Category: Alaska News

The latest news and information from your Alaska news station.

House and Senate conference committee members unveiled a draft compromise bill on Thursday for the proposed Alaska LNG gas line project, pledging that debate, input and revisions will continue on the state tax break legislation up until a floor vote scheduled for July 16. 

“We know we have more work to do,” said House Speaker Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, following the committee hearing. “It’s a complex topic, and our goal today was to first get through the working draft that had, we thought, a lot of areas of compromise between, you know, sort of all the partners involved in crafting the bill.”

The six member conference committee is tasked with negotiating a compromise bill from the versions of House Bill 381, which was passed by the House and Senate in a special session in June. 

Amid high political pressure, lawmakers are now in a second special session called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to hammer out a state tax proposal that is workable for both the state and the project developer, Glenfarne, which owns 75% of the project. Glenfarne executives say the multibillion dollar tax break is essential to the project’s economics — and that it must come before the company determines a final investment decision with investors.

Dunleavy and members of the House and Senate have taken decidedly different approaches to the size and scope of the state tax break for the proposed project. The project would be built in two phases — first, an 807-mile gas line from the North Slope to Cook Inlet, then  gas treatment facilities on the North Slope and on the Kenai Peninsula to export gas internationally.

One of the most fiercely debated provisions in the draft compromise is a proposal to apply the state’s corporate income tax to privately-owned oil and gas companies that currently do not pay them. The provision is favored by some lawmakers and was included in the version of the bill passed by the Senate. But Dunleavy has called the tax a “poison pill” and pledged to veto any bill that includes it. Legislative leaders say they will revisit the topic and expect to make changes to the draft.

Edmon called the corporate tax provision the “elephant in the room” and said further negotiation will continue after the holiday weekend. “I’m really looking forward to after this period of what I would call percolation that we come back and make further changes to the bill,” he said. 

Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, who chairs the conference committee, said its members will continue hearing input on the draft bill from relevant groups, and many provisions will be further debated and revised.

“We’re going to continue that work, see how far apart the goal posts are, and do what it takes to try and bring those together,” he said. “And again, ultimately arrive with a bill on the floor that we think can be successful, and give this project a chance.”

A spokesperson for Dunleavy said his office is reviewing the new draft bill, called a committee substitute, or CS, and repeated the governor’s objections to the corporate income tax provision, known as the S corporation tax, which was included in the draft bill on Thursday.

“Our initial take on the CS is that while it appears to address several of the harmful provisions for the gasline, it still contains the S corp tax that the governor and the developer have said will hurt the project’s ability to secure financing,” said Jeff Turner, Dunleavy’s communications director in an email. 

In the draft compromise bill unveiled Thursday, legislators are offering a significant tax break that would replace the state’s property tax with a volumetric tax on the gas flowing through the gas line after five years, or when the gas flow reaches 500 million cubic feet per day, whichever comes first. The plan includes gradual tax increases over time as gas flows from the North Slope. 

Lawmakers have proposed extending a deadline for construction to be completed on the gas line and phase one from 2032 to December 31, 2034. The provision allows the Commissioner of Revenue to review the tax deal if there are unforeseen delays outside of the developer’s control like severe weather or litigation.

The draft bill requires the gas price cap for Alaskans to rise with inflation at the national inflation rate, rather than Alaskan inflation rate, and the increase may not exceed 3% annually. It requires a variety of reporting requirements for labor agreements, filings with federal oversight agencies and construction updates on a public dashboard. 

Another provision requires Glenfarne and developers to disclose their investment agreements with foreign companies investing in the project. It requires notice of any “significant changes” in the project’s ownership structure, defined as changes in entities holding more than 5% ownership interest of the gas line or 10% of the gas treatment plants. 

“We’d like transparency and forthright information on who’s involved in this project and who owns a piece of that pipeline that’s dividing our state down the middle,” Schrage said. 

The draft also contains a provision that prohibits the project developer from seeking payment from the state if the project is abandoned, and requires the developer to return all shares and assets to the state within six months in such a case. The issue was spotlighted by reporting on a confidential draft agreement between Glenfarne and the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. that under some conditions, the state could be ordered to pay in order to take the project back.  

“It’s very important that if the state is going to offer tax concessions, that those concessions not then be leveraged against the state for a payout to the project developer,” Schrage said. “In the event that this project goes awry and the developer tries to exit, we don’t want to pay them for our concessions.”

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, raised questions and objections to a provision around how much municipalities’ gas line tax revenue would apply to their school funding formula, known as the local contribution. According to a legislative memo, the Kenai Peninsula would be required to contribute millions more to its school district beginning in 2034.

Ruffridge, a member of the all-Republican House minority caucus, said it was one of several provisions he objects to and cautioned the committee against “putting additional barriers” up for the project.

“We’re seeking maximum government take. I think in here we’ve asked the question, ‘How much can we extract from this project?’ And I think we’ve missed the fact that we are asking potentially to put on the line jobs, cheap energy and potentially a boon to Alaska’s economy in the form of revenue,” he said. 

He said the proposal needs more work.

