In late 2010 or early 2011, Gary Chouest, head of the family business, talked to Young on the phone, offering to raise funds for Young’s legal bills from his various family-owned companies, according to a House ethics investigation.
In January 2011, at a fundraiser in Texas, Gary handed an envelope to Young that contained a dozen $5,000 checks. The checks were from 12 family companies, all of them at 16201 East Main St. in Galliano, LA.
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It was an impulsive decision by President Trump to pardon all of the January 6 criminals, including violent offenders, according to reporting by Axios.
"Trump just said: 'Fuck it: Release 'em all,’ an adviser familiar with the discussions,” told the news site.
This contradicted the promise that Vice President Vance made eight days earlier on Fox News: "If you committed violence that day, obviously you shouldn't be pardoned."
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Sullivan always uses the “didn’t read it,” “didn’t see it,” “didn’t hear about it,” “didn’t know about it” excuse when he can’t think of what to say or is afraid that Trump will take offense.
It is a scam, of course, as Sullivan comments all the time about things he hasn’t read when he believes he is operating in a safe space.
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With Trump’s command, the federal government will waste money changing maps and documents and force federal employees to call it McKinley, but most people in Alaska will continue to call it Denali, the name that has been state policy for 50 years and was in use long before the United States came into existence.
Keep it Denali, regardless of Trump’s McKinley obsession.
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The Trump executive order that overturns dozens of actions by the Biden administration dealing with Alaska provides a clear snapshot of how Trump views the 49th state—a warehouse of resources to be handed over to the rape, ruin and run boys.
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The state salary commission, tainted by political manipulation in 2023, might produce a plan that would give the governor, lieutenant governor, commissioners and legislators automatic raises every two years based on the rate of inflation, but not this year.
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The first thing Sen. Dan Sullivan asked Lee Zeldin, nominated to head the EPA, is if he would “commit to me to come up to Alaska with me, bring your family, we can do some fishing maybe after you see all the important elements of Alaska. Big mountains.”
Sullivan, who will support all Trump nominees, always asks cabinet nominees to take junkets to Alaska. No real questions asked or answered.
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Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s PR man objects to a headline that appeared here on January 10: “Dunleavy claims salary study drafts have been tossed, so they are not public records.”
No records have been tossed, the Dunleavy word police told a public radio reporter. The draft copies have simply not been retained.
I have rewritten the headline to follow the edict from above: “Dunleavy claims salary study drafts have not been retained, so they are not public records.”
Read MoreAlaskans should see the $1 million results of a state salary research report that Gov. Mike Dunleavy refuses to release, according to a petition circulated by the Alaska State Employees Association.
Among other things, ASEA says it is “truly shocking” that the governor’s office claims that drafts of the report it received from the contractor have been disposed of, so they are no longer public records.
Read MoreLook for a widespread public school ban in 2025 on the student use of “cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and gaming devices” during the school day.
A proposed policy says: “Students are prohibited from accessing devices or wearing device accessories during the school day unless explicitly authorized for classroom use. Devices and accessories must be stored in lockers, backpacks, or as directed by the school district. The district may prohibit possession of devices and accessories on school property.”
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Sen. Dan Sullivan began his confirmation hearing questions of Trump Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth with a bonehead quiz about Billy Mitchell, followed by a series of anti-Biden cheap shots framed as questions that Sullivan, Trump and Hegseth agree upon.
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The endless caterwauling about how we need to increase mining in Alaska for national security reasons is deceptive.
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In an all-too-familiar pattern with the Dunleavy administration, the contract was extended and extended again to $450,000, nine times the amount claimed on August 19 as sufficient.
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In response to a public records request I submitted, the governor’s office says that while it once had other draft reports of the study, it does not have them any longer.
As an excuse, this is a few steps shy of “The dog ate my homework.” George Costanza could do better.
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Nick Begich the Third, eager to please Donald Trump, is excited about the concept of turning Greenland into U.S. property.
Begich is the son of Nick Begich Jr., who now self-identifies as Nick Begich Sr., and the nephew of former Sen. Mark Begich and former state Sen. Tom Begich.
Now the leader of the Begich political family in Alaska, Nick the Third is a sudden convert to the Trump plan to take control of Greenland.
Read MoreStripped of double-talk, what’s happening is far less significant than the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation claims. The real “milestone,” if there is one, is that the state has agreed to pay a major pipeline company up to $50 million to complete the next stage of pipeline planning work, the so-called front end engineering and design. That work is necessary to get updated cost estimates.
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This is no breakthrough. AGDC couldn’t reach this point without a state promise to pick up the tab for the $50 million planning phase of the gas pipeline. If the pipeline company pulls the plug, it will get all of its money back.
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Perhaps Nick Begich the Third is trying to cultivate an image as a Trump-like tough guy, when he is just a rude freshman seeking attention.
“Joe Biden is a son of a bitch,” the freshman House member announced on Elon Musk’s social media website.
I’m surprised he didn’t challenge him to a duel.
Read MoreIf there is one positive element about the failure to name a sixth trustee, it is a reminder that the current structure in state law for guidance of Alaska’s most important financial institution is out of date.
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The political chasm between Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan has been best illustrated over the last four yeas by their conflicting approach to the confirmation of federal judges for lifetime appointments.
Murkowski voted to confirm 160 district and circuit judges appointed by Biden, while Sullivan voted for 2.
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