
The Swamp: Drain it or become its creature
When a public official fails to drain the bureaucratic swamp he inherits, it is only a matter of time before he begins to capitulate to its creatures. We see this most clearly in executive offices such as presidents, governors, mayors and school


‘We hold you responsible for damaging our children’
Editor’s note: The following testimony was written by Sitka resident Brett Wilcox and read before the Sitka School Board at its Feb. 2 meeting. Sitka students are currently required to mask throughout the entire school day (except to eat) regardless of


Kurka taps Paul Hueper, of botched Homer FBI raid, as Lt. Gov. running mate
Alaska gubernatorial candidate and current State Representative Christopher Kurka has named Paul Hueper as his lieutenant governor running mate. The announcement was made on Jan. 31 from Kurka’s campaign headquarters in Wasilla. Paul and his wife Marilyn


Eastman outmaneuvers House leaders’ first effort to strip committee seats
Rep. David Eastman outmaneuvered Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes (R-Kodiak) along with the Democratic controlled House that attempted to strip him of all his legislative committee assignments on Jan. 31. House leadership, comprised of mostly Democrats and


Mat-Su schools ditch mask mandates due to ‘less severe’ Omicron
Due to the fact that the Omicron variant of Covid is less severe than other strains, schools in the Mat-Su Borough will no longer mandate that students and staff wear masks throughout the day when the virus is spreading. A Jan. 28 letter from Superintendent


Rep. Eastman: State plan would separate AK lawmakers from families
If a new state plan for legislators isn’t formally rejected by the governor there will be fewer children at next year’s Easter Egg Hunt in the State Capitol Building. The annual event historically brings together children of legislators and legislative


Mat-Su nurse blasts ‘punitive’ policies for employees who decline the vax
Healthcare workers at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer have until March 15 to complete their “primary vaccination series” for Covid. The only exceptions are for those who have been granted an exemption. In the meantime, employees who are not


Mat-Su Health official blames irrational ‘tribalism’ for low vax rates
According to the president of the Mat-Su Health Foundation, Elizabeth Ripley, the reason nearly 60% of Mat-Su residents have thus far declined the experimental Covid shots is not because of thoughtful research, but irrational and emotional fixations on


Dunleavy’s State of the State avoids abortion, election integrity, local Covid mandates
Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivered his fourth State of the State address on Jan. 25 before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau. The governor touted his administration’s work on reducing crime, importing health care workers and fighting the Biden


With rising Russia tensions, we must draw from the past
Who was responsible for post-war tensions between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.? Were they primarily a result of the Soviets’ mistrust of a perceived intent on the part of the Allies to establish a “New World Order” and act as policeman of the world? The

