Podcasts about alaska house

Send us a textWill Stapp tells of his childhood being raised by his grandparents, going to war in Iraq and moving to Alaska to raise a family and ultimately become a member of the Alaska House of Representatives.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:Monday was Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. The Alaska House is scheduled to vote today on a change to corporate income taxes that could raise millions of dollars for the state. Anchorage officials are moving forward with a plan to free up space at the landfill by burning trash, and harnessing that power into electricity for the city.Photo: The facade of the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau on May 22, 2024. (Eric Stone/Alaska Public Media)

The decision on whether or not to raise the Base Student Allocation is now in the hands of Gov. Mike Dunleavy after a concurrence vote in the Alaska House of Representatives on Wednesday. Plus, the NTSB said Wednesday the wreckage from a plane that crashed in Nanwalek on Monday, killing two people, remains in the rural community, but plans are being made to retrieve it.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Arctic research has not been spared as President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk seek to slash what they see as unnecessary government spending. The Alaska House has passed a budget. And the future of a federal program that supports rural Alaska schools remains grim.

The Alaska House of Representatives approved a $6.2 billion draft state operating budget, putting Alaska on track for a significant deficit in the fiscal year that begins July 1, according to the Alaska Beacon.

In this newscast: An Alaska Native corporation's shareholders are questioning contracts that one of its subsidiaries has to run migrant detention facilities; In the month after the University of Alaska Board of Regents decided to scrub mentions of diversity, equity, and inclusion, critics of the decision are concerned about the lack of transparency in the process; Ketchikan is currently facing a controversial restructuring of its schools, and multiple school board members and the district superintendent have resigned. School district officials testified in front of the Alaska House and Senate on Monday to say tell lawmakers that the kids are not alright; Alaska's U.S. Senators have co-sponsored a resolution to keep the U.S. Postal Service as an independent agency and not privatize it

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:People living in the northern part of the state will have a chance to watch rockets soar through aurora-lit night skies for the next couple weeks. Friday was World Glacier Day. And the Alaska House of Representatives says it recognizes Canada's right to govern itself and opposes efforts to restrict cross-border trade.Photo: A NASA technician works on the payload of an AWESOME rocket. (UAF)

On this today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:Sen. Lisa Murkowski says President Trump is testing the limits of his power. The Nanook Diversity and Action Center closing and having its website taken down. And the BLM released a draft feasibility study for public comment last week that evaluates whether the proposed Alaska Long Trail would be a suitable National Scenic Trail.Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, smiles on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as she exits the Alaska House of Representatives following her annual address to the Alaska Legislature. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

In this newscast: The Alaska House narrowly approved a bill today that would substantially increase state funding for public schools on a long-term basis for the first time in nearly a decade; Dozens of Juneau residents protested as Congress considers drastic funding cuts to Medicaid; President Trump issued two executive orders on March 1 to expand logging in national forests. That's after he suspended the Roadless Road, which banned new road construction in national forests. Together, these orders could increase timber harvest in the Tongass National Forest; The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that all recently terminated employees will be rehired, with back pay; The likelihood of an Alaska volcano's eruption not far from the state's largest city has increased

In this newscast: Alaska House lawmakers made a few changes to a high-priority education bill during a marathon floor session on Monday; No one was hurt in a fire at the Dzantik'i Heeni campus in Juneau earlier today, but evacuated students huddled outside for hours; The state Department of Transportation is resurrecting the controversial idea to build a road between Juneau and the communities of Haines and Skagway; Congress is considering huge cuts to Medicaid and Alaska health care experts say that would have an outsized impact in the state; One of the teams in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is comprised mostly of shelter adoptees

In this newscast: Temporary cell service and internet connection has most Juneau residents back online after a damaged subsea cable caused a region-wide outage late last week; Former Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola and her former chief of staff are now working for Holland and Hart, a law and lobbying firm; Protestors took to the streets of Gustavus on Saturday, joining hundreds of demonstrations around the country in response to staffing cuts at national parks; A hydroelectric project in the remote Southeast Alaska community of Angoon is on pause following the federal grant freeze announced in late January by the Trump administration; Leaders in the Alaska House and Senate say they're deeply concerned about the impacts of federal staff cuts and a forthcoming congressional immigration and tax cuts bill; With changes to requirements by the Trump administration, it's an uncertain time for immigrants, but the new Philippine Honorary Consul for Alaska hopes she can be of service

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:Leaders in the Alaska House and Senate say they're deeply concerned about the impacts of federal staff cuts and a forthcoming congressional immigration and tax cuts bill, and are imploring Alaska's all-Republican federal delegation to halt possible reductions in Medicaid coverage. Photo: Demonstrators gather outside the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau to protest the Trump administration's policies on Feb. 17, 2025. (Eric Stone/Alaska Public Media)

