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Vol. 49, Issue 245
In the news
2 die in single-vehicle rollover ANCHORAGE — Two Nome women have died in a car crash in the western Alaska town. Troopers say 24-yearold Tiffany Habros and 21-year-old Christine Buffas died at the scene. Troopers say they were notified early Tuesday about the single-vehicle rollover. According to troopers, Buffas was driving fast on Kougarok Road with Habros as a passenger when the vehicle left the road. Troopers say Buffas overcorrected the vehicle, causing it to flip several times. The women were not wearing seatbelts. Their remains were being sent to the state medical examiner’s office.
Wrestling
Grannie Annie on what to do with berries
Homer athletes do well at nationals
Food / A6
Sports / A8
61/51 More weather, Page A2
W of 1 inner Awa0* 201 Exc rds fo 8 e r Rep llence i o n rt * Ala ska P i n g ! res
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Wednesday, July 24, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
See news, Page A3
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Dems to ‘see where the facts take us’ As Robert Mueller appears Wednesday for televised testimony before two House committees, Democrats hope America tunes in. By Mary Clare Jalonick and Eric Tucker Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Democrats are pretty sure America didn’t read the Mueller report. On Wednesday, they’re hoping the nation will be glued to the TV version. Former Trump-Russia special counsel Robert Mueller’s appearance before two House committees promises to be the TV event of the year in the U.S. House, where lawmakers will question him for roughly five hours about the book-length report he released in April. Democrats hope that by putting Mueller on television and highlighting the parts of the report that they believe describe President Donald Trump’s most egregious behavior, they will be able to ignite new outrage and renew public interest in their investigations. But Republicans will be there, too, defending Trump and turning some of their fire on Mueller’s investigation, which the president condemns
as a “witch hunt.” Trump himself first said he wouldn’t be watching, then he conceded, probably “a little bit.” Though he keeps talking about the probe, many Americans seem to have moved on. That’s why the Democrats hope a daylong presentation, with Mueller repeating out loud some of the findings that might have faded in print, will revive interest. Whether they will be able to accomplish that is unclear. The House will leave town two days after the hearings, possibly blunting any legislative or political momentum. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she will not pursue impeachment, for now, even as an increasing number of Democrats call for at least beginning the process. The nation has heard the special counsel speak only once — for nine minutes at a press conference in May — since his appointment in May 2017. And he will do his best not to generate fireworks on Wednesday. He has said his testimony will stick to what was in his 448-page report,
Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press
Then-special counsel Robert Mueller speaks at the Department of Justice in Washington on May 29 about the Russia investigation.
giving Democrats few new avenues to gain attention. On Tuesday, Democrats on the House judiciary and intelligence committees granted his request to have his top aide in the investigation, Aaron Zebley, sit at the table with him. Zebley is not expected to be sworn in for questioning by the judiciary
Planned airport construction may create 1,000 jobs ANCHORAGE — New storage facility construction projects at the Anchorage airport could create more than 1,000 jobs, officials said. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport plans to build a cold cargo storage building on its east side and anther cargo building on the property’s west side, KTVA-TV reported Monday. Construction could start next year with expected opening dates in 2021, said airport manager Jim Szczesniak. “The Anchorage airport is responsible for one in 10 jobs in the Anchorage area,” Szczesniak said. “This is just to continue to grow the economy here and strengthen the economy here.” The cost of the buildings could reach $370 million, said Jason Gamache, an architect involved with the project. The projection of more than 1,000 jobs includes design, engineering and construction work. “Beyond that there will be employment for the permanent workers for those facilities as well,” Gamache said. The cold cargo building is projected to be 700,000 square-feet, while the west side storage is planned to be 1.5 million square feet. Cargo passing through the airport in 2018 grew by 2.5% and is expected to increase. Some cargo now remains on ramps waiting to be loaded, while
Dribs and drabs
panel. But he will be able to answer questions before the intelligence committee, where, a committee aide said, he will be sworn in. The aide was not authorized to discuss the hearing preparations publicly and requested anonymity. See mueller, Page A2
MediCenter searched as part of fraud probe By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire
Jennifer Canfield, co-owner of marijuana retailer Green Elephant, talks June 24 about how the company might turn its backyard into an on-site consumption garden if given permission by the city of Juneau.
Juneau OKs on-site pot smoking By Ben Hohenstatt Juneau Empire
Consuming marijuana at the stores that sell it will be allowed in Juneau — with a couple of big caveats. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly approved Monday an ordinance that would allow outdoor smoking at state-approved sellers and indoor consumption of edibles. The decision followed months of debate about whether on-site smoking could be allowed without causing problems for the city’s secondhand smoke laws. “If you don’t like marijuana smoke,
you should be for this ordinance,” Assembly member Wade Bryson said during the meeting. He reiterated points he has made in the past that allowing on-site consumption could potentially curb the number of people illegally, publicly consuming marijuana. Being pro-business and keeping marijuana smoke out of public spaces were among the reasons given by Assembly members Maria Gladziszewski, Carole Triem, Alicia Hughes-Skandijs, Rob Edwardson and Michelle Bonnet Hale for supporting the ordinance, which
passed by a 6-2 vote. Assembly member Mary Becker and Mayor Beth Weldon voted against the ordinance. “I don’t want marijuana used outside or inside,” Becker said. “If I had my way, it’d be nowhere, but I do not have my way.” Prior to the vote on the ordinance, Weldon proposed an amendment that would only allow outdoor consumption of marijuana via vaping in order to cut down on secondhand smoke in the air. That amendment failed. See pot, Page A3
The offices of the MediCenter Medical Group in Kenai were subjected to a search by a joint state and federal investigative team on Thursday, according to a statement from Chief Assistant Attorney General Jack McKenna from the Office of Special Prosecutions. McKenna said that investigators from the State of Alaska’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit executed a search warrant last Thursday related to activities at the MediCenter. The warrant was issued by Anchorage District Court Judge David Wallace, and a companion search warrant was issued by a judge in the state of Washington. McKenna did not comment on the specifics of the search, but he did say that the focus of the investigation is “questioned billing practices” by the MediCenter. Members of the Kenai community, particularly members of the local medical community, who may have information related to this matter, should contact Investigator Christie Loughton at 907-269-6279. The management team at the MediCenter was unavailable for comment. For more information about the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which is a unit within the Office of Special Prosecutions, visit http:// www.law.state.ak.us/department/ criminal/mfcu.html.
The High Pets headline this week’s concert in the park By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
For the eighth week of the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series, Anchorage rock band The High Pets will be taking the stage at Soldotna Creek Park. Inspired by bands like Queens of the Stone Age and Soundgarden, The High Pets have a self-described gritty pop rock sound that combines intricate melodies with arena-style rock ’n’ roll. Opening for the High Pets will be Kyle Baltus, who is the drummer for another Alaska band, 36 Crazyfists. The music will start at 6 p.m. and the concert is free for everyone thanks to a grant from the Levitt Foundation, an organization that helps small towns bring live music to their communities. In addition to the music, the evening will feature games, crafts and food from local vendors, as well as a beer garden hosted by Kenai River Brewing Company. The concerts are held every Wednesday evening, and the series is set for four more weeks of bringing free music and entertainment to the community.
Concerts are held every Wednesday evening at Soldotna Creek Park.