Several members of the House Republican minority flew down to Juneau this week to raise objections to the conference committee process and urge swift action on the bill. A full vote on a compromise bill was tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, but postponed. Technical House floor sessions were canceled on Wednesday and Thursday, to avoid what House Speaker Edgmon called “political hijinks or theatrics.”

“There’s no time for games, and as the presiding officer, I’m not going to play games like this,” he said.

Edgmon said the committee has been deliberating with legislative attorneys, finance officials, various related departments and project developers in a process that would normally take years. 

Rep. Donna Mears, D-Anchorage and a member of the House Resources Committee, also attended the conference committee hearing on Thursday and said rushing the process is not in the best interest of the Legislature or Alaskans. She said hammering out a compromise bill that will be approved by a majority of legislators and by the governor is an enormous task. 

“Trying to rush through is not feasible. We’re making a lot of big changes, and the details matter,” she said. “And the process today wasn’t obstructionist, it was moving along and making progress, and even without big huge policy decisions, there’s a lot of little things that need to get ironed out.”

Lawmakers said they are tentatively planning for the compromise bill to go before the House and Senate for a full vote on Thursday, July 16. The special session is scheduled to end on July 19. 

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

(The Center Square) – A 50,187-acre wildfire in Colorado has been declared the nation’s No. 1 firefighting priority.

Thursday night, showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 46F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Friday, cloudy with occasional rain showers. High 54F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Thursday night, rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low around 50F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Friday, partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High around 70F. Winds WSW…

Thursday night, partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 51F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Friday, cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 60F. Winds WSW at…

If you kneel in a patch of early summer tundra and listen closely, you may hear a faint, steady buzz rising from the mosses and dwarf shrubs. It’s the sound of Alaska’s native bees — a diverse, resilient group of pollinators that have evolved to survive some of the harshest conditions on the planet.

While many people picture honeybees when they think of pollinators, Alaska’s story is different. The state’s pollination work is carried out almost entirely by native bees, not managed honeybee colonies. These wild species have lived here for thousands of years, adapting to cold temperatures, short summers and unpredictable weather.

More than 100 species of native bees have been documented in Alaska, and researchers believe more remain undiscovered. These bees come in a surprising variety of shapes, sizes and colors — from large, fuzzy bumblebees to tiny metallic sweat bees no bigger than a grain of rice.

Among the 22 species of bumblebees in Alaska, these five are the most common pollinators:

Bumblebees (Genus Bombus) Bumblebees are the most visible and charismatic of Alaska’s pollinators. With more than 20 species statewide, they are essential to berry crops, wildflowers, and alpine plants. Species such as Bombus polaris and Bombus hyperboreus are specially adapted to Arctic conditions and can generate heat through rapid muscle vibrations. This allows them to fly in temperatures that would ground most insects.

Mining Bees (Family Andrenidae) These solitary bees nest in the ground, often in sandy or well‑drained soils. They emerge early in spring — sometimes before the last patches of snow have melted — taking advantage of the first available blooms.

Leafcutter Bees (Genus Megachile) Leafcutter bees are master builders. They cut circular pieces of leaves to construct nests in hollow stems, wood cavities, or abandoned burrows. Their strong jaws and efficient pollination behavior make them important contributors to both wild and cultivated plants.

Sweat Bees (Family Halictidae) Small and often metallic in color, sweat bees are abundant across Alaska. Some species nest in soil, while others use rotting wood or plant stems. Their small size allows them to forage in tight spaces and on delicate flowers.

Cuckoo Bees (Genus Sphecodes) These parasitic bees lay their eggs in the nests of other species. While their behavior may seem harsh, cuckoo bees are important indicators of ecosystem health — they can only survive where host species are thriving.

Alaska’s bees use a wide range of nesting strategies. Some dig burrows in soil warmed by the sun. Others occupy hollow stems, abandoned rodent tunnels or natural cavities in moss and tundra hummocks. These nesting habits make them vulnerable to habitat disturbance — even small changes in soil structure or vegetation can affect their survival.

Their foraging patterns are tightly synchronized with the short summer bloom period. When flowers emerge, bees must work quickly to gather nectar and pollen before the season ends. A delay of just a few days in spring emergence can mean the difference between a successful colony and a failed one.

Despite their resilience, Alaska’s native bees remain understudied. Many regions of the state have never been surveyed, and new species records are still being discovered. Programs like the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Alaska Bee Atlas are helping fill these gaps, relying on volunteers and researchers to document species across the state’s vast landscapes. Agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have noted the importance of these efforts in understanding pollinator health.

Understanding Alaska’s native bees is essential for protecting the ecosystems that depend on them. These insects are more than pollinators — they are indicators of environmental change, partners in food security and a vital part of Alaska’s natural heritage.

In the quiet hum of a bee moving through a patch of wild geranium, there is a reminder of the resilience and beauty of Alaska’s smallest wildlife.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX.

