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First Brown Bear Attack of the Season

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Photo Credit: __Wichid__A brown bear attacked a well-known area biologist and birder while he was watching birds at the Kasilof River beach on Sunday afternoon with his family.

Alaska State Troopers said the bear first attacked a vehicle and a telephone pole before attacking Toby Burke, 48, a biological technician at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

Burke did not do anything to provoke the bear and suffered bruising on his arm from the brief attack, said Megan Peters, Alaska State Troopers spokesperson. Emergency medical services examined Burke’s arm and said he was fine. Burke declined further medical attention, Peters said.

“The man was very lucky,” Peters said. “… He was able to walk away and go home.”

Multiple residents called troopers about the oddly behaving bear on the beach. One trooper and two Alaska Wildlife Troopers responded. Troopers shot and killed the bear after it charged them from beyond the tree line where they were patrolling and where the bear had last been seen.

Read more from this story HERE.

EPA Study on Pebble Mine Relies on Report from 'Admitted Data Fakers'

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Photo Credit: Getty Images The Environmental Protection Agency’s revised draft assessment of an Alaska mine project cites research from environmental consultants who admitted falsifying a report in an environmental lawsuit.

The EPA’s new review of the potential Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska, relied on research from Stratus Consulting and Ann Maest, the company’s managing scientist. Stratus recently admitted to providing false statements in a decades-long $19 billion lawsuit against the oil company Chevron.

Maest and Stratus claimed earlier this month that they had been misled by a plaintiffs’ lawyer when they provided an environmental report detailing the damage done by Chevron subsidiary Texaco to areas of Ecuador. They disavowed the report as “tainted.”

The environmental impact report used against Chevron was supposed to be written by an independent expert, but was instead written by Stratus, which was employed by lawyers representing Ecuadorian villagers.

Read more from this story HERE.

Bethel Native Sets Several US Powerlifting Records (+video)

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Photo Credit: Calista CorporationBethel Regional High School graduate, Natalie Hanson, is now the American powerlifting record holder in three of the sport’s biggest events. At 23-years old, Hanson set the official record for bench press, squat and total weight lifted for her age group and size. As of now, no one in the USA under 23-years old weighing under 75 kilos has ever officially lifted as much weight as she has.

“I’m in shock,” says Hanson about her record breaking performance, “it still doesn’t feel like that.”

Hanson broke the records at the Alaska State Championships for Power Lifting held in Anchorage, an event sanctioned by the USA powerlifting.

Hanson set the records in the Junior Division for ages 20 – 23.

Watch video here:

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Advocates Eye Legalizing Marijuana in Alaska

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Photo Credit: APAlaska, known for its live-and-let-live lifestyle, is poised to become the next battleground in the push to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.

The state has a complicated history with the drug, with its highest court ruling nearly 40 years ago that adults have a constitutional right to possess and smoke marijuana for personal use in their own homes. In the late 1990s, Alaska became one of the first states to allow the use of pot for medicinal reasons.

Then the pendulum swung the other direction, with residents in 2004 rejecting a ballot effort to legalize recreational marijuana. And in 2006, the state passed a law criminalizing possession of even small amounts of the drug — leaving the current state of affairs somewhat murky.

Supporters of recreational marijuana say attitudes toward pot have softened in the past decade, and they believe they have a real shot at success in Alaska.

The state is reviewing their request to begin gathering signatures to get an initiative on next year’s ballot. The proposal would make it legal for those 21 and older to use and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, though not in public. It also would set out provisions for legal grow operations and establish an excise tax.

Read more from this story HERE.

Rabid Wolf North of Fairbanks Prompts Health Warnings

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Photo Credit: Charles Jeffrey DanoffAlaska health and wildlife officials are issuing warnings after a trapper killed a wolf that tested positive for rabies.

The wolf was killed near Chandalar (CHAN’-dah-lar) Lakes about 185 miles north of Fairbanks. The carcass was transported to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and discarded in a forested area.

The incident has state officials concerned because rabies had not been detected in the area south of the Brooks Range.

Read more about the rabid wolf HERE.

Alaska-Based Soldier Gets 16 Years in Spy Case

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Photo Credit: U.S. Army Alaska

An Alaska-based military policeman will serve 16 years in prison and will be dishonorably discharged for selling military secrets to a Russian agent, who was an undercover FBI agent, a military panel decided Monday.

A panel of eight military members from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage recommended a 19-year sentence for Spec. William Colton Millay, but that was dropped to 16 years because of a pretrial agreement. He will receive credit for the 535 days he’s been jailed since his Oct. 28, 2011, arrest. The panel also reduced him in rank to private and he will forfeit all pay and allowances.

