Denali National Park Bridge Crew Ordered to Stop Flying American Flags

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The crew working on a 475-foot-long bridge in Alaska’s Denali National Park was recently told that they could no longer fly the American flag from their trucks or heavy equipment, which are being used in the $207 million Federal Highway Administration project.

The bridge is being built by Granite Construction, after a 2021 rockslide took out a portion of the popular Denali Park Road that is used by visitors and tour buses to access more remote areas of the national park.

Since 2023, construction has been underway to repair the road at mile 45. This spring two mobile trucks and one piece of heavy equipment had been flying standard-sized U.S. flags. . .

According to the contractor, Denali National Park Superintendent Brooke Merrell contacted the man overseeing the federal highways project, claiming there had been complaints about the U.S. flags, and notifying him that bridge workers must stop flying the stars and strips from their vehicles because it detracts from the “park experience.”

Merrell moved to Alaska in 2009 as a transportation planner and environmental coordinator. A Pennsylvania native, she received a master’s degree in urban planning. Prior to moving to Alaska, she worked for the City of Portland and the Gulf Islands National Seashore, along with left-leaning environmentalist and social justice groups such as DNA People’s Legal Services and Columbia Riverkeeper. (Read more from “Denali National Park Bridge Crew Ordered to Stop Flying American Flags” HERE)

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Alaska Man Fatally Attacked by Moose While Photographing Newborn Calves

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Tragedy struck in Homer, Alaska, on Sunday when a 70-year-old man, identified as Dale Chorman, was attacked and killed by a mother moose while attempting to take photographs of her two newborn calves.

According to Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety, the female moose had recently given birth to the calves in Homer. Chorman and another individual were walking through the brush in search of the moose when the cow moose launched the attack.

“The cow moose attacked Dale as they were walking through the brush looking for the moose,” McDaniel stated. The attack occurred while the two were attempting to flee the scene.

The other individual, who has not been publicly identified, escaped unharmed. However, as they did not witness the attack, authorities could not ascertain the exact cause of Chorman’s death, whether it was due to kicks, stomps, or a combination of both.

Emergency medical personnel pronounced Chorman dead at the scene, after which the cow moose left the area, according to Alaska State Troopers.

This tragic incident recalls a similar event in 1995 when a 71-year-old man was fatally stomped by a moose while attempting to enter a building on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage. Witnesses reported that the moose and its calf had been harassed by students for hours prior to the attack.

Alaska is home to an estimated population of up to 200,000 moose. While moose are typically not aggressive, they can become so when provoked, especially during calving season.

During this time, cow moose become highly protective of their calves and may attack humans who approach too closely. Authorities advise giving moose extra space during calving season and caution against spooking the animals or getting between a mother and her calves.

“Cow moose with calves are going to be some of the more aggressive moose you’re going to come in contact with,” McDaniel warned. “Those moose will become unpredictable and work to protect their calves at any cost.”

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One Climber Dies, Another Critically Injured in 1,000-Foot Fall From Alaska Mountain

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One mountain climber was killed and another was seriously injured Thursday night after plummeting an estimated 1,000 feet from Mt. Johnson’s 8,400-foot peak in Alaska’s Denali National Park, the National Park Service (NPS) said.

Due to adverse weather conditions, rescue teams were not able to reach the body of Robbi Mecus, 52, until the weather cleared Saturday morning, according to a statement by the NPS. The surviving climber — a 30-year-old California woman — was rescued and transporting by air ambulance to an Anchorage hospital Friday morning, the NPS stated.

The incident occurred on a portion of Mt. Johnson known as “the Escalator.” The two women were roped while climbing up terrain covered in a mix of rock, ice, and snow, the NPS said.

Another group of climbers witnessed the fall, notified park rangers and then climbed down to help the women, according to the NPS. The climbers reportedly confirmed Mecus was killed in the fall and gave first aid to the surviving climber. They tried to keep her warm until morning by digging a snow cave and attending “to the surviving climber’s injuries throughout the night,” the NPS stated.

Denali National Park Superintendent Brooke Merrell said, “We are grateful for the rescue efforts of Denali mountaineering rangers and the two good Samaritans on Mt. Johnson who helped save a fellow climber’s life. We extend our thoughts and condolences to the friends and family of Robbi Mecus.” (Read more from “One Climber Dies, Another Critically Injured in 1,000-Foot Fall From Alaska Mountain” HERE)

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Senator Sullivan Slams Biden for ‘Despicable’ Action He Took in Alaska

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Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) slammed President Joe Biden over the weekend for taking action to restrict energy exploration and mining in his state while not enforcing sanctions against some of America’s top adversaries.

