Southeast Alaska: “Rapid Response” for Laid Off Juneau Walmart Employees; Ketchikan Store Remains Open By MARY KAUFFMAN - Although the Walmart Supercenter in Juneau is permanently closing, the nine other locations in Alaska, including the Walmart in Ketchikan, will remain open. According to the Alaska Department of Labor, approximately 168 Walmart employees are being laid off on February 10th at the Juneau location.

“The decision to close stores is difficult and we care about the associates who will be impacted,” said Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. “We invested considerable time assessing our stores and clubs and don’t take this lightly. We are supporting those impacted with extra pay and support, and we will take all appropriate steps to ensure they are treated well.”

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Juneau Job Center announced today it will be providing Rapid Response assistance for approximately 168 Walmart employees who are being laid off on February 10th. The Juneau Job Center is holding a job fair for Walmart employees on January 29th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and they also can come by any other time the office is open to receive one-on-one assistance with finding a new job. Juneau’s Walmart is one of 154 stores in the U.S. and 115 stores globally that will close.

“Our Job Center staff are doing everything they can to help laid off Walmart employees find new jobs,” said Heidi Drygas, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. “These are our friends and neighbors, and I encourage Walmart employees to come by the Job Center and find out what resources can help with their job search.” - More...
Thursday PM - January 21, 2016

Alaska: Alaska pediatric program names first Alaska hospital to meet its emergency pediatric care criteria - The Alaska Native Medical Center became the first hospital in Alaska recognized as a comprehensive pediatric emergency care facility by the Pediatric Facility Recognition Program run by the Department of Health and Social Services in conjunction with the Alaska Emergency Medical Services for Children Advisory Board.

“ANMC was the first certified Level II trauma center in Alaska, and is now also recognized for providing excellent care for pediatric emergency patients,” said DHSS Commissioner Valerie Davidson. “Congratulations to the ANMC team for this incredible accomplishment.”

Funded by an Emergency Medical Services for Children grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the program works with hospitals to meet Alaska Emergency Medical Services for Children requirements and achieve pediatric recognition. The criteria for recognition include: - More...
Thursday PM - January 21, 2016

Ketchikan: Former Ketchikan Resident Sentenced To 10 Years For Drug Trafficking - A former Ketchikan resident was sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking followed by a five year term of supervised release. Alexander Barcena Singson, 62, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess in Anchorage on January 5, 2016. On April 6, 2015, Singson pled guilty to a single drug trafficking conspiracy count.

In sentencing Singson, Judge Burgess noted the seriousness of the crime and the need to protect the public as the reasons for the sentence he imposed.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who prosecuted the case, beginning on or about October 19, 2011, and continuing until September 26, 2012, Singson and others transported methamphetamine from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Ketchikan, Alaska. Members of the conspiracy utilized the United States Postal Service (USPS) and commercial package delivery services to transport the drugs to Ketchikan where it would be distributed to others. - More...
Thursday PM - January 21, 2016

Southeast Alaska: Douglas Indian Association Responds to Lawsuit's Dismissal - The Juneau-based Douglas Indian Association (DIA) responded to the dismissal of its lawsuit against Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Central Council). The lawsuit was dismissed on January 13, 2016 by the State of Alaska’s Superior Court. Judge Louis Menendez affirmed Central Council has sovereign immunity from suit, and dismissed all of Douglas Indian Association’s arguments to the contrary, including claims against Central Council President Richard Peterson and Tribal Transportation Manager William Ware.

The Douglas Indian Association said their Council was fully cognizant of the fact that CCTHITA would claim Sovereign Immunity as its defense. However, the real question the DIA said they chose to court to address was the contractual one, and the DIA hoped the court would recognize the harm done to to them and step in to mediate.

Butch Laiti, Tribal Council President said during a DIA Tribal Council meeting on January 18, 2016, “I am appalled and disgusted. They took our money, and are hiding behind Sovereign Immunity. They are trying to blame us for the situation.”

Paul Marks, Tribal Council Member said during the meeting, “It is obvious they [CCTHITA] used Sovereign Immunity to hide behind because there is something they do not want discovered.”

Douglas Indian Association Tribal Council Treasurer, Barbara Cadiente-Nelson said the DIA was disappointed but not surprised in the court’s ruling.

According to an email to SitNews from Andrea Cadiente-Laiti, Tribal Administrator of Douglas Indian Association, "CCTHITA could not even wait for the final judgement to be passed in this case before announcing their win. President Peterson celebrates the fact that Sovereign Immunity was upheld to the benefit of Alaska’s tribes. The test was not meant to be Sovereign Immunity, but the requirement of all citizens to abide by contract law. What President Peterson seems to not understand is that it was a tribe (DIA) who was on the other end of this case, and that invoking Sovereign Immunity means that CCTHITA does not have to abide by any contracts or agreements made with tribes even in a trust relationship with them."

Cadiente-Laiti wrote, "The DIA Council hopes that having brought this issue to public court will make other tribes in a trust relationship with CCTHITA aware of their motives. In fact, this win should send a message to any entity (federal, state, and local governments included), that CCTHITA does not have to abide by any agreements made with them, because they can invoke Sovereign Immunity to break any agreements, and walk away with all the marbles (in DIA’s case – nearly $1 million)."

Cadiente-Nelson said, “Sovereignty as an argument was a hurdle. DIA Council knew CCTHITA would claim “sovereignty immunity” rather than refute the charges. DIA upholds the facts and have confidence these would prevail if a court would hear the facts that CCTHITA willfully broke covenants of its memorandum of agreement it tenured with DIA."

Cadiente-Nelson said, “The “test in court” is not sovereignty. Legally, the test is if the sovereign state of Alaska will acknowledge CCTHITA’s contractual agreement with DIA as legal and binding.” “The true test and shame is that CCTHITA failed to honor its words and agreements and covenants.”

“Tribal sovereignty is founded upon time immemorial occupancy, paid for by the loss of land, life and labor. DIA holds the law of this land in the highest regard; a contractual agreement is a civil matter which keeps the peace among sovereign entities – tribal and otherwise,” said Cadiente-Nelson. - More...
Thursday PM - Junuary 21, 2016