Millay pleaded guilty last month to attempted espionage and other counts. A sentencing panel of male military members began deliberations late Monday afternoon.

Military prosecutors painted Millay as a white supremacist who was fed up with the Army and the United States, and was willing to sell secrets to an enemy agent, even if that would cost his fellow soldiers their lives. Defense attorneys said Millay was emotionally stunted, was only seeking attention and was a candidate for rehabilitation.

Millay’s attorney, Seattle-based Charles Swift, said they understand and accept the sentence. However, “We do intend to seek further clemency as this case goes forward for the reasons that were set forth in the trial: his mental state, his emotional age, and the motivation for it, and the circumstances.”

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The Corrupt Bastards Club Strikes Again: Alaska Republican Party Chair Deposed

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In yet another strike by Alaska’s RINO Establishment against the grassroots, Chair Debbie Brown was removed by a sham proceeding last night. The “trial,” held at a time that Ms. Brown was out-of-town and unable to defend herself against trumped-up charges, resulted in her removal from ARP office. The individual purporting to be the new chair of the ARP, Peter Goldberg, was never elected by the party delegates but was apparently hand-selected by insiders for his current position.

This is the second time this year that a duly-elected ARP Chair has been removed through a kangaroo court-type proceeding orchestrated by long-time party bosses. Not surprisingly, activists are outraged.

Attorney Wayne Anthony Ross, former GOP National Committeeman and long time Alaska Republican Party officer, wrote a protest earlier stating:

In January 2013, in a blatant attempt to retain power, the old guard filed fraudulent complaints and utilized flawed process and procedure, including a so-called “hearing” on January 31, seeking ouster of Chairman-Elect Russ Millette and Vice-Chairman Debbie Brown before they could even assume the positions to which they were elected.

He continued,

Ms. Brown has had two more spurious complaints filed against her. The first complaint was filed 49 days after Ms. Brown became Chairman and the second complaint was filed 63 days after she became Chairman.The most recent complaint was filed only 3 days ago, on Friday, April 5 and submitted by previous Chairman Ruedrich.

Mr. Ross argued that the scheduled hearing did not comply with the Rule of Law:

The timing of this hearing, the manner in which the hearing [was] scheduled and the surrounding circumstances, all show a clear and callous disregard for the ARP rules, due process, the rule of law, and the will of the 2012 ARP State Convention delegates.

He also mentioned that the outcome of the hearing had been predetermined, as a threatening email from the new chair, Peter Goldberg, revealed:

In a threatening e-mail sent to Chairman Brown by you, Vice-Chairman Goldberg, you stated that members of the SEC have already decided on ousting [Debbie Brown], only 49 days after she became Chairman. Thus, without a hearing, the SEC [had] already decided the outcome.

Prior to tonight’s sham hearing, a number of current and former ARP district chairs, delegates and other officers, wrote an Open Letter to the ARP, describing the nature of the conflict:

the present conflict is between those who support the transfer of power to our newly elected officers, and those who oppose that transfer of power. In a grassroots organization such as ours, in which all power is vested in delegates in convention assembled, and those who hold power at all other times do so only in trust, the present conflict amounts to no more, nor less, than a power grab by individuals who failed in their efforts to win election at the 2012 Republican State Convention. That these individuals have attempted to use the state executive committee hearing process to make up for their failed election campaigns, or failure to run for office, is an assault not only on the nature and function of the state executive committee, but also on the power and authority of the state convention and even the election process itself.

The letter concludes:

Those who desire to change the fundamental structure of our party in this way will meet our firm and unwavering resistance to any effort to do so.

It’s anybody’s guess how this mess will ultimately resolve. But in the short term you can be assured of messy politics as hardcore activists remain committed to fighting the ruling class and restoring constitutional government.

Alaska Seeks to Woo Colorado Gun Company

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photo credit: mike saechang

Alaska is making its pitch to woo a Colorado company that has threatened to leave that state over new restrictions on firearms.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper last week signed bills that require background checks for private and online gun sales and ban ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 rounds. Magpul Industries, which manufactures firearms accessories and ammunition magazines, said on its Facebook page that it would have “no choice” but to leave if the magazine bill was signed, causing an opening for states eager to prove they’re more gun-friendly, like Alaska.

Grassroots Facebook pages have popped up — some, before the Colorado bills were even signed — encouraging Magpul to settle in places like Alabama, West Virginia or Texas. Alaska state Rep. Tammie Wilson’s staff created a Facebook page, too, called “Magpul Industries – Alaska Wants You.”