Sophia DeMarco was introduced  to the wild and wonderful world of square-dance calling in 2024. On Sunday she found herself teaching the foundational building blocks of the dance to about 148 people, her largest group to date. The Haines Art Confluence hosted the free dance at the Fort Steward art park on Sunday. Organizer Helen Alten says that this is the second year for the event which drew in about 50 square-dance enthusiasts the first year. DeMarco was bitten by the square-dancing bug at a Boise, Idaho square-dancing convention. She credits her sister, an old-time fiddle player, with the initial interest in the music style and a workshop in Boise for the newfound skills. She has been a guest caller at events but this is only her third time calling a square dance by herself. When she is not guiding dancers through various formations she is guiding kayak tours and driving a bus here in Haines. 

Craig Franke was at it again last weekend, helping with another community event. He was heaving bulky items into a dumpster side by side with neighbors at the Four Winds Resource Center’s annual junk collection event Saturday.

Community Waste Solutions collaborated with Stacie Powlison at the Four Winds Resource Center for the fundraiser, now in its fourth year.  Franke brings a dumpster to the Mosquito Lake School for community members to dump bulk trash. Community members donate to FWRC and CWS takes away the big stuff. This year some of the “big stuff” included flooring, a pile of water hose that was described as “generational collection,” cumbersome doors, sofas that have seen many a rest, all manner of broken tools and yard equipment, and a locked safe with no key. Neighbors discussed what might be in the safe while assisting with heavy lifting.

As residents of the upper valley descended on Mosquito Lake for the trash day event on Saturday they also could catch a glimpse of Jim Stanford improving the neighborhood. He was trimming the lawn on his zero-turn mower, as he has done for years at no cost to the community. He and Deb Stanford have lived at Mosquito lake since 1984. They raised a family there and enjoy seeing the recreation area used. The Stanfords donated their time and equipment to add a pickleball court recently. The upgrade will include equipment storage in the future, according to Stanford. They put up the net and painted the lines on the court and added a free-standing sign to share laminated official rules. He asks that the community keep it tidy and share equipment in a responsible way. See you on the court. 

Celeste Grimes led a nine-person moccasin-making class at Fort Seward recently. The four-day class included hands-on instruction for about 20 hours and was organized by Cory Grant at Tlingit & Haida. Grimes said she has been making moccasins for three years and this was her first time instructing the class. She was very impressed by the participants’ finished products. They learned how to make a pattern from each person’s foot and used leather and fur to handsew each pair.

Patty Campbell and a couple of Haines Little League board members worked together to insure that the Little League had uniforms for the season opener. The shipping situation was looking grim, as some have experienced here. The uniforms were stowed last minute in luggage returning to Haines following a vacation and hustled off to Campbell. She screenprinted and embroidered 60 shirts and 18 hats in just a couple of days. The Haines Little league home opener saw the Pirates beat the Mariners, 7-5. 

Sixty-year Haines resident Marilyn Wilson died on Friday, June 26 in Anchorage. Wilson grew up in Skagway in the 1950s but moved to the Chilkat Valley and went on to become the Alaska Native Sisterhood chapter secretary, then president. She was also a longtime organizer of the local Elizabeth Peratrovich Day celebration. Family members say they are working on funeral plans but don’t have a set date yet.

The post Duly Noted: Square-dancing, recycling and more appeared first on Chilkat Valley News.

The board of the Four Winds Resource Center would like to thank Craig Franke and his staff at Community Waste Solutions for providing another wildly successful “Junk Day” on Saturday. Folks brought everything from defunct lounge chairs to the kitchen sink and the big dumpster was full to the brim by noon. Craig’s generosity and support for our center resulted in much appreciated donations. We, upper-valley residents, are so thankful for community leaders like Craig who go out of their way to make our lives easier with his recycle trailer and his “Junk Day” both provided at the Mosquito Lake School. Here’s to people helping people!

Julie Korsmeyer, FWRC Board President

The post Thank you for successful Junk Day appeared first on Chilkat Valley News.

Do you think political parties should choose who gets to run for public office when more than half of all registered Alaskans don’t belong to one? Do you think political contributions made by the super-rich and giant corporations should be anonymous? Do you prefer having more extreme candidates from the left and the right instead of candidates more willing to try and find common ground? If your answers are yes to all of the above, then by all means vote to repeal Ranked Choice Voting, RCV. 

RCV opponents claim it’s too complicated, but it is actually very straightforward. After an “open primary” in August where anyone can run for any office, the top four candidates are placed on the general ballot for the November election. You can vote for just your favorite candidate or choose to cast a second, third or fourth place vote for the other people in the race. If no candidate gets a majority of the first-place votes, the candidate with the fewest first-place votes drops out. If the dropped candidate was your first choice, your vote is transferred to your second choice and the ballots are counted again. The process repeats until one candidate receives a majority of the total remaining votes. 

Our candidate options should not be controlled by small, private clubs (political parties) the best representatives are open-minded and willing to consider different perspectives, and elections should not be for sale to unidentified deep pockets. If you agree, vote NO on repealing RCV.

Gershon Cohen

The post Vote No on the Repeal of Ranked Choice Voting      appeared first on Chilkat Valley News.