Episode 17: Determining if a Feasibility Study is Feasible; Deciding How to Appoint Judges; and a Surprise Topic! Recorded March 20th, 2025

Episode 17: Determining if a Feasibility Study is Feasible; Deciding How to Appoint Judges; and a Surprise Topic! Recorded March 20th, 2025

We're back with three fun topics on Alaska politics, including a surprise (spoilers for that in the article sources below). Our audio got a little messed up in our opening segment, but it gets better. We cover the ongoing flood prevention issue from the melting Mendenhall Glacier. The Army Corps of Engineers is spending $4.45 million not on a feasibility study, but on a technical report to inform a later feasibility study all to prevent flooding Derik's house. We also discuss the Governor's proposed changes to how Alaska judges are selected, and we compare that to other selection processes. But first, a surprise segment as one of us reacts live on air to a proposal put before the Alaska House of Representatives. Resources used in this episode: Money for a Study to Study Flooding: https://www.ktoo.org/2025/03/19/army-corps-secures-funding-to-find-a-long-term-flood-solution-in-mendenhall-valley/ https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll6/id/2544 Proposed Change in Appointing Judges: https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/03/03/alaska-governor-proposes-new-method-for-picking-state-judges/?emci=c65be3e3-b5f8-ef11-90cb-0022482a9447&emdi=6a7f245c-09f9-ef11-90cd-0022482a9fb7&ceid=148052 [https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/03/03/alaska-governor-proposes-new-method-for-picking-state-judges/?emci=c65be3e3-b5f8-ef11-90cb-0022482a9447&emdi=6a7f245c-09f9-ef11-90cd-0022482a9fb7&ceid=148052]https://alaskapublic.org/news/2024-05-29/judicial-council-recommends-alaskans-keep-all-judges-including-jurist-behind-correspondence-ruling https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2018/11/06/anchorage-judge-targeted-for-role-in-controversial-plea-agreement-trailing/ https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/retention/retent06/landry06.pdfhttps://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-debate-musk-trump-30b8b9cacb02c8bc9c7c9a26e7fe376c [https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-debate-musk-trump-30b8b9cacb02c8bc9c7c9a26e7fe376c]Surprise Topic (spoilers): https://www.juneauempire.com/news/turning-governors-house-into-a-short-term-rental-proposed-by-alaska-lawmaker/ [https://www.juneauempire.com/news/turning-governors-house-into-a-short-term-rental-proposed-by-alaska-lawmaker/]

Episode 16: Crocodiles Loose in Alaska, The Right to Record, Anchorage Prosecutors Delay Charges, and Getting in Arguments Over Facebook; Recorded February 12th, 2025

The news from Alaska is starting to make us sound like Florida. We give our takes on some local issues, such as some exotic pets, a crocodile and an alligator, being tossed out in the snow up in the Mat-Su, someone in Juneau taking a dump truck for a joyride, and the governor using AI to make pictures of Alaska rather than, well, a picture of Alaska. Then we discuss the governor's proposal to ban one party consent to record a conversation. We do our best to explain why Anchorage prosecutors keep delaying charges in criminal trials. Finally, we catch up with each other about our personal lives and discuss some Facebook drama that happened recently. Sources used in this episode: Governor uses AI:https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/12/19/loch-ness-ducks-or-vampire-grebes-alaska-governor-report-for-trump-comes-with-ai-hallucinations/?emci=dc95e865-84be-ef11-88ce-0022482a93af&emdi=adb93712-e3be-ef11-88ce-0022482a93af&ceid=148052 [https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/12/19/loch-ness-ducks-or-vampire-grebes-alaska-governor-report-for-trump-comes-with-ai-hallucinations/?emci=dc95e865-84be-ef11-88ce-0022482a93af&emdi=adb93712-e3be-ef11-88ce-0022482a93af&ceid=148052]Crocodile Lost in the Snow:https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/12/06/pet-croc-dead-after-being-tossed-into-snow-2-brothers-behind-bars/ [https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/12/06/pet-croc-dead-after-being-tossed-into-snow-2-brothers-behind-bars/]Dump Truck Joyride:https://www.juneauempire.com/news/stolen-dump-truck-hits-power-lines-knocks-out-electricity-on-industrial-boulevard-driver-arrested-for-dui/ [https://www.juneauempire.com/news/stolen-dump-truck-hits-power-lines-knocks-out-electricity-on-industrial-boulevard-driver-arrested-for-dui/]Proposed End to One Party Recording:https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/gov-dunleavy-proposes-new-limits-on-alaskans-ability-to-record-conversations/?emci=85af6fc5-3fe4-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&emdi=8a61780c-9be4-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&ceid=148052 [https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/gov-dunleavy-proposes-new-limits-on-alaskans-ability-to-record-conversations/?emci=85af6fc5-3fe4-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&emdi=8a61780c-9be4-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&ceid=148052]Issues with Anchorage Prosocuters:https://www.propublica.org/article/anchorage-alaska-pretrial-delays-sexual-assault?utm_content=buffer8c050&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_campaign=propublica-bsky [https://www.propublica.org/article/anchorage-alaska-pretrial-delays-sexual-assault?utm_content=buffer8c050&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_campaign=propublica-bsky]andhttps://www.adn.com/opinions/2025/01/18/opinion-alaskas-criminal-legal-system-is-drowning-but-theres-another-side-to-the-story-on-trial-delays/ [https://www.adn.com/opinions/2025/01/18/opinion-alaskas-criminal-legal-system-is-drowning-but-theres-another-side-to-the-story-on-trial-delays/]Facebook drama:https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10235441734733345&set=a.10201958746439564 [https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10235441734733345&set=a.10201958746439564]andhttps://akasks.blogspot.com/2025/01/on-maga-thought-terminating-cliches.html [https://akasks.blogspot.com/2025/01/on-maga-thought-terminating-cliches.html]

