dan Sullivan. “I’ve always said that the development of the Ambler Mining District has to be done right, with close consultation with Alaska Native and community leaders and respect for our environment and subsistence way of life. That process begins again today with the Corps’ publication of its Notice of Intent, marking an important step toward realizing the mineral potential in the district that Congress recognized in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). I’m glad to see momentum and progress building behind a project that will strengthen Alaska’s economy and benefit our hard-working families.”

“The Army Corps’ Notice of Intent marks an important step forward for the Arctic Project and for responsible resource development in the Ambler Mining District,” said Congressman Nick Begich. “This project deserves a prioritized, transparent, and expeditious review, and the beginning of the scoping process provides an opportunity for Alaskans and stakeholders to engage. I commend the Army Corps for moving this process forward and remain committed to ensuring Alaska can responsibly develop its resources, create good-paying jobs, and meaningfully contribute to restoring American mineral security.”

“The Ambler Mining District has world-class mineral deposits whose responsible development will strengthen our economic competitiveness and security for decades to come,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “The Arctic project is the first in the region to reach permitting and will serve as a key source of domestic copper, zinc, and other needed minerals—as well as local jobs, state revenues, and community benefits like substantially cheaper fuel. As this process moves forward, I encourage interested Alaskans to weigh in while this comment period is open.”

Development of the Arctic Project would lead to an estimated 650 jobs during peak mine construction and an average of 450 jobs during operation, $407 million in state revenue over the mine life, and $60 million in wages per year. Ambler Metals advances the project in partnership with NANA Regional Corporation through the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects (UKMP) Agreement.

About Ambler Metals

Ambler Metals LLC is an independently operated joint venture formed by South32 and Trilogy Metals on February 11, 2020, for the exploration and development of the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects (UKMP) and advancement of projects in the Ambler Mining District in collaboration with NANA Regional Corporation. Ambler Metals is an Alaskan company with offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Construction of King Cove Road underway despite antagonizing by radical environmentalists

Natalie Spaulding
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Construction of King Cove Road underway despite antagonizing by radical environmentalists

After environmentalists convinced U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason to vacate the land exchange facilitating the construction of the King Cove road through the Izembek Wilderness, environmentalists then tried to block the construction of the first 2.8 miles of road that does not go through Izembek. The first 2.8 miles is being built on private land owned by the King Cove Corporation. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied the motion to halt the work. Alaska DOT&PF announced today, September 18, 2026, that construction on the first 2.8 miles of the King Cove road to Cold Bay is underway.

“Our local airport is inaccessible due to weather conditions for roughly 120 days each year, making dependable travel for emergencies, medical care, and other essential needs difficult or impossible,” said King Cove Mayor, Warren Wilson. “The King Cove to Cold Bay Road will provide King Cove residents with a connection to the all-weather airport at Cold Bay and the reliable air service that comes with it. Seeing work begin on this road is an important milestone for the people who call King Cove home.”

King Cove and Cold Bay sit about 18 miles apart near the western end of the Alaska Peninsula, separated by the narrow Izembek Isthmus. Both communities are reachable only by sea or air. Cold Bay has a major all-weather airport capable of handling medical evacuations year-round; King Cove does not. Residents and local leaders, including the King Cove Corporation (KCC), an Alaska Native Village Corporation, have long argued that the lack of a road has cost lives and endangered families during medical emergencies.

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan decried Judge Gleason’s decision as a “shameful betrayal” that “prioritize the interests of birds over the well-being of Alaska Natives.” Although the stretch of land through Izembek needed to complete the road is still blocked, the State of Alaska intends to fight for King Cove residents’ access to emergency medical care.

Governor Dunleavy commented on the construction of the first 2.8 miles of the road: “For more than thirty years the people of King Cove have asked for a safe way to reach the all-weather airport at Cold Bay. Alaskans living in remote communities deserve the same access to emergency care as anyone else in this country.”

According to DOT&PF, local hiring was a priority to complete the first 2.8 miles of road. More than 20 King Cove residents have completed safety training and earned DOT&PF certificates, and five community members earned their commercial driver’s licenses.

“Our job is to turn this shared commitment into progress on the ground,” said Alaska DOT&PF Commissioner Ryan Anderson. “We’re working as one team with our community, Alaska Native corporation and federal partners to build this road safely and put local residents to work. Seeing King Cove residents gain new skills and help build their own community’s connection is an important part of that progress.”

Additionally, the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration recently approved an amendment to Alaska’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program that includes funding for the King Cove to Cold Bay Road.