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:Bristol Bay Representative Bryce Edgmon was elected Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives last month, back in the role after a four-year break. President Trump has announced a partnership with Japan on the Alaska LNG project. And a fisher poet teams up with a percussive musician.Photo: Speaker of the House Edgmon talking to constituents in the Speaker's Chambers. (Margaret Sutherland/KDLG)

In this newscast: The Alaska House of Representatives offered a rebuke to President Donald Trump's move to rename North America's highest peak as Mount McKinley; The Alaska Legislature is getting to work on a bill that would boost state funding for public schools by more than $460 million; One of the more than 200 executive orders President Donald Trump signed in the first days of his new term was aimed at accessing more natural resources in Alaska, and seeks to roll back protections on millions of acres in the Tongass National Forest; The City of Delta Junction's privately-owned ambulance service announced it would dissolve, possibly leaving residents to provide their own emergency transportation to Fairbanks, almost a hundred miles away 

On today's Midday Report with Host Terry Haines: The City of Delta Junction's only ambulance service, Delta Medical Transport, announced it would dissolve earlier this month. The Alaska House of Representatives has offered a rebuke to President Donald Trump's move to rename Denali as Mount McKinley. And residents of the Kenai Borough could lose their emergency flood insurance. Photo: Mount Denali. (Denali National Park and Preserve)

In this one, I talk to Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Ever since he was a kid he's been interested in politics and sports. Electoral politics and baseball, to be specific. But when it came to politics, he was a prodigy. He could recite groups of politicians — the 50 state attorneys general and all 100 U.S. senators, for example. He was interviewed on NPR at 14, and at 23 he dropped out of Yale, moved back home to Sitka and ran as a Democratic candidate for the state House of Representatives. He would go on to represent Sitka and 21 other rural Southeast Alaska communities in the Alaska House of Representatives, until leaving politics in 2022. His self-proclaimed fanaticism toward sports is what drew him to politics. Like sports, politics is statistical, numeric, and there are winners and there are losers. But with politics, unlike sports, the stakes are higher. They shape the world we live in.  Jonthan credits the Sitka High School Debate Team for giving him the intellectual and ideological versatility that he still relies on today. He says that in debate, it's common to flip a coin and on the basis of the coin flip you have to argue diametrically opposite sides of the same issue. So, you not only have to understand both sides of an argument, you have to be able to clearly communicate it. In 2014, House Bill 216 was signed into law. It made the twenty Native languages in Alaska official languages of the state. Jonathan sponsored that bill and his efforts were, in part, aided by what he had learned in debate. He says that, like all things in politics, it was accomplished through compromise and teamwork. 

Ever since Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins was a kid he's been interested in politics and sports. Electoral politics and baseball, to be specific. But when it came to politics, he was a prodigy. He could recite groups of politicians — the 50 state attorneys general and all 100 U.S. senators, for example. He was interviewed on NPR at 14, and at 23 he dropped out of Yale, moved back home to Sitka and ran as a Democratic candidate for the state House of Representatives. He would go on to represent Sitka and 21 other rural Southeast Alaska communities in the Alaska House of Representatives, until leaving politics in 2022. His self-proclaimed fanaticism toward sports is what drew him to politics. Like sports, politics is statistical, numeric, and there are winners and there are losers. But with politics, unlike sports, the stakes are higher. They shape the world we live in.  Jonthan credits the Sitka High School Debate Team for giving him the intellectual and ideological versatility that he still relies on today. He says that in debate, it's common to flip a coin and on the basis of the coin flip you have to argue diametrically opposite sides of the same issue. So, you not only have to understand both sides of an argument, you have to be able to clearly communicate it. In 2014, House Bill 216 was signed into law. It made the twenty Native languages in Alaska official languages of the state. Jonathan sponsored that bill and his efforts were, in part, aided by what he had learned in debate. He says that, like all things in politics, it was accomplished through compromise and teamwork.

In this newscast: The way tourism companies in Juneau can take advantage of city-owned trails and parks is getting an update.A new city analysis recommends changes that, if approved, would allow companies to operate on some popular trails they haven't been able to before — while others would stay off limits; As Kenai Peninsula school board members mull the best way to restrict student cellphone use, three schools offered reflections on the policies they've already implemented; Republicans in the Alaska House have formed a 19-member minority caucus, and elected Anchorage Representative-elect Mia Costello as their leader. The outgoing House speaker, Wasilla Republican Cathy Tilton, will serve as minority whip.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Republicans in the Alaska House have formed a 19-member minority caucus. President Joe Biden's has announced the creation of a national monument to honor Native American boarding school survivors. And after a recount, ranked choice voting remains in place.

