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Vol. 49, Issue 249
In the news
U.S., Israel test missile defense system KODIAK — Israel and the United States completed a series of tests of the new long-range missile defense system in Alaska. A spokesperson with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said in a statement the Arrow Weapon System testing including the successful interception of an “enemy” target. The tests were conducted at Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska in Kodiak. MDA Director Vice Adm. Jon Hill says the success in Kodiak helps with confidence in Israel’s ability to defeat the developing threats in its home region. The Israel Missile Defense Organization director Moshe Patel said the fact the tests were conducted tens of thousands of kilometers away from Israel, demonstrates the capabilities of the Arrow 3 system.
Playoffs
Garlic fest attack claims 3 lives
All Oilers can do is wait for fate
News / A5
Sports / A6
More strict alcohol laws implemented BETHEL — Stricter alcohol laws have been implemented in the See news, Page A3
68/50 More weather, Page A2
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Legislation passed on to Dunleavy’s desk By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
In back-to-back floor sessions Monday, both chambers of the Alaska Legislature passed significant legislation on to Gov. Mike Dunleavy. In the morning, the House first voted to rescind its previous action on Senate Bill 2002, which failed by one vote on July 22. That bill reversed “the sweep” and passed a capital budget. Once rescinded, the House voted 31-to-seven in favor of the bill. That bill will now go to the governor. Dunleavy can veto certain items from the budget but he cannot veto the reverse sweep, meaning that there are now funds for the Alaska Performance Scholarship and the Power Cost Equalization programs. Members of the House Republican minority objected to the votes, saying that the
Legislature had already voted several times on this same issue. Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, said that he could find no instance in Alaska’s legislative history where the House had voted to rescind after a second consideration. He said the only course forward was an entirely new bill. House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, replied that the bill had been discussed with the Legislative Legal Division and that there was precedent for the this kind of a vote. Edgmon said that there was nearly a billion dollars at stake that needed to be captured for the good of the state. Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, said that she had spoken with U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, who told her that decisions regarding the federal money didn’t need to be made
immediately. In response to this, Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, said that it takes time to implement funding and that delaying any longer would cause further issues for Alaska. Once the House passed SB 2002, it was the Senate’s turn. The bill that restored much of the governor’s vetoes, House Bill 2001, passed out of the Senate after that chamber added four amendments to it. Amendments adding money for school debt bond reimbursement, veteran’s services, and rural schools all passed easily, but an amendment allocating a $1,600 Alaska Permanent Fund dividend encountered substantial resistance. Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, said she had voted for SB 2002, “under duress.” It was crucial that the Legislature follow the law, she said, and that this bill allowed the government
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire
State Sen. David Wilson offers an amendment to the operating budget Monday at the Capitol. Wilson’s amendment would pay $1,400 as part two of an Alaska Permanent Fund dividend. It was voted down.
to spend beyond its means, something she could not condone. During her address to the floor, Senate Majority Leader Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, raised points of order four
times, asking her to remain on the topic of the current bill. Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, entered an amendment which would have See budget, Page A2
School district, employees to resume contract talks
Anchorage raises minimum age for tobacco, nicotine purchases ANCHORAGE — People wanting to buy tobacco and nicotine products in Anchorage will have to be at least 21 years old, starting next month. The Anchorage Daily News reports the new local law will go into effect Aug. 20. The move comes after the Anchorage Assembly unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday that raises the age requirement from 19 to 21. The new rule applies to tobacco as well as electronic smoking devices containing nicotine. The statewide minimum age for tobacco is 19. Anchorage is the second Alaska city to raise the minimum age. Sitka was the first last year.
Mostly sunny
By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
Boise State Athletics
Boise State redshirt junior and Kenai Central graduate Allie Ostrander throws up her arms after winning the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase title June 8 at the Division I track and field championships in Austin, Texas.
World meet-bound
Kenai Central grad Allie Ostrander takes 4th at nationals, qualifies for Team USA at worlds Peninsular Clarion staff
Allie Ostrander, a 2015 graduate of Kenai Central, qualified for the world track and field championships in Qatar by taking fourth place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Sunday at the USA Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. In an eight-lap race that started slow before livening up the last three laps, Ostrander
finished at 9 minutes, 38.52 seconds. That’s about seven seconds off her PR, but what matters is she will be racing for Team USA at worlds from Sept. 28 to Oct. 6. Ostrander was able to snap up the spot to worlds despite a series of grueling races. June 8 in Austin, Texas, Ostrander, then a Boise State redshirt junior, became the first woman to win three straight NCAA outdoor
steeplechase crowns and lowered her PR to 9:37.73. The temperature during her title run was 98 degrees, but she still came back 90 minutes later to finish 16th in the 5,000. June 30 in Palo Alto, California, Ostrander lowered her PR to 9:31.44 in finishing 13th against a world-class steeple field at the Prefontaine Classic. See worlds, Page A2
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and two peninsula educator and staff associations will resume contract negotiations Aug. 13, David Brighton, president of the Kenai Peninsula Education Association, said. “We’ll see what (the district) have to say,” he said. “I hope we can come to an agreement and avoid a strike.” Pegge Erkeneff, communications liaison with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, said in an email that a time and place has yet to be determined. “The district is hopeful that a agreement can be reached,” she said. The Kenai Peninsula Education Association and Kenai Peninsula Educational Support Association remain without a contract after their last bargaining session, June 11, ended without a labor agreement. The district offered ideas for a new contract at the June meeting, which took place just weeks after the associations voted to strike. After contract negotiations with the district hit a standstill, peninsula educators and staff voted May 22 to strike, with more than 75% of certified staff voting “yes” on a walkout. The associations planned to choose a strategic time to start the strike. For over a year, contract negotiations between the borough school district and the Kenai Peninsula Education Association and Kenai Peninsula Educational Support Association have snagged on the rising cost of health care. A previous agreement effective through June 2018 remains in use for employees without contracts. The associations are required to give the district a 72-hour notice ahead of any strike. District employees cannot be fired for participating in a legal strike. Brighton said the strike will not impact sports, which are already starting up prior to the school year’s start Aug. 20.
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Ferry employees: ‘We want to go back to work’ By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
Ferry workers across Alaska are on strike for the sixth day, leaving some travelers stranded and workers still walking the picket line. The Alaska region of the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific has been meeting with state representatives and a federal mediator to try and bring an end to negotiations that have
gone on for nearly three years. Monday morning, IBU regional vice chair Robb Arnold said that the talks had been going well but that there were a few stumbling blocks that had caused an impasse. He would not go into detail as to what those were. Arnold said early Monday that further talks with the mediator had not yet been scheduled but IBU sent out a press release in the afternoon saying both sides had met with the mediator that morning.
“We’re not asking for much. We just want a fair contract.” Trina Arnold, IBU regional director
The press release described the talks with the federal mediator Beth Schindler as “very positive and
constructive.” IBU regional Director Trina Arnold said in the release that, “There were positive steps in our meeting that should allow both sides to reach a solution.” “We want to go back to work,” Arnold told the Empire Monday morning. “We’re not asking for much. We just want a fair contract.” Though while talks are progressing, some travelers are still stranded, See ferry strike, Page A2