b

PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center - Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan Cares Crisis Line - Ketchikan, Alaska

United States Census 2020 (Alaska Dept of Labor)

Alpine Real Estate - Ketchikan, Alaska

Wind & Water - Ketchikan, Alaska Wind & Water Dive Shop - Ketchikan, Alaska Wind & Water 2020 Spring Classes - Ketchikan, Alaska

Tongass Trading Company - Shop A Piece of History - Ketchikan, Alaska

Tongass Trading Co. Furniture House - Ketchikan, Alaska

Legacy Real Estate - Ketchikan, Alaska EST 1970

Lighthouse Service - Ketchikan, Alaska - PetroOne

Davies-Barry Insurance - Ketchikan, Alaska

Gateway City Realty - Ketchikan, Alaska

Rendezvous Senior Day Services - Ketchikan, Alaska

Rainforest Ridge Condos For Sale - Ketchikan, Alaska - Call for details

Schmolck Mechanical Contractors - Ketchikan, Alaska

PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center - Ketchikan, Alaska

Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce - Ketchikan, Alaska

POW Report - Prince of Wales Island News  & Events

Shop Local & Advertise Local with SitNews - Ketchikan, Alaska

arrowContact
arrowWebmail Letters
arrowNews Tips
arrowCopyright Info
arrowArchives

Quick News Search
arrowAlaska
arrowKetchikan
arrowSE Alaska

Columns - Articles
arrow Dave Kiffer
arrow Money Matters

Historical Ketchikan
arrowJune Allen
arrowDave Kiffer
arrowLouise B. Harrington

Sports
arrowKetchikan Links

Public Records
arrow FAA Accident Reports
arrow NTSB Accident Reports
arrow Court Calendar
arrow Recent Filings & Case Dispositions
arrow Court Records Search
arrow Sex Offender Reg.
arrow Public Notices
arrow Alaska Recall Alerts
arrow Recalls.gov
arrow AST Daily Dispatch
arrow KTN Police Reports
arrow Juneau Police Reports

Weather, Webcams
arrowToday's Forecast
arrowKTN Weather Data
arrowAK Weather Map
arrowAK Weathercams
arrowAK Earthquakes

 

SitNews - Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska

Wednesday
June 17, 2020

Front Page Photo By TERRI JIRSCHELE ©2020

Eagle
Front Page Photo By TERRI JIRSCHELE ©2020
To have your photo featured on the front page,
email your photo(s) to editor@sitnews.us

Alaska COVID-19 Daily Updates - Case Counts, etc.

All Alaska Health Mandates: COVID-19 Health Mandates, Office of the Governor

Ketchikan: Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center COVID-19 Dashboard, updates & alerts...

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Center for Disease Control (CDC) Situation Summary Updated Frequently

Ketchikan: Public Meetings
Ketchikan: Upcoming Events
Ketchikan: Announcements
Ketchikan: Classifieds

CLASSIFIEDS

arrowPublish
Your Ad

Click Here

Historical Ketchikan

arrowJune Allen
arrowDave Kiffer
arrowLouise B. Harrington

Ketchikan Weather

arrow Ketchikan's Forecast
arrow June Daily Records 2020
arrow Ketchikan May 2020 Data
arrow Ketchikan April 2020 Data
arrow Ketchikan March 2020 Data
arrow Ketchikan Feb. 2020 Data

arrow Ketchikan Jan. 2020 Data
arrow Nat Weather Service KTN
arrow Ketchikan Tides & Currents
arrow Sunrise - Sunset Ketchikan

Search the News

arrow Ketchikan

arrow
Alaska

U.S. Congress 2019-2020: Bills that have passed the House & Senate and become Law

U.S. Congress 2019-2020: Bills Introduced (Over 5,000 in the House and over 3,000 in the Senate)

 

Ketchikan: Positive COVID-19 Traveler Does Not Quarantine Exposing Ketchikan to Possible Wide-spread Outbreak By MARY KAUFFMAN - A new positive COVID19 traveler case announced Monday brought Ketchikan's traveler total to 7. This individual arrived in Ketchikan on Saturday - June 13th, was administered a COVID-19 test at the local traveler testing site, and was instructed by the test collector to quarantine until receiving test results.  The individual was informed of the positive test result Tuesday - June 17th.

The Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) announced today that this individual did not quarantine as instructed, but instead attended several social gatherings and public places in Ketchikan on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday before being notified of the positive result on Tuesday. The social gatherings and public places this individual attended were also attended by many of Ketchikan’s youth, families, and citizens.

There can be legal consequences for any individual who does not comply with a health mandate.  The Ketchikan Police Department is aware of this situation and is conducting an investigation of the matter.  But the biggest consequence for non-compliance is a widespread outbreak of this virus in the Ketchikan community. 

The name of the individual who did not follow the health mandate to quarantine is not being released because of medical records privacy, nor has the Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) chosen to identify any of the events this individual attended which possibly exposed others in the community to the virus.

The Ketchikan EOC at this time is urging citizens to consider the social gatherings that you’ve participated in since Saturday June 13th.  Quoting the EOC, if you think you may have attended an event or gathering where social distancing was not being followed or where individuals who recently traveled were in attendance, "please consider self-quarantining for a period of 14 days". - More...
Wednesday PM - June 17, 2020

Ketchikan: Positive Case At Seafood Processing Plant - One (1) new positive test result for COVID-19 was identified yesterday through the COVID-19 testing program at a local seafood processing plant. As part of the mitigation plan for the company, this individual has been tested twice since arrival in Ketchikan, and has cooperated fully and followed all on site protocols. This person was first tested on June 9th with a negative result, and was tested again today with a positive result. This individual is currently asymptomatic. This individual has been contacted by a health care provider with notification of the positive result, has been placed in isolation, and is being monitored by healthcare providers. 

Public Health officials have completed the contact tracing investigation in order to identify any persons that may have been in close contact with the positive individual. During the investigation, there were no contacts identified that meet the criteria for direct contact.  Public Health will continue to monitor this individual on a daily basis. 

This local seafood processing plant has a COVID-19 mitigation plan in place and is actively maintaining and operating under the plan. The purpose of the plan is to detect the presence of COVID-19 at an early stage and mitigate the risk to other employees and individuals. This has been done through the systematic testing and isolation of the affected individual. The detection of this positive case shows that the plan is working effectively. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 17, 2020  

Ketchikan: Ketchikan Borough & City CARES Act Funding $22 Million Posted & Edited By MARY KAUFFMAN - The State of Alaska received $1.25 billion in federal CARES Act funds (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security), of which $568,572,866 is being distributed by the state to municipalities, in three rounds. The Ketchikan Borough’s share is $10,400,979, and first distribution will be $4,812,980. The second and third distributions will be $2,794,000 each, and are dependent on utilization of at least 80 percent of the prior distributions.

The City of Ketchikan's share from the state is $12,281,651 which the City will also receive in three installments:

First installment May 01, 2020 $5,919,347
Second Installment July 01, 2020 $3,181,152
Third Installment October 01, 2020 $3,181,152

As with the Borough, the second and third installments of funding for the City is contingent upon spending 80% of the first installment.. - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020

Alaska: Department of Labor to pursue fraudulent activities, prevent misuse of UI program - Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) Commissioner Tamika L. Ledbetter announced that Alaska continues to take measures to prevent fraud or misuse of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, including the expanded unemployment benefits under the CARES Act.

“The Department of Labor and Workforce Development will vigorously pursue all fraudulent activities to the fullest extent of the law,” said Commissioner Ledbetter.

Individuals commit UI fraud by knowingly submitting false information, knowingly continuing to collect benefits when ineligible, intentionally collecting benefits without reporting wages or income or not reporting when suitable employment or available work is refused. - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020

Alaska: Department of Revenue Announces 2020 Permanent Fund Dividend - Friday, the Alaska Department of Revenue announced the amount of the 2020 Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) is $992. Beginning July 1, an estimated 580,000 Alaskans, representing nearly 90 percent of PFD applicants, will receive their dividend by direct deposit or check. The decision to distribute the PFD three months early was made by Governor Mike Dunleavy in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alaskans who are determined eligible by June 19, 2020 and chose direct deposit will see funds in their bank accounts on or shortly after July 1. Eligible applicants receiving a paper check will have their checks in the mail starting on July 1. Dividend applications that have not been determined by June 19 will be paid out on a monthly basis by check or direct deposit beginning July 23. This year, the Permanent Fund Dividend Division saw a record number of Alaskans sign their application electronically at 92 percent. - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020


 
Video

Ketchikan: Traveler covid-19 screening at Ketchikan Airport Video By LARRY JACKSON, Text by MARY KAUFFMAN - In this video, I clarify the process of arrival screening at the Ketchikan International Airport.

