Obama Declares War on Alaska: Designating 12+ Million ANWR Acres Off-Limits “Wilderness”

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The Obama administration will propose setting aside more than 12 million acres in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness, the White House announced Sunday, halting any chance of oil exploration for now in the refuge’s much-fought-over coastal plain and sparking a fierce battle with Republicans, including the new chair of the Senate Energy Committee.

“Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuge is an incredible place — pristine, undisturbed. It supports caribou and polar bears, all manner of marine life, countless species of birds and fish, and for centuries it supported many Alaska Native communities. But it’s very fragile,” President Obama said in a White House video on the move.

The announcement, according to individuals briefed on the plan, is just the first in a series of decisions the Interior Department will make in the coming week that will affect the state’s oil and gas production. The department will also put part of the Arctic Ocean off limits to drilling as part of a five-year leasing plan it will issue this week and is considering whether to impose additional limits on oil and gas production in parts of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. (Read more from this story about Obama’s wilderness designation of 12+ million ANWR acres HERE)

Here’s Obama’s Touchy-Feely Message Supporting the ANWR Shutdown:

Exclusive: Canadian Stupidity Over Alaska’s Prince Rupert Ferry Terminal Stoking Tensions

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It was reported in The Canadian Press and The Prince George Citizen that Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada has ostensibly directed his administration to take a precedent setting position in regards to the Alaskan operated ferry terminal in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The Canadian administration’s opening salvo began with threatening to use a little known “Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act,” in order to force the State of Alaska to acquiesce to demands that they use Canadian steel and other products during the construction of a 15 million dollar small ferry terminal.

If done in the manner demanded by the Harper Administration, the procurement of Canadian products will be in violation of the “Buy American Act” provisions embedded in U.S. Federal contracting law. A provision that Alaska Governor Bill Walker has made abundantly clear will not be waived.


Ferry operations by the Alaska Marine Highway System presents challenges at the Port of Prince Rupert. A number of problems with this port, along with additional regulations, add an exorbitant amount of cost to operations. Back on July 23, 1997 a large contingent of fishermen formed a blockade that held hostage the M/V Malaspina for two to three days while the fishermen burned American flags and yelled obscenities at the crew on the Alaskan ferry in protests related to allocation of Pacific salmon harvests. The blockade placed the crew of the vessel and three hundred passengers in fear of additional retaliation due to the belligerent behavior of the fishermen who acted in surprise and impunity of the local authorities . This action was instantly an international incident, which found the United States Senate voting 81-19 in favor of sending in the U.S. Navy to enforce the internationally-recognized Right of Innocent Passage.”

Ultimately cooler heads prevailed and former President Bill Clinton negotiated the “Pacific Salmon Treaty,” which initially was welcomed by both sides of the border, yet was ultimately abandoned in following years. During those hostilities, the blockade lasted until the fishing fleet, based in Prince Rupert, received assurances from their government to renew talks between the United States in regards to fisheries management .

At the time, then Alaskan Governor Tony Knowles engaged in meetings attended by a Canadian delegation including the Canadian Fisheries Minister, and the Washington State Governor as they arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to negotiate the fishing legislation addressing their respective jurisdictions and nations. There was a brief period of time where the State of Alaska suspended all operations in the Port of Prince Rupert, which lasted from the end of July to December 1997.

Ultimately, the parties agreed to the passage of the “Safe Passage” principle that focused on salmon fishing along the Alaskan coast and elsewhere. Eventually, apology letters with assurances from the Mayor of Prince Rupert and Canadian Fisheries Minister that the Canadians will prevent future blockades and give funding to rebuild the image of the Alaskan Ferry System in Canada. The Alaskan Ferry System relented on the suspension of ferry traffic to Prince Rupert, and operations resumed to the present day. (Read page 2 of this story about the Prince Rupert Ferry terminal issue HERE)

Sarah Palin on 2016: Time to Ditch the “No Girls Allowed” Sign on the Oval Office Door

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Just before she heads to Iowa for the first major conservative showcase of the 2016 election cycle, Sarah Palin said “of course” she’s interested in the 2016 presidential election.

“Yeah, I mean, of course, when you have a servant’s heart, when you know that there is opportunity to do all you can to put yourself forward in the name of offering service, anybody would be interested,” Palin told ABC News’ Neal Karlinsky while serving wild boar chili to the homeless in Las Vegas Thursday.

When asked again if she could be “possibly” interested in a presidential campaign, she answered, “We definitely had enough of seeing that — America has had enough of seeing that — sign on the Oval Office door saying, ‘No Girls Allowed.’ I know that.”

While serving up bowls to those gathered in line, the former Alaska governor clarified, “It doesn’t necessarily have to be me, though, but no, America is definitely ready for real change.