In this newscast: Ketchikan's city manager is resigning; The bipartisan caucuses who will control the Alaska House and Senate have announced their committee chairs; Alaska's commercial harvests plummeted this year: pounds harvested were the lowest on record; People can now view a livestream feed of Cook Inlet beluga whales swimming in the Kenai River

On today's Episode (Tuesday 1 of 2) of the Steak for Breakfast Podcast, we are covering:    Donald Trump completes the nominations for his incoming Cabinet with a flurry of Friday night announcements     Weekend polling confirms that a majority of the nation approves of President Trump and his transition teams work ahead of the holidays and following the election   Guests: In Order of Appearance    All profile handles are for X (formerly Twitter)    Congresswoman-Elect Nick Begich: (@NickforAlaska) incoming U.S. Representative, Alaska House seat    Website: https://www.alaskansfornickbegich.com/   Jim Pfaff: (@jpfaff) President, The Conservative Caucus   Website: https://www.theconservativecaucus.org/   Subscribe to the show and rate it, don't forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. And find everything Steak for Breakfast at https://linktr.ee/steakforbreakfastpodcast Be sure to listen, like, follow and SHARE our Steak for Breakfast content!   Steak for Breakfast:    SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steak-for-breakfast-podcast/id1498791684   SUBSCRIBE on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3MXIB2s8IWLoT4tnBMAH9n?si=izN0KShBSAytW5JBBsKEwQ   email the show: steakforbreakfastpodcast@protonmail.com    Steak for Substack: https://steakforbreakfastpodcast.substack.com   linktree: https://linktr.ee/steakforbreakfastpodcast   MyPillow: Promo Code: STEAK at checkout  Website: https://mystore.com/steak Website: https://www.mypillow.com/steak  Via the Phone: http://mypatriotcigars.com/usa/steak   Man Rubs Enter Promo Code: STEAK15 and save 15% https://manrubs.com   Beard Vet Coffee Enter Promo Code: STEAK and save 10%  https://www.beardvet.com/   BattleBorn Coffee Roasters enter promo code: STEAK and save 20% off your first order  https://www.battleborn.coffee   New Hope Wellness use this link or enter promo code: STEAK during intake for free consultation and $100 off your first order https://www.newhopewellness.com/steak Call: 1-800-527-2150

  Begich edges out Peltola in historic Alaska House race   Native artists in Wyoming struggle to be sustainable  

In this newscast: A ballot measure that would repeal ranked choice voting in Alaska has narrowly failed. That's according to final unofficial results the Division of Elections released last night; A plan to extend Juneau's downtown waterfront walking path, also known as the seawalk, crossed a major hurdle earlier this week; Alaska's transgender community is worried that a second Donald Trump presidency might threaten their access to gender-affirming care, or healthcare that allows people to transition medically -- and providers in the state are worried too; There will be more women than men in the Alaska House of Representatives for the first time in its history when the Legislature convenes in January. That's according to final unofficial election results released Wednesday

  Siletz Tribe reacquires 27 acres of ancestral territory in Oregon   Tribes, allies plan to sue if rare snail not protected from lithium mine   Peltola opponent declares victory, but AP has yet to call Alaska House race  

Jeff was joined by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R - Alaska). They discuss the upcoming changes to the U.S. Senate after Republicans took back the majority, the filibuster issue, her policy goals going forward, some of the problems Alaska has faced over the last decade, how the Alaska House and Senate organized so quickly, the possibility of Governor Mike Dunleavy (R- Alaska) taking a job in the Trump administration, and her thoughts on Donald Trump's big comeback win.  

In this newscast: Some key races across Alaska remain too close to call with tens of thousands of votes yet to be counted. Ballot Measure 2, repealing ranked choice voting and open primaries, leads by less than two percentage points. A Fairbanks state Senate race and an Anchorage House race are each on a knife's edge; Next week marks the beginning of wolf-trapping season on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska. But on the island – and the smaller islands surrounding it – getting an accurate count of the local wolf population has been a huge challenge. Now, managers are trying some interesting new counting techniques. Last summer, they hired a dog named Barley to sniff out an important source of data for tracking and understanding wolves - their poop; Bipartisan majorities will control both the Alaska House and Senate following the election, lawmakers said Wednesday evening.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Alaska is well into the start of respiratory disease season, and some trends are emerging. Bipartisan majorities will control both the Alaska House and Senate following the election. And regulations about who could hunt sea otters in Alaska have been clarified. Photo: Artist Christy Ruby sits for a picture with her colored sea otter in her studio on March 2, 2023. (Eric Stone/KRBD)