Sullivan made the remarks during a Sunday CBS News interview with Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation.”

“I know you’re also passionate about this and what the Biden administration just announced about your state of Alaska,” Brennan said. “He has limited oil and gas drilling in parts in the National Petroleum Reserve to protect polar bears and other things. And then he also blocked a road crucial to operating a copper and zinc mine.”

“You said this is ‘suicidal’ and ‘lawless,’” Brennan noted. “Those are strong words.”

Sullivan responded: “Well, it’s lawless. He doesn’t have the authority to do it. And I could go into all the laws that support me on that. It’s, as I say, national security suicide. Look, this president won’t sanction the Iranian oil and gas regime. You may have seen Senator Blumenthal and I put a – sent a letter to the president on Friday, saying you need to do that.” (Read more from “Senator Sullivan Slams Biden for ‘Despicable’ Action He Took in Alaska” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Report: Fairbanks Planet Fitness Assigns Staffer to Escort Trans Customer in Women’s Locker Room

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The Alaska Planet Fitness outlet in the news for allowing a man who identifies as “queer” to use the women’s locker rooms has reportedly doubled down on its policy by not only allowing the trans customer free access to women’s facilities but also providing a staff member to escort him.

The outlet in Fairbanks, Alaska, has been in the news since the indispensable Libs of TikTok posted about the experience of gym customer Patricia Silva, who was shocked and alarmed when she saw an obvious man in various states of undress, shaving in the women’s locker room while young girls were in there.

Silva had taken to her social media to say how uncomfortable she was over having a man in the women’s locker room. But after her video went viral, Planet Fitness doubled down on its trans inclusion policy and banned Silva from using their facilities.

A spokesman told the press that Planet Fitness is a “Judgement Free Zone” and has no problem with “transgender” customers invading women’s spaces.

“As the home of the Judgement Free Zone, Planet Fitness is committed to creating an inclusive environment,” the company said in an email to media outlets. (Read more from “Report: Planet Fitness Assigns Staffer to Escort Trans Customer in Women’s Locker Room” HERE)

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Planet Fitness Doubles Down on Allowing Men in Women’s Locker Rooms

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Planet Fitness has doubled down on its decision to ban a member who reported a “trans woman” for shaving in the female locker room. The fitness juggernaut said that although people may feel uncomfortable by the situation, it “is not a reason to deny access to the transgender member,” per the Daily Mail.

The revelations went viral after Libs of TikTok posted to X, writing: “Woman in Planet Fitness claims she went into the bathroom and this man who thinks he’s a woman was in there shaving. Why does @PlanetFitness allow men to use the women’s bathroom and invade women’s private spaces??”

The woman in the video, Patricia Silva, who lives in Alaska, said the “trans woman” was shaving in the female locker room while a girl — who could have been as young as 12 years old — was sitting in the corner wrapped in a towel, appearing to be distressed that here was a man in her locker room.

Three days later, Libs of TikTok posted an update, posting a video of the same woman. The account posted to X: “UPDATE: The woman who exposed a man shaving in an Alaska Planet Fitness women’s locker room with a 12-year-old present just had her membership revoked. Why is @PlanetFitness prioritizing a man with a p*nis using a woman’s private space over women’s and girls’ safety?”

(Read more from “Planet Fitness Doubles Down on Allowing Men in Women’s Locker Rooms” HERE)

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Defense Department Examining Possible Spy Balloon Found off Alaska Coast: Report

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Defense Department officials are inspecting a balloon found by fishermen off the Alaskan coast last week to determine if it was used to spy, according to a report.

The balloon is being analyzed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, a department spokesperson told CNN Wednesday – the first time the government officially acknowledged the debris was a balloon.

“We do not know why the balloon was in the waters off the coast of Alaska nor are we going to characterize it at this time, but hope to learn more about the balloon’s origin and purpose after further analysis of the materiel, which will be conducted by multiple agencies,” spokesperson Sue Gough said.

