President Donald Trump says “there will always be change, and I think you want to see change.” Already he’s had more Cabinet turnover in 420 days than 14 of his predecessors had in their first two years.
Federal Government
Alaska’s top Forest Service official is retiring
Regional Forester Beth Pendleton will retire in April after eight years in the position.
Immigration advocates warn ICE is retaliating for activism
ICE denies the allegations, saying it does not target immigrants for holding advocacy positions.
Alaska senator backs bill to allow pot business banking
Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and a bipartisan group of senators are pushing legislation that would allow legal marijuana businesses to use banks to store profits.
Don Young gets riled up contrasting Jewell and Zinke in committee
“It’s such a pleasure to hear them squeal and squall on the other side, after they stick it to us all those years with Sally Jewell,” Congressman Young said of Democrats on the House Resources Committee.
Iñupiat leadership organizations contemplate a “unified voice”
“I definitely think it’s possible to have a unified voice but it’s never going to be truly unified unless all entities that were invited to the table take advantage of it,” Utqiaġvik Mayor Fannie Suvlu said.
Toksook Bay Tribe receives more than $10 million federal grant for trail construction
The Toksook Bay Tribe has received more than $10 million to construct trails to the nearby community of Nightmute, and along the coast to the fishing grounds at Umkumiut, an important subsistence location.
Trump replacing Secretary Of State Tillerson with CIA director Mike Pompeo
Trump tweeted that former congressman and CIA Director Mike Pompeo will take over for Rex Tillerson, who has had a strained relationship with the president. Pompeo will need Senate confirmation.
Trump tariffs could jack up boat prices
The general manager of Bay Weld Boats in Homer says he’s seen in some cases 50 to 60 percent increases the purchasing prices of aluminum as aluminum users stocked up ahead of the tariff announcement.
House passes fast-track bill to keep ferries and Medicaid funded through spring
The bill now goes to the Senate. It includes $45 million for Medicaid, $24 million for the ferry system and $18 million for the Department of Corrections.