Recorded live at the Homer Public Library on Tuesday, October 29, 2024

On this episode: A brief overview of the 15 races we're watching including races for U.S. Senate, House, governors, other state executives, state supreme court judgeships, and state legislatures. Our  editorial department selected these elections based on past election results, unique election-specific circumstances, and election race ratings. The final selections include a mix of federal, state, and local races. Briana Ryan, Ethan Sorell, and Lara Bonatesta of our elections team join the show for a lightning round preview of the races that stick out most to them.  Explore our report here: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Top_15_Elections_to_Watch,_2024  Our full list of the 15 elections we're watching includes:  U.S. Senate election in Michigan U.S. Senate election in Ohio California's 13th Congressional District election New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District election New York's 17th Congressional District election Oregon's 5th Congressional District election Washington's 3rd Congressional District election New Hampshire gubernatorial election Attorney General of North Carolina election Alaska House of Representatives elections Arizona State Legislature elections Michigan House of Representatives elections New Hampshire State Senate elections Michigan Supreme Court elections Ohio Supreme Court elections Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates  *On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

Ben Carpenter is a peony farmer and former soldier on the Kenai Peninsula who has served several terms in the Alaska House. He's fed up with how the Alaska State Senate can't organize around conservative principles of developing our natural resources and managing how much we spend as a Government. Tune in today to hear more.Support the show

Two races in Anchorage could impact the makeup of the Alaska State House. Political reporter Steve Kirch talks about what the House looked like last session and what we might be seeing for this upcoming legislature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Amy Demboski Show 9-16-24 Guest- Rep. Kevin J. McCabe representing District 30 in the Alaska House

District 5 Alaska House of Representatives Candidates: Leighton Radner and Louise Stutes

Today we cap out our week (I'm on vacay tomorrow) with two different interviews. In hour one we'll talk to Savannah Fletcher from the Fairbanks area about her run for State Senate Dist R and her proposed solutions to bring the state back on track. In hour two we'll head south down to Homer and talk to Rep Sarah Vance who's running for reelection to the Alaska House and get her take on the state of the State.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: The Alaska legislature passed a bill this month to start a psychedelic medicine task force. The Alaska House and Senate passed a high-priority package of crime bills on Wednesday. And advocates for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People say a recently passed bill is a major milestone.

While Alaska's labor market is still struggling after a pandemic recession, the Kenai Peninsula has already successfully rebounded. A ban on social media accounts for children under 14 passed the Alaska House last Friday.

In this newscast: A ban on social media accounts for children under 14 passed the Alaska House; The Alaska House passed a bill that would put more guardrails on the property assessment process in the state; More Alaskans died of opioid overdose last year than ever before; An Oregon man convicted of murdering an Anchorage teenager more than four decades ago has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.

In this newscast: Cancer patients in Juneau who need gynecological surgery no longer have to leave town to get it; The Alaska House of Representatives passed its $6 billion operating budget today

In this newscast: Monday, Juneau celebrated the Hindu holiday Holi in the streets with Bollywood dancing and throwing colors in the air; A Ketchikan-raised master weaver is helping to create a pipeline of weaving teachers through a first-of-its-kind apprenticeship program in Sitka; The Alaska House of Representatives took a step towards raising the state's age of consent from 16 to 18 years old

The Alaska House passed a wide-ranging, bipartisan education bill late Thursday night, federal education officials say Alaska owes millions in state funding to Juneau, Kenai and North Slope schools, city leaders say residents aren't applying for grants to promote the construction of mother-in-law apartments and the Anchorage School District reversed course Tuesday night, opting to keep elementary art classes that were slated to be cut in order to balance the budget. 

A District 1 candidate for the Alaska House drops out of the race. Local artists and culture bearers collaborate on reducing plastic. A Juneau condo developer causes controversy.