The project is being delivered in partnership with King Cove Corporation and The Aleut Corporation, both landowners in the corridor, and with the support of the King Cove Tribe, the City of King Cove and the Aleutians East Borough, which have advocated for this connection for decades.

Project information, history, documents and updates are available at dot.alaska.gov/sereg/projects/king-cove-cold-bay.

Fairbanks residents petition to pause implementation of LGBTQ History Month passed by school board

Natalie Spaulding
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Fairbanks residents petition to pause implementation of LGBTQ History Month passed by school board

On Tuesday, September 15, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District passed a Resolution 2027-08, which recognizes October as “LGBTQ History Month.” The resolution passed with no debate by the school board members. Public testimony included eight people speaking in support of the resolution and nine speaking in opposition. Now, Fairbanks residents are gathering signatures for a petition to pause the implementation of Resolution 2027-08. The petition has gathered over 400 verified signatures and counting.

The petitioners clarify that they are not asking the school board to reverse its decision to recognize LGBTQ History Month, but rather “we are asking the administration to ensure that implementation of the resolution does not exceed the authority of the resolution or bypass requirements that otherwise apply to instructional content and materials.”

The petition makes several specific requests of Superintendent Luke Meinert in an effort to increase transparency for parents on the district’s intended implementation of LGBTQ History Month:

  • Pause any implementation of Resolution 2027-08 involving instructional content, materials, presentations, activities, or programming until the District completes an appropriate legal and policy review.
  • Clarify in writing what implementation of Resolution 2027-08 authorizes schools and employees to do.
  • Identify any lessons, literature, videos, presentations, activities, guest speakers, displays, or other materials already planned for October 2026 pursuant to or associated with the resolution.
  • Determine whether any planned implementation triggers AS 14.03.016, AS 14.30.361, Board Policy/Administrative Regulation 910, or other applicable District curriculum and instructional-material requirements.
  • Ensure that all required parental notification, review, withdrawal, curriculum, and material-approval procedures are completed before covered content is provided to students.
  • If implementation is intended solely as ceremonial recognition, issue written guidance clarifying that Resolution 2027-08 does not independently authorize new classroom curriculum, instructional materials, or programming outside established District procedures.
  • If implementation extends beyond ceremonial recognition, return the matter to the appropriate public curriculum and/or School Board process before that instructional programming occurs.

“Education is meant to be stepping stone for children to become a valued and productive member of society,” stated Matthew, one of the petition signers. “LGBTQ has absolutely no place in the classroom. It serves no purpose whatsoever. Children are already included regardless of who they are. This issue is adults pushing their agenda on the rest of us. The LGBTQ community has already taken the month of June and now this school board wants to take October as well. Enough is enough. Math, Reading, Science, Civics, and History should be the focus.”

Another petition-signer highlighted the inappropriateness of tying historical events to sexuality. “Historical events should not be made more important because of any individual’s personal sexual preferences,” stated McKayla. “Furthermore, children do not need to be involved in anyone’s sexual identity or preference. Let those matters be discussed in the home, it is not the school districts responsibility to push any such agenda. If the school district moves to affirm ONE group, with the goal of inclusion and comfortability for all students, there needs to be a push to affirm ALL groups of students. Including, but not limited to, Christian students who may feel oppressed in their schools.”

Nicole, who also signed the petition, wonders why the school district does not center history months around relevant school subjects rather than sexuality: “This adds to the divide. Why don’t they celebrate science history month or math history and encompass all the great minds? Focus on the amazing accomplishments instead of orientations.”

    The petition can be viewed and signed here: https://www.change.org/p/pause-implementation-of-resolution-2027-08. It has also been reprinted in full below:

    PETITION REQUESTING A PAUSE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTION 2027-08

    Pending Legal, Policy, Curriculum, and Parental-Rights Review
    To: Dr. Meinert, Superintendent, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
    Cc: Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Board of Education

    We, the undersigned parents, guardians, and community members of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, respectfully request that Superintendent Dr. Meinert pause any implementation of Resolution 2027-08 involving classroom instruction, instructional materials, student activities, presentations, guest speakers, or other educational programming until the District has completed a review of applicable Alaska law, Board policy, curriculum procedures, and parental-rights requirements.

    This request does not ask the Superintendent to invalidate or overturn the School Board’s vote. Rather, we are asking the administration to ensure that implementation of the resolution does not exceed the authority of the resolution or bypass requirements that otherwise apply to instructional content and materials.

