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Minority in House hijacks deliberations, play hooky as Democrats disappear to avoid budget votes

Suzanne Downing
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25
Minority in House hijacks deliberations, play hooky as Democrats disappear to avoid budget votes

Much of the day in the Alaska House was taken up by chasing down Democrats, many who had left the building in order to hijack the budget votes that were not going their way. A call was put on the House, which was later ruled a delay tactic. The entire activity in the Democrat caucus appeared to be to create chaos.

At one point, a security guard was sent around the building to try to round them up, but they were as evasive as ninjas, locking doors to their offices and planting rumors as to their whereabouts. Only House Minority Leader Calvin Schrage of Anchorage stayed behind, and he was sending and receiving a lot of messages on his phone.

It was a day of high drama in the Capitol.

Through their antics, the House Democrats were able to delay proceedings for the day and the House adjourned at 6 pm without getting through the operating budget and all the amendments and amendments to amendments.

The kerfuffle began when House majority members decided to put an $175 million one-time budget addition to education into a separate funding source: The Constitutional Budget Reserve. It’s a trick the Democrats used for years to get Republicans to vote on a smaller Permanent Fund Dividend, but now the roles are reversed, and Democrats are in the minority, and are not at all liking the procedural move, which will force their hand later.

The House minority press office was busy all the while putting out clip after clip of its members saying the majority was holding education hostage, and other hyperboles. Minority members Rep. Zack Fields and Rep. Calvin Schrage seemed to enjoy breaking decorum by speaking without being called on by the speaker.

House Speaker Cathy Tilton kept a measured demeanor throughout the hijinks and politely reminded the minority members to observe the rules of the body by waiting to be called on.

The House will likely gavel back in on Thursday for a technical session, which means many members will be leaving town for a long Easter weekend, leaving the budget until next week, when maybe cooler heads will prevail.

Muni election update

Suzanne Downing
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33
Muni election update

Approximately 3,000 more votes were counted by the Anchorage Election Office on Wednesday, following Tuesday’s municipal election. The numbers as of 6:20 pm have changed slightly from the first count on election night, but the winners have not changed. Of 33,309 (14.14% of electorate) ballots counted so far, the results are now:

North Anchorage – Assembly District 1, Seat B

  • Chris Constant 65.58%
  • John Trueblood 22.74%
  • Nick Danger 1 11.67%

Assembly District 2, Seat C

  • Jim Arlington 42.99%
  • Scott Myers 57.01%

Assembly District 3 Seat E

  • Dustin Darden 4.16%
  • Anna Brawley 59.18%
  • Brian Flynn 36.66%

Assembly District 4 Seat G

  • Travis Szanto 44.07%
  • Felix Rivera 55.93%

Assembly District 5 Seat H

  • Leigh Sloan 39.68%
  • Karen Bronga 60.32%

Assembly District 5 Seat I

  • George Martinez 56.25%
  • Spencer Moore 43.75%

Assembly District 6 Seat K

  • Rachel Ries 43.36%
  • Mikel Insalco 3.29%
  • Zac Johnson 53.35%

School Board Seat C

  • Dave Donley 57.12%
  • Irene Boll 42.88%

School Board Seat D

  • Mark Anthony Cox 44.73%
  • Andy Holleman 55.27%

Twitter adds clarifying label to NPR’s account: ‘US state-affiliated media’

Suzanne Downing
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14
Twitter adds clarifying label to NPR’s account: ‘US state-affiliated media’

According to the Twitter, a “state-affiliated media” designation is placed on government media accounts and used to “provide additional context for accounts heavily engaged in geopolitics and diplomacy.” That means Twitter labels China’s Xinhau and Russia’s RT as “state affiliated media.”

Now NPR has the label on its profile and on every tweet, too, as “US state-affiliated media.”

Elon Musk shared a screenshot of the Twitter policy and captioned it, “Seems accurate.”

“The label appears on the profile page of the relevant Twitter account and on the Tweets sent by and shared from these accounts. Labels contain information about the country the account is affiliated with and whether it is operated by a government representative or state-affiliated media entity,” Twitter’s policy says.