Ivy Spohnholz is the Alaska State Director at The Nature Conservancy, where she leads the organization's critical work around climate solutions, sustainable fisheries, and resilient communities. Given its size, location, climate, demographics, and economics, Alaska presents a very unique blend of conservation challenges– challenges that can directly affect massive, landscape-scale ecosystems and the communities within them. We've rarely if ever dug into the details of conservation in Alaska on this podcast, so I was thrilled to have Ivy join me for such an in-depth conversation. - Ivy was born in a dry log cabin in the remote Wrangell Mountains, in what is now Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Her entire career has revolved around public service– she's held leadership roles at the Salvation Army, University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Conservation Foundation, and Abused Women's Aid in Crisis. She also served for more than six years in the Alaska House of Representatives, where she honed her skills as a pragmatic and effective problem solver. In the fall of 2022, she took the reins as TNC's Alaska State Director and has been applying her skills as a leader and problem solver toward Alaska's distinctive conservation challenges. - I've been lucky enough to visit Alaska on two separate occasions, and I've had some of the most formative experiences of my life in the Alaska Range. The size and scale of the mountains, valleys, and wildlife are so staggering that it's impossible to visit Alaska without gaining a deep respect for both the landscapes and the people who live there. So I was excited to have the opportunity to chat with Ivy about her adventurous upbringing in Alaska and her service-oriented career. We talk in detail about her unexpected entrance into politics, and how she quickly learned to lead and navigate the law-making process as an elected official. We discuss TNC's focus areas in Alaska, and we talk a lot about Bristol Bay and its ecological and economic significance in the world. As you've probably come to expect, we talk about the all-important power of relationships, and we also discuss the need to be practical and optimistic. - A big thank you to Ivy for taking the time to talk with me– I greatly appreciate all of the important work being done by TNC Alaska. Enjoy! --- Ivy Sponholtz The Alaska Chapter of the Nature Conservancy -- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy's leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org -- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Ivy's birth in a dry log cabin in the Wrangell Mountains 7:15 - Ivy's childhood 10:15 - When Ivy left Alaska, and what brought her back 12:00 - How serving others became a core part of Ivy 17:00 - When Ivy became an elected official 24:00 - Discussing the political landscape of Alaska 28:15 - How Ivy became involved with TNC 34:45 - Discussing TNC's work in Alaska 41:00 - How Ivy balances working urgently with the often slower pace of building relationships  46:30 - The importance of Bristol Bay 52:00 - Potential future threats to Bristol Bay 57:00 - The biggest surprise for Ivy in her work with TNC 59:30 - Discussing “practical optimism” 1:01:30 - Ivy's book recommendations 1:03:45 - Ivy's parting words of wisdom ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts  

In this newscast: At least one warehouse roof and two residential porches have collapsed under the weight of snow in Juneau, as of this morning; Another Domino's Pizza restaurant is coming to the Juneau area soon, despite opposition from some residents; The Alaska House of Representatives' Republican-led majority caucus unveiled and quickly advanced a package of education reforms last week. The legislation includes a long-term boost to public education funding, but the bill faces an uncertain future

In this newscast: Less than a week after Juneau got buried under nearly 30 inches of snow, a second storm is triggering school closures, clogging roads and running plow drivers ragged; Juneau school leaders say the district's budget crisis will require major changes to how it operates and the district's superintendent presented three school closure models to the school board this weekend; The Alaska House of Representatives removed Rep. David Eastman from its Judiciary Committee in a near-unanimous vote today; The school in Little Diomede reopened this morning after months of remote classes. The school building closed in November after it was struck by the partially collapsed city building 

“I know that I would not be in this position if we didn't have the Final Four system,” Representative Mary Peltola (D-AK) tells us in this first Purple Principle episode of season four. “Because I would not have made it through a partisan primary.”  A native Alaskan, Representative Peltola gained re-election to the US House on the third ballot of the nation's first Final Four election in 2022. Final Four Voting combines a unified open primary with a ranked choice general election. The intended goal is to replace the current system of polarizing party-led primaries. Final Four Voting Across Party Lines Peltola's election to the US House may seem surprising from a vast, largely rural state with twice as many registered Republicans as Democrats. But the majority of Alaskan voters are registered as non-partisan or unaffiliated.  Final Four: Lessons for the Lower 48? Prior to US House election, Peltola was a member of the bipartisan “Bush Caucus" within the Alaska House of Representatives. Now, after moving to what feels like a foreign country, she continues to work across the aisle in Washington, DC.  “I have had very few opportunities just to eat with Republicans and I am very eager to meet and collaborate with as many Republicans as I can,” she explains. “I'm a member of the Western Caucus, which right now is 106 Republicans and me.” Peltola is hopeful US House polarization can be overcome yet clear-eyed about the current gridlock. “The entrenchment is so deep,” she tells us.  Does this vast, frontier state and it's current Rep. hold lessons for our divided nation? Tune in to learn more about Mary Peltola's bipartisan efforts in the US House and the distinctive culture of her native Alaska.  The Purple Principle is a Fluent Knowledge production. Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney.  Find us online! Twitter: @purpleprincipl Facebook: @thepurpleprinciplepodcast Instagram: @thepurpleprinciplepodcast Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/2UfFSja