“It doesn’t have to be myself, but yes … happy to drive that competition, because competition will make everyone better and produce more and be more candid regarding their solutions they will offer this country. I am very interested in that competitive process and, again, not necessarily me.” (Read more about Sarah Palin on 2016 HERE)

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Palin: GOP Establishment has a Case of Deflated Balls

By Samuel Smith. While appearing at a hunting and outdoors trade show in Las Vegas on Thursday, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin declined to comment on current hot-button political issues but sent the clear message to Republican leadership in Congress that they need to go on the “offensive” with the new majority they have in both houses.

After promoting her outdoor-themed reality show “Amazing America” at the SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show), the 50-year-old former vice presidential candidate told The Blaze that Republicans in Congress need to start acting like they actually have the majority and urged GOP Congress members to stop playing “defense.”

“I’m not going to talk politics except to say the GOP had better go on offense,” Palin asserted. “Man, they are not going to win a game on defense. Being in the majority there in D.C. — we’re blowing it if we just bend our back.”

In issuing her comments, Palin used a metaphor comparing the Republican leadership to the scandal-ridden New England Patriots to drive home the point.

“That GOP leadership, that establishment, they’ve got to get their stuff together. I love what they believe in, I believe in it too. But they’ve got to get tough man,” Palin explained. “You know what? It’s not just the New England Patriots who are dealing with deflated balls right now.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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Jet Fuel Price Dropping, Alaska Airlines Stocks Soaring

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By David Koenig. Leaders of United and Southwest gave an upbeat forecast for 2015 that combined strong travel demand and cheaper fuel. Alaska Airlines, citing a strong outlook and record adjusted earnings, raised its dividend by 60 percent. Airline stocks soared on Thursday.

The price of jet fuel has dropped by about half since September, boosting airline profits and tamping down fear that global economic weakness could hurt the carriers. Analysts expect all four of the biggest U.S. airline operators — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Continental and Southwest, to post bigger profits this year than in 2014.

United Continental predicted first-quarter profit margins higher than many analysts had expected. (Read more about the jet fuel price dropping HERE)

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Delta Air Lines’ “Seattle Invasion” has Failed to Displace Alaska Airlines

By Steve Wilhelm. If you thought the Seattle invasion by Delta Air Lines would dislodge Seattle-based Alaska Air Group, think again.

Alaska reported record profit and decreasing costs for the fourth quarter, and executives struck a note of confidence during the earnings call Thursday.

Alaska Air Group, which includes Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, reported a record $571 million in net 2014 income excluding special items, up 49 percent from the year before. Alaska’s passenger revenue grew 7 percent for the year.

“Alaska has real and durable competitive advantages that will help us sustain these results going forward,” said Brandon Pedersen, chief financial officer. “We’re safe, we run an excellent operation, we offer
award-winning service, have really loyal customers, a great network, low costs, a modern fuel-efficient fleet, a strong balance sheet, and engaged employees.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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Alaskan Court Overturns Man’s Conviction in ‘Last Seduction’

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Photo Credit: Kiskadee 3The Alaska Court of Appeals has overturned the murder conviction of a man charged with killing his romantic rival at the urging of the woman they both hoped to marry.

The court on Wednesday reversed the murder conviction for John Carlin III, who was convicted in 2006 of killing Kent Leppink on an isolated trail about in a small community south of Anchorage 10 years earlier. The case went unsolved until Alaska State Troopers reopened it in 2004.

Prosecutors had claimed he was coaxed into killing Leppink by the woman at the center of the romantic triangle, Mechele Linehan, an exotic dancer who lived with the two men in Anchorage.

Prosecutors maintained she was inspired by the 1994 movie, “The Last Seduction,” in which a femme fatale coaxes her lover into killing her husband for money. (Read more about what the Alaskan court did HERE)

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State of Alaska Ignores Canadian Threat, Goes Forward with Project

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Photo Credit: CBC News Alaska is refusing to budge after the Harper government issued a legal threat over the state’s plan to build on Canadian soil with exclusively American iron and steel.

In fact, the Alaskans insisted Tuesday that they’re moving ahead with their project to build a new ferry terminal in British Columbia — protectionist provisions and all.

This week, the Canadian government took the unusual step of signing a legal order to prevent Alaska from imposing “Buy American” policies on the construction work in the B.C. coastal city of Prince Rupert.

International Trade Minister Ed Fast went on the offensive after the state rejected Ottawa’s demands that it abandon a rule requiring the Prince Rupert project to use only U.S.-made materials.

The rarely used Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act would enable Ottawa to impose fines and take legal action against the project’s winning bidder if it complies with the Buy American provisions. (Read more from “Alaska Ignores Canadian Threat” HERE)

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Man Dies From 1,000 Foot Fall in Alaska

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Alaska State Troopers say an Oregon man died while climbing Mount Yukla.

Dasan Marshall of Portland, Oregon, was climbing with a friend Sunday when he fell about 1,000 feet, troopers said.

Because of the terrain in the Chugach Mountains about 6 miles from the Eagle River Nature Center, a helicopter was used to recover Marshall’s body. The body was taken to the state medical examiner’s office.

