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Alaska: Native Tourism Bill Signed Into Law; New Law Will Help Native Communities Tell Their Own Stories - A bill to enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States, the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, was signed into law Friday by President Obama.

This bipartisan legislation - introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and John Thune (R-S.D.) - will enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States.

Senator Schatz said, “This new law gives our native communities a real opportunity to grow their local economy and share their history and culture with the rest of the world.”

Schatz said in a news release, "The NATIVE Act will require federal agencies with tourism assets and responsibilities to include tribes and native organizations in national tourism efforts and strategic planning. It will also provide Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, and American Indian communities with access to resources and technical assistance needed to build sustainable recreational and cultural travel and tourism infrastructure and capacity; spur economic development, and create good jobs."

U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) are cosponsors of the NATIVE Act. Congressman Don Young (R-AK) co-sponsored companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“This important piece of legislation will give cultural tourism a much-needed boost,” said Senator Murkowski. “Tourism contributed $3.9 billion to Alaska’s economy last year, and this bill will give Alaska Native communities and small businesses the opportunity to share their traditions and cultures with travelers from all over the world.”

“Working towards diversifying our economy is extremely important and this bill helps in that effort,” said Senator Sullivan. “For rural Alaska, the economic development potential is huge, and it will also help to showcase for the rest of the world rural Alaska’s uniqueness and beauty.”

“Alaska is recognized as a premier travel destination, not only for our state’s abundant beauty but for our welcoming people and rich cultural history,” said Congressman Young. “The NATIVE Act, which I proudly co-sponsored in the House, makes important steps to empower Alaska Native and American Indian communities by increasing collaboration and coordination of federal efforts to promote tourism in these areas. Tourism is a significant source of revenue and employment for Alaskans, and this legislation ensures Alaska’s culture and heritage is supported throughout our federal tourism programs.” - More...
Monday PM - September 26, 2016

Alaska: Nationwide Survey Reports Alaska Biggest Loser In Severance Taxes - Nationwide, state government tax revenue increased 4.8 percent, from $875.0 billion in fiscal year 2014 to $916.5 billion in 2015 - the fifth consecutive increase, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2015 Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections.

The survey reported that corporate income taxes rose to $49.1 billion in 2015, from $46.9 billion in 2014, or 4.7 percent, while individual income taxes rose to $338.1 billion, from $313.2 billion, or 7.9 percent.

The 2015 Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections provides a comprehensive look at state governments and contains statistics on the tax collections of all state governments, including receipts from compulsory fees. State governments and businesses have been using these statistics since 1951 to make policy and investment decisions.

Revenue statistics are broken down into 25 subcategories, such as motor fuel taxes, amusements taxes and hunting license taxes. Tax revenue statistics also include related penalty and interest receipts of the governments.

Nationwide, severance taxes decreased 29.1 percent, from $17.8 billion to $12.6 billion. Much of this decrease was due to a decline in oil extraction. States that showed the largest revenue decreases in severance taxes were all major oil producers:

• Alaska: Decrease of 95.7 percent, from $2.5 billion to $0.1 billion.

• Texas: Decrease of 33.4 percent, from $6.0 billion to $4.0 billion.

• Oklahoma: Decrease of 18.1 percent, from $679.4 million to $556.5 million.

• Louisiana: Decrease of 15.2 percent, from $862.2 million to $731.3 million.

• North Dakota: Decrease of 13.5 percent, from $3.3 billion to $2.8 billion. - More...
Monday PM - September 26, 2016

Alaska: Gulls in Alaska Found to Carry Antibiotic Resistant E. coli - Some gulls in southcentral Alaska are carriers of antibiotic resistant strains of E. coli, according to a new study co-authored by the U.S. Geological Survey.

John Reed (USGS scientist) holding a gull marked with a satellite transmitter at the Soldotna landfill in June 2016.
By Lee Tibbitts, USGS

Gulls commonly carry E. coli and often show no signs of illness. However, this is the first report of antibiotic resistant E. coli in birds in the southcentral Alaska region. While it is still unclear how gulls are picking up antibiotic resistant strains of E. coli, possible sources include landfills and wastewater discharge.

USGS and collaborators sampled gulls on the urban Kenai Peninsula and on the remote Middleton Island, a location far offshore in the Gulf of Alaska. The samples were tested, and results show more antibiotic resistant bacteria in birds in areas with higher levels of human use. Areas tested on the Kenai Peninsula’s Soldotna Landfill and the mouth of the Kenai River were chosen because of earlier water quality sampling performed by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation near these areas.

“More than half of the E. coli collected from gulls on the Kenai Peninsula were resistant to at least one antibiotic compound, and a large number of multi-resistant E. coli strains were detected,” said Andy Ramey, a USGS Alaska Science Center scientist and co-author of the report. “This is higher than the number of resistant strains identified at more remote gull colonies on Middleton Island.”

“Our findings suggest an increased level of antibiotic resistant bacteria in birds associated with urban environments,” said Dr. Jonas Bonnedahl, an infectious disease physician at Kalmar County Hospital in Sweden and senior author of the study. “Based on our findings, additional research may be warranted to understand the risk for re-transmission of antibiotic resistant E. coli to humans in locations where people and gulls interact.”

For the past several years, ADEC, the City of Kenai, and the Kenai Watershed Forum have monitored water quality on the Kenai River. Elevated levels of bacteria have been reported in recent years, and based on other studies it was concluded that gull feces were a significant source of bacteria in the Kenai River. - More...
Monday PM - September 26, 2016