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P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 49, Issue 129
In the news Teen driver charged in death of Anchorage roller-blader ANCHORAGE — A 19-year-old driver has been charged with seconddegree murder in the death of a pedestrian on an Anchorage sidewalk. Adanna Francis was arrested Thursday morning in the death eight months ago of 40-year-old Paul Winter. Francis also is charged with manslaughter, felony failure to render aid, driving with a revoked license and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Online court records do not list her attorney. Winter shortly after noon June 6 was struck by a sport utility vehicle while roller-blading. Police officers were nearby to assist in a stolen vehicle investigation. Officers said they saw an SUV driving erratically. The SUV hopped the curb, struck Winter and continued past officers investigating the stolen vehicle. Police questioned Francis and determined charges after receiving results of her toxicology exam.
Fairbanks veterans’ cemetery may not survive state budget FAIRBANKS — A proposed veterans’ cemetery faces an uncertain future after its funding was eliminated in Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s capital budget. A fiscal 2020 budget proposal by former Gov. Bill Walker, an independent, included $1.12 million to move cemetery construction forward, the Fairbanks Daily NewsMiner reported. Dunleavy, a Republican elected in November, sliced the money out of the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs budget, along with a $500,000 federal match. The governor’s office did not respond to requests for comment. Construction at the site at Mile 344 Parks Highway in Fairbanks was set to be completed as early as 2022. Walker and other dignitaries last year held a dedication ceremony for what would have been interior Alaska’s only veterans’ cemetery. — Associated Press
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Trump makes speech in Anchorage The Associated Press
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON — President Donald Trump showered praised on troops and touted the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling when Air Force One made a refuelling stop Thursday in Alaska as the president returned from Asia. Trump was travelling back to Washington after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un collapsed in Vietnam. He didn’t discuss those talks during a 20-minute address. Standing in front of an F-22 Raptor fighter jet at an Anchorage base, Trump thanked all those serving in the military in Alaska, “our country’s last frontier as America’s first line of defence.” He noted that since World War II, Alaska-based forces
Senator hopes for agreement to fund ferries through mid-2020 By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
President Donald Trump speaks to service members at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Thursday, in Anchorage, during a refueling stop as he returns from Hanoi. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
have served as the top cover for North America. “You are a powerful warning to the world to never strike American soil,” Trump said. “You are a warning that
everybody knows about and nobody wants to play with.” Trump also noted that the Anchorage base will receive the first of 54 new F-35 stealth fighter jets that will
be “arriving here very soon.” He also said 20 more ground based interceptors will be installed at Fort Greeley, about 100 miles south of Fairbanks, See STOP, page A2
JUNEAU — A co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said Thursday he wants to reach a budget agreement that would fund the state’s ferry system through mid-2020. Sen. Bert Stedman, a Sitka Republican, said that would allow time for further discussion about management of the system going forward. Stedman said he views Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budSee 2020, page A3
Kaleidoscope School flag hitches ride to Antarctica By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
A Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Sciences Flag found its way across the world in Antarctica. Dr. Kristin Mitchell, director of the Sleep Laboratory at Central Peninsula Hospital, embarked on a 20-day journey along the coast of Antarctica with Homeward Bound, a leadership initiative that aims to heighten the influence and impact of women in making decisions that shape the planet. On the largest-ever female expedition to Antarctica, Mitchell found room for the school’s flag in her limited luggage. Debbie Boyle, a teacher with Kaleidoscope, said she thought it would be an incredible opportunity for the students to have a connection to Mitchell’s expedition. “Maybe Dr. Mitchell
Dr. Kristin Mitchell presenting to students at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Sciences. (Photos courtesy of Debbie Boyle/Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Sciences)
could bring a flag with her to represent our school on this scientific mission?” Boyle
said. “After all, our yearlong theme this year is ‘From our Backyard to the Universe.’
