Author: Nicole Thompson

A federal court’s decision to block the proposed Alaska grocery store merger between Kroger and Albertsons received widespread approval on Tuesday. The $24.6 billion merger, which would create the largest grocery chain in US history, faced heavy scrutiny from regulators and local communities. US District Judge Adrienne Nelson issued a preliminary injunction after holding a three-week hearing in Portland, Oregon. State Senator Bill Wielechowski praised the ruling, emphasizing its importance for Alaskan rural communities with limited grocery options. “This has been a huge concern for a long time,” Wielechowski said. Local shoppers in Alaska also expressed relief. “I’m glad they…

Biden’s administration has finalized plans for an oil and gas lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Scheduled for January 9th, the sale will include 400,000 acres of the refuge’s coastal plain, the minimum allowed under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This decision has reignited the Arctic Refuge lease sale controversy, sparking opposition from environmental groups. Furthermore, the environmental advocates have vowed to fight the sale in court, emphasizing the potential risks to the fragile ecosystem. Erik Grafe of Earthjustice criticized the decision, calling oil drilling in the refuge “all risk with no reward.” He pledged ongoing…

A series of earthquakes in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands shook the region, with scientists identifying the activity as a “swarm.” The Alaska Earthquake Center reported nine quakes, each above the magnitude 5.0, striking near Adak, Amchitka, and Kiska islands. Among these tremors, the strongest measured 6.3 and occurred offshore at an 11-mile depth. No injuries or damage were reported immediately on Adak Island, the only inhabited island in the affected area, home to about 300 residents. The earthquake center clarified that the 6.3 quake posed no significant threat because of its offshore location and limited impact. Seismic activity intensified later in…

For-profit consultants make millions of dollars every year by charging veterans for assistance in submitting disability claims to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Federal law forbids non-accredited businesses from charging fees, but there are no criminal sanctions for infractions. Therefore, these tactics exploit Alaska’s veterans’ disability claim loophole. While some state lawmakers push for reform, attempts to regulate this shadow business in Congress have stalled. Within the last year, three states, Maine, New Jersey, and New York, passed legislation to stop the misuse of the veterans’ disability claim loophole. A law in Louisiana permits consultants to charge up to…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued updated Alaska’s wastewater permits for six Southeast communities, requiring them to tighten bacteria controls. Haines, Skagway, Sitka, Wrangell, Ketchikan, and Peterburg must make significant improvements to reduce levels of fecal coliform and enterococcus bacteria entering marine waters. The EPA finalized for Haines, Skagway, Sitka, and Wrangell on Thursday, while Ketchikan and Petersburg expect their permits in early 2025. These revisions follow strict Alaska water quality regulations implemented in 2017 to safeguard water utilized for leisure and subsistence food gathering. Only 24 nationwide municipalities, including these six, discharge wastewater with basic “primary” treatment, which…

Business owners in Anchorage have expressed concerns about the potential impact of Alaska’s Ballot Measure 1, passed in November 2024 with 57.98% approval. The measure introduces significant changes, including annual minimum wage increases starting in 2025 and new employee benefit requirements. The minimum wage will rise to $13 per hour in 2025, $14 in 2026, and $15 in 2027, ensuring it stays at least $2 above the federal minimum. Additionally, employers will provide paid sick leave as a requirement, with unused time carried over to the next year. This leave is 56 hours for those with more than 15 employees…

Following the Alaska Wind Walker’s search, when the fishing vessel capsized off the southeast coast of Alaska, the US Coast Guard halted its search for five crew members who are still missing. Due to strong wind and snow, the 50-foot ship overturned early on Sunday close to Point Couverden. The Coast Guard sector in southeast Alaska received a distress call at 12:10 a.m. Sunday reported that the ship was capsizing. The ship was located south of Point Couverden in the Icy Strait with the help of an emergency position-indicating radio beacon. The Coast Guard immediately sent out search crews, including…

The former East Anchorage lawmaker Gabrielle LeDoux’s election misconduct case had a mistrial on Monday due to a hung jury. In 2022, LeDoux was accused by state authorities of allegedly encouraging non-residents of House District 15 to cast ballots for her in the 2018 elections.  In addition to five felony charges, LeDoux faced 12 counts of voter election malpractice. The jury told the court on Monday that they were at a standstill following hours of deliberation. Attorneys gave closing statements before Thanksgiving, but jury deliberations were postponed until Monday due to schedule conflicts. Kevin Fitzgerald, LeDoux’s lawyer, contested the prosecution’s…

The K.L. Simon Community Center opened its doors on Sunday, marking a significant milestone for Youngstown’s South side community. The Center, located within the 100-year-old New Bethel Baptist Church, honors the vision of the late Rev. Lonnie K.A. Simon and his enduring commitment to community empowerment.  The facility, renovated from an older sanctuary, aims to serve as a hub for unity. The Center hosted a ribbon-cutting event where more than 100 community members, elected officials, and leaders gathered to honor the $320,000 center, representing a year of vision and planning. Rev. Kenneth L. Simon, pastor of the New Bethel Baptist…

The Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery space crisis has left families considering stacked burials as public plots rapidly vanish. Officials are squeezing extra graves into poorly mapped sections of the historic property while hoping for new donations from the Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. The remaining public burial plots will likely run out by June, forcing residents to explore costlier options. The cemetery, founded in 1915, is a historical site that contains the graves of notable politicians, Bush pilots, and early business owners. Although more than 15,000 graves fill nine square city blocks downtown, the public burial areas are already full. Around…

In a break from the conservative leadership of the previous session, Alaska’s new bipartisan reforms intends to make steady education funding its first priority. In line with the electorate’s demands for change, incoming Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, highlighted the need for schools with small class sizes.  The coalition has a slim majority of 21 members, including 14 Democrats, five independents, and 2 Republicans. This shift marks a departure from the previous majority, which backed Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a $680 per student funding increase. The governor labeled SB 140 which proposed funding for transportation, rural internet, and reading programs…

Alaska’s new minimum wage laws will increase employees’ pay from 2025 to 2027. On January 1st, Alaska’s minimum wage workers will see a raise in their hourly pay by 18 cents to $11.91. The state measured this increase due to a 2014 ballot measure using the Anchorage area’s 1.5% consumer price index rise in 2023. The minimum wage will climb to $13 an hour on July 1st after the initial bump in pay in January. Voters approved a new ballot initiative earlier this year, further leading to this development. With future inflation adjustments, the same measure will raise pay to…