Daughter of Alaska Legend Jalmar "Jay" Kerttula -- the only person to ever serve as both speaker of the house and president of the senate -- Beth Kerttula is the former Director of the National Ocean Council, where she led the implementation of the United States National Ocean Policy, including the creation of the first two U.S. regional marine plans.  Previous to that, she was a Visiting Fellow at Stanford's Center for Ocean Solutions, working with policymakers from multiple disciplines on the impacts of climate change on the ocean and the Arctic.Beth has extensive experience in both elected and appointed office.  She is a dedicated public servant who was elected eight times and is a 15-year veteran of the Alaska House of Representatives, where she served as Minority Leader from 2006 to 2013.  An attorney, Beth served as the Alaska State Bar Board of Governors President. She also held positions in the State of Alaska Attorney General's Office, and the Public Defender Agency. Beth was the original sponsor of landmark cruise ship pollution legislation as well as other important environmental bills.  She led efforts to defend and improve the Alaska Coastal Zone Management Program and research efforts by the University of Alaska on ocean acidification and community sustainability.  Beth was also a member of the State of Alaska's first Arctic Policy Commission, which created Alaska's first Arctic policy recommendations for the state legislature. 

In honor of Filipino American History Month our guests are two professors from the University of Alaska Anchorage: Drs. EJR David and Gabriel Garcia. This past session House Bill 23 sponsored by Representative Genevieve Mina passed the Alaska legislature unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Dunleavy. This bill makes October officially Filipino American History Month. So today we will be talking about Filipinos in Alaska; our guests are both PhDs, both born in the Philippines, and both immigrated to Alaska as children. Dr. Gabriel Garcia is a professor of Public Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage and is the coordinator of UAA's Master of Public Health Program. His research highlighted health disparities in Filipino fish processing plant workers in Dutch Harbor. We will also be discussing his current research about the potential resiliency that can be gained from ethnic studies programs.  Dr. E.J. R. David is a professor of psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage. His primary duties are with the PhD program in clinical community psychology with a rural, cultural, and indigenous emphasis. He has published four books. The first three are academic works about internalized oppression and the colonial mentality.  His fourth is a memoir titled, We Have Not Stopped Trembling Yet: Letters to my Filipino Athabaskan Family.Rep. Genevieve Mina is the second Filipino woman elected to the Alaska House of Representatives. She represents East Anchorage (Airport Heights, Mountain View, and Russian Jack neighborhoods). 

Host John Quick sits down with Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Cathy Tilton to talk about her summer, some accomplishments she was thankful for in 2023, and what she is excited about in 2024. Tilton is for small government, a robust private sector, and Alaska energy production; it doesn't get any better than that. Listen in. 

