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Vol. 49, Issue 189
In the news Seafood industry making plans for China tariff impact KODIAK — Alaska’s seafood industry is exploring strategies to reduce damage from the Trump administration’s trade dispute with China. The Kodiak Daily Mirror reported Thursday that the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute plans to explore how Alaska can enter additional markets to expand the state’s seafood brand. The U.S. plans to raise tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports from 10% to 25% Friday. The institute says China is the largest export market and reprocessor of Alaska seafood, with about $989 million worth of sales to China in 2017 alone. Executive Director Jeremy Woodrow says the institute is looking at “both traditional and nontraditional markets.” Woodrow says a survey of Alaska seafood businesses found 65% immediately lost sales after tariffs were implemented, 50% reported sales delays and 36% reported lost customers in China.
Drama
NKorea fires 2 missiles into sea
Kenai boys defeat Homer in soccer
World/A6
Sports/A10
CLARION
54/38 More weather on Page A2
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Walking toward a bright future Kenai Peninsula College graduates 150 students By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
When Ariane Jasmin started at Kenai Peninsula College, she wanted to prove to herself that she could finish her associate degree. On Thursday — after two years of juggling a two-hour commute, two preschoolaged children and a dog mushing team — Jasmin not only finished her degree, but graduated as the school’s valedictorian. “My biggest highlight from KPC I think is just showing myself that I could (graduate),” Jasmin said. Jasmin was one of 150 graduates who walked across the stage Thursday night at the Kenai Peninsula College 49th Kenai River Campus commencement ceremony at the Kenai Central High School Renee C. Henderson Auditorium. The 150 graduates collected degrees ranging from associate in process technology to bachelor’s in elementary education. The commencement keynote speaker was Janet LaRue Romig, a practicing
A group of nursing graduates from Kenai Peninsula College’s Kenai River Campus get ready to walk the stage and receive their degrees on Thursday at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
attorney who got her start at KPC 40 years ago. University of Alaska Board of Regents member Lisa Parker
and University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Cathy Sandeen also participated in the graduation ceremony.
Jasmin graduated summa cum laude, which means she managed to maintain a 4.0-grade point average. She
said she will be moving to Fairbanks to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology at See WALK, page A16
Eagle River, Chugiak consider secession from Anchorage
AG: $20 million schools appropriation unconstitutional
EAGLE RIVER — Residents of two Alaska communities are discussing the possibility of leaving the municipality of Anchorage to form their own local government, according to the group. More than 100 people attended an informational meeting in Eagle River Friday to discuss what organizers call “EaglExit,” The Chugiak-Eagle River Star reported Wednesday. The two communities are within Anchorage’s municipal boundaries, but Eagle River is 16 miles north of the city, while Chugiak is another 5 miles north. The group hopes to raise $100,000 to conduct a feasibility study for a municipality separate from Anchorage consisting of Eagle River and Chugiak, as well as neighboring Peters Creek, Eklutna, and Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson, a combined Army and Air Force facility. EagleExit was formed by residents seeking greater self-determination, said group chair Michael Tavoliero of Eagle River.
Alaska’s attorney general has declared a $20 million appropriation for school funding made during last year’s legislative session unconstitutional.
— Associated Press
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By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
The one-time education funding was enacted by the Legislature through Senate Bill 142 and signed into law by former Gov. Bill Walker in June 2018. In a formal opinion, dated May 8, Attorney General Kevin Clarkson and the
Alaska Department of Law claimed the appropriation goes against the state constitution because it “improperly binds a future legislature and future governor” and violates the “constitutional prohibition against dedicating state revenues.”
“It is our opinion that an appropriation that seeks to expend future money (in contrast to an appropriation authorizing revenues that have been received by the state in the current fiscal year to be spent in a future fiscal year) is unconstitu-
SeaLife Center welcomes seal pup By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) welcomed last month a new, fairly unique rescue: a bearded seal pup. The ASLC admitted the pup into their Wildlife Response Program on April 13 after it was rescued from the shores of Shaktoolik, according to a news release on Thursday. Shaktoolik is a village on Norton Sound in northwest Alaska near Nome. Local school children had reportedly taken it upon themselves to protect the newborn seal from being harassed by people or pets. Ice seals are hunted for subsistence purposes in the Northern Alaska villages, but because of the kids’ attachment to the pup the village decided to call ASLC for help, according
cleared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to secure
See AG, page A2
North Pole father sentenced to 90 years for killing young son
the pup, and ASLC Communications Coordinator
FAIRBANKS (AP) — A North Pole father convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his 4-year-old son was sentenced to 90 years in prison. The state medical examiner concluded the boy died May 5, 2015, from blunt force injuries and burns. A Fairbanks jury deliberated for just three hours in December before convicting Christopher Sadowski, 31, of North Pole of killing Christopher Sadowski Jr. The father will be eligible for discretionary parole after serving 22 1/2 years and
See PUP, page A2
See 90, page A2
A newborn bearded seal pup rescued on April 13 is seen here at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Chloe Rossman/Alaska SeaLife Center)
to the release. Village Police Officer Jeffery Paniptchuk was
tional,” the opinion letter reads. “Such future appropriations violate the annual budgeting process mandated by the Constitution. Further, such appropriations violate the anti-dedication clause. And, when the future ap-
Juneau lawmakers seek to boost Soldotna Council meetings to be held Thursdays gun background check system By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — Under a proposed rewrite of state crime laws, Alaska legislators would require the courts to review for a federal database system records dating to 1981 for individuals who have been involuntarily committed and would be restricted from owning firearms.
While debates over guns elicit fears of erosions of the Second Amendment right to bear arms, this provision has generated few waves. Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration is pushing it as a way to prevent future violence or suicides. National Rifle Association spokesman Lars Dalseide by email said that group “has always called for the submission of all relevant records”
to the system “and that position hasn’t changed.” Some Republicans in the state Legislature have expressed support. Rep. Chuck Kopp, a former police officer, said he supports Second Amendment rights but said there’s a balance in wanting to ensure the database has that information to improve the safety of the general public. See GUN, page A3
By KAT SORENSEN Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna City Council members will be able to rock out at Music in the Park, or other Wednesday events, this summer. The council approved a resolution changing their regular meeting day from Wednesday to the second and fourth Thursday of each month. The change
will take effect in July. The council unanimously approved the resolution with full support of the administration. According to City Manager Stephanie Queen, the change won’t affect deadlines or projects. Wednesday nights in Soldotna can get busy with Music in the Park at Soldotna Creek Park and See MEET, page A16