Murkowski and Sullivan stand by as Trump endangers the nation

Alaskans need to hear from Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan about the growing federal crisis and the dangerous behavior of President Trump, who is acting like a bomb thrower eager to create more carnage.

Dermot ColeJune 1, 2020 Comments

Dunleavy wants all travelers flying to Alaska to get tested, but stops short of saying it's required

Dunleavy clearly doesn’t want to say he is requiring anyone to do anything. He’d rather phrase it as a suggestion for political reasons. It’s a error that going to create confusion for travelers to Alaska.

Dermot ColeMay 30, 2020 Comments

Some right-wingers snap at Alaska GOP Congressional delegation on foreign workers

Tucker Carlson said Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski and seven other GOP senators should be “replaced by people who care about unemployed Americans.” But he took pains to say this should happen in GOP primaries, not in a general election.

Dermot ColeMay 29, 2020 Comments

Thanks to state disclosure law, Alaskans know that oil industry bankrolls 'OneAlaska'

Every time I hear or see an ad from the group that calls itself “OneAlaska,” opposing the oil tax initiative, I am reminded that the most important part comes at the end: “Top three contributors are ConocoPhillips Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, ExxonMobil, Anchorage, Alaska, and Hilcorp, Anchorage, Alaska.”

Dermot ColeMay 28, 2020 Comments

U.S. death toll tops 100,000 on centennial of a frightful epidemic in Interior Alaska

It was exactly 100 years ago Tuesday that Presbyterian pastor Robert J. Diven wrote from Nenana about nonstop processions to the cemetery during one of the final deadly chapters of the flu pandemic that killed 50 million people worldwide.

Dermot ColeMay 26, 2020 Comments

Responding to financial crisis, University of Alaska floats proposals to merge, integrate more services

The university plans to consider merging the University of Alaska Southeast with Anchorage or Fairbanks or merging the community campuses into the Juneau university.

Dermot ColeMay 21, 2020 Comments

University of Alaska faces dire financial situation, fight for survival

To continue to serve its essential function for Alaskans, the university must be transformed. There is no time to waste.

Dermot ColeMay 19, 2020 Comments

AIDEA won't seek competitive bids for firm to hand out $290 million in grants to Alaska’s smallest businesses

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority is moving ahead with plans to hand out $290 million in grants to thousands of the smallest businesses in Alaska, but it will not seek competitive bids to hire a financial institution to run the program.

Dermot ColeMay 18, 2020 Comments

State slow to develop plan to combat teacher turnover

The focus on retention is not like other items in the State of the State speech that went nowhere—such as the state lottery, exchanging Permanent Fund dividend certificates for state land, and the idea of creating an inspector general to deal with waste, fraud and abuse.

Dermot ColeMay 15, 2020 Comments

Dunleavy's political distancing reinforces the need for the recall

The state is going to have to cut its budget. It is also going to have to cut the dividend and raise taxes. The longer that Dunleavy distances himself from these difficult decisions, the more we need the recall to continue.

Dermot ColeMay 14, 2020 Comments

State plan to give $150 million a month in grants needs full disclosure

Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s handling of the plan to give $290 million in federal grants to Alaska's smallest businesses needs to be transparent, especially because the proposed pace and volume is unbelievable.

Dermot ColeMay 12, 2020Comment

For safety's sake, masks required in White House, but not in Alaska stores

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has backtracked on face coverings in Alaska stores, following the political lead created by Trump and the right-wing media.

Dermot ColeMay 11, 2020 Comments

Greenup Day in Fairbanks: Here’s to compulsive scientists

Elsewhere in America the change is a good deal more gradual, but here it’s as if someone flipped a light switch. Hillsides of aspen and birch that were brown on Saturday morning underwent a metamorphosis by Sunday.

Dermot ColeMay 10, 2020 Comments

Alaska needs to start planning to rebuild from four giant earthquakes of 2020

The governor and Legislature can set up a structure that would allow Alaskans to prepare for the most difficult rebuilding challenge in Alaska’s history.

Dermot ColeMay 9, 2020 Comments

Supreme Court rejects state stalling on Dunleavy recall campaign

On Friday, the Alaska Supreme Court unanimously rejected Attorney General Kevin Clarkson’s convoluted claims and said the Dunleavy administration was wrong to block the recall campaign.

Dermot ColeMay 8, 2020 Comments

Trump's Soviet-style military displays can't erase weakness that destroyed national security

The politicians who claim wasteful flights of military aircraft are suitable recognition for health care workers or anyone else are glorifying weaponry over humanity.

Dermot ColeMay 7, 2020 Comments

State needs to clarify rules for federal bailout and be quick about it.

The Dunleavy administration plan for handing out more than $1 billion in federal money to deal with the pandemic is plagued by problems that need to be fixed and questions that need to be answered.

Dermot ColeMay 5, 2020 Comments

Alaska hospitals face 'catastrophic' losses with decline in business

Small hospitals will lose from $2.3 million to $11.4 million from April to June, while the losses are expected to be in the $40 million to $50 million range for the largest hospitals and nursing homes.

Dermot ColeMay 4, 2020 Comments

Wasilla doctor urging young, healthy people to get COVID-19, neglects public health risks

Dr. Wade Erickson, a family practice doctor in Wasilla, has the right to his opinion that healthy young Alaskans with no exposure to people at high risk, will be doing a public service this summer if they come down with mild cases of COVID-19.

Dermot ColeMay 1, 2020 Comments

Reasonable rate hikes for Pioneer Homes—another victory for the Dunleavy recall

The state House approved a bill by Rep. Zack Fields last year, on a 35-4 vote, limiting rate increases to the cost of living, but Dunleavy pressed ahead with the rate hike anyway. The Senate unanimously approved the bill this year.

Dermot ColeApril 30, 2020 Comments