Twitter defines government-affiliated media, without the “US addition” as “senior officials and entities that are the official voice of the nation state abroad.”

NPR gets its government funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which receives grants from different federal agencies and passes them through. NPRs budget for this fiscal year is over $300 million. Its audience, according to a poll by the Pew Charitable Trust, is largely Democrat. A 2019 survey found that 87% of NPR’s audience identified as Democrats, or leaning Democratic, and 12% were Republicans or leaning Republican.

Mayor Bronson names Mario Bird acting chief of staff; Trombley quits

Suzanne Downing
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11
Mayor Bronson names Mario Bird acting chief of staff; Trombley quits

Mayor Dave Bronson named Mario Bird as his acting chief of staff. Adam Trombley’s last day with the Municipality was April 4. Trombley voluntarily resigned to focus on his family and personal matters, the mayor said in a statement. 

“I have nothing but gratitude for Adam, and the work he has accomplished for the people of Anchorage over the last number of years. He is a consummate professional, diplomat, and experienced leader,” Bronson said. “I will dearly miss his presence at City Hall and wish him all the best going forward in his career. I am confident he will be successful wherever he goes.”

Bird previously served as senior policy advisor for Bronson, who had earlier named him city attorney, but was confronted by a hostile Anchorage Assembly on the appointment.

“Having Mario serve in an acting capacity will provide stability and continuity to the Administration. I thank him for his willingness to lead while we undergo the process of finding a permanent Chief of Staff,” Bronson said.

Election results: Anchorage Assembly stays blue

Paradise passport: Hawaii may enact governor’s trail tax

Suzanne Downing
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13
Paradise passport: Hawaii may enact governor’s trail tax

Hawaii is a sought-after destination for tourists worldwide, including Alaskans. However, the influx of visitors may be straining the state’s natural resources, and Gov. Josh Green has proposed a solution to alleviate the burden.

Green’s proposed legislation seeks to implement what could be called a “Green Tax,” requiring residents and visitors alike to pay up to $50 for the use of of parks or trails. With over 10 million visitors annually, the funds collected would be utilized to combat climate change and address environmental damage.

Initially, Green campaigned for a $50 license to enter the state, which was met with constitutional challenges regarding free travel between states. However, the current proposal, the first of its kind in the country, aims to mitigate the environmental impact of tourism by charging visitors for park access.

Checking on visitors’ licenses to use trails may be an enforcement nightmare for those places that are not heavily used, however. And having trail cops may take away from the islands’ Aloha spirit.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Hawaii hired hundreds of people who used a heavy hand as they enforced the Covid quarantines the state had in place for visitors.

Sullivan meets with president of Taiwan in highly symbolic act that sent a message to communist China

Suzanne Downing
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23
Sullivan meets with president of Taiwan in highly symbolic act that sent a message to communist China

Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, along with Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on March 31 in New York City. The senators showed their support for the island democracy and Sullivan emphasized that China has no right to dictate whom foreign leaders can or cannot meet with.

Sullivan added that the US Senate does not serve the Chinese Communist Party’s interests and that Taiwan is not isolated, despite the CCP’s propaganda. This is his fourth meeting with President Tsai and he led this delegation.

Sullivan later tweeted that he sees Taiwan as the 21st Century’s West Berlin, as it stands as a defender of democracy against a powerful, expansionist authoritarian regime.

The Taiwanese president is meeting today with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles. She was met with strong support from pro-Taiwan supporters who gathered at the airport and later in front of her hotel. Meanwhile, a small group of pro-communists demonstrated nearby, chanting “One China.”

Tsai’s meeting with McCarthy and a bipartisan group of a dozen or more lawmakers will take place in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Chinese top officials call the meeting a “provocation” that violates the one-China principle, under which the United States, since 1979, has recognized the CCP as the sole legitimate government of China, while maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan. Under the one-China principle, the U.S. simply recognizes that China thinks it has sovereignty over Taiwan.