Among those helping to provide the traveler screening mandated by the state on out of state arrivals, I talked with Trevor Shaw of Creekside Family Health Clinic.

As of Friday, the  Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reported that six (6) new positive test results for COVID-19 have been identified through the traveler testing site at the Ketchikan airport. Five people arrived on Wednesday, June 10th, and all were instructed to quarantine until receiving test results. One arrived earlier in the week. - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020

Ketchikan- Statewide: 9-1-1 Dispatch Consolidation Working Group Announced Posted & Edited By MARY KAUFFMAN - Governor Mike Dunleavy signed Administrative Order No. 317, establishing the 9-1-1 and Dispatch Consolidation Working Group on June 2, 2020. Its purpose will be to conduct a thorough analysis and make recommendations related to 9-1-1 and Alaska State Troopers dispatch consolidation.

“Public safety is job number one. All Alaskans have a stake in how 9-1-1 works so making sure we have a functioning 9-1-1 system is imperative. We will consider the opinions of first responders, community leaders, the telecommunications industry, stakeholders and Alaskans all across the state before any final decisions are made,” said Governor Dunleavy.

Dunleavy said, “Improvements to the state’s 9-1-1 system mean first responders can more effectively assist Alaskans during an emergency. This is part of my commitment to keeping Alaskans safe..”

Under a state plan announced in May without input from stakeholders and Alaskans, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the City of Palmer entered into an agreement to consolidate emergency communication services to improve law enforcement services to all Alaskans. The agreement means that the build out of an Anchorage Emergency Communication Center project will cease and instead be moved to the existing dispatch center in Palmer to be built out. Through working with a partner agency, the planning and implementation of the project continues to evolve to meet the needs of the DPS to better our services to all Alaskans and cost savings will be realized for both parties.

Former Governor Bill Walker's administration also asked in April 2018 the chairs of both Finance Committees to re-allocate $10 million towards the state’s ailing 911 system. The money was originally proposed for oil and gas research, but the Governor’s office said that this was more important. State officials said at the time that Alaska's 911 system is 30 years of of date and risking lives. - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020

Alaska: Lawmaker urges DOE to distribute absentee ballot applications to all registered voters; Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins cautions voter safety as Alaska sees highest seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases - Thursday, the Division of Elections announced that it will send absentee ballot applications to every registered voter over the age of 65 prior to the August primary elections. In a statement, Lt. Governor Meyer acknowledged that this particular group had concerns about being able to vote safely.

Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D-Sitka), Co-Chair of the House State Affairs Committee, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic will not be gone by the August primary elections, nor will the virus decide to take a holiday for the occasion. If we can help it, we should avoid bringing together large groups of people. I urge DOE to distribute absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in Alaska to reduce the risk to public health.”

Voters around the country are weighing the risk of going to the polls during the pandemic. Standing in close proximity, using touch screens, and handling ballots increases the risk of transmission of COVID-19. - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020


 
Fish Factor: All systems are “go” for Alaska’s fisheries By LAINE WELCH - All systems are go for keeping close tabs on fish and crab stocks in waters managed by the state, meaning out to three miles. While constraints from the coronavirus resulted in nearly all annual stock surveys being cut in deeper waters overseen by the federal government, it’s “closer to normal” closer to shore.

“While it's not business as usual, we are conducting business in as close to normal fashion as we can,” said Forrest Bowers, deputy director of the commercial fisheries division of the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game.   

“We have kept all of our area offices open and all of our field projects in place to monitor salmon stocks around the state this summer, as well as our projects and support for other fisheries,” Bowers said, adding that ADF&G has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic “very seriously” and has had strict protection plans in place since March.

The state surveys a wide range of fish and shellfish stocks each summer throughout waters in the Gulf and Bering Sea, all the way up to the Arctic regions of Norton Sound for red king crab.

“We do all we can in support of the fisheries around the state because we recognize the importance to the people in Alaska and our primary objective is to keep our staff safe and protect the public as well,” Bowers added.  