Episode 15: We Make News Over Local Flooding, Tying Up More Tourists, Anchorage Drops Charges, New Kid vs European Vacation, Pastor Needs a Sign, and Alaska is Run by AI; Recorded November 20th, 2024

We're back and this time, we're in the news! We've got a quick update on the PFAS firefighting foam issue and then we give you the inside scoop about the glacial flooding that swept through Juneau. Your intrepid co-hosts even made the local paper over it. Next, we discuss the announced plans for new cruise ship docks in Juneau. Our next story takes us to Anchorage, where hundreds of criminal cases have been thrown out due to a lack of prosecutors. We catch up on each other's lives, one of us had a kid and one of us backpacked around Europe for two months. After that, we discuss the latest antics of pastor Mark Driscoll and his illegal street signage. Finally, we discuss AI's effect on Alaska, our governor's obsession with it, its use in writing state policy, the possibility of AI data centers, the proposals for powering them, and the recent announcement of a Bitcoin mining facility on the North Slope. There's a lot of wild things happening in Alaska. Give us a listen to catch up on life in the last frontier. Sources Used in this Episode: PFAS Bill: https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/07/26/__trashed-2/?emci=c26923ed-e74a-ef11-86c3-6045bdd9e096&emdi=be607f5f-574b-ef11-86c3-6045bdd9e096&ceid=148052 [https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/07/26/__trashed-2/?emci=c26923ed-e74a-ef11-86c3-6045bdd9e096&emdi=be607f5f-574b-ef11-86c3-6045bdd9e096&ceid=148052] Juneau Flooding: https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/08/06/juneau-flood-inundates-at-least-100-homes-triggers-state-and-federal-response/ https://www.ktoo.org/2024/11/19/juneaus-proposed-flood-fighting-plan-would-cost-flood-zone-homeowners-8000-each-some-say-they-dont-want-it/ https://www.juneauempire.com/news/residents-spend-their-hours-before-peak-of-flood-preparing-for-worst-case-scenario-in-various-ways/ [https://www.juneauempire.com/news/residents-spend-their-hours-before-peak-of-flood-preparing-for-worst-case-scenario-in-various-ways/] https://www.juneauempire.com/news/hundreds-of-property-owners-in-flood-zone-may-have-to-pay-7972-apiece-for-hesco-barrier-levee/ [https://www.juneauempire.com/news/hundreds-of-property-owners-in-flood-zone-may-have-to-pay-7972-apiece-for-hesco-barrier-levee/] New Cruise Ship Dock: https://www.ktoo.org/2024/10/16/goldbelt-royal-caribbean-announce-new-cruise-ship-port-plans-on-douglas-island/ [https://www.ktoo.org/2024/10/16/goldbelt-royal-caribbean-announce-new-cruise-ship-port-plans-on-douglas-island/] https://www.ktoo.org/2022/12/06/juneau-residents-get-a-closer-look-at-the-proposal-for-aakw-landing/ [https://www.ktoo.org/2022/12/06/juneau-residents-get-a-closer-look-at-the-proposal-for-aakw-landing/] Anchorage Dismisses Criminal Cases: https://www.propublica.org/article/criminal-case-dismissals-anchorage-alaska [https://www.propublica.org/article/criminal-case-dismissals-anchorage-alaska] Pastor Refuses Sign from Higher Authority: https://www.christianpost.com/news/mark-driscoll-refuses-city-order-to-take-down-jesus-christ-sign.html AI In Alaska: https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/10/28/alaska-education-department-published-false-ai-generated-academic-citations-in-cell-policy-document/?emci=fe166e85-5a93-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&emdi=03cadaeb-3495-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&ceid=148052 [https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/10/28/alaska-education-department-published-false-ai-generated-academic-citations-in-cell-policy-document/?emci=fe166e85-5a93-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&emdi=03cadaeb-3495-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&ceid=148052] https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/10/18/data-centers-face-growing-opposition-outside-gov-mike-dunleavy-wants-them-in-alaska/?emci=98493323-e08d-ef11-8474-000d3a98fa6b&emdi=0d129a6e-228e-ef11-8474-000d3a98fa6b&ceid=148052 [https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/10/18/data-centers-face-growing-opposition-outside-gov-mike-dunleavy-wants-them-in-alaska/?emci=98493323-e08d-ef11-8474-000d3a98fa6b&emdi=0d129a6e-228e-ef11-8474-000d3a98fa6b&ceid=148052] https://sherwood.news/snacks/tech/tech-titans-invest-in-nuclear-energy-to-fuel-power-hungry-ai-servers/?utm_source=snacks&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=snacks_20241021&utm_content=f5b0cbc38ab6ce19328a0d2bc87c5389 [https://sherwood.news/snacks/tech/tech-titans-invest-in-nuclear-energy-to-fuel-power-hungry-ai-servers/?utm_source=snacks&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=snacks_20241021&utm_content=f5b0cbc38ab6ce19328a0d2bc87c5389] https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/11/04/data-centers-which-require-massive-amounts-of-energy-and-few-jobs-have-downsides-for-alaska/?emci=cbaf4371-2a9b-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&emdi=609feaa5-869b-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&ceid=148052 [https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/11/04/data-centers-which-require-massive-amounts-of-energy-and-few-jobs-have-downsides-for-alaska/?emci=cbaf4371-2a9b-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&emdi=609feaa5-869b-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&ceid=148052] https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/11/20/arctic-bitcoin-hilcorp-tech-firm-aim-to-test-north-slope-data-center/?emci=fb0b3c0f-1aa7-ef11-88d0-6045bdd62db6&emdi=8dd04b20-50a7-ef11-88d0-6045bdd62db6&ceid=148052 [https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/11/20/arctic-bitcoin-hilcorp-tech-firm-aim-to-test-north-slope-data-center/?emci=fb0b3c0f-1aa7-ef11-88d0-6045bdd62db6&emdi=8dd04b20-50a7-ef11-88d0-6045bdd62db6&ceid=148052]