In November, President Joe Biden told China President Xi Jinping that the U.S. stand on one-China is unchanged, and he told the media he does not think there is an immediate threat that China will invade the island, which is a democracy.

On March 29, Sullivan and Rep. Mike Gallagher reintroduced the “Sanctions Targeting Aggressors of Neighboring Democracies (STAND) with Taiwan Act of 2023,” which seeks to impose significant economic sanctions against China if it invades Taiwan. The same bill was introduced in 2022 by Sullivan and would require approval from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the president.

Sullivan reintroduces sanctions on China if it invades Taiwan

Election results: Anchorage Assembly stays blue

Suzanne Downing
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139
Election results: Anchorage Assembly stays blue

It was an easy election night for incumbents but a tough night for conservative candidates for the Anchorage Assembly, with ballot counting showing strong leads for Assemblymen Felix Rivera of midtown and Chris Constant of north town.

Also, the candidates for open seats who were backed by the Democratic Party had a strong advantage when all of the votes that could be counted were through the machine.

The progressive trend in Anchorage will continue, as these results are unlikely to flip, even as ballots submitted on Tuesday and those that will arrive in coming days are counted by the Anchorage Election Office.

The only conservative with a likely win on Tuesday is Scott Myers of Eagle River, who easily beat Democrat Jim Arlington.

Both incumbents on the school board won — conservative Dave Donley and liberal Andy Holleman.

With 30,312 votes counted so far, or 12.87% of the possible 235,000 votes, the results show what are historically insurmountable leads for the leaders:

North Anchorage – Assembly District 1, Seat B

  • Chris Constant 65.28%
  • John Trueblood 23.01%
  • Nick Danger 11.71%

Assembly District 2, Seat C

  • Jim Arlington 43.02%
  • Scott Myers 56.98%

Assembly District 3 Seat E

  • Dustin Darden 4.33
  • Anna Brawley 59.03%
  • Brian Flynn 36.64%

Assembly District 4 Seat G

  • Travis Szanto 43.98%
  • Felix Rivera 56.02%

Assembly District 5 Seat H

  • Leigh Sloan 39.76%
  • Karen Bronga 60.24%

Assembly District 5 Seat I

  • George Martinez 56.16%
  • Spencer Moore 43.84%

Assembly District 6 Seat K

  • Rachel Ries 42.89%
  • Mikel Insalco 3.29%
  • Zac Johnson 53.82%

School Board Seat C

  • Dave Donley 57.35%
  • Irene Boll 42.65%

School Board Seat D

  • Mark Anthony Cox 44.85%
  • Andy Holleman 55.15%

Man on parole since August for 2007 murder indicted for gunning man down in Mountain Village in March

Suzanne Downing
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8
Man on parole since August for 2007 murder indicted for gunning man down in Mountain Village in March

Darren Peterson, a resident of Mountain Village, was indicted by a grand jury in Bethel on Tuesday for the shooting death of Larry Andrews of St. Mary’s.

Andrews was shot multiple times in the back, allegedly by Peterson, on March 24 after a group of people had been drinking at a home in Mountain Village, a small community with around 800 residents.

Peterson was charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and one count of third-degree assault. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 11 in Bethel Superior Court before Judge Terrence Haas, and his bail has been previously set at $1 million.

The Tribal Police officers in Mountain Village contacted Alaska State Troopers on March 24 to report the homicide at a residence in Mountain Village and that Peterson had turned himself in and was in custody. Troopers from St. Mary’s post and the Western Major Crimes Unit responded and found Andrews, aged 35, dead with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. It was revealed that Andrews had fled from the home in fear for his life while Peterson was reloading a .22 caliber rifle.

It is worth noting that Peterson had been on parole from a 2008 conviction for the murder of his uncle in 2007, which had occurred while he was drinking with a group of people in Mountain Village. He had been sentenced to 19 years in prison but was released in August.

Currently, Peterson is being held at the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center.

Read the Trump indictment here

Suzanne Downing
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100
Read the Trump indictment here

The complete copy of the Trump indictment, unsealed today by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg:

trump-indictmentDownload
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