Wouldn’t it be great if she would take a photo of our Kaleidoscope flag in Antarc-
tica?” The flag was created in September as part of the school’s Lens Time, which is an opportunity for students to explore art- and sciencebased activities during the last hour of school every Friday. During a fiber arts lens class taught by Stacy Tronnier, the school flag was created. “That lens came up with some really amazing fiber arts projects and that got us thinking,” Boyle said. “We should have our fiber arts lens group create a flag for Kaleidoscope. That idea was in the back of my mind when I had a conversation with Dr. Kristin Mitchell during rehearsals for Ballad of the Kenai.” As long as the flag fit in her suitcase, Boyle said Mitchell was happy to take a piece of Kaleidoscope to the world’s southernmost contiSee FLAG, page A2
Kenai shelter could be impacted by Dunleavy budget By BRIAN MAZUREK Peninsula Clarion
A peninsula shelter for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault could see financial impacts from the budget proposed by Gov. Mike Dun-
leavy. During a meeting of the board of directors for the LeeShore Center, Executive Director Cheri Smith broke down potential ways the governor’s proposed state budget could directly impact the cen-
ter. The LeeShore Center is a Transitional Living Center in Kenai that provides services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as emergency shelter for those who experience home-
lessness due to domestic violence. Smith said that The Child Care Assistance Program could receive a 29 percent reduction in funding, but that she is waiting for the state budget to be finalized to de-
termine what kind of impact this will have. Smith’s biggest concern is with the Housing Assistance Program (HAP) grant, which she said provides for a large portion of the operaSee LEE, page A3
City funding for Homer faith-based treatment program questioned By MEGAN PACER Homer News
After lengthy debate, the Homer City Council seems to have settled on an agreement for how to help fund construction of a residential treatment center within city limits, but is
also looking for a legal opinion to determine whether they’re actually allowed to. Set Free Alaska, a faithbased addiction treatment organization based in the MatSu Valley, coordinated with Homer’s Opioid Task Force to work on bringing a residential
treatment center for men to the city. Set Free approached the city asking for funds they could use to leverage for grant money being offered by the state. In an ordinance sponsored by council members Heath Smith and Shelly Erickson, about $177,000 that was originally in
Senate Democrats lambaste Dunleavy’s budget By MOLLIE BARNES Juneau Empire
Senate Democrats did not mince words with their disapproval of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget at a press conference Thursday, saying if it were enacted it would drive the state backward. “Don’t tell me your values, show me your budget, and I’ll tell you your values,” said Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage. “That’s what we’ve got. It rings true with
Governor Dunleavy for sure.” The governor has proposed cutting the budget to make up for the $1.6 billion deficit, rather than using some of the earnings reserve money from the Permanent Fund or implementing any new taxes. In an interview with the Empire earlier this week, Dunleavy said, “I think if we start going down the road of taxing or taking money out of the pockets of Alaskans, we’ll see more of an
exodus out of the state. New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Connecticut — there was a report this morning that says that’s exactly what’s happening in those states. There’s an exodus of individuals that are part of the tax base that make money, and they are leaving those states, net out-migration.” But Begich said he was “stunned by how uninformed” the governor seemed about his budgetmaking process regarding See DEMS, page A6
the Police Station Fund would be allocated to Set Free. Set Free has proposed putting the treatment center at Refuge Chapel on Pioneer Avenue. On a motion by council member Donna Aderhold, the coucnil amended the ordinance to clarify that any treatment
center would be in city limits. Refuge Chapel is in the Central Business District zoning area, which allows as permitted uses rooming houses and dormitories and as conditional uses group care and assisted living homes. See CITY, page A3
Murkowski, 3 senators push resolution to halt Trump’s border emergency WASHINGTON (AP) — A small bipartisan group of senators planned to introduce a resolution Thursday aimed at blocking President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to finance additional miles of barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The proposal is identical to the one-sentence measure the Democratic-controlled
House approved earlier this week. The new legislation gives the Senate and the four centrist sponsors — two Republicans and two Democrats — a chance to put their stamp on congressional opposition to Trump’s move. “It shows support from senators for the resolution, not just House members,” said Sen. Susan Collins, RSee HALT, page A2