Compiled by ABM Staff help patients. This funding includes support for the mobile mammogram vehicle that travels by ferry to multiple rural Southeast Alaska communities without access to mammography. CDC also awarded SEARHC a $761,410 grant for the WISEWOMAN women’s cardiovascular health screening and lifestyle intervention program. In partnership with National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, WISEWOMAN provides screening for heart and blood vessel disease, followed by individualized programs and coaching to help women reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. Both CDC grants provide services to women who meet age, income, and insurance eligibility guidelines. searhc.org
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ALASKA MARINE LINES
laska Marine Lines stepped in to help the Bristol Bay Historical Society move a 1932 sailboat from Anchorage to Naknek for display in the Bristol Bay museum. The 26-foot by 9-foot, fully restored wooden vessel was used for salmon fishing more than eighty years ago. It still has the bright orange streak identifying it as cannery boat. The Anchorage Museum conducted the restoration work on Koggiung #5. It was scheduled to go into permanent storage there when Fred Anderson of the Bristol Bay Historical Society heard about it and decided to bring it home to his museum. It will join an older wooden sailboat in a collection there with plans to create an entire display of historic wooden fishing vessels. It took about two years of negotiations and planning to move the boat, but with Alaska Marine Lines’ donation of barge transport, it is now back in its native waters and ready for all to enjoy. lynden.com
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APD
he Anchorage Police Department announced a new unit called the Community Relations Unit. “Community relations are a critical component to this department’s success in fighting crime,” said Chief Justin Doll. “Whether it’s the media, an Anchorage resident, a business, or a community organization, this new team’s main mission is to ensure APD remains connected to the community it protects and keeps safe.” The new team is headed by Communications Director MJ Thim, newly hired Deputy Commu-
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nications Director Nora Morse, and Crime Prevention Specialists Anita Shell and Renee Oistad. muni.org
SUBWAY
· Subway restaurant opened in Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow) in August. The new restaurant is located at 1611 Okpik Street and features a metropolitan design in the Northernmost city in the United States and the 11th Northernmost public community in the world. In addition to submarine sandwiches, the new Subway restau· rant at Utqiagvik will also offer breakfast, a variety of salads, soups, chips, soft drinks, milk, and sliced apples. “I am excited to be able to bring Subway restaurant’s delicious, nutritious prod· uct to the people of Utqiagvik ,” said John Mas· terson, local resident of Utqiagvik and co-owner of the new sandwich shop. subway.com
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ALASKA SUPREME COURT
he Alaska Supreme Court issued a decision August 25 upholding Governor Bill Walker’s action last year to reduce the permanent fund dividend appropriation in the budget bill. Previously, the Alaska Superior Court upheld the reduction of the permanent fund dividend, but on different grounds than the Alaska Supreme Court. The superior court determined that regardless of whether the earnings of the permanent fund were subject to the constitutional prohibition against dedicated funds, the constitutional appropriations clause required that the legislature appropriate the money, which meant the governor could also veto the appropriation. Instead of looking at the appropriations clause, the Alaska Supreme Court focused solely on the anti-dedicated funds clause. It held: “… the 1976 amendment did not exempt the legislature’s use of Permanent Fund income from the Constitution’s anti-dedication clause…The legislature’s use of Permanent Fund income is subject to normal appropriation and veto budgetary processes.” This means that the action taken by Governor Walker last year and the action taken by the legislature this year to reduce the permanent fund dividend appropriation was constitutional. Article 9, section 7 of the Alaska Constitution is known as the anti-dedicated funds clause. The clause reads: “The proceeds of any state tax or license shall not be dedicated to any special
purpose…” with certain exceptions. The Court’s opinion clarifies that none of the exceptions apply to the earnings of the Permanent Fund. Any money to be spent from the permanent fund earnings reserve account must go through the normal budgeting process whereby the legislature annually appropriates specific sums of money for certain purposes, and the governor can then strike or reduce those sums under the veto power in article 2, section 15 of the Constitution. law.alaska.gov
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TRAVEL JUNEAU
ravel Juneau released the Juneau Visitor Profile (Summer 2016). Travel Juneau contracted the McDowell Group to analyze data collected from the recently released statewide Alaska Visitor Statistics Program (AVSP) to provide a snapshot of visitors’ decision making, satisfaction with destinations, and spending, among other items. The document provided new insight and affirmed anecdotal information regarding Juneau’s visitors. One of the surprises in the report was the planning timeline, which was shorter than previously estimated. On average, cruise visitors to Juneau took 8.8 months to decide to come to Alaska, while independent visitors to Juneau decided in 5.3 months. Additionally, cruise visitors booked major travel 6.6 months in advance, while independent travelers booked only 3.1 months in advance. “Travel Juneau will use this first-round data to refine marketing efforts to independent travelers,” said Travel Juneau President and CEO Liz Perry. “For example, while the majority of our visitors arrive from the Western United States, we see untapped potential in other areas of the United States, including the South.” Travel Juneau will conduct a Juneau-focused survey during the 2018 summer season, which will include Alaska residents (unlike the statewide survey). Additionally, the organization has contracted the McDowell Group for a winter survey directed at meeting planners and attendees to more accurately gauge their site-selection process and spending habits. That data will be used to generate a fresh calculation of a meetings’ estimated economic impact to Juneau. traveljuneau.com R
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