It’s good news for fishery biologists at Kodiak who are heading out for the summer-long Tanner crab survey throughout the westward region. 

“We’ve modifying the schedule somewhat,” said Nat Nichols, area shellfish and groundfish manager at ADF&G in Kodiak. “We're doing two legs instead of five to minimize the number of times that the crew comes in. We also won't be doing any of our normal ports of call into Sand Point, Dutch Harbor, King Cove, Chignik or Alitak.”   

The crew and three scientists, which usually totals about 10, do the surveys aboard the state-owned 95 foot stern trawler M/V Resolution and assess over 300 stations each year at a rate of eight to 10 per day.  

“We came out of the shop two years ago 10 feet wider. So now we're 95 by 36. It is a very capable platform,” Nichols said. “We tow a standard grid that has been fixed for years, and we've developed a really good time series since 1988.”

The annual survey gets some federal funding to assess weights and lengths of any groundfish such as cod, halibut, rockfish or pollock that are hauled up but the primary focus is Tanner crab. The team is tracking the largest recruitment of Tanners they’ve ever seen, estimated at a whopping 270 million crabs. 

“By the time we see them in the survey they're maybe the size of a quarter and about a year old, maybe year two even,” Nichols explained. “It's typically about four years until we see them at legal size. Using that timing, we first saw these Tanner crab in 2018, so this group would be seen in a survey at a legal size in 2022 for a 2023 fishery.”

Lots of the crab appear to be growing faster than normal and Nichols said the bulk of the pack could be ready sooner. 

“I think we could be seeing a good chunk, or at least the leading edge of them, legal in a 2021 survey. So that's next summer for a 2022 fishery and it is not unlikely.”  - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020


 

Southeast Alaska: Stronger Environmental Protections Demanded for Waterways, Wildlife Impacted by British Columbian Mining - Congress should hold hearings on the impacts of British Columbian mining operations on U.S. waterways, wildlife, and communities and pressure Canadian officials to strengthen environmental protections, the 52 state and territorial affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation unanimously agreed on Friday through a new resolution. 
 
“The National Wildlife Federation … calls upon the congressional delegations of Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and Montana to demand that the Government of British Columbia, as the jurisdiction where mines in the transboundary watersheds are regulated, to act immediately to protect the transboundary watersheds and all who depend on it from the impacts of mining,” the resolution reads, in part.
 
Existing and potential mining operation in the headwaters of dozens of rivers and streams that flow from Canada into Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Washington pose a serious threat to the communities and wildlife that depend on these waterways. The salmon-rich rivers that flow through Southeast Alaska are particularly impacted. 
 
Weak regulations in British Columbia - especially substantially lower bonding requirements than those in Alaska, Washington and other U.S. states - would leave taxpayers and communities downriver unable to redress or remediate the financial and environmental issues that could arise from mining discharges and disasters. 
 
“We in Washington regard British Columbia as a great neighbor with which we share a great love of nature and prosperous commerce,” said Mitch Friedman, executive director of Seattle-based Conservation Northwest. “But they are anything but neighborly in the way they put our rivers, communities, and fish and wildlife at risk of catastrophe from breached tailings dams.”

"The impacts from British Columbian mining in the transboundary watersheds shared by Alaska, British Columbia, and sovereign Indigenous governments put the health, water, and access to food of all downstream communities at risk," said Meredith Trainor, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, based in Juneau. "It is imperative that the Premier of British Columbia include Indigenous governments and our Southeast Alaskan communities across the border in the United States in protections he has extended under his Bill 41, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. We are calling on Congress to hold public hearings to pressure British Columbia to be a better neighbor to our Alaskan communities." - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020


Recovery of sea otter populations yields more benefits than costs

Recovery of sea otter populations yields more benefits than costs; New model puts dollar value on ecological transformations driven by otters
Sea otter in British Columbia
Photo By James Thompson


 

 

Southeast Alaska: Recovery of sea otter populations yields more benefits than costs; New model puts dollar value on ecological transformations driven by otters - Since their reintroduction to the Pacific coast in the 1970s, the sea otters' rapid recovery and voracious appetite for tasty shellfish such as urchins, clams and crabs has brought them into conflict with coastal communities and fishers, who rely on the same valuable fisheries for food and income.