    Why We Are Requesting a Pause

    On September 15, 2026, Resolution 2027-08, Recognizing LGBTQ History Month, was approved as part of the School Board’s consent agenda.

    The meeting agenda classified Resolution 2027-08 as an “Action (Consent)” item. Under the consent-agenda procedure explained at the meeting, consent items were approved together at the beginning of the meeting.

    Members of the public subsequently provided testimony concerning Resolution 2027-08. Following public testimony, it was explained that the resolutions had already been approved through adoption of the consent agenda, after which the individual resolutions were read publicly.

    We recognize that use of a consent agenda does not, by itself, establish that the Board acted unlawfully. However, given the questions raised by parents concerning the meaning and implementation of this resolution, we believe additional administrative review and public clarification are warranted before it is implemented within schools.

    Recognition and Instruction Are Not the Same Thing

    Resolution 2027-08 recognizes October 2026 as LGBTQ History Month and promotes a community in which students, staff, and community members are supported and affirmed.

    What remains unclear to parents is what implementation of that resolution means at the school and classroom level.

    Does “promote” or implementation include:

    Classroom lessons or assignments?
    Books, literature, videos, or other instructional materials?
    School displays or presentations?
    Guest speakers?
    Student activities or assemblies?
    Teacher-created instructional content?
    Discussions concerning gender identity, sexuality, or related subjects?
    If the resolution is intended solely as ceremonial recognition, we respectfully request that the District state that clearly.

    If implementation includes instructional programming, materials, or activities, we request that the District identify what those materials and activities are and demonstrate that all applicable approval, curriculum, review, and parental-notification requirements have been satisfied.

    Alaska Parental-Rights and Material-Approval Requirements

    Alaska law already establishes protections concerning certain instructional content.

    AS 14.03.016 establishes parental rights concerning a child’s education and requires advance parental notification for covered activities, classes, or programs involving human reproduction or sexual matters.

    AS 14.30.361 separately provides that, before curriculum, literature, or materials related to sex education, human reproduction education, or human sexuality education may be used in a class or program or distributed in a school, those materials must be approved by the School Board and made available for parents to review.

    We are not asserting that every historical reference to an LGBTQ individual or every activity associated with LGBTQ History Month automatically falls within these statutes.

    We are asking the District to determine before implementation whether any planned activities or materials do—and, where they do, to follow the law.

    The District Just Completed Its Curriculum Process

    In May 2026, FNSBSD adopted a new K–12 Social Studies curriculum following a formal process that included curriculum development, multiple drafts, public review, community input, revision, Board Curriculum Committee review, and final School Board adoption.

    That process exists for a reason.

    If LGBTQ History Month is intended to introduce additional history instruction into classrooms, parents deserve an explanation of where that instruction fits within the curriculum the District adopted only months ago.

    An annual resolution should not independently become a mechanism for introducing instructional content that would otherwise be subject to established curriculum, material-review, or parental-rights procedures.

    Our Request

    We respectfully request that Superintendent Dr. Meinert:

    • Pause any implementation of Resolution 2027-08 involving instructional content, materials, presentations, activities, or programming until the District completes an appropriate legal and policy review.
    • Clarify in writing what implementation of Resolution 2027-08 authorizes schools and employees to do.
    • Identify any lessons, literature, videos, presentations, activities, guest speakers, displays, or other materials already planned for October 2026 pursuant to or associated with the resolution.
    • Determine whether any planned implementation triggers AS 14.03.016, AS 14.30.361, Board Policy/Administrative Regulation 910, or other applicable District curriculum and instructional-material requirements.
    • Ensure that all required parental notification, review, withdrawal, curriculum, and material-approval procedures are completed before covered content is provided to students.
    • If implementation is intended solely as ceremonial recognition, issue written guidance clarifying that Resolution 2027-08 does not independently authorize new classroom curriculum, instructional materials, or programming outside established District procedures.
    • If implementation extends beyond ceremonial recognition, return the matter to the appropriate public curriculum and/or School Board process before that instructional programming occurs.

    This Is a Request for Transparency

    Every student deserves to attend school without bullying or discrimination.

    Parents also deserve transparency regarding what their children are taught and assurance that established laws, policies, and curriculum procedures will be followed.

    These principles do not have to conflict.

    The District has an opportunity to address these concerns by clearly defining the scope of Resolution 2027-08, reviewing proposed implementation before October, and ensuring that parents receive the participation and notification rights provided to them under Alaska law and District procedures.

    For these reasons, we respectfully request a pause on instructional implementation of Resolution 2027-08 pending legal, policy, curriculum, and parental-rights review.

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