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily Newsbrief for Thursday, February 23rd, 2023. Rowdy Christian Merch Plug: If you’re a fan of CrossPolitic, or the Fight Laugh Feast Network, then surely, you know we have a merch store right? Rowdy Christian Merch is your one-stop-shop for everything CrossPolitc merchandise. We’ve got T-Shirts, hoodies, hats, but we’ve also got specialty items like backpacks, mugs, coffee, even airpod cases! Visit Rowdy Christian Merch at rowdychristian.com, and buy that next gift, or a little something for yourself. Again, that’s rowdychristian.com. https://dailycaller.com/2023/02/21/biden-admin-religious-student-groups-protections-campus/ Biden Admin Looking To Remove Religious Student Groups’ Protections On Campus The Department of Education (DOE) announced a proposal Tuesday rescinding a Trump-era policy that prohibited universities from receiving federal funding if they restricted religious student group activities. The 2020 policy, initially signed by former President Donald Trump as part of an executive order in 2019, was proposed to prevent universities from censoring the speech of religious students on campus, according to the Washington Post. The DEO’s recent announcement indicates that President Joe Biden is looking to end the policy, claiming the protections caused an “unduly burdensome role” for the department. “[T]he Department believes it is not necessary in order to protect the First Amendment right to free speech and free exercise of religion given existing legal protections, it has caused confusion about schools’ nondiscrimination requirements, and it prescribed a novel and unduly burdensome role for the Department in investigating allegations regarding public institutions’ treatment of religious student organizations,” the announcement read. “We have not seen evidence that the regulation has provided meaningfully increased protection for religious student organizations beyond the robust First Amendment protections that already exist, much less that it has been necessary to ensure they are able to organize and operate on campus.” The announcement came from Nassar H. Paydar, Assistant Secretary of Postsecondary Education, who explained that since September 2021 the DOE had been looking into current policies regarding the First Amendment that “impose additional requirements on its higher education institutional grant recipients.” Paydar noted that during that time, the DOE determined that the 2020 policy had placed a burden on the higher education system and did not provide any “meaningfully increased protection for religious student organizations.” In 2020, Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told the Washington Post that the rule protects religious students from being “forced to choose between their faith and their education” and would also protect religious universities from being turned away for federal funding because of their religious affiliation. The public comment phase will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 22, and remain open for 30 days for anyone to comment and provide their thoughts on the proposal, according to the announcement. https://www.newsweek.com/alaska-republican-touts-benefits-children-being-abused-death-1782972 Alegislature in Alaska caused outrage after questioning whether the death of child abuse victims could be "a cost savings," because it would mean they don't need "government services" later in life. Republican David Eastman, who sits in the Alaska House of Representatives, made the comment on Monday during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. The committee was meeting to discuss how children are impacted by physical or sexual abuse, as well as witnessing domestic violence within their family home. Lawmakers were shown a study indicating each incident of fatal child abuse costs society $1.5 million, a figure reached by assessing the impact of trauma and the child's loss of earnings over a lifetime. However, Eastman was unimpressed, and questioned whether fatal child abuse could be economically beneficial to wider society, an argument he claimed to have heard. Eastman said: "It can be argued, periodically, that it's actually a cost savings because that child is not going to need any of those government services that they might otherwise be entitled to receive and need based on growing up in this type of environment." The remark horrified Trevor Storrs, president of the Alaska Children's Trust (ACT), who hit back describing the loss of a child as "unmeasurable." Democratic Representative Cliff Groh, who used to work as a prosecutor covering child abuse allegations, said he was "disturbed" by Easterman's comment. Representative Sarah Vance, the Republican who claims the House Judiciary Committee, said Easterman, who doesn't serve on any committees, had been at the hearing "at my invitation." Vance later suggested Eastman had been trying to make an argument against abortion, which some consider to be "child abuse." Speaking with the Anchorage Daily News via text message, Eastman said: "I was pleased to hear ACT advocating against child abuse, but a child's value comes not from future productivity, but from the fact that every child is made in the image of God." https://www.foxnews.com/media/seattle-police-defunding-crime-ravages-locals-huge-crisis Seattle reverses course on defunding police as crime ravages locals: 'A huge crisis' Seattle residents Victoria Beach, Eli Hoshor and Jonathan Choe said police shortages have left their city in dire straits in the aftermath of officials' anti-law enforcement rhetoric. Homicides skyrocketed by 24% while motor vehicle thefts climbed by 30% in the city last year. Overall crime ticked up by 4%. Mayor Bruce Harrell pushed for increased police presence to curb the issue Tuesday, saying, "We need immediate action and innovation to respond to our public safety issues… Seattle saw a 4% rise in reported crime last year… We need more officers to address our staffing crisis." Still, some residents' outlook is less than optimistic. Piro reported data from Seattle's city's budget office showing funding for law enforcement increased for the first time since a major slash was made in 2020. Hoshor, a resident, says the uptick is not enough to reduce crime. "The crime is just getting worse and worse," he said. "There's a homeless encampment that's right next to my son's school that's been there for over a year, and it's doubled and tripled in size. Choe, a reporter from the area, slammed the "Defund the Police" movement for being behind the crime rise as well as the "woke" activist class who he said are perpetuating the problem. He added that seeing how "Defund the Police" supporters respond to Harrell's push for more police and the uptick in funding for the department should be "interesting." https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-seattle-forced-to-pay-3-6-million-in-2020-autonomous-zone-damages-to-business-owners?utm_campaign=64487 