But the long-term benefits of sea otter recovery - such as healthier kelp forests, higher fish catches, carbon storage and tourism - could be worth as much as $53 million per year, according to new UBC research. If well-managed, these economic benefits could offset commercial losses to shellfish fisheries of $7 million per year.

The study, published last week in Science, is the first regional economic analysis of the costs and benefits of sea otter recovery along the west coast of Vancouver Island. Critically, it offers a new modeling framework to evaluate the significant long-term ecological changes driven by a top predator like the sea otter.

"Our work offers a glimpse into a future where otter populations have recovered to an estimated 5000 animals, and have fully reoccupied their historic range," said lead author Edward Gregr, an adjunct professor at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC. "We found that coastal ecosystems with otters present are almost 40 per cent more productive. In the long run, that equates to higher fish catches worth $9 million, carbon storage worth $2 million and tourism opportunities worth $42 million per year."

That's because the hungry otters drive huge transformations to their local ecosystems: by keeping urchin populations in check, they allow kelp forests to recover. Healthy kelp forests, in turn, sequester carbon and support abundant marine life, from salmon and lingcod to seals and whales.

For the analysis, researchers integrated local ecological field studies with available economic data and a , and accounted for uncertainties in future values and potential interactions among the species in the coastal ecosystem. 

"It's clear that humanity must reverse the decline in biodiversity if we want to achieve a sustainable future," said co-author Kai Chan, a professor at IRES and the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at UBC. "This study demonstrates that restoring key species to ecosystems can also have great benefits for people, and could serve as a useful framework for evaluating top predator recovery elsewhere."

But, the researchers warn, the costs and benefits of such large ecosystem reorganizations are often not equally distributed. In British Columbia, future management decisions must consider the implications for local Indigenous communities and fishers, who are experiencing the losses from shellfish fisheries more acutely.

For example, while commercial fishers are likely to adapt to fewer crabs in shallow waters by fishing in deeper waters, Indigenous or recreational harvesters with more restricted access may not be able to. - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020


 
Columns

jpg DAVE KIFFER

DAVE KIFFER: Come Aboard!!! - So, while the large cruise lines have decided not to sail to Alaska in 2020, they are not idle.

Even as we speak (well, as I type and you read), they are defining expectations, drawing up storyboards, convening focus groups, and planning charrettes with a single goal in mind.

No, not to make cruises safer.

That's gonna be a crap shoot no matter what they do. They still haven't been able to stop Legionnaire's Disease and N ovovirus from booking passage, so Corona Virus is gonna have to wait its turn for a bed in the infirmary with the rest of the hoi polloi.

The true single goal is to convince passengers that the cruises are safer.

To do so, they are instituting all manner of new policies and procedures in the hopes that the virus will be so busy reading and filling out paperwork it will miss the sailings. 

Really, the only way to kill something like the Corona Virus is to appoint it to a hermetically sealed blue ribbon commission and force it write a mission statement. Studies have shown that no living organism can survive more than an hour or so in such a hopeless environment.

Of course, I have been thumbing through the cruise ships' new "corona" plans and I have to admit, I'm not sure if I can figure it out.

Seems like the major action is going to be ensuring everything is safe by requiring passengers to fill out a questionnaire that asks two questions: - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020


jpg Political Cartoon: 8 minutes, 46 seconds

Political Cartoon: 8 minutes, 46 seconds
By John Darkow ©2020, Columbia Missourian
Distributed to paid subscribers for publication by Cagle Cartoons, Inc.


      

Real Time U.S. Debt Clock
http://www.usdebtclock.org/

Real Time Alaska Debt Clock
US Debt Clock Alaska: click here

U.S. Inflation Calculator
Easily calculate the buying power of the US dollar & inflation rate from 1913-2020

U.S. Energy Info. Admin.
Heating Oil & Propane Update

Public Meetings & Info

Ketchikan Borough Assembly

arrowLive video stream of current meeting
arrow Meeting Video Archives
arrow Agenda and Information Packets
arrow Assembly Meeting Minutes

Ketchikan Planning Commission

arrowLive video stream of current meeting
arrowMeeting Video Archives
arrowAgenda, Information Packets & Minute

Ketchikan City Council

arrow Meeting Videos
arrow Agendas, Minutes & Information Packets
arrow E-COMMENT ON KETCHIKAN CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS

Ketchikan School Board

arrow Live video stream of current meeting
arrow Agendas & Packets

Police Dispatch

arrow AK Troopers Daily Dispatch
arrow Ketchikan Police Reports
arrow Juneau Police Reports

Ketchikan

arrow Jobs
arrow AK Weathercams
arrow Current AK Weather Map

CLASSIFIEDS

arrowPublish

Publish Your Ad
Click Here

CLASSIFIEDS' CATEGORIES

arrow Public Meetings
arrow Announcements
arrow Upcoming Events
arrow Boats, etc.
arrow Help Wanted
arrow For Sale / Free Stuff
arrow Garage Sales
arrow Homes / Apts/ Property
arrow Pets
arrow Wanted
arrow Lost & Found
arrow Publish Your Ad


Front Page Archives
& Letter Archives
March - June 2020
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 AM
PM
18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31 01 02 03 04
05 06 07 08 09 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 01 02
03 04 05 06 07 08 09
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 01 02 03 04 05 06
07 08 09 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17      

Viewpoints, Analysis,
Op-Eds/Letters

Basic Rules &
Freedom of Speech

Questions, please contact the editor at editor@sitnews.us or call 617-9696

Sitnews reserves
the right to edit.



jpg Opinion

The Office of Professional Standards Investigates Allegations of Trooper Misconduct and Provides Accountability; Members of the public are encouraged to make their concerns known  By Investigator Ben Evans, DPS’s Office of Professional Standards - So many questions have circulated across the nation and here in Alaska regarding training standards, policies and procedures that law enforcement agencies have in place. As the lead investigator for allegations of officer misconduct at the Department of Public Safety, I was shocked by the video, showing Mr. George Floyd’s treatment at the hands of the four former Minneapolis Police officers, that triggered the civil unrest and concerns.  The way Mr. Floyd was treated is absolutely not in line with how Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers are trained and expected to conduct themselves.  From my years of experience, I can tell you I’m thankful I work for an agency that prioritizes the sanctity of human life, and only resorts to using deadly force when absolutely necessary.  

Recent marches and protests at various locations around our state occurred peacefully as concerned citizens demanded fair and equal treatment from law enforcement and that police officers are held accountable if they do wrong. So, I write today to assure you that the DPS demands the same of its staff. The Office of Professional Standards (OPS) is here to make certain that these standards are upheld.

While the OPS was created over a decade ago, the demonstrations make it is clear to me that, by and large, Alaskans do not know the OPS exists or what it does. Its primary mission is to conduct fair and impartial administrative investigations of employee misconduct for policy violations.  While we are responsible for all employee administrative investigations, the majority of our investigations are of Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers.  The OPS is comprised of civilian employees in the Commissioner’s Office, not within the trooper chain of command.

Minor investigations of lower-level misconduct are done by front line supervisors. Lower-level misconduct include allegations such as showing up to work late, damaging a department vehicle, or perhaps not being courteous to members of the public. The OPS conducts investigations into allegations of more severe or complex misconduct which could result in termination or serious disciplinary actions against an employee.  Severe allegations include troopers lying, losing evidence, using excessive force, unbecoming conduct, and violating the law, to name a few.  - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020

jpg Opinion

University of Alaska Consolidation By Rep. Dan Ortiz - Thank you to everyone who participated in the public testimony meeting last week hosted by the University of Alaska Board of Regents. As many of you are already aware, the University is considering merging the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) into either University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) or University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). This idea comes after many years of financial struggle. If this idea is adopted, it certainly would have a negative long-term impact on our local and Southeast regional economy.

The University budget has been cut consistently for the last ten years. Since Fiscal Year 2011, the Unrestricted General Funds allocated to the University budget has been cut by $60 million, a decrease of almost 20%. Last summer, the Governor made it clear that he wants to cut the budget an additional $70 million over the next three years. For FY21, he proposed a reduction of $25 million to the UA budget; the Legislature voted to increase that amount by $12.5 million, but then the Governor vetoed that increase.