Sources told CNN last week the balloon, discovered by a commercial fishing ship on Friday, appeared similar to surveillance balloons used by foreign nations. (Read more from “Defense Department Examining Possible Spy Balloon Found off Alaska Coast: Report” HERE)

Man Stabs Fellow Passenger With Makeshift Weapon During Alaska Airlines Flight Because ‘Mafia’ Was Chasing Him

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A man aboard a recent Alaska Airlines flight constructed a makeshift weapon to stab a fellow passenger, according to multiple reports. The suspect allegedly said that he needed to protect himself because the “mafia had been chasing him.”

The bloody stabbing took place during an Alaska Airlines flight traveling from Seattle to Las Vegas on Jan. 24, 2024.

Julio Alvarez Lopez was described as acting “fidgety” throughout the flight, according to the New York Post. He also repeatedly put on and removed his gloves and went to the bathroom for lengthy amounts of time during the plane’s initial descent, the outlet reported.

While returning to his seat, Lopez allegedly began punching and hitting a fellow passenger seated across the aisle from him.

The suspect reportedly constructed a makeshift weapon comprised of pens wrapped together with rubber bands. Lopez is accused of using the improvised weapon in an attempt to stab the male passenger. (Read more from “Man Stabs Fellow Passenger With Makeshift Weapon During Alaska Airlines Flight Because ‘Mafia’ Was Chasing Him” HERE)

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Elderly Man Succumbs to Alaskapox in First Reported Fatal Case

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Health officials in Alaska have reported the first documented human death caused by Alaskapox, a rare virus that has previously affected wildlife in the region.

The victim, identified as an elderly man receiving cancer treatment and residing on the Kenai Peninsula, succumbed to the virus after severe complications, including renal failure and respiratory issues.

The man, who had an immune system compromised due to cancer treatment, first reported signs of the infection in September when a tender lesion appeared in his armpit area. Despite immediate medical attention, the infection worsened, leading to a series of emergency care visits. Six weeks into the ordeal, he was hospitalized locally, but as the situation deteriorated, with impaired arm movement and escalating health issues, he was eventually transferred to an Anchorage hospital.

Alaskapox was first identified in 2015, and since then, there have been six additional reported cases in Alaska. Five of these cases happened in Fairbanks. However, this recent fatality marks the first severe infection resulting in hospitalization and death.

Alaskapox primarily occurs in small mammals, with red-backed voles and shrews being the most commonly identified carriers. The virus’s prevalence in Alaska’s small mammal populations suggests a potential for human infections that may have gone undiagnosed.

The victim had recently begun to care for a stray cat and reported it often scratched him, likely leading to his infection. Domestic pets, including cats and dogs, may play a role in spreading the virus.

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Biden Plans Alaska National Guard Deployment to Texas Border, but Not to Support Governor Abbott

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President Joe Biden has initiated plans to deploy Alaska National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, a decision that appears to align with his administration’s approach to border control. The move has sparked concerns, particularly in Texas, where Governor Gregg Abbott has been actively securing the border using methods that include the installation of concertina wire atop shipping containers, colloquially referred to as “Operation Lone Star,” in a desperate attempt to stop the influx of illegal aliens into the state.

The decision to deploy National Guard troops takes a notable turn, as it seems geared towards supporting the federal government’s border control efforts, rather than fortifying the state-level security measures undertaken by Texas. President Biden’s move to nationalize a National Guard contingent is seen by many as a response to the left-leaning faction within his base, advocating for a more lenient approach to immigration and border policies. Biden evidently aims to allow more criminals and drugs through the southern border, further proving his ongoing attempts to destroy the country.

The U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in January that the federal government could dismantle Governor Abbott’s razor wire while the legal battle over Texas’s rights to defend against a potential invasion unfolds.

The National Guard deployment plan, set for 2025, has raised suspicions, since Biden’s plan is set to take effect post-election. The Alaska National Guard has been directed to prepare helicopters and personnel for potential deployment in early 2025, providing aviation support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Alaskan Governor Mike Dunleavy, a supporter of Abbott’s border security efforts, was reportedly excluded from the decision-making process.

Recently, Governor Abbott emphasized that the new Ukraine funding bill, masquerading as a border bill, compromises the states’ rights to challenge the federal government within their own jurisdictions further adds to the complexity of the situation.

The Governor stated on X:

Texas stripped of powers in border security bill.

This is unacceptable.

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