Seattle forced to pay $3.6 MILLION in 2020 CHAZ damages to business owners The city of Seattle has agreed to pay $3,650,000 in damages to business owners who brought suit after the deadly 2020 Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) damaged their business, property, and violated their constitutional rights. The group had originally been seeking $2.9 million. The city has until March 3 to pay the sum as part of a settlement revealed last week. According to court filings regarding the settlement, $600,000 will go toward attorney fees for the more than a dozen plaintiffs. The settlement came just weeks after a federal judge imposed sanctions against the city for deleting thousands of text messages between Seattle officials including former Mayor Jenny Durkan, former police chief Carmen Best, and Fire Chief Harold Scoggins during the armed occupation by Antifa and BLM rioters of 6 square blocks of the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The CHAZ, also known as the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest or CHOP, was established by activists on June 8, 2020, after Seattle police were ordered by police leadership to abandon the department’s East Precinct during the riots that rocked the Emerald City in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minn. on May 25, 2020. Video of his death emerged, setting off months of riots in the midst of a pandemic. https://twitter.com/i/status/1270925505190146048 - Play Video Zone occupiers refused to allow police into the area. Rapes, robberies, and murders spiked 250 percent in the 6-block area during the occupation. The zone lasted 3 weeks before it was finally broken up by police on July 1, 2020, after two fatal shootings and rioters vandalized then Mayor Durkan's home. https://twitter.com/i/status/1271249933765656578 - Play Video According to court documents, business owners alleged that city officials’ "unprecedented decision to abandon and close off" the 16-block section of the neighborhood "subjected businesses, employees, and residents to extensive property damage, public safety dangers, and an inability to use and access their properties." It was revealed after the occupation that Seattle officials, including former Mayor Jenny Durkan, former police chief Carmen Best, and Fire Chief Harold Scoggins deleted thousands of text messages from their city-owned phones regarding the zone, including communications with the infamous “warlord” of the autonomous zone, Raz Simone. US District Judge Thomas Zilly previously sanctioned the city and thereby allowed the jury to view the missing evidence as a strike against the city in the case. Zilly Wrote, “City officials deleted thousands of text messages from their city-owned phones in complete disregard of their legal obligation to preserve relevant evidence. Further, the city significantly delayed disclosing … that thousands of text messages had been deleted” and could not be reproduced or recovered.” https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/npr-layoffs-10-percent-job-cuts-john-lansing-1235331693/ NPR to Cut Workforce by 10 Percent, as Advertising Slowdown Hits Public Media “Our financial outlook has darkened considerably over recent weeks,” Lansing wrote in a memo to staff Wednesday. “At a time when we are doing some of our most ambitious and essential work, the global economy remains uncertain. As a result, the ad industry has weakened and we are grappling with a sharp decline in our revenues from corporate sponsors. We had created a plan to address a $20M sponsorship revenue falloff for FY23 but we are now projecting at least a $30M shortfall. The cuts we have already made to our budget will not be enough.” So Lansing says that most of NPR’s open jobs will be eliminated, and that it will be reducing its existing workforce by 10 percent. More than 700 employees work at the public media firm. Lansing also suggested that the necessary job cuts will result in a more refined mission for NPR as an organization, writing that “some work will need to change or stop entirely,” and that NPR’s executive committee is figuring out where it needs to continue investing, and where it should pull back. Some of NPR’s most popular programs (on both terrestrial radio and in podcast form) include Fresh Air, Planet Money, Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me, and Up First. It also has a sizable news division that produces journalism that runs across its programming. Accountable2You Jesus is Lord. In public and in private, every area of life must be subject to his Lordship—and our use of technology is no exception. What captures our attention on the screen either glorifies or dishonors our Lord. That’s why Accountable2You is committed to promoting biblical accountability in our families and churches. Their monitoring and reporting software makes transparency easy on all of your devices, so you can say with the Psalmist, “I will not set anything worthless before my eyes.” Guard against temptation with Accountable2You, and live for God’s glory! Learn more and try it for free at Accountable2You.com/FLF https://www.boundingintosports.com/2023/02/former-nfl-player-eric-johnson-among-8-people-arrested-for-human-trafficking-gang-charges/ Former NFL Player Eric Johnson Among 8 People Arrested For Human Trafficking & Gang Charges Johnson, 46, played in The League from 2000-2005 with the Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, and Arizona Cardinals. He’s now part of an apparent trafficking ring that stands accused of multiple acts involving four adult women and one female minor. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr says the LOTTO Gang members – including Johnson – are facing charges of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, violation of the street gang terrorism and prevention act, conspiracy to violate the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act, aggravated assault and kidnapping. Eric Johnson, former Atlanta Falcon charged in human trafficking, racketeering case- Play Video While he’s certainly not a household name by any means, Eric Johnson is known for one significant moment in NFL history. He scored a touchdown in the Raiders’ 48-21 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. He blocked a punt and then returned it for 13 yards for the score.

Guests: Harry Litman, Maya Wiley, Michelle Goldberg, Ben Collins, Charles BlowProsecutors investigating the Trump coup are seeking testimony from the former vice president. Tonight: the new reporting that Mike Pence is considering telling the DOJ what he wouldn't say to the January 6th committee. Then, another brutal mass shooting at a Walmart in Virginia. And Ben Collins on what we're learning about the Club Q shooter in Colorado. Plus, a new run-off controversy for Herschel Walker: Can a candidate hold a primary residence in Texas while running for Senate in Georgia?