No foul play was suspected. (Read more about the man who died from the 1,000 foot fall in Alaska HERE)

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Despite Falling Oil Prices, Alaska LNG Going Forward

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The recent free-fall of crude oil prices has affected markets across the globe. Energy companies have responded by scaling back investments as their available capital shrinks. In British Columbia, delays are hampering the Pacific Northwest LNG project. Likewise, in Texas, a liquefaction project has been suspended off its coast by Excelerate Energy. Yet, meanwhile, Alaska is moving forward on an ambitious infrastructure project to develop and export its North Slope gas reserves.

Alaska’s resources are unique. The state receives approximately ninety percent of its revenue from taxes on oil production, leaving the budget vulnerable to price fluxes. Amid tumbling oil prices, Alaska could now face a projected deficit of almost $3.5 billion, opposed to a projected $1 billion deficit last year. State leaders have responded by tightening the state’s fiscal belt, with the newly elected Governor Bill Walker announcing projected cuts to six ongoing state projects.

Despite those cuts, however, state leaders are wisely continuing the Alaska LNG project. This project would be the first to capitalize upon the vast Alaska North Slope gas reserves at Prudhoe Bay and Point Thomson. With the necessary investment upwards of $65 billon, the effort would be the largest infrastructure project in North American history and would create thousands of construction and long-term operations jobs for hardworking Alaskans. And, perhaps most important for the state, the Alaska LNG project will provide a longstanding stable source of revenue.

Nonetheless, recent actions by Governor Walker are stirring concerns for project supporters. During his campaign, the Governor promised support for the project. Yet last week, he announced the unexpected dismissal of three Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) board members, the state body charged with moving negotiations with major producers forward to build the Alaska LNG project. Moreover, he penned a recent article suggesting the state’s recently reformed oil tax structure was unfair, despite perpetual assurances during his campaign to respect the will of his constituents who voted in August to approve the reformed tax.

Most distressing, however, is his broken promise to drop the lawsuit over the Point Thomson project settlement. As a state political writer noted, “Despite what he said…Walker has not dropped the suit, and is in ‘no hurry’ to remove himself, he said through his spokesperson Grace Jang.” (Read more about the Alaska LNG going forward HERE)

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Alaska Air and Jet Blue Among Safest Airlines in the World; JetBlue adds Portland-Alaska Route

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By Paul Ausick. Given the number of lives lost in 2014 due to airplane crashes, it may seem a bit cynical to review a report on airline safety. However, an airline safety rating website recently announced its list of the world’s safest airlines for 2015, and we noted that two U.S. carriers are among the safest carriers in the world.

The AirlineRatings.com website listed both a top 10 and a low-cost top 10, made up from the staff’s review of the 449 airlines they monitor. The two U.S. carriers that made the top 10 list of low-cost carriers are Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) and JetBlue Airways Corp. (NASDAQ: JBLU). Other global low-cost carriers on the list, in alphabetical order, include Aer Lingus, Icelandair, Jetstar, Kulula.com, Monarch Airlines, Thomas Cook, TUI Fly and Westjet.

Among the legacy carriers the top 10, in alphabetical order, were Air New Zealand, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. The U.S. legacy carriers American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL), Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) and United Continental Holdings Inc. (NYSE: UAL) all posted the highest possible score (7 of 7 possible stars). Four other U.S. carriers that do not fly foreign routes scored 5 of 5 possible stars: Allegiant Travel Co. (NASDAQ: ALGT), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV), Spirit Airlines Inc. (NASDAQ: SAVE) and Frontier Airlines. (Read more about the safest airline in the world HERE)

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JetBlue Adds Anchorage Route

By Ben Mutzabaugh. JetBlue will increase its presence in Portland, adding a fourth nonstop route from the Oregon airport.

The route will be seasonal offering to Anchorage. JetBlue will begin offering daily nonstop service on the route on June 18. The 3-½ hour flights, to be operated on Airbus A320 jets, will run through Sept. 8.

JetBlue will compete head-to-head on the route with Alaska Airlines, which already flies the route. Alaska Airlines operates its second-busiest base at Portland.

Anchorage will become JetBlue’s fourth destination from Portland International (PDX). JetBlue also flies nonstop from PDX to its hubs at Boston and New York JFK as well as to Long Beach, Calif., which is a focus city for the carrier. (Read more from this story HERE)

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False Rape Accusation Leads to Death of Alaska Man

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Photo Credit: The Daily Caller A man was beaten to death by the boyfriend of a woman who falsely claimed he raped her in a Fairbanks, Alaska motel room on Wednesday.

The woman, 31-year-old Dominique Vasquez, reportedly did not want to admit to her boyfriend, 39-year-old Abraham Stine, that she had cheated on him and so lied about the rape . . .

She also knew that Stine had a history of violence when she lied and told him that 37-year-old Wesley Lord — who was also Stine’s cousin — raped her at a the Extended Stay Hotel in Fairbanks.

Based on that belief, Stine came into the motel room through a window and began punching and beating Lord . . . Vasquez reportedly held her hand over Lord’s mouth while he was being assaulted. (Read more about the false rape accusation HERE)

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