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P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 49, Issue 104
In the news Regents board nominee withdraws amid social media scrutiny FAIRBANKS — A University of Alaska Board of Regents nominee who faced criticism for social media posts has withdrawn from consideration for the job. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports Tammy Randolph shared the letter she sent to Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday. Randolph, in the letter, says she did not want to distract from the board’s business. She says she was grateful for the opportunity but decided her family and her businesses in Fairbanks must take precedence. Her appointment was subject to legislative confirmation. Randolph previously apologized for “rude and severe language” on her Twitter feed. The paper reported that posts and retweets on her feed included referring to former first lady Michelle Obama as a man. Randolph could not immediately be reached for comment by The Associated Press after hours Wednesday.
AG says he can set aside personal views JUNEAU— Alaska’s attorney general says he can set aside his personal views on issues like abortion in performing his duties. During a confirmation hearing Tuesday, Kevin Clarkson said the attorney general’s job is to respect the law, not bring personal views to work. The longtime attorney has handled an array of cases. But his work on cases involving social issues has drawn attention, with some gay rights and abortion rights advocates raising concerns. Clarkson has said he helped draft the 1998 state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. But he notes the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage is now the law. He says the right to abortion is protected under the Alaska constitution’s privacy provision. Several fellow attorneys praised Clarkson’s skills and professionalism. — Associated Press
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Thursday, January 31, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
$1 newsstands daily/$1.50 Sunday
ACLU bills borough $80,000
Dunleavy amendments Borough must pay legal fees for failed invocation lawsuit look to issue.” Lance Hunt, an athe- shift power ist, Iris Fontana, a member of The Kenai Peninsula BorThe Satanic Temple, and Elise away from ough will pay $80,000 in atBoyer, a member of the small lawmakers torney’s fees to the American Jewish community in Homer, By MICHAEL ARMSTRONG Homer News
Civil Liberties Union-Alaska as a result of the borough’s failed attempt to defend the assembly’s former invocation policy. It also will pay $401.65 in court costs. In a Stipulation and Order agreed upon by the borough and the ACLU-Alaska, and signed by Anchorage Superior Court Judge Andrew Peterson on Jan. 25, the borough agreed to pay the fees and to not appeal Peterson’s decision that the invocation policy was unconstitutional. “It’s frustrating to have
Community member Kalliste Edeen offers an invocation at the Tuesday, Jan. 8 Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion) had to spend so much taxpayer sents the lower peninsula. “I money,” said Assembly mem- think this will be the last bill we ber Willy Dunne, who repre- have to pay on the invocation
challenged the former policy in October 2016 after they were denied the chance to give an invocation because they did not belong to official organizations with an established presence on the peninsula — one of the requirements for a person to give an invocation under the former policy. With the assistance of the ACLU-Alaska, the plaintiffs filed a suit alleging the invocation policy violated the establishment clause, free speech See FEES, page A2
Cops and citizens meet for coffee By BRIAN MAZUREK Peninsula Clarion
With everyone relaxing on couches, sipping coffee and sharing their mutual frustration with LED headlights, the only things that separated the police from the community Wednesday morning were the badges and uniforms. Law enforcement officers and peninsula residents were gathered at the Ammo Can coffeehouse for candid conversations over freshly brewed coffee. The Soldotna Police, Kenai Police and Alaska State Troopers organized the community outreach program — aptly named “Coffee with a Cop” — as an opportunity for citizens to discuss their questions and concerns with officers without needing to fill out a
Kenai Police Chief David Ross answers questions from citizens at Ammo Can Coffee in Soldotna on Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
form or flag down a patrol car. Several representatives
from each police department were present at the event, including Soldotna
Chief Pete Mylnarik, Kenai Chief David Ross and CapSee COP, page A2
By ALEX MCCARTHY Juneau Empire
Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s trio of constitutional amendments released Wednesday followed up on his campaign promises, but there’s doubt even within his own party about whether the amendments can get enough support in this session to become law. The theme of all three amendments, Dunleavy said in a press conference Wednesday, is to shift power from the Legislature to the people. “We are limiting the Legislature,” Dunleavy said. “That’s the purpose of the Constitution.” The first of the three amendments would protect the Permanent Fund Dividend, guarding it from appropriations, the Legislature or a governor’s veto. Any changes to the PFD formula would require a vote of the people. The second proposed amendment states that any new tax or tax rate increase passed by the Legislature would also require a vote from the people. It also requires that any new tax or tax increase passed by voters on a ballot initiative would also require approval by the Legislature. The final amendment unveiled Wednesday would essentially establish a spending cap for the state. The cap would be the result of a formula that uses a three-year average of state spending, See GOV , page A3
Mine closure could serve as cautionary tale for Alaska By ALEX MCCARTHY Juneau Empire
In the wake of a prominent British Columbia mine ceasing operations, some in Southeast Alaska have expressed concerns about what it signals for the region’s future. B.C. company Imperial Metals announced earlier this month that the Mount Polley Mine will stop production indefinitely due to declining copper prices. The mine became well known in 2014 after the dam on its tailings pond broke and dumped years of mining waste into nearby Polley Lake and rivers in the watershed. The mine isn’t closing for good, according to the announcement, and that op-
The wall of the Red Chris tailings pond is a little less than 350 feet, or about the height of a 35-story building. (Courtesy Photo | Garth Lenz via Salmon State)
erations will resume “once the economics of mining at Mount Polley improve.” The announcement also stated that the company will continue its economic monitoring and
mitigation efforts. Imperial Metals — which also owns the Red Chris and Huckleberry mines and half owns the Ruddock Creek Mine, all in B.C. — has had
Refuge spared shutdown damage By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
After 35 days of a partial federal government shutdown, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is back on its normal schedule. Across the country, many public lands remained open for residents to use. Joshua Tree National Park in California was forced to close midshutdown after the park was vandalized. The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge See SPARE, page A3
well publicized financial issues lately, as detailed in a September report from the Empire. Through the end of September 2018, the company reported a net loss of more than $61 million in U.S. currency ($81 million Canadian) during 2018. The company also reported debt of $658.5 million U.S. ($873.8 million Canadian), according to its third-quarter report for 2018. According to a December 2018 report from Reuters, Imperial Metals’ stock has fallen for five consecutive years and the stock was down 63 percent in 2018 alone. Looking for stronger regulations The company’s overall financial status has Alaska conservationists and even one of
See MINE, page A3
Coast Guard searches for overdue medical flight By MOLLIE BARNES Juneau Empire
Paved sidewalks and trails are maintained at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, on Wednesday, after the partial government shutdown ended last week. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
the state’s U.S. senators concerned. Jill Weitz, the director of environmental advocacy group Salmon Beyond Borders, cautioned that outdated B.C. mining regulations could allow for a mining company to declare bankruptcy and walk away without being responsible for cleaning up the mining materials left behind. “We hope that that’s not the case,” Weitz said. “We hope that they’ll be held to ensuring proper mitigation and closure of the site. Again, that stuff doesn’t exist in (British Columbia’s) regulatory framework at this time.” Over the years, many have pointed out problems with the province’s regulations. Canadian economist Robyn Allan
Debris from a plane has been located in the water approximately 22 miles west of Kake, near the south tip of Admiralty Island in Chatham Strait. However, the Coast Guard cannot confirm the debris is from the medical airplane that went missing on Tuesday with three people aboard while en route to pick up a patient in Kake, said U.S. Coast
Guard Chief Petty Officer Charly Hengen. “We have received reports of debris in the water and are concentrating search efforts near that area,” said Captain Stephen White, Coast Guard Sector Juneau commander in a press release. “Through our coordinated efforts with all involved we continue to actively search, we are thankful for the assistance rendered.” See FLIGHT, page A3