Episode 14: Surprise Bonus Episode! Smuggling Snowmachines to Russia, China Editing the Bible, Funeral Home Regulations, and Supreme Court Approves More Corruption; Recorded July 23rd, 2024

We're on a break, but that doesn't mean we can't get you one more surprise episode while you wait for our triumphant return. We cover a devious plot by Alaskans to smuggle snow machines to Russia, China editing the Holy Bible to their liking, the funeral industry faces scrutiny for their lack of regulation, and the Supreme Court narrows the ability to prosecute corruption. Sources used in this episode: Snow Machine Smuggling: https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/feds-accuse-two-men-of-smuggling-snowmachines-to-russia-via-alaska-tour-company/ China Editing the Bible: https://www.christianpost.com/news/china-trying-to-rewrite-the-bible-force-churches-sing-communist-anthems.html https://www.frc.org/op-eds/china-to-christians-were-rewriting-the-bible-and-youll-use-it-or-else Funeral Home Regulations: https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/07/06/mishandled-bodies-mixed-up-remains-prompt-tougher-funeral-home-regulations/ Supreme Court Corruption: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-06-26/supreme-court-anti-corruption-law

Episode 13 Part 3 of 3: New State Laws; Recorded July 5th, 2024

We discuss a list of new state laws taking effect across the country: California requires drink test kits. Kansas abortion providers must ask why. Iowa restricts hemp consumables. Georgia increases swatting penalties. Florida allows killing bears. California dumps junk fees. Tennessee protects musicians from AI. Sources used in this episode: https://www.npr.org/2024/07/01/nx-s1-5025098/laws-july-california-florida-abortion-bears