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P E N I N S U L A
Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 49, Issue 96
In the news DOC suspends some corrections programs for re-entry ANCHORAGE — Gov. Mike Dunleavy's administration is changing state Department of Corrections policies that some advocates say have helped people succeed when they're released from prison. Alaska Public Media reports the changes by the Republican governor's administration include removing a position focused specifically on inmate re-entry, discontinuing special access volunteer badges and suspending the 12-hour pass program that allowed some inmates to participate in community activities. Cathleen McLaughlin, director of the Partners Reentry Center in Anchorage, says programs like the ones that were suspended were developed to help people transition back into the community. She says she hopes the services will be properly reviewed before they're shelved. Department Commissioner Nancy Dahlstrom says the department will continue involving community members in programs.
Emmett says he’s being replaced on Alaska marijuana board JUNEAU — One of the industry representatives on the board that regulates Alaska’s legal marijuana industry says he’s being replaced. Brandon Emmett says Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s boards and commissions director told him Dunleavy was going “in another direction” and Emmett’s service was no longer needed. An email seeking comment was sent to a Dunleavy spokesman. The administration previously removed from the board Jeff Ankerfelt, who held the public safety seat. Emmett’s term was to expire March 1. He said was interested in continuing to serve. The law setting up the five-member Marijuana Control Board calls for up to two members who are actively involved in the industry though one of those seats could go to a member of the general public. The board has had two members involved in the industry. — Associated Press
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Nikiski awaits LNG location decision By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
The timeline for the Alaska LNG project — a planned 806mile pipeline that would carry natural gas from the North Slope to a liquefaction plant and terminal in Nikiski — has not been affected by the federal government shutdown, but progress on the Alaska Stand Alone Pipeline has been halted due to the shutdown, according to a recent community update. “We’re waiting on a signed record of decision from both the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Land Management,” said Lisa Parker, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation’s stakeholder engagement manager, at the Jan. 15 Alaska LNG Advisory Committee meeting. “That has been affected by the shutdown. We don’t know when
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at the Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Alaska LNG Advisory Committee meeting in Nikiski. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
we will receive those records of local permits that would be redecisions. Once we receive them, quired.” Parker also said the Federal the only outstanding issues with ASAP would be getting state Regulatory Commission is re-
questing more data for the Alaska LNG project. “We thought we received the last data request, however, our Christmas present on Dec. 26 was a note from FERC with 91 additional data requests,” Parker said. She said the majority of data requested is engineering related, and they won’t affect the draft environmental impact statement, which is set to be released by the end of February. Parker said they plan to respond to all of the data requests by June. As of last Tuesday, the project has received 1,655 data requests from FERC. All but 111 data requests have been responded to. Both Valdez and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough have expressed interest in housing the Alaska LNG project, but the likelihood of the Alaska See LNG, page A2
Loss of accreditation could put university’s school of education ‘years behind’ By ALEX MCCARTHY Juneau Empire
The University of Alaska Board of Regents met Friday, with the main goal of discussing how to be more efficient with its spending. The early portion of the meeting was dominated by another storyline — that of the
University of Alaska Anchorage’s School of Education losing its accreditation last week. The Council for Accreditation of Educator Programs (CAEP) revoked the School of Education’s accreditation, as the school failed to meet four of five key standards. Regent Dale Anderson said he was trying to remain calm
as he spoke to UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen at the meeting Friday, but his frustration was clear. “The incompetence of either the staff, faculty or administration to have four out of five problems in this accreditation search or analysis does not add up,” Anderson said. “We have to step back
and really make some changes.” The regents agreed to hold a listening session so students and their families could meet with regents about the situation. They’ll set a meeting for that soon. When a school loses its accreditation, the university is See LOSS, page A3
Loaded gun goes off in Soldotna coffee shop, injures woman By BRIAN MAZUREK Peninsula Clarion