Jeremy McGowan, of Buckhannon, W.Va., said he started his Facebook page, “Bring Magpul to West Virginia,” with “very little hope” of actually attracting Magpul. But he said he wanted at the very least to draw attention to the issues raised in Colorado and try to prevent something similar from happening in West Virginia.

“I don’t think we are a minority at all,” he said. “I think a lot of us feel we have been pushed in a corner.”

Read more from this story HERE.

The Civil War for the Soul of the Alaska Republican Party

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Photo Credit: dmcdevit

Stung by election defeats and continual ground lost to encroaching socialism, the Republican Party in Alaska and elsewhere is going through its largest internal values inventory in a generation. In this process two disparate groups have come roaring to the surface revealing a wider chasm than ever. A civil war has erupted.

At the 2012 State Republican Convention the state delegates broke with party machinist tradition and elected Russ Millette as the chair of the Alaskan Republican Party and Debbie Brown as the vice-chair. The election represented a tremendous values shift toward the grass roots constitutional liberty wing of our party which Russ Millette represents.

The chagrined State Executive Committee (SEC) subsequently decided to undo the election results and purge the newly elected officers from office by filing spurious charges against them. On January 31st- Just two hours before he was scheduled to take office – Russ Millette was charged for failure to raise money for the Republican Party and removed as the chair elect. Debbie Brown then advanced to party chair. Now the same charge of failure to raise money has been leveled against her. Despite the fact the Chair Debbie Brown rescinded the April 8th SEC meeting, they plan to meet in Anchorage on April 8th at 5:30pm in order to purge her, retake the chairmanship, and protect their appointed positions.

I can’t tell you how disturbing this precedent is. When they nullified Russ Millette’s election to keep their leadership cabal in power indefinitely they didn’t just sin against our Republic. They committed THE sin against our Republic. The respect of succession of political power by popular vote is the very foundation our entire system of self-governance is built on.

Russ Millette is planning to vigorously appeal his removal from office at the next scheduled State Central Committee (SCC) meeting in Homer on May 25th. If chair Debbie Brown is purged prior to then, then the new chair can refuse to hear Millette’s appeal and the coup will be complete.

Millette is also raising legal funds from grass roots Republicans so he can file a fiduciary harm lawsuit against certain party members to force an audit of the ARP finances as required by party rules, and to get to the bottom of alleged financial mismanagement such as when APR funds were transferred out of the bank account in a scorched earth policy back in January. If you would like to support Russ’s legal campaign to force honesty and transparency in the ARP finances, you can donate electronically via his website and designate it for his legal fund. George Washington once said, “Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains taken to bring it to light.”

The Republican Party is in a war for its very spirit. Will a small cabal of political machinists continue to run the party for personal interest while continuing to lose ground to the conquering socialists like the corrupt Chiang Kai-shek did before Mao Zedong? Or will the party be returned back to its grass roots supporters? Your action or inaction will be the deciding factor for the future of unborn millions. Grass roots Republicans have a once in a generation chance to let light shine out of the darkness. The Republican Party must once again wield the torch of freedom that guided the footsteps of our Founding Fathers.

Please vote, get involved in your local political districts, and give money to Russ Millettes’s legal fund to give transparency to party finances. Plato once said, “The penalty good men pay for not being interested in politics is to be governed by men worse than themselves.” The eyes of the world are on America and the Republican Party because, “The cause of America is, in a great measure, the cause of all mankind.”- Thomas Paine

Déjà Vu, Alaska: State Legislator Wore FBI Wire in NY Bribery Case

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Photo Credit: Chang W. Lee

Two days after a political corruption scandal rocked Albany, a new, unrelated bribery scheme emerged on Thursday, adorned with a can-you-top-this quality: For more than a year, a sitting state legislator wore a wire intended to catch at least one of his colleagues.

The secret recordings helped lead to the arrest of Eric A. Stevenson, a Democratic state assemblyman representing parts of the South Bronx, who was charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan with accepting more than $22,000 in bribes to help developers open adult day care centers in his district. Mr. Stevenson was also accused of introducing legislation to block competing developers from building new centers for three years.

He seemed keenly aware of the risk of getting caught, as so many of his colleagues in Albany had been before, according to a criminal complaint released on Thursday.

“Be careful of those things, man, the recorders and all those things,” he was recorded saying. “A lot of guys,” he continued, were “working to put a lot of people away, man, believe that.”

Mr. Stevenson’s wariness was well founded: conversations were being recorded by two cooperating witnesses, including Assemblyman Nelson L. Castro, who had agreed to work with investigators as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on state perjury charges. Mr. Castro agreed to resign once his cooperation led to an arrest; he announced his departure on Thursday afternoon.

Read more from this story HERE.