With these steep cuts, the University has had to be creative with its own budgeting. Last week during its board meeting, the regents approved this year’s budget, which includes staff layoffs, executive furloughs, suspended pay increases, and the elimination of 40 academic programs. Unfortunately, this will have a snowball effect as students affected by those changes leave the UA system, taking their talent and tuition outside the state. Statistically, it is more likely that they will not return to Alaska. - More....
Monday PM - June 15, 2020

jpg Opinion

Enough of the China Bashing Already By Michael Spence - It appears that China Bashing has taken center stage as political fodder for the November Presidential race.

The Trump administration continues advancing its claims that Communist China caused the Covid 19 virus and should be responsible for all the illness, death, and economic harm brought to our nation and indeed the rest of humanity.  As is typical of the Trump administration, those claims are made without evidence and before any proper investigation has been completed. 

The Democrats now also feel they must follow suit since the disinformation media has already convinced most Americans that the latest global crisis really IS China's fault.

Of course this approach is easier politically than actually learning the origins of the disease and finding out why our nation was so unsuccessful at preventing and treating it.

The latest anti China dogwhistle is that the the Chinese government should pay "reparations" to the United States for those pre-judged transgressions. - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020

jpg Opinion

After defunding the police... By John Suter - After the police are defunded the next thing that should be defunded is the fire departments across America.

The reason for this is because when Antifa sets fires to these buildings in protest, they set these fires to burn these building all the way down to the ground, not to have the fire departments put them out.  That’s how they are able to fully express their message.  When the fire department shows up, they put these fires out.  This takes away from the message that Antifa is trying to make.  By fire departments putting out these fires they are interfering with Antifa’s First Amendments Rights to be able to fully express themselves.  - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020

jpg Opinion

Trump Ignored Obama's Pandemic Manual By Donald Moskowitz - President Trump said "the cupboards were bare" of ppe and ventilators when he took office, but they were bare three years into his administration. When asked about this he blamed Russian Gate, Ukraine Gate, and the impeachment, which is hogwash since there were adequate government resources available to address the need for medical supplies.

Ronald Klain, an Obama administration official who addressed potential pandemic outbreaks said Obama's administration provided the Trump administration with a 69 page pandemic manual called Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emerging Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents. This document was ignored  by Trump's administration. Additionally, Trump abolished the office for pandemic preparedness in 2018, and cut by 75% a global pandemic monitoring system.

Obama's pandemic manual references the need for the federal government to procure ppe, detect the outbreak, acquire funding and invoke the Defense Production Act at the earliest indication of a pandemic in the world. It calls for appointment of a single knowledgeable federal person to lead the response effort, which is not an unqualified president or vice president. - More...
Monday PM - June 15, 2020

Email letters, opinions, OPEDs to editor@sitnews.us



E-mail your news tips, news
releases & photos to:
editor@sitnews.us

SitNews
Stories in the News
©1997 - 2019
Ketchikan, Alaska

In Memory of SitNews' editor
(1999-2006),
Richard (Dick) Kauffman

1932-2007

Mary Kauffman, Webmaster/Editor,
Publisher...
editor@sitnews.us
907 617 9696

 jpg Mary Kauffman, Editor

Locally owned & operated.

Est. 1997
Est. Commercial 2005-2020
©1997 - 2020

 Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright and may not be reprinted or redistributed without written permission from and payment of required fees to the proper sources.

E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us

Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so, granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.

 

Community Connections - Ketchikan, Alaska

Alaska Counts - US Census 2020

Coastal Real Estate Group - Ketchikan, Alaska

First Bank - Ketchikan, Alaska

Alaskan and Proud Markets - Grocery & Liquor Stores - Ketchikan, Alaska

Alaska Travelers - Ketchikan, Alaska - Asisting travelers with lodging in Ketchikan since 1999.

Alaska Car Rental - Ketchikan, Alaska

Southeast Water Services - Bulk Water Delivery - Ketchikan, Alaska

Madison Lumber & Hardware - Ketchikan, Alaska (TrueValue)

Otter Creek Partners, Registered Investment Advisor - Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan Humane Society

AAA Moving & Storage - Allied Alaska - Ketchikan, Alaska

The Local Paper - Ketchikan, Alaska The Local Paper - Ketchikan, Alaska The Home Office - The Local Paper; Ketchikan, Alaska

The Local Paper is
available online.
Click here for this week's printed edition (PDF)

KRBD - Ketchikan FM Community Radio for Southern Southeast Alaska

Shop Local & Advertise Local with SitNews - Ketchikan, Alaska