A firearm was accidentally discharged inside a Soldotna coffee shop on Sunday and injured a 75-year-old woman, according to a statement from Lt. Duane Kant of the Soldotna Police Department. At 2:43 p.m. on Sunday, Soldotna police responded to a call regarding a firearm that had been discharged inside of a coffee shop. The incident took place at Kaladi Brothers Coffee on Kobuk Street in Soldotna. According to statements from Kant and a witness who was there at the time of the incident, a group of people were sitting at a table and passing a gun around among themselves under the table. The owner of the gun, a 76-year-old Kenai man, had reportedly purchased it recently and was showing it to his friends. While taking turns examining the gun, one person aimed it at the floor and pulled the trigger. Because the gun was loaded, it fired and impacted the metal base of the table. No one was struck directly by the bullet, but one woman was taken to the Central Peninsula HospiSee GUN, page A3
Furloughed workers prepare for 2nd missed paycheck By MOLLIE BARNES Juneau Empire
This Friday will be the second missed paycheck for federal workers furloughed due to the government shutdown, and Juneau residents are stepping up to help those affected locally. Some furloughed workers formed a support group for those without pay. And the Southeast Alaska Food Bank opened Monday for a special service offering 50 pounds of food to any federal worker who showed identification. “Money-wise, I’m almost Jerry Arizpe and his wife, Jordan, hold a 33-pound bag of food broke,” said Eric Adam, a fur- they picked up at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank on Monday. loughed U.S. Forest Service Arizpe is a U.S. Coast Guardsman at Station Juneau and is not administrative support special- currently receiving a paycheck because of the partial federal ist who helped form the support shutdown. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire) group. “This was a wake-up call for a lot of us.” that $2.3 million in civilian during the shutdown. That does The Juneau Economic De- employee wages are not paid not include U.S. Coast Guard velopment Council estimated out each pay period that passes active duty wages, even though
they are also working without pay. JEDC estimates there to be about 850 federal workers in Juneau; about 300 civilians are working and only 140 of them are getting paid. All active duty Coast Guard — which JEDC estimates at about 175 to 200 people — are also working without pay. As a GS-6 level employee, Eric Adam is on the low end of the pay grade for federal employees and doesn’t have a lot of savings. “People are hurting so badly,” Eric Adam said. “Some people said we’re having a paid vacation, but it ain’t no vacation to me. Some of us don’t have money to go do stuff.” Adam said this Friday will be the second missed child support payment for his two children in Santa Barbara, California. “We all got furloughed and
then were stuck in our homes,” he said. “I realized we needed to team up because we’re stronger as one.” That’s when he and a few other furloughed workers decided to form a support group. It’s a public group on Facebook called “Juneau Feds Stand Together - Support Each Other” and anyone can join. The goal is to post resources and information, or simply to offer moral support. Eric Adam posted in the group Monday offering to bring boxes of food to workers who weren’t able to get out to the food bank because of snow. Darren Adams, the manager of the food bank, said the food bank will be open every Monday through the shutdown offering federal workers food from noon-4 p.m. They will probably do it for one week after the shutdown ends, too, See CHECK, page A2
Pinpointing when House majority Dunleavy prepares will be formed ‘pretty difficult’ for 1st State of State
By MOLLIE BARNES Juneau Empire
Monday marks the beginning of the second week of the new legislative session, and the House still remains unorganized without a majority or permanent leadership. “I’m in favor of a Republican-led majority,” Rep. Dave Talerico, R-Healy, said after a press conference Monday morning. He said House members were still having open communication on both sides of the aisle. The House has been largely at a standstill since gaveling in the first day of session Tuesday, although a temporary Speaker of the House was voted in, Rep. Neal FosSee HOUSE, page A3
By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, right, Rep. Dave Talerico, R-Healy, center, and Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, speak at a House Republican Caucus press conference at the Capitol on Monday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
JUNEAU — Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy was preparing for his first State of the State speech even though the House had yet to formally accept his request to deliver the address Tuesday before a joint session. The House lacks an organized majority, which means it is limited in what business it can take up until a permanent speaker is elected. Suddenly something as simple as taking up a governor’s request to deliver the speech — typically done without a hitch — is more complicated. Rep. Dave Talerico, a Republican leader, said there
have been discussions on the proper procedure for accepting Dunleavy’s request to give the speech Tuesday night. Republican Rep. Tammie Wilson said she expects those issues will be sorted out and looks forward to hearing from Dunleavy then. Leaders of the predominantly Democratic coalition that controlled the House the last two years planned to hold a press conference after the speech. Coalition press secretary Mike Mason said he was confident the speech would take place Tuesday but wasn’t sure what procedural steps would be taken to clear the See STATE, page A3