During this season of gratitude and reflection, we would like to express our appreciation for the strong communities and people that we work with each day to build a brighter future. We are thankful for the stewardship and continued vibrant leadership of Alaska Native peoples. At The Alaska Center, we are honored to live and work on Indigenous lands. 2021 …
Our Next Chapter: Important Announcement
The Boards of The Alaska Center and The Alaska Center Education Fund, together with Executive Director Polly Carr, announce Polly’s plan to transition by the end of 2022.
STATEMENT: A Strong Democracy Requires Safety and Civility
The Alaska Center stands in solidarity with those calling for respect and safety to return to our chambers of democracy. We urge Mayor Bronson and other government leaders to call for civil behavior regardless of political beliefs, and to condemn those that will not follow the rules of order.
Leg With Louie: Summer Homework 2021
This letter will be shorter than usual. I am busy getting intimate with the boat engine and hydraulic system, with typical pre-season nerves and an ear for rumors of the impending Salmon run. The news here comes in snippets and is often less real and immediate than the rust frozen bolt that stands between me and a functioning boat (there …
Leg with Louie: Partisan fighting at the risk of our rights – May 28
It is hard to focus on the lonely hours of Special Session in the AK State Legislature when out in America, the rules are actively being bent toward extreme minority rule in perpetuity based on a lie. At the same time, those who could do something about it are bound by a web of institutional processes from reacting. The new …
Restoring the Eklutna River is long overdue
As the weather gets warmer, many of us are pulling out our camping gear and dusting off our kayaks to get ready for summer. If you live in Anchorage, chances are you’ll be spending some time visiting the Eklutna Valley this season. Eklutna Lake is the go-to spot for many Southcentral Alaskans because it’s the perfect place to hike, bike, …
Electric Co-op Directors Urge Member Input, Especially for Renewable-energy Proposals
Electric cooperative members aren’t just customers – they’re also the owners of co-ops that boards of directors are supposed to serve. But directors from four Alaska Railbelt electric co-ops say it’s often hard to figure out what their members want, because usually only a few offer feedback, and even fewer participate in board elections and meetings. When the moderator of …
Leg With Louie: “to hell with politics, just do what’s right for Alaska” – May 7
There are two resolutions under consideration in the legislature as the House and Senate wend their way toward what will be a messy and confused terminus of the regular session. The likely special session will focus on the Permanent Fund Dividend and federal American Rescue Plan funds. The resolutions are SJR 13 and HJR 19. Both are designed to clarify …
Leg With Louie: Another DNR Power Grab – April 30
Did you know that under HB 82, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would be able to authorize lateral drilling and fracking for oil and gas development beneath all of the areas that the state legislature has specifically set aside for special protection? This includes State Game Sanctuaries, State Game Refuges, State Parks, and State Critical Habitat Areas. Lateral drilling …
Leg With Louie: Building Alaska Better – April 2
After the intellectual, moral, racial, political, and physical trauma of 2020, this year is starting to look OK, like a new day and not a false dawn. The monumental federal investments proposed by the Biden-Harris Administration in Pittsburgh on Wednesday are smart and just and envision a modern America we might be OK